Righting the ship : Former Mountie will try to get Greenland back on track as district’s superintendent
Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008
GREENLAND - Former Rogers Superintendent Roland Smith will serve as the new superintendent of the Greenland School District, tackling the challenge of putting the district back on a solid financial track.
Arkansas Education Commissioner Ken James traveled from Little Rock to Greenland Thursday to announce Smith as the district's new superintendent at a press conference on the district campus. The Arkansas State Board of Education voted July 14 to place the district, classified on the state's fiscal distress list, under state control due to a projected financial shortfall.
A group of about 40 people, mostly former school board members and school employees, attended the announcement.
"We are excited to work with you and get this district where it needs to be," James told the crowd.
"Our primary goal will be good fiscal management and student success," Smith said.
Today will be Smith's first full day on the job. He lives in Rogers and had been retired from education, but Smith decided to come out of retirement to tackle the challenge of leading Greenland.
"He (Smith ) cut his vacation short to come back and help us," James said.
James claimed he does not enjoy taking over school districts and added," We've had to do that one too many times."
Greenland is the fifth district to be taken over during his tenure. Local control has been returned to two of those districts, Helena-West Helena and Midland, while Eudora was consolidated.
Bald Knob is the only other district besides Greenland currently under state control.
James said he wants to see the district succeed so it does not have to be annexed in two years. Districts have a maximum of two years to correct problems and get off the fiscal distress list.
James said he hopes the hiring of Smith will persuade students who considered leaving the district under the school choice law to stay.
Schools are funded primarily based on enrollment, and James said the enrollment is a critical factor he will review as the district's future is evaluated. The fall 2007 enrollment was 937, while the fall 2006 enrollment was 943.
James noted the district is currently expected to finish the 2008-09 fiscal year about $ 427, 000 in the red, though proceeds from a voterapproved bond issue might help reduce that some.
The education department dismissed Greenland's school board as part of the takeover.
School boards normally serve as the last avenue of appeal for issues such as employee dismissals or student expulsions. James said he intends to follow "due process"and will have the final say over matters that would normally be appealed before the school board.
"It stops with me," James said.
Smith said he plans to have employees follow preestablished policies and procedures for the time being. He said he was impressed with the mission statement on the district's Web site and wants to "be a cheerleader "as they move forward.
Although Greenland no longer has a school board, Smith will hold monthly town hall meetings to keep the public informed about district issues, James said. Dates and times have not yet been set.
Smith's salary will be paid out of district operating funds as if he had been hired by a school board.
Department spokeswoman Julie Thompson said Smith's salary has not been set, but understanding the district's financial difficulties, Smith has expressed a willingness to work for less than the previous superintendent's salary. Brawner was paid approximately $ 88, 000 a year.
Former Superintendent Ron Brawner was dismissed by the school board before the takeover, with the board stating he needed to resign or be fired. Former Board President Bill Groom sent him a letter stating he was fired "for cause."
James said his department is still evaluating the board's action against Brawner.
Brawner said Thursday afternoon he didn't have any comment because he hasn't had an opportunity to discuss his situation with the department.
School supporters say they hope to continue raising money to help the district retire $ 621, 000 in short-term loans. A yard sale fundraiser is scheduled this Saturday at the middle school.
Smith's background According to his resume, Smith served as superintendent of Rogers from 1993 to 1999. After that, he worked as a program coordinator at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville until 2002. He then went on to the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, where he was the founding dean of its College of Education. He spent part of 2006 and 2007 as an adjunct instructor at the UA. Before moving to Arkansas, most of Smith's experiences as a public school administrator were in the state of Illinois.
He spent 15 years as superintendent of the Plainfield, Ill., School District, and the resume cites some honors and recognition the district received during his leadership, including the district being one of 16 schools recognized for excellence in 1983 by former President Ronald Reagan.
Smith said he also had to lead the district through a crisis when half of its buildings were destroyed by a tornado.
He has also worked as an administrator in Elmhurst, Ill., and he started his educational career as an music teacher at Illinois schools.
Smith said Greenland is the smallest district he has worked at as a superintendent, but he started his career at a small school, noting that he attended a "one-room schoolhouse"as a child.
"My first impression, I think he's going to be great," Groom said. "I think it's a real good start.... I think he brings a whole lot to the table."
Both Groom and former board member Pat Anderson said they doubted the district could attract someone with Smith's experience under normal circumstances.
"I don't think we could've gotten him on our own," Groom said. "He got a call from the commissioner of education of the state, not a phone call from the local school board."
"I think he's going to do a good job," Anderson said. "Based on his experience, I don't think we could afford him, normally."
"I think it's going to be real positive," Middle School secretary Shelly Ricker said.
Smith received a phone call from James about the position on a cell phone while walking through a grocery store parking lot.
"It's amazing he wants to take on this type of situation," former board member Randall Payne said.
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