McGill named Academics Plus superintendent
The acting superintendent of the 20,000-student Pulaski County Special School District can finally remove acting from in front of his name.
McGill was named superintendent on Sunday of the 500-student Academics Plus Charter School, the once-financially troubled institution in Maumelle.
McGill was named superintendent on Sunday of the 500-student Academics Plus Charter School, the once-financially troubled institution in Maumelle.
He had been a finalist for the position of superintendent of the Pulaski district. In fact, he entered the March 1 board meeting as the remaining finalist after Vashti Washington of South Carolina, the other semifinalist, withdrew her name from consideration earlier in the day. Rather than offer McGill the job, the Pulaski board voted to restart the search.
The Academics Plus action came Sunday night in a special called board meeting of the charter school, at which the board met for more than four hours in executive session before offering the job to McGill. He will replace Superintendent Jake Honea who has at least one year left on his contract. McGill accepted the job effective the end of the 2009-10 school year.
One board member said that Honea’s contract will be bought out.
The change comes at a tumultuous time for the Pulaski County Special School District and Academics Plus Charter School.
McGill, a popular principal at Pine Forest Elementary School in Maumelle, was named acting superintendent of PCSSD in 2009 after the firing of the previous superintendent and a subsequent investigation by state and federal authorities into district misdeeds. At least one former staff member was charged and some officials have indicated that an impending Arkansas Division of Legislative Audit announcement would implicate other staff members.
An effort to remove recognition of unions representing the district school teachers and support staff drove a wedge between what had been a cohesive group of PCSSD board members.
On the heels of the union vote came a leaked investigative report of allegations that McGill had made racially insensitive remarks. The report, however, declared that McGill had not made such remarks.
Board president Tim Clark of Maumelle said he was disappointed by McGill’s decision, but indicated that he couldn’t blame him.
Clark said he was disappointed that he could not persuade the board that McGill was the best candidate for the position.
The Academics Plus action came Sunday night in a special called board meeting of the charter school, at which the board met for more than four hours in executive session before offering the job to McGill. He will replace Superintendent Jake Honea who has at least one year left on his contract. McGill accepted the job effective the end of the 2009-10 school year.
One board member said that Honea’s contract will be bought out.
The change comes at a tumultuous time for the Pulaski County Special School District and Academics Plus Charter School.
McGill, a popular principal at Pine Forest Elementary School in Maumelle, was named acting superintendent of PCSSD in 2009 after the firing of the previous superintendent and a subsequent investigation by state and federal authorities into district misdeeds. At least one former staff member was charged and some officials have indicated that an impending Arkansas Division of Legislative Audit announcement would implicate other staff members.
An effort to remove recognition of unions representing the district school teachers and support staff drove a wedge between what had been a cohesive group of PCSSD board members.
On the heels of the union vote came a leaked investigative report of allegations that McGill had made racially insensitive remarks. The report, however, declared that McGill had not made such remarks.
Board president Tim Clark of Maumelle said he was disappointed by McGill’s decision, but indicated that he couldn’t blame him.
Clark said he was disappointed that he could not persuade the board that McGill was the best candidate for the position.
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