Brown confirms Orr’s resignation; replacement board member in the works

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018 — Interim Superintendent Tom Brown confirmed Thursday that former Superintendent Anthony Orr submitted his resignation as a district employee on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017.

Former Nelson County Schools superintendent Anthony Orr is now Interim Superintendent of the Powell County Schools.

Orr recently accepted a position as the interim superintendent of Powell County Schools in Eastern Kentucky. The Powell County district conducted a “meet & greet” event for the community to meet Orr on Thursday.

Brown said he had heard rumors that Orr was exploring job opportunities late last year — rumors later confirmed to be true.

Brown said the board will adhere to its obligation to Orr as established by the contract the board amended and approved Dec. 8, 2017. The agreement included paying Orr’s relocation expenses based on when he left the district’s employment. Because he resigned prior to Jan. 1, 2018, Orr will receive the maximum relocation benefit — $25,000.

Brown said Orr completed several projects during his employment as Director of Process, Research, and Improvement, including included research into funding options for Horizon that is based on academic performance rather than attendance, Brown said.

The research position Orr moved to after he stepped down as superintendent was created by the board to allow the district to have the benefit of Orr’s knowledge and experience while also honoring its commitment to his employment contract. The district was obligated to honor that contract. Otherwise, the district could have simply written Orr a check to buy out the balance of his employment contract.

Keeping Orr on the payroll ultimately saved the district money, Brown explained.

Brown said that facing probable cuts in the district’s state funding, he had no intention of hiring someone to fill’s Orr’s research position.

BOARD MEMBER APPOINTMENT. The process of appointing a new board member to serve in District 1 continues, Brown said.

In a update Brown received from John Thompson of the Kentucky Department of Education earlier Thursday, two applicants have completed their applications to be considered for the board seat.

While the deadline to apply has passed, Thompson said if others were to apply they would also be considered. The next step for Thompson will be interviews with the candidates

The individual chosen to fill the District 1 seat on the board will fill out the rest of David Norman’s unexpired term.

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