Area school board accepts resignation of superintendent
The Smackover-Norphlet District school board accepted the resignation of superintendent Robby Frizzell during their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday. The board unanimously accepted Frizzell’s resignation following a lengthy period of executive session —which is closed to the public for personnel discussion — weeks after placing Frizzell on paid administrative leave during a special-called meeting on Feb. 7.
Frizzell will remain on paid administrative leave until June 30, 2024, when his employment with the district will officially end; he was not present at the meeting on Tuesday.
The board also voted to amend the contract of district administrator Holly Strickland, who was named interim superintendent on Feb. 7, to add a $5,000 per month stipend during her time as interim superintendent “until the district hires a new superintendent” with the stipend to be retroactively paid from Feb. 1, 2024.
“Ms. Strickland did not ask for that — we think it’s important to appreciate the work she is doing,” said board president Cliff Preston following the vote.
Frizzell was hired as superintendent by the SNSD in March 2022 following the departure of previous superintendent Jason Black.
According to a copy of Frizzell’s contract obtained by the News-Times in a Freedom of Information Act request, Frizzell’s period of employment was period July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026. Frizzell’s salary is listed in the contract as $152,400 annually paid in 12 “equal monthly installments.”
The district has not yet announced when it expects to begin the search for its next superintendent.