ACS Board of Education News

Dear ACS Families and Staff,

As Chairman of the Arlington Community Schools Board of Education, I want to provide you with an important update from our special called meeting held this evening.

On July 31st, Superintendent Jeff Mayo informed all parents and employees about his cancer diagnosis. With the support of his family and loved ones, Mr. Mayo continues to aggressively battle the disease. As both board members and citizens of Arlington, as well as friends of Mr. Mayo, our thoughts and prayers are with him as he focuses on his recovery. Mr. Mayo’s strength and commitment to our town’s school district have been unwavering, having been an integral part of ACS since its inception over a decade ago. We stand by him and his family during this challenging time and offer our full support and comfort.

With that said, Mr. Mayo has made the difficult decision to step down from his superintendent duties until further notice to prioritize his recovery. Given the importance of ensuring continued leadership and stability within our district, the ACS Board held a special called meeting this evening to vote on the appointment of a temporary superintendent. Since we recently had a school board election, we are required by state law to fill the vacancy on a temporary basis. This means we’ll need to revisit this topic by the end of September, either during our scheduled September 24th board meeting or through another special called meeting.

The Board recognizes the need for steady guidance and leadership during Mr. Mayo’s absence. After thoughtful consideration, we have appointed Dr. Allison Clark as our temporary superintendent. Dr. Clark is no stranger to ACS, having served as the Chief of Human Resources since 2020, but her journey in Arlington began in 2010 as the principal of Arlington Middle School.

As Chief of H.R., Dr. Clark has stayed closely connected to the schools and has been responsible for helping recruit and retain teachers and staff, and she often advises and supports principals and administrators on various topics. Throughout her time with ACS, Dr. Clark has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to the success of our students and staff, and her experience at both the school and district levels ensures she understands the needs of our school community. Her dedication to ACS runs deep, both as a leader and as a parent, with her own child now a senior at Arlington High.

The start of a new school year is a time of excitement and opportunity, and we are committed to maintaining the positive momentum that has already been established in our first week of school. Whether you are an employee, parent, or student – you are what makes Arlington Community Schools the special place it is. Together, we will navigate this transition with the same enthusiasm and unity that has defined us for more than a decade. We are confident that under Dr. Clark’s leadership, our tradition of excellence and community-centric spirit will continue.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Clark into this role and in keeping Mr. Mayo in your thoughts and prayers as he fights to come home.

Sincerely,

Scott Benjamin, ACS Board Chairman

ACS Board of Education Members:

Dr. Dale Viox, ACS Board Vice Chairman

Lyle Conley

Jonathan Dunn

Kay Williams