Youngstown schools Superintendent Hathorn leaving for Arkansas

YOUNGSTOWN

After five years at the helm of the Youngstown City School District, Superintendent Connie Hathorn is calling it quits, effective June 30.

Hathorn, superintendent since 2011, has accepted the job as superintendent of the Watson Chapel School District in Pine Bluff, Ark. The new job starts in early July and Hathorn will earn about $142,000 annually.

After his 2013 retirement and rehiring in Youngstown, Hathorn’s annual salary is about $119,000.

About 3,000 students are enrolled in the Arkansas district. Youngstown’s enrollment tops 5,100 but has been dropping in recent years due to open enrollment, community schools and population loss.

Youngstown has struggled academically for the last several years and has been under the authority of a state-appointed academic distress commission since 2010.

During his tenure, Hathorn has at times been at odds with some school board members who have questioned his administrative appointments. Last fall, academic distress commission removed the school board from the process to appoint administrators, directing that those recommendations come from Hathorn to the commission for decisions.