Nashville School District board extends superintendent contract, approves hires and payment of bills

The Nashville School District Board of Education voted Jan. 21 to extend Superintendent Doug Graham's contract by one year, approved payment of bills and accepted two personnel recommendations during a regularly scheduled meeting.

The board voted 4-0 to extend Doug Graham's contract through the 2027-28 school year, with an expiration date of June 30, 2028. After returning from an executive session on personnel, a board member moved to extend the contract and another board member seconded; the motion passed on a 4-0 voice vote.

The board also approved a motion to pay the district's bills after reviewing a financial spreadsheet showing the district was roughly 49.8% through the budget as of Dec. 31. A motion to pay the bills was moved, seconded and approved by a 4-0 voice vote.

On personnel, the board approved two hires recommended by Superintendent Graham: Kimberly Torres as an ESL paraprofessional at the elementary school and Crystal Hernandez as primary school secretary (position number 2). A motion to accept the superintendent's recommendations was moved, seconded and approved on a 4-0 voice vote.

Several routine items were discussed but not acted on. The board placed renewal of the district's errors-and-omissions insurance on the February agenda after the Arkansas School Board Association reported the statewide underwriter's initial bid came in higher than expected and is being re-bid; the association told districts the new policy will take effect Feb. 1 and that a final price or carrier will be reported at the February meeting.

The board set its next regular meeting for Monday, Feb. 24. With no further business, members moved to adjourn.