Conway Superintendent Says Athletic Director Greg Hughes was Disciplined….But Is He Telling The Truth ?

Conway School District Athletic Director Greg Hughes has recently become the Poster Child of Double Standards at the District.

In November, December and early January, I brought you the stories of Conway basketball coach Ben Lindsey and award-winning teacher Barbara Tucker being wrongfully terminated.

Both received their termination letters from Black on October 27th of last year with the School Board ultimately voting to accept Black’s recommendation for both.

Lindsey and Tucker both were burned at the stake by Conway Superintendent Jason Black with claims that each violated Policy 3.54—LICENSED PERSONNEL ETHICS for what he deemed inappropriate interaction with students.

In fact, in the Lindsey case, Hughes was pivotal in helping Black turn Lindsey’s career into ashes.

Now on December 7^th of last year, I brought you the story of Hughes violating the same Policy (3.54) that Black had accused Lindsey and Tucker of violating, for physical contact with a student at a Football game.

In the article, I provided you with the statement from Hughes admitting what he had done and apologizing for it….But there was no burning stake for him….He wasn’t even suspended for the incident.

The lack of action by Black against Hughes became a pretty hot topic in the District and Community.

In mid-December, rumors began seeping out of Black’s administration offices that Hughes, while not suspended or terminated, was reprimanded for the incident at the football game.

Now were the rumors true or was this an attempt by Black to fade the heat he was getting on the issue ?

I decided to find out….and I did.

Discipline records of District employees are not public record unless they form the basis for suspension or termination, so you cannot get the rumored reprimand….But there’s more than one way to skin a cat.

What most people don’t know is you can determine if a reprimand was issued by utilizing the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (AFOIA)….Just gotta know what to request.

The law in the AFOIA states that if you request a record and it does not exist, then the custodian of the record has to reply with “No records exist”.

If it does exist but is exempt from the AFOIA, like reprimands, then the custodian has to provide you with the applicable exemption they are claiming.

You can thank attorney and FOIA warrior Joey McCutchen for getting those laws put in place during the 2023 Legislative Session….A huge win for Transparency.

So, on January 14^th I sent an FOI request to Black for the investigation file and disciplinary action taken against Hughes for the incident.

District Chief Legal Counsel, Shastady Wagner, replied on Black’s behalf stating that both records were exempt under the AFOIA and cited the exemptions…. thus stating that Hughes was investigated and disciplined for the incident.

Now was that a true statement or a little white lie by Black ???

Being the sneaky son of a bitch that I am, I then sent another FOI Request to Black on January 16^th for the Employee Contracts for those who conducted the investigation, employees who were interviewed in the investigation, the employee who administered the discipline, then employee who signed the disciplinary action taken, along with more.

You see Employee Contracts are not exempt and are public record….Told you I was a sneaky son of a bitch.

After a lengthy wait for a reply, Black finally ran out of road and Wagner replied on his behalf that no records exist for each contract requested.

Now I don’t play chess, but I believe they call that….Checkmate.

Black has been forced to confirm that Hughes was never investigated or disciplined as he had originally claimed.

Now is anybody surprised by that ?….Like I said, some people tell a lie when the truth sounds better.

The reality is trying to get Truth and Transparency out of Jason Black is harder than trying to comb a Cottonmouth’s hair.

And that’s Facts….not Fiction.

Jimmie Cavin

Professional Bully Fighter I investigate and report on issues around the State of Arkansas with an emphasis on Government. I am strong conservative however I bring Truth and Facts regardless of Party affiliation….My hashtag is #FactsNotFiction