As expected, the state Board of Education today approved Tony Wood as head of the state Education Department. He’d been recommended by Gov. Mike Beebe to succeed Tom Kimbrell, who left the job to become superintendent in Bryant.

Wood, who’d been deputy education commissioner under Kimbrell, is a former teacher and superintendent whose past jobs included 18 years as superintendent in Searcy.

Advertisement

Beebe’s term ends this year. Education directors often change with administrations. Wood takes over July 1.

Also today, the state Board of Education voted to end state control of the Dollarway School District effective Oct. 1. It has been running the district for two years for failure to meet accreditation standards. The end of state control will allow the district to again have an elected school board.

Advertisement

Be a Part of the Fight

Step up and make a difference by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, the progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock that's been fighting for truth for 50 years. Our tough, determined, and feisty journalism has earned us over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, all of whom value our commitment to holding the powerful accountable. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Join us in the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times today.

Previous article Another for the Delta: Angela Davis Johnson Next article Today in Arkansas: Drugs, violence and rock ‘n’ roll