Board opts for support in superintendent search

The Osceola School Board elected to employ the services of Education Partners as it moves forward with its superintendent search.

The firm specializes in that activity as well as board training, strategic plan development and superintendent mentorship.

Mike Poore, Education Partners executive vice president, made his pitch early in Monday’s monthly meeting and cited examples of the firm’s work with the Jonesboro and Russellville districts in their search for a superintendent.

“We can do it quickly,” he said promising to conduct a nationwide search, while offering internal candidates the exact same consideration as external.

Poore presented an aggressive timeline which could have final candidates ready for interview within eight weeks.

After a nearly 1.5 hour executive session where it is presumed the board discussed personnel, the board moved to offer the firm a contract for the superintendent search. It was approved unanimously, 5-0. Board members James Baker and Ollie Collins were not present.

While it agreed to contractual terms with Education Partners, the board also voted not to renew the contract of Chartwells, the district food service provider.

The board did not determine whether it will outsource the work to another company or resume operating the cafeteria on its own.

Interim Superintendent Charles Webster reminded the board that the district would have to revise its budget if they chose to do it internally.

In other business, the board:

• Learned from assistant superintendent Toshiba Pugh the results of survey regarding the 2025-26 school calendar. Pugh emphasized that the survey was presented to the district’s staff for information gathering purposes only. Of the four calendar options presented, a majority of the staff favored the current four-day calendar. Other options were a traditional calendar and two year-round options. The board will consider a parent survey as well.

• Found that the district is improving in English Language Arts testing. Pugh said the district’s improvement rate exceeds state growth and in the categories of math and science the growth rate is less than state average although it’s only off 5-10 percent.

• Moved to renew the district’s contract with Southern Lawn Care at a cost of $19,900 annually. It was one of three bids the board received.

• Approved the board member’s liability insurance, inventory removal and its annual renewal of the First Security Beardsley contract.

• Took no action of the purchase of a vehicle for the athletic director.

• Renewed the contract of Susan Marshall through May 2025 at an agreement of 10 days per month. Marshall serves as the district treasurer.