The Batesville School Board voted late Thursday night to terminate the employment contract of Superintendent Dr. Ginni McDonald after an appeal hearing lasting more than six hours. This decision followed a May board vote recommending her termination, part of a due process that entitled McDonald to an appeal before final action could be taken.
Thursday’s hearing featured presentations from Mary Carole Young, an attorney with RMP Law who conducted an internal review for the Batesville School District, along with statements from McDonald’s attorney, Jodi Cole, and Jay Beckett, legal counsel for the school district. Witness testimony included accounts from interim Superintendent David Campbell, Preschool Director Mindy Shaw, and other preschool staff.
McDonald had been on administrative leave since February 25, when allegations of abuse at the district’s preschool triggered an investigation. As part of this process, the district hired the northwest Arkansas law firm RMP to conduct an internal review to assess both civil and criminal liability. Board President Scott Fredericks stated at the time that the independent review was meant to preserve objectivity while prioritizing student safety.
The investigation culminated in June with criminal charges against a former Batesville Preschool teacher and two administrators. Donna H. Januchowski, 68, was charged with three counts each of first-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a minor, both class A misdemeanors, following allegations she attacked children in her classroom on January 23. Surveillance footage cited in a probable cause affidavit showed Januchowski allegedly grabbing children by their shirts, restraining one child’s face down with her leg against his neck, and covering another child’s mouth while shaking him.
Two administrators, Lorrie Mae McClure, 52, and Kristi Elizabeth Cox, 56, were also charged with three counts each of failure to notify as mandated reporters, a class A misdemeanor. The affidavit noted that McClure and Cox viewed the classroom footage on the day of the incident and had Januchowski sign internal documentation about her behavior but did not report the conduct to the state child abuse hotline, as Arkansas law requires. The case came to light on February 4 when a state licensing investigator who had reviewed the footage independently reported it to the hotline.
McDonald, who was hired as superintendent in 2025 from the Russellville School District, will now be succeeded in the interim by Assistant Superintendent David Campbell, who has overseen district operations since her suspension.
Further updates will be provided as new information becomes available.