FORT SMITH — Fort Smith Public Schools began taking applications Wednesday for the Board of Education’s Zone IV vacant seat.

Former Zone IV board member Talicia Richardson announced her resignation at the board’s meeting Monday following a two-hour executive session.

Monday night also saw the public speak to the board on behalf of former Northside head football coach Felix Curry, who was removed from his coaching position in December. The board took no action to reinstate Curry.

The district announced Richardson’s resignation Wednesday and thanked her for her service on the board. The application for the seat closed Feb. 14 and can be found at http://fortsmithschools.org/zoneiv.

Superintendent Terry Morawski said “Ms. Richardson’s contributions have signficantly impacted our organization’s growth and success, and we are deeply grateful for her service and wish Talicia the best.”

The decision was hard to make, Richardson said Monday, as she had given a lot of her time, talent, experience and expertise to the board over her time of service.

“There are a lot of things that have happened that I’m not pleased with and I don’t want to be a part of, and that’s just me as an individual board member,” she said. “I pride myself on my integrity in doing the right things at all times.”

Eight community members spoke during the meeting’s public forum Monday regarding the reassignment of Curry to the student detention center. Multiple speakers, including Curry’s attorney, asked the board to motion for Curry’s reinstatement as head coach. The board did not address Curry’s position following the executive session.

Richardson said the process for Curry’s grievance filed with the district was not followed but encouraged him to reapply for the position because he is still a “quality individual.”

Curry’s attorney Joey McCutchen said the job posting for the Northside head coaching position was posted during the grievance period.

District safety, increasing wages for cafeteria and transportation staff and employee salary and benefit offerings were issues Richardson highlighted during her time on the board, she said, even if she was the only member advocating the issues.

Richardson told the River Valley Democrat-Gazette Friday by email she has no further comment at this time.

Arkansas code states the vacant seat must be filled within 30 days of the resignation and by a majority vote of the remaining members. The vote could go to the Sebastian County Quorum Court if the board fails to fill the vacancy within the 30 days, the code states.

Only residents who live in Zone IV can apply for this position. The district states other qualifications include: qualified voter registration of the school district and the electoral zone, U.S. citizenship, Arkansas residency and “must never have been convicted, plead guilty, or plead nolo contendere of embezzlement of public money, bribery, forgery, or other infamous crime.” The district also states applicants don’t have to be a district employee.

“School boards are most effective when members focus on the big picture, making policies, setting goals, and engaging stakeholders, all with the ultimate goal of improving student achievement,” according to the district.

Roles of the Fort Smith School Board members include advocating for student achievement and district progress, advocating student needs to lawmakers and stakeholders and collaborating with community partners, the district states.