Barton board rejects Guthrie resignation, leaving school leadership uncertain

Barton School District ended the week without a clear answer on who will lead it into the 2026-27 school year. Dr. Bruce Guthrie submitted a resignation effective June 30, but the Barton School Board refused to accept it and tabled the matter, leaving the district in a holding pattern as summer planning continues in Walnut Corner and Barton.

Guthrie had already been hired as the next superintendent of the Lonoke School District and was expected to start there July 1. That move would have put him in place to replace Brett Bunch, who was listed on Lonoke’s leadership page as superintendent.

At the Barton meeting, Guthrie opened by referring to his resignation letter and reflecting on a long career in education, adding a personal note to a decision that quickly became a governance issue. Board president Donna Ryan said Lonoke would have to compensate Barton for the value of the rest of Guthrie’s contract if the board refuses to release him.

That contract is not a short-term arrangement. Barton records list a superintendent contract covering July 2024 through June 2027, and a separate report said the board extended Guthrie’s deal in January for another year, making it a three-year contract.

For Barton families, staff and students, the immediate concern is not only who is in the superintendent’s office, but how much certainty the district has as it moves toward fall. A resignation that is submitted but not accepted can leave unanswered questions about staffing, budgets, summer work and how the district communicates before classes begin.

The district’s calendar listed a board meeting for Monday, June 8, at 6 p.m., with regular meetings set for the second Monday of each month. Another regular meeting was listed for July 13, and the first day of school was set for Aug. 10, giving the board a narrow window to settle a personnel dispute that now carries real operational risk.

In Phillips County, where school leadership decisions draw close attention, the Barton board’s refusal to accept Guthrie’s resignation has done more than delay a transition. It has left the district balancing contract language, continuity and readiness for a new school year that is already on the calendar.