| Updated: 5/12/2011 10:57 pm |
Published: 5/12/2011 9:17 pm |
LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Little Rock School District school board has selected Dr. Morris Holmes as the new superintendent. Holmes was serving as the interim superintendent for the district after it bought out the contract of the previous superintendent, Dr. Linda Watson.
In executive session Thursday night, the school board was unable to reach a consensus on the only candidate who was up for the job, Dr. June Rimmer. The school board, however, was unanimous in its desire to give Holmes the job. Although he never applied, once asked by the board, Holmes said yes.
"The board has been very impressed with Dr. Holmes’ work as Interim Superintendent," said Melanie Fox, school board president. "We believe that he has the experience, talent, commitment and sense of urgency required to lead the LRSD purposefully down the path of improved student outcomes."
Dr. Holmes responded, "My job for the next two years will be to implement our strategic plan with an intense focus on the needs of our students. LRSD has great potential, and I am committed to doing the hard work necessary to help the District realize its full potential for the benefit of our students, educators, staff and community.
Holmes will serve through the 2012-2013 school year.
LRSD had originally retained a consulting firm to develop a pool of candidates for the school board to choose from for the next superintendent. The candidate pool was eventually narrowed down to four finalists: Dr. Irving Hamer, the Memphis Schools Deputy Superintendent; Hugh Hattabaugh, COO of Charlotte-Mecklenburgh schools in North Carolina; Dr. Walter Milton, Superintendent of Springfield, Illinois Schools; and Dr. June Rimmer, Program Director of an education foundation in California.
Prior to their final interviews, Hamer, Hattabaugh, and Milton all asked not to be considered for the position, leaving only Rimmer as an interested candidate. She interviewed for the job on May 9th.
