ED DIRECTOR....CONSULTANT?

Some lawmakers have been asking the state office of legislative research about the deal thats finally secured a new director for Arkansas department of Education. State law prohibits state employees from taking pay for their job above the rate set by the legislature. It does allow employees to be paid as consultants. Yesterday, while announcing Dr. Ken James would be the states new school leader, the governor said the state told James he would not lose money if he came back to Arkansas. The former Little Rock superintendent left the capitol city to make 195 thousand dollars a year as county superintendent in Kentucky. Arkansas state director job only pays $119,700. Part of the lure to return to the natural state was a consulting job for the state board of higher education foundation. Its a private group that will be fundraising to help make up the difference between what James was making and his salary-to-be as state director. The governor plans to be part of that fundraising effort. James will help the foundation develop a seamless preschool through college senior education system for the state.