Watson Chapel School District Superintendent Connie Hathorn is earning a salary of $142,353 annually for the period of July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2018, according to his contract.
Watson Chapel School Board President Ronnie Reynolds and Board Secretary Robin Barker signed the contract with Hathorn. It followed an April 13 meeting of the school board in which all seven members voted for a motion to hire Hathorn.
The contract states that Hathorn is to work for 240 days annually. He is entitled to 10 days paid vacation annually, a district-issued motor vehicle to be used for district and personal use for the length of the contract, a district-issued credit card to purchase gasoline for local travel expenses and for out-of-town school-related trips.
A native of Louisville, Mississippi, Hathorn has previously been an educator in Jefferson County. He taught for the Pine Bluff School District from 1973 to 1976, coached and taught at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff from 1976 to 1979 and taught in the Watson Chapel School District from 1979 to 1982. Hathorn was most recently superintendent of the Youngstown, Ohio, public school district.
In being hired as Watson Chapel superintendent, Hathorn took the reigns from Danny Hazelwood, who retired June 30, after being an educator for 40 years, including the last eight as Watson Chapel superintendent.
The contract states that Hathorn has 42 years experience as an educator and that the contract may be terminated according to Arkansas law. It shall be null and void if Hathorn becomes ineligible for employment in a certified position in accordance with Arkansas law.
The contract also states that Hathorn would be responsible for reimbursing the district if he were to be paid money after the board ends the contract.