| Updated: 1/13/2011 9:30 pm |
Published: 1/13/2011 6:28 pm |
LITTLE ROCK, AR - The Little Rock School District has named Dr. Morris Holmes as its Superintendent. This is the second time Holmes has served as interim superintendent. He also served from August of 2003 to June of 2004.
After one of the board’s shortest executive sessions in recent memory, its members unanimously appointed Dr. Morris Holmes as interim superintendent to finish out Dr. Linda Watson’s contract.
"We called certain people to see if they were interested, then the board talked about that and decided who we wanted to talk to," said board member Jody Carreiro.
In a prepared statement, Homes said, “I look forward to reconnecting with everyone in Little Rock.”
While Cathy Koehler, the, leader of the teachers’ union, disagrees with the board’s decision to end Watson’s contract, a decision the Fox 16 was told was mutual, she welcomes Holmes’ leadership.
"He was a teacher here. He was principal of Little Rock Central. He has a history here. People know him, they feel comfortable with him, and, most importantly, they know he wants what's best for students across our district,” says Koehler.
Holmes’ contract starts Sunday and he will help the district find a permanent replacement, a position he does not want.
"Not only is he 71, but they've made it abundantly clear in his hiring to him, and to the public, that he will be an interim only, that he cannot apply for the job permanently," says Koehler.
"I think it's going to be pretty smooth in the next few of months, and it's going to be a lot of meetings and a lot of things," says Jody Carreiro.
Holmes will be paid the superintendent’s prorated salary of nearly $200,000/year to work through the end of June, when Watson’s contract expires and the permanent leader starts.
This will be the 6th change at the superintendent position in the last 10 years for the Little Rock School District.
