King, Walker Hired For New Roles

RISON - The Cleveland County School Board approved hiring Rison High School Principal Davy King to the new position of director of athletics, transportation and maintenance while Rison Elementary Principal Letitia Walker was named as the new principal for Rison High School. Both will begin their new positions at the start of the new contract year on July 1. The hires were made Monday night during the Cleveland County School Board's regular monthly meeting at the administration building. The motion approved by the board will pay King on a 240day contract based on his current placement on the certified salary schedule plus the index/stipend for high school principal. In addition, King will also receive the stipends for transportation director ($5,000) and athletic director ($2,000) due to the after-hours and weekend duties associated with the job. King was already serving as the transportation director while serving as high school principal. Cleveland County Superintendent Craig Dupuy suggested the creation of the new athletic/ transportation/maintenance director position after former athletic director and head football coach Clay Totty resigned in December to become head football coach at Wynne High School. Dupuy said having someone serve as athletic director who is not affiliated with any particular sport lessens the perception that there is a conflict of interest and allows the person to concentrate on all sports. In the official job summary describing the new athletic director's position, it stated that the director is to "promote, support, supervise, manage, direct, and provide leadership for the total athletic program at all levels in the district and to ensure exemplary opportunities and experiences for all participating students." There are 47 items listed under "essential duties and responsibilities" in the job description that is slightly more than four pages long. King will also be responsible for supervi...