The library at Hazen High School was full of books, full of people, full of tension, and full of decisions Tuesday night (Feb. 24).

In conducting personnel issues, the board voted to hire Bryce Harrison as its new high school principal after the former principal, Amy Marek, resigned late last year for a job with the state. Harrison, a graduate of Des Arc High School, also spent school years in Carlisle. He is currently serving as the high school principal at Crossett schools.

“I’m thankful for this opportunity. I’m thankful for the board extending their confidence in me,” Harrison told The Grand Prairie Herald after the meeting. “I’m ready to get on the job and see what we can do for the kids.”

Harrison and his wife, Heather, and their two kids will be moving to Hazen by July 1 when his 240-day contract starts.

“I value small schools. I’ve got two children and I want them to be raised in a small town,” he said.

The board also approved a full slate of 2026 staff hires recommended by Superintendent Andy Barrett.

While Tuesday night’s meeting ended on the high note of a new principal, it started in tense fashion.

By state law, members of the public are allowed to comment for up to three minutes each at the beginning of the forum. There was obvious disenchantment with the departure of longtime football coach and athletic director Joe Besancon, who has taken over coaching duties at Barton High School.

Besancon, who spoke at the meeting, expressed disbelief that his contract was not renewed after more than 20 years of service at Hazen. He told board members that the “whole district is stagnant” and their priorities were focused on tearing down others.

Later in the meeting, a divided board voted to accept his resignation after a motion to deny it failed.

Former Hazen Superintendent Nanette Belford also spoke in the public comment period. She was critical of the board and current superintendent for their leadership.

She cited the decline of student enrollment in Hazen schools over the last nine years. She claimed the student count had fallen from 636 students to 476 in the last decade.

“The board and this superintendent need to get on the ball or you won’t have a district,” she said.

Hazen school leaders are in the midst of fine-tuning plans for new and renovated buildings on campus, including a Pre-K building, agri science center, girls athletic workout space , and football field house.