Blytheville Schools welcome new superintendent

The Blytheville School Board used a special meeting April 6 to officially hire Dr. Veronica Perkins as the next superintendent of the district.

“I want to tell you all that I am extremely happy to become a part of this team,” Perkins said. “I’m looking forward to what we’re going to do to take Blytheville Public Schools to the next level. I don’t think you’ll find someone who is going to be more committed to this community, students and families. I’m proud to be a part of the Blytheville School District.”

Alongside district attorney Bobby Coleman, the board used the meeting to reach an agreement on contract details and ink the deal. Coleman used a modified version of the standard contract recommended by the Arkansas Association of School Boards.

Currently, the contract will reach through the ‘24-’25 school year, but the board will have the option to extend the contract on a yearly basis. A contractual provision requires a yearly evaluation, but Coleman explained that extending the contract by one year could satisfy that requirement.

Board member Erin Carrington noted the importance of open communication to avoid any inadvertent messages.

“You want your superintendent to feel confident in the board’s support of her,” Carrington said. “So if you don't vote to extend the contract, it seems as if you don’t have support for the superintendent. It could just be that you want to see what happens in the next two years as opposed to adding another year and having it continue on and on.”

Coleman agreed that not extending could send an unintended message and cause the superintendent to seek other employment.

“Which is what I would like to avoid,” Carrington said.

The board also discussed a travel guideline provision for further superintendent training. The contract reads that the board may approve out of district, state, or overnight travel on a case by case basis.

However, the board mulled over the need to analyze each training program or conference Perkins views as valuable. President Barbara Wells disagreed that Perkins should be required to seek approval each time she travels. Board member Michelle Sims also questioned the need for a meeting anytime Perkins attends a conference.

“She needs to be able to go wherever she needs to get the knowledge to move the kids and this district forward,” vice president Billy Fair added. “She doesn't need to lack anything that any other superintendent in the state has. If there’s something going on and it works with her schedule, she needs to go and we don’t need to approve that.

Coleman went on to explain the intent of the provision and provided a solution to handling superintendent travel.

“What I’m suggesting is to approve the contract [as is] and the very next thing you can do is say, ‘I move that we allow the superintendent to go to any training she deems necessary unless/until we stop it.’ That will take care of it without having to change the contract. I did this for [the district's] protection,” Coleman said. “I know if I told an employee, ‘you have unlimited paid sick leave’, they’re going to be sick alot. Not to suggest that Dr. Perkins would [abuse travel guidelines], but it prevents it from being a problem.”

Additionally, Perkins mentioned an on-site professional development event in Washington. With the conference scheduled at the same time as the next board meeting, the board agreed to move April’s regular meeting to April 28.

The final action taken in this special meeting was approving the traditional calendar for the ‘22-’23 school year. The motion passed by a 7-1 vote with Fair opposing the decision.