DECATUR — School board members voted to accept Decatur high school principal Bobby King’s resignation at the March 26 meeting, but only after some controversy and a four-minute executive session.

King has served as the high school principal and athletic director for the past five years. When superintendent Larry Ben announced King’s resignation to the board, school board member Kevin Smith asked for a letter of resignation or King’s reason for leaving.

When King and other board members asked Smith what he meant, he replied by asking King, “Why did you feel it was necessary to leave for other undertakings?”

“I think you all know that when I came to Decatur, I didn’t plan to leave. Somethings this year put me in a position where I felt I had to resign,” King said.

King cited “personal issues” as his reason for resignation, in a letter dated Feb. 27. The letter was provided to the Westside Eagle Observer after the school board meeting.

School board member Darleen Holly made a motion to accept King’s resignation, but there was no second. Smith and board member Aaron Owens suggested the possibility of not accepting King’s resignation.

“I don’t know if we have a choice. We can’t force someone to work,” superintendent Larry Ben replied.

Smith then tried to make a motion to allow King to withdraw his resignation, but Ben pointed out that Smith could not make a motion with Holly’s motion still on the floor.

The board agreed that the matter should be discussed in executive session, and Holly withdrew her motion to accept the resignation.

After a four-minute executive session, Holly made another motion to accept King’s resignation, which was seconded by Aaron Owens. Then Aaron Owens, Ike Owens, Holly and Smith voted in favor of accepting King’s resignation. Board member Justin Thompson was not present.

Ben told the school board there were already 15 applicants for King’s position and applications were still being accepted.

Ben said a committee of parents, teachers and school board members would be conducting interviews on April 14 and would, hopefully, come up with a recommendation for the April 16 board meeting.

Holly was appointed to represent the school board on the interview committee.

Superintendent’s Contract

Ben told the school board he has signed his contract with the Decatur School District.

The school board offered Ben a two-year contract, with a yearly salary of $90,000, at the Feb. 20 meeting. The salary represented a $3,000 raise from Ben’s current salary of $87,000, according to the school website.

Ben was named one of the top eight candidates for the superintendent of the Pea Ridge School District in February, but Rick Neal, Pea Ridge High School principal, was picked for the spot.

Elementary School Principal’s Contract

School board members did not make a decision on whether or not to rehire elementary school principal Leslie Sharp.

After a 30-minute executive session, the board voted to table Sharp’s contract. A final decision will be made at the April 16 school board meeting.

News, Pages 1 on 04/04/2012