SIKESTON BEGINS SEARCH FOR NEW SUPERINTENDENT

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Board of Education has begun an immediate search for a new superintendent after accepting Dr. Arnold Bell's resignation last week.

Bell, who became superintendent in 1997, submitted his resignation effective immediately during a special board meeting Feb. 10. Bell and Board of Education president Dan Jennings were unavailable for comment Thursday afternoon.

School officials called the resignation a "mutual agreement" between Bell and the school board after determining Bell could no longer effectively lead the district.

"It is the desire of both the Board of Education and superintendent to move forward and resolve all matters arising out of Dr. Bell's employment as superintendent and the conclusion of his employment contract," said Jennings in a written statement.

In an interview following the announcement last week, Jennings said Bell agreed that "if he did not have the support of the board, he could not lead the district."

"The Board of Education was of the opinion that Dr. Bell had lost his effectiveness to lead the district over the last few months, both in the community and within the school system itself," Jennings was quoted as saying in the Sikeston Standard-Democrat.

As part of the separation agreement, the school district agreed to pay Bell's $90,000-per-year salary plus retirement, health and life insurance, a car allowance and other benefits through June 30, 2001, when his three-year contract ends.

"He'll receive each benefit like it's always been paid -- monthly," Sikeston school board attorney Rice "Pete" Burns Jr. Burns said Thursday.

Bell served as assistant superintendent for Sikeston schools two years before being named superintendent. Prior to that, he had served as superintendent in Caruthersville and Oran school districts.

The school board already has initiated a search for a new superintendent. In the meantime, Assistant Superintendent Paul Kitchen has been appointed interim superintendent.

Kitchen said Bell's mid-year resignation is "more common than you would think." However, he conceded the immediacy of the resignation was unique.

"Basically, you won't see something like this happen unless the board and superintendent agree to a separation agreement," said Kitchen.

The Sikeston Board of Education hopes to name a new superintendent in early April. In the meantime, Kitchen said he will try to maintain the district's business with the help of other administrators.

"There are three other administrators in the central office, so you just kind of spread the duties around," he said. "Basically, we're just sharing duties and working through it the best we can."