The Batesville School District Board of Education has unanimously voted to terminate the employment contract of Superintendent Dr. Ginni McDonald following a hearing that lasted more than 6 hours.
The hearing began Thursday evening and continued until approximately 12:40 Friday morning. It was part of a due-process timeline that began in May when the board voted to recommend terminating McDonald’s contract.
Under that process, McDonald was entitled to an appeal hearing before the board could take final action on her employment.
Following the testimony and presentations, the board unanimously voted to accept the recommendation to terminate McDonald’s employment contract.
McDonald had been on administrative leave since February 25, when the board placed her on leave amid an investigation into allegations of abuse involving children at the Batesville School District Preschool.
The district hired RMP Law to conduct an independent internal review assessing potential civil and criminal liability. Board President Scott Fredericks previously said the outside review was intended to provide an objective process and emphasized that student safety remained the district’s highest priority.
Batesville Police Chief John Scarbrough previously said the department received 3 reports through the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline in February alleging abuse at the district preschool.
The underlying investigation resulted in criminal charges being filed in June against a former Batesville Preschool teacher and 2 administrators.
According to a probable cause affidavit, classroom surveillance footage allegedly showed Januchowski physically assaulting 3 children, ages 4 and 5, on January 23.
The affidavit states that a state licensing investigator independently contacted the hotline on February 4 after reviewing the footage.
McDonald became superintendent of the Batesville School District in July 2025 after previously working for the Russellville School District.
Assistant Superintendent David Campbell was appointed interim superintendent after McDonald was placed on administrative leave. Campbell is expected to continue overseeing district operations following the board’s final decision.
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