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BOARD RESETS ANTHONY’S CONTRACT WITH $11,250 RAISE

By Amy Riggin/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 11:50 PM CDT

The Pine Bluff School Board voted Tuesday night after a one-hour executive session to approve Superintendent Frank Anthony’s contract through June 30, 2011, with a salary of $150,000.

Board member Herman Horace voted against approving the contract. He declined to comment after the meeting.

Horace also was the sole no vote when the board voted to rehire Anthony on July 30.

Anthony’s previous salary was $138,750, according to the Rev. Dr. W.R. Norful, board president.

‘New hire’

Asked why the board included the increase, Norful said because Anthony was “a new hire.”

“So that was a negotiated salary,” he said.

Norful said he did not have a copy of the contract but one could be obtained at the Jefferson County Courthouse. He said no other changes to Anthony’s contract were made.

“I’ve got 23 months to improve reading and writing and arithmetic and to get the babies at a proficient level,” Anthony said after the meeting. “That can be extended if the board intends to do that.”

Asked how his retirement plan was affected, Anthony responded, “That’s private information.”

Voided retirement

The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System voided Anthony’s retirement in August after determining he had not met qualifications requiring that retirees be totally removed from work for 30 days. He retired June 30 and said in a previous interview that he didn’t accept Norful’s offer to return until July 31. The board voted 3-1-1 to rehire him July 30.

Also Tuesday, Mark Leon E. Smith, a math teacher in the district and an applicant for the superintendent’s position, asked the board why no interviews were conducted of the 15 who applied.

“I received documentation that stated interviews would be conducted,” Smith said, asking why “you just made a blanket denial of everyone based strictly on documentation alone without any interviews.”

Norful replied it “was a decision that was made by the board. ... That’s the reason why.”

Smith went on to say he questioned “the validity of the offer,” as have others in the district including the Pine Bluff Education Association.

Norful said he never sent anything indicating interviews would be conducted.

“I may have a certified letter that’s drifting somewhere but you didn’t get anything back with my signature on it,” he said.

At various times during the meeting several in a crowd of nearly 20 could be heard grumbling objections.

At one point, Norful stopped in the middle of his exchange with Smith and asked, “You got something to say to me?” to someone in the audience, presumably a teacher.

The crowd continued to voice disapproval outside the Frank Anthony Administrative Center after the meeting, at one point appearing to corner at least one board member, the Rev. Jimmy Fisher.

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