BENTONVILLE (KFSM) -- The superintendent of the Bentonville School District resigned Monday (April 18) to take a $225,000-a-year contract with the Little Rock School District.
Michael Poore's last day in Bentonville will be June 30, which is also the last day of his contract with the school district. Poore had been making $209,204 in Bentonville.
Poore said he wanted to take on the challenge of solving issues surrounding the Little Rock School District.
“I had a target to work in a large urban district,” Poore said. "Challenges, we don’t run away from them. Especially when it is an opportunity where it is a challenge that you can impact kids."
Commissioner of Education Johnny Key appointed Poore to the superintendent position after he chose not to renew current Little Rock Superintendent Baker Kurrus' contract.
According to his contract, Kurrus had been making $150,000 as superintendent. Kurrus was hired by the LRSD in July 2015 after the Arkansas Board of Education took over the district because of poor test scores.
Kurrus was also a known opponent of expanding charter schools in Little Rock.
Poore submitted his resignation to the Bentonville School Board during a regularly scheduled meeting. School Board members said they were surprised by the announcement, but the board's president wished him luck in the new position.
Parents of students in Bentonville said they hope he helps catch the Little Rock schools up with the standards held in Northwest Arkansas.
"Maybe since he has done such a great job up here, he thinks he will be qualified to go down there and do a good job,” said Susan Yoes, a parent.
“Hopefully he can clean it up,” said Maggie McGhee, a parent. “It will be a challenge down there. But, I have faith in him."