Campus Talk: Baker Kurrus out as Little Rock School District Superintendent

Editor’s note: Each Tuesday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Campus Talk,” a recap and roundup of education news.

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BAKER KURRUS OUT AS LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT
Little Rock School District superintendent Baker Kurrus will not have his contract renewed through the Arkansas Department of Education, according to Education Commissioner Johnny Key. Kurrus was installed as the superintendent of the state’s largest school district after the state board of education took over the troubled system and after former LRSD Superintendent Dexter Suggs resigned following allegations of plagiarism.

Key released a statement Tuesday night that read: “Baker Kurrus’ contract as the Little Rock School District superintendent ends June 30. I have asked him to remain involved in the ongoing work of LRSD. This could occur in a formal position through ADE or informally as he had been doing previously under former Commissioner Tony Wood. A new superintendent will be named tomorrow who will continue the work of moving LRSD toward academic excellence.”

FORMER PARKS & TOURISM DIRECTOR RICHARD DAVIES TO RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREE
The University of Arkansas will award an honorary Doctorate of Arts and Humane Letters to Richard Davies, the recently retired executive director of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, during the All-University Commencement ceremony beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, March 14, in Bud Walton Arena. Davies, a 1972 graduate of UA, will also address the graduating students. He earned his degree in journalism, and served nearly 43 years with Parks and Tourism.

“Richard Davies is a U of A graduate who has left a lasting mark, for the better, on the state of Arkansas,” said Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz. “In fact he has left many marks. Anyone who has enjoyed a visit to any of the 52 state parks in Arkansas owes Richard Davies their thanks. Perhaps more significant, anyone who has earned a living as a part of the $5.9 billion Arkansas tourism industry should be grateful to Richard for his career spent building and promoting state tourism. He is a public servant who has clearly made Arkansas a better place.”

RUSHING NAMED UA ASSISTANT VICE CHANCELLOR OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS; COSTON TO SERVE AS BUMPERS COLLEGE FINANCE OFFICER
Mark Rushing has been named assistant vice chancellor of university relations at the University of Arkansas effective April 1, after leading the office as acting director since the beginning of the year. Rushing, who previously served as the office’s director of strategic communications, joined the university relations team on April 2, 2012.

He will oversee a department that is responsible for all university communications and media relations, including social media; marketing and branding of the university; promotion and publicizing of the university’s fundraising efforts; supervision of website design and development; the university’s design, photography and videography production; and crisis communications.

Deena Coston has joined the staff of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas as finance officer. Coston joined the Bumpers College on April 18 after working as controller for Central Arkansas Water in Little Rock since 2003. In that position, she supervised the accounting staff, financial statement and budget preparation, reviewed invoices for payment and managed daily operations, among other duties.

In her UA role, Coston will manage all financial transactions and obligations for campus funds allocated to the Bumpers College, financial planning and reporting as part of the dean’s leadership team, providing oversight of campus allocations to departmental budget units within the college, and coordinating with financial officers in the Division of Agriculture for management and policies of oversight in jointly funded units.