Fort Smith Public School superintendent pay advertised at $210,000 plus benefits, candidate interview schedule released

The new superintendent of Fort Smith Public Schools (FSPS) is not yet known — that will be for a marathon day of interviews on Nov. 28 to assist in determining — but whoever he or she turns out to be will step into a position that pays around $210,000 per year, according to Ray & Associates, the Iowa-based recruiting firm behind the search.

The firm said the salary will depend on education and experience, and it will include additional benefits.

“The final salary for the successful candidate will be negotiated and determined based upon proven experience, qualifications and meeting Board criteria,” the firm notes, adding that one of those criteria is that the candidate have superintendent credentials with a “Ph.D or Ed.D preferred.”

Former FSPS Superintendent Benny Gooden, who announced his retirement in April after 41 years of experience as a school superintendent, earned $202,000, use of a district car, and was a participant in the state of Arkansas’ insurance program as well as the educator retirement system. He also received the same leave benefits package of all other full-time FSPS employees.

The search period for a new Fort Smith Public Schools Superintendent began at the end of September and closed on Nov. 3. FSPS released the names of six finalist candidates last week with Nov. 28 slated as the tentative date for the all-day interviews.

Zena Featherston Marshall, the FSPS director of communication and community partnerships, confirmed with Talk Business & Politics on Tuesday (Nov. 22) the availabilities of all candidates, save for David Pennington, who dropped out on Monday (Nov. 21). Marshall was unaware if Pennington had given a reason for doing so.

As for the interview lineup, Brenda Lewis of Rochester, Minn., will kick things off at 8 a.m. She will be followed by Keith Brown of Bay City, Texas., at 10 a.m. Mike Roth of Leavenworth, Kan., will take the 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. slot. Christiana Otuwa of Rochester, N.Y., will fill 2-4 p.m. Finally, Doug Brubaker of Mansfield, Texas, will close things out from 4-5:30 p.m. From there, the FSPS School Board will cull down the list to the final two or three candidates for another round of interviews tentatively scheduled for Dec. 12 or 13, and it will make its final determination from there. Each interview will run approximately 90 minutes with 30-minute breaks in between.

Biographies on each candidate are available at this link.

FSPS BY THE NUMBERS
Fort Smith Public Schools employs 1,173 certified teachers and reported 2015-2016 enrollment of 14,707 students with a $9,884 per pupil expenditure ($145.363 million altogether). Its operating budget for the 2016-2017 School Year will be $155.965 million.

The district has two high schools (grades 10-12); four junior high schools (7-9); 19 elementary schools (K-6); pre-kindergarten programs in 15 of the 19 elementary schools; an adult education center; professional development and technology center; parent center; and the Belle Point Center “New Tech Academy” alternative learning facility.

The district graduated 935 students in 2016 and as of 2014-2015, had a graduation rate of 81.3%. Fifty-one percent of employees hold bachelor’s degrees; 47% master’s degrees; and 2% doctorates.