001Good evening and welcome. Can everyone hear me? Okay. So, we're having some technical difficulties. However, uh you should still be able to catch us uh on YouTube. So, no issues there. All right. So, good evening and welcome Thursday, March 12th, and we'll go ahead and call the meeting to order and we'll begin with public comment. Although I don't believe that we have anyone scheduled. Is anyone scheduled for public comment? Do we have anyone? All right. Did you have a public comment, sir? >> No, ma'am. >> Okay. All right. Look like something's on your mind. Okay. All right. All right. So, let's move forward to the consent agenda now. Well, I say that. However, I think that we have celebrations that we generally do. So, let's go ahead and yield the floor to Dr. Wright for
002that. >> All right. We earlier had a reception for our outgoing uh board members. We have five board members who will uh this is their last board meeting and so we're going to continue uh to acknowledge them. We have some special uh gifts and momentos uh to provide to them so they will always remember their experience here serving on the Little Rock School District. And so I'm going to turn it over to Pam first who has >> a tribute >> a original poem >> to the extent that it can be a tribute of gratitude. Tonight we pause with grateful hearts to honor those who played their part, who showed up, stood strong, and chose to serve with steady hands and steadfast nerve. Evelyn Callaway, whose wisdom helped light the way. Vicky Hatter, whose voice spoke
003hope day by day. Mike Mason and Joyce Wesley who worked with vision and care. And Tony Rose whose leadership was always there. Through long agendas and late night calls, through challenges that tested us all, you kept our children at the heart of every vote, every thoughtful start. Because of you, our schools stand tall, stronger today, and ready for tomorrow's call. Your service leaves a lasting mark, a guiding light, a hopeful spark. So tonight we say with gratitude and pride, thank you for the journey, thank you for the ride. Your time, your voice, your faithful stand have helped shape futures all across this land. And though this chapter now may close, the seeds you planted will forever grow. For in every classroom, dream and start, your legacy lives in each student's heart. Thank you for your
004service. >> So, we have a plaque and I'm going to read u this one plaque. It says the same thing for everyone. And then for those of you who have served as president, you get a plaque and a gavvel that you can take home and bang whenever the spirits will lead you. So, um, every plaque says Little Rock School District. Uh, to each of our outgoing board members, you you make a difference. Presented to, and this one is to President Joyce Wesley, LRC board member zone 9. Thank you for your service 2024 to 2026. And so if you can come down and >> you have to hit the gabble. >> Do you really want me to hit this G? >> Thank you. All right. See, now I can't get it back in. >> This one
005is presented to uh M. Michael Mason for your service 2020 to 2026. And we know there's some other years before that, but You want to do >> one, two, three. to Miss Vicky Hatter, LRC board member zone 6. Thank you for your service 2020 to 2026. >> Yes. Just once it ready. One, two, three. >> Okay. And you did this, too. Oh, >> was that was that was that was the one >> bigger than me. Okay, >> thank you. >> One, two, three. We all gave I gave remarks earlier and I'm not going to prolong this but to Miss Callaway. So good to see you number one. Um am I going to cry? I cry. You will be missed. Um you will be missed. So, thank you for not just your years of service as
006a board member, uh, but for all of your years of service to the Little Rock School District as a teacher. You forever remind us u about your first call in, your first job, um, all the different places you work. And so, we want to thank you for your service um, as an employee and as a board member. And I'll come up there so you don't have to walk. >> Ready? One, two, three. >> And last, but definitely not least, Mr. Tony Rose. Let's give one last applause to all of OUR >> and I think that is it for celebrations. >> We have one more celebration. Miss Hatter. >> Okay. So, um, thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, it's truly been an honor serving, uh, the city of Little Rock on the Capital City School Board. Um,
007and I know we're I'm leaving, but I thought of some people that, um, I wanted to recognize. Um, you'll get the the the letter, uh, later, but, one, um, person is Miss um, Smith, Pamela Smith, for all of the work that uh you do in our district. It uh does not go unnoticed. And actually, I'm going to just read a small snippet of it just so you all know. It's a letter from me to you and it just says, "It is an honor both as a member of the school board and as someone preparing to transition from the seat to recognize a woman who is truly the heartbeat of our communications." Pamela Smith for decades have been more than just a director. You have been the steady guide, the guiding hand through every season this
008district have faced. I wasn't expecting to turn up. I knew um coming coming from a background in national on air journalism I know sorry I know better than most the weight that words words carry. I know that it takes it takes to to be known as the voice, the voice of the story, our story. Pamela, you have you haven't just you haven't just been the voice of Little Rock School District. You are that voice. It is a voice of clarity in times of confusion, of celebration, in times of triumph, in times of unwavering circumstances. Your dedication to our students and families is unparalleled. Your mastery isn't just what it is said, but in how you you have us all come together. You have even got me together before several times. Your attention to detail in
009orchestrating our events, ensuring everyone feels seen and honoring every milestone is a testament to your professionalism and your heart. You have guided us through some of the most trying times whether it's cyber security attacks or just you know how it is just being in public the public eye. You created the spaces where our community truly feels like a family. May God continue to bless you and and let his light shine upon you and through you and your family. You just as you have shown your light to all of us. So please accept this small token as a symbol of appreciation for your service with respect and warm regards. ME and I just have it's a I have two more and one of them I'm not going to read all the way um because that person
010have already retired but I am going to our board clerk who is also the have been an executive to many um superintendent as well Let's foyer the foyer person Valerie Hudson. It is a profound honor to to share these to as I conclude my tenure on the school board in in this evershifting landscape of education. There are very few consistents, but you have been one of those steady hearts of the Little Rock School District for nearly four decades. Your 30 Your 39 years, if that's wrong, that's what someone told me, of of dedication represent far more than just time served. You are a living legacy and a beautiful rare gem in the community. Through throughout the years, you have supported a long secession of superintendent, board, staff, and the public through the foyer request, of
011course, cuz those Yeah. Um it and it is your keen eye for detail that kept the wheels turning and kept us all in line. You have a rare gift of navigating the complex complexities of this district with grace, ensuring that nothing is ever overlooked that passes your eyes. As my board service comes to an end, I find solace knowing uh that your service continues. The um the district of course is a better place uh with you in it. And of course, my ending just as I did before. May God continue to bless you and shine his light upon you and your family. And please accept this uh token at this small token as a symbol of my appreciation for your service uh with respect um me. So you you'll get that one. And the last
012one uh this is last and I'm not going to read it all. um he has since retired but uh we have done work together and um even um our superintendent have helped um in in in this work and he's retired and his name is Eric Jackson. He did um athletics for a while and um just for him it it says in part um Mr. uh Jackson for your extraordinary service and dedication to our students and staff and community. I I appreciate uh you and write this letter to express that Mr. Jackson's uh contribution to the athletics department went far beyond the call of duty. He was not just an employee. He was the heartbeat behind countless programs and shaped our our student athletes experience from football to volleyball to track. You name it. Mr. Jackson
013was there with every aspect with unmatched energy and care for organizing practice spaces whenever they kind of got out of whack. Um, managing game days, ensuring, you know, just making sure everything was handled seamlessly. And for me, what makes Mr. Jackson truly remarkable is how much he gave personally out of his own pocket. He covered outside expenses for six and goal, which is what our sixth graders have. You know, a volleyball, a track, or basketball for our sixth graders. He hosted and catered award ceremonies and supported student athletes in ways that spoke to his deep love for the youth sports and education. His commitment was not about recognition. It was about ensuring every child had an experience to play, grow, and succeed. Eric Jeff Jackson was the person, the coach, staff, and parents would always
014look on and call upon, the one who showed up early, stayed late, and made sure everything ran smoothly. His absence and retirement is deeply um felt throughout throughout the district and beyond. There is u no doubt that his influence have reached across generations leaving a lasting impact kind of like a fossil you and if you think about fossils you can always go back and kind of tells a story there. Okay. And so, um, and again, my signature closure, which is, um, oh, I gotta mention this part. Our, uh, independent youth athletic league, uh, they service like 900 to a thousand of, um, students. Most of them are Little Rock School District students. And so um he have worked with them and we had uh he have held um uh awards ceremonies for those coaches and
015um Dr. Right. And um I we have been out we have um given out those awards um even with um just over then I've been doing it the full six years or well not six years cuz co but about four years whenever they came back and then um so we truly appreciate that and um I know uh Mr. Jackson would definitely want wanted me to tell you thank you for uh showing up uh to those awards ceremonies every spring. So with that just I want to appreciate uh him as well um right as he have already retired and um yeah so these letters uh these will go out and then of course we have I I would be remiss not to say anything about uh Mrs. Nancy Russo um and another decades she's been around.
016She's been that steady steady hand. She have led through a lot of just a lot a lot of things and changes and um I would be remiss not to acknowledge you and to honor you in this space right as um you have served our district and our city um both here locally and nationally. So thank you All right. Thank you so much, Miss. All right. So, we'll move right along to the consent agenda. And I'll entertain a motion. Have one. I move that the LRC board of education approve the consent agenda items as follows. 3.1, round one. A staff recommendations for 2627 school year prek and elementary only 3.2 personnel recommendation principal central high >> second. It's been moved and properly second that the LRC board of education approved consent agenda items as follow 3.1
017round 1A staff recommendations for 2627 school year prek and elementary only and then 3.2 to recommend personnel recommendations. Principal Central High School. It's been moved and properly second. All in favor say I. >> I know. Any oppose? The motion carries. >> All right. >> CONGRATULATIONS. And thank you so much, Miss Russell, for what you have done. It's been immeasurable. Absolutely. All right. We'll move forward to item. >> Yes. Finance, >> right? >> Yep. >> So, this is the last item on our special agenda and it is the um we're asking the board to uh approve the budget reduction framework. Um, as we discussed previously, we know that um, we weren't going to get to our target by the time this board ended. So, we got as close as we possibly could. Um, we give this
018board an opportunity to, um, approve this before the new board takes on. And as I stated in the last communication to you, the only difference um between this version that you are asked to give um the vote on tonight and the last one that you saw is that we did look at all of the current vacant positions that we have now that are budgeted that are included in our budget. And we went through based upon our enrollment projections for next year and uh reduce those um that we don't intend to fill moving forward for next year. And so that equated to another a little over I think it's like 1.1 million that is the only addition since the last time we saw adopted. >> Okay. >> So questions. >> I do have something just to
019bring up and this might be um something that um members of of this board that's uh continuing on to our seven member uh board. I did um hear from recently, so I really couldn't um look too much into this, but the early childhood um centers, particularly the coordinators and I believe some teachers, they are expressing concerns about uh their significant cut between being they are principles, but because they're over early childhood centers, they are seen as coordinators and so they are taking about a $18,000 cut um total in in totality. I um there they will lose days uh when when we look at that. And so they're actually taking a more of a bigger cut because there was already I believe a gap of of of that. And so it's causing some level of alarm
020within their ranks. Um so I'm saying this I'm lifting this up um for it to be looked into. uh because we definitely don't want to work so hard to get those high achieving marks in six-star centers to then cut the pay and then we have a rotating you know it forc I don't want to say it like this um folks have to feed their families and so we don't want to cut their pay to where they are starting to look for other employment within the district or outside of the district and so um I I I'm doing my due diligence and I'm bringing that to light um for someone uh to look at that from a lens of equity, but also look at coordinators like principles because they still have their schedules, they still have
021curriculum, they aren't just playing with children and watching them eat and all of those good things. They're actually um teaching them. So, I just wanted to bring that up um because that would that's the easiest thing that I can bring up. >> Other questions or comments? Yes. Yes, Lesie. Thank you. I'm ready to make a motion and if we get a second, I'd like to comment on that motion. >> I would move that the LSD board of education approved the recommendation detailed in the FY27 budget reduction framework pending document. >> Second. >> It's been moved and probably second comment. >> Thank you. So, just a few comments. One is um the comment you know it's we have been several of us have been here when we've been able to vote for salary increases and you
022know salary schedule adjustments in a positive view and those are really joyful votes to be able to take and when we we get to that place this is not a a joyful vote to take this is a vote really with sadness and regret that we are in a place that we have to look at these very difficult things and it affects people and um and you know we know that the bulk of our budget is people and if we're going to be able to have a sustainable budget as enrollment goes down that there's there's not a a realistic way that that people will not be impacted. So we take that very seriously and respect that. I also want to um express appreciation for the process that we've been through in the recent months. So, we've
023thought about this. We've had things presented. We've had opportunity to talk. Public has had an opportunity to weigh in and and it's really been I think really transparent and helpful to get to this place. We're just as Dr. Ry mentioned doesn't get us to the end. We still have work to do, but but I think that this is a responsible move in the direction we have to go considering the realities that we're dealing with. >> Other comments or questions? >> Just a clarity. Um just and this is just just for those that are that are watching that will watch. Um I will also provide clarity in lift lifting up that if a person is making $120,000 or more to $3,000 to to $300,000. um they are not going to feel that $5,000 $6,000 cut the
024way someone making 50 6070 um $80,000 is is going to feel. So although early childhood have not been a focus for the board as far as pay scale, um I do think it's important to make sure that we understand that when these cuts and these further cuts happen, our folks on the campus is going to feel that the most. And so we need to be more as a board I would ask for the incoming board to look at higher salaries because even if a say a person's giving up $5,000 that's only five days of work if if they're making $1,000 a day. You see what I'm saying? Versus someone making $60,000 giving up seven or $10,000. They're going to feel that that's going to be a lifestyle change for them. And so I I just
025wanted to lift that up as right as these budget talks continue um beyond. So that was my clarity >> questions, comments. Okay. So it's been moved to properly second that uh the LRSD board of education approved recommendations detailed in the FY27 budget reduction framework planning document. All of those in favor say I. I. >> Any oppose? The motion carries. >> All right. All right. So, if uh if there is nothing else and if there's no opposition, we stand in char. Moving on to the agenda. >> I wanted to get up. >> I know. Can you believe it? You can't believe it. >> I wanted to get up. >> Moving on to the agenda meeting again. and you are welcome. And all right, we're going to go ahead and go down to draft agenda for 319,
026the first board meeting of the reconfigured boards. You'll take a look at that if we have any comments. >> So, the internet is down. So, um from what I remember, I can tell you what is on there. Um, and I know um, five of you will not be continuing on with with us, but um, one of the forgett one of the first things that was on there was a discussion um, around how the four whoever is returning I can't I'm losing count. whoever is returning and the new board members who are coming. There was discussion around how that meeting will be facilitated until officers and Mr. Rose >> sent in something um that was very similar to what David and Chris had already proposed and so I just wanted to I guess we could talk
027about it so we can and I know Anna's not here but >> yeah you and I talked about this in January same thing. >> Okay and I talked to her about this >> I can describe it easily. It's uh if if our current chair chooses not to attend that meeting, then the vice chair and would uh preside in the first order of business. It's not at four, it's not down at 441, it's 1.2. The first order of business is to elect officers. >> And as I said in my uh message, people might disagree with this. They have good reason for it. I would recommend if there is if any of the races are contested that you do it by secret ballot. The last time we elected officers, we wound up some of us wound up
028voting yes and no for the same person and it was a little confusing when you go when you go down the line asking somebody how they vote. It's fine. It's not it's not so much I want a secret ballot as I want clarity and just seven votes instead of an extra vote. Um, oh, and if Anna's not elected president, she immediately as soon as a new president is elected, Anna from the gab with them, they conduct from there. >> And another point to be made is that um all of us would still need to return back to the room on March 19th because we are still elected until March 19th. And so, Madame Chair, you will already be here. Um, if if if you're here, are you going to be here? I won't be here.
029>> Wherever I choose. >> Okay. So, um and so yeah, I I I I just wanted to uh lift that up because even even though we are friends, I mean we we then we banter back and forth like this. So anyway, um, so the point of what I'm saying is we we are still elected until the new board is sworn in and we and those of us that are not, you know, continuing on, we still have to come just in case that person doesn't show up because then say we we will have to sit until um that that per this seat is filled again. You know what I'm saying? So That's that's that >> and I agree this I just want you to provide some clarity. I know you responded um but I don't remember
030what you said about the secret ballot thing. >> Ordinarily uh in a public body I would I would disfavor a secret ballot. >> I said there were there were good reasons. >> Um but I I don't see any reason why we couldn't do a roll call vote which would capture the same thing and then that vote would be done in a public. So that viewers at home and such >> I readily concede. >> Yeah. I mean and your and your email says that I mean you weren't you weren't dogmatic about it. So I agree. Um and then the process I also agree should be that there be an election of officers and as director Hatters mentioned uh you all will be uh board members right up until the moment that the new board member is
031sworn and then we will have the circuit clerk as I understand it here on that evening to receive uh swearing papers and then statute says there's a a process where the circuit clerk receives those and then contacts superendent And at that point board member's legal. Uh so to have the circuit clerk here will basically be that declare that they are legal at that point and then your board service will officially end. Um so that's that's kind of the process and it does make sense to elect officers and then either right thereafter or shortly thereafter in the agenda uh there'll need to be a draw for the two or four year terms. >> Yeah. So that'll those will be your those will be the steps that will need to be undertaken I think to make the
032the agenda more clear as to who's doing what and in what role and capacity >> and attorney can you um because this is what we did before uh we did this exact same pro just as you're saying it um with the draw um you would how would that just be some P piece of paper, which is very simple. We last time we did bingo balls, but seven pieces of paper in there would probably be easier. >> Um, you know, the a number of years ago, the the House of Representatives did it with numbers in a fishbowl. Um, and then my understanding is the Palaski County special would do it with straws. >> Mhm. >> Um, >> more dramatic. It is pretty exciting that way. And if you had if you had somebody like me cutting
033straws, then I'd be super weird because I'd make none of them uniform. >> Um, but whatever that process is so that it's it's open and random. Um, so that it's it's clear to the the members of the board and to the public at large what's what's being done so that you conform to the requirements of statute. How that's done to accomplish the randomness I'm pretty open to, but it makes sense to put numbers in a fishbowl. Twos and fours, but that's that's probably something that'll I mean, if you guys want to talk about that further. >> No, please. I mean, there go the answer. I mean, you gave us that solution. Twos and fours in a fish bowl and let them pull. >> Sounds good. >> Yeah, >> it makes a lot of sense. >>
034Absolutely. >> Other questions? >> Yes. >> Yeah. My suggestion on that would be, you know, with with the absence of our president that you know just like anything else we it would fall to the person who's serving as vice president until to help us plan that meeting you know until um we have a new president and so those kind of questions I would I would just ask you to confer with our vice president and work it out from there I did have a question about though the misster's point about >> continuing on as board members because it seems to me and just it just seems from a sense perspective and not a legal perspective. What I want to ask is that um so the new members would be signed in. >> But if we if
035we thought about a situation where the new member was not here because they were ill, an accident, something happened that prohibited them from being here. then it seemed to me like that that U position would just be vacant until we had somebody sworn in because we're going there's not a one to one correspondence between a nine member board and a and a seven member board. And so that seven that board zone of the one through seven would just not have a represent representative until that person's sworn in. And then if something terrible happened and they could not serve, then we would have to go back to our policies and appoint somebody who didn't follow the policy that we would fill a vacancy. Is that correct or do you see a different way? >> You are
036you are perfectly articulating my nightmare. >> Yes. um under the statute u and understand this is in normal world if you didn't have a redistricting in the same and you had an equal number of board members from election to election uh then your policies and state law allow for a holdover term. So unless and until the new board member is sworn there would be a holdover by policy and by statute. What makes that cumbersome in this circumstance is that you're going from nine to seven. Uh so you don't have a one to one correspondence on somebody holding over. So as it relates to me for a new board member, if we got to wheel them in on a gurnie, that's what I am for. Give them fluids. You guys are all probably way too young
037to remember the old show Emergency where they're going to start a drip at D5W or whatever and Johnny Gage and and Roy Dodto. >> I'm dating myself a lot. But >> don't we all enjoy the changes, the growth and personality? >> No, this is the day that we get in regular meetings. >> I'm just pleased he doesn't just, you know, did the first meeting here quiet. But could we like just be I mean even with that right um for right we don't want anyone of the three new members that's coming on board to have something terrible happen to them and so we don't want to speak that into their existence because um it's just you know because because the your your future they it lies within your words right so um even with the holdover
038over. And then if if we're looking at who will be held over, then that would be only would be director Mason's seat. Uh my seat and Rose's seat. >> Mine actually those sort of correspond I I had an opponent in an election. So that makes me think that, you know, mine does have a one to one correspondence to the election. >> Well, mine does. I mean, well, my he the person who's going to sit in here, I mean, a man, he'll be fine as well as everybody else that's coming on. But I do understand the conversation, but do we need to spend a lot of time on on on this speaking about ill will happening to someone else? If the concern that, you know, Vicky Hav is going to have to hold over, I'm I'm
039sure I'm I'm not going to be the one holding. I >> I find it an unlikely circumstance. Most people when they get elected are are very eager to to get going. Uh and I would fully expect that. Uh but if if for some reason somebody was unavoidably absent, um then the statute allows for for hold over. And on the positive side, as long as you have under your rules uh four people, you have a quorum to conduct business. So it would >> it may cure itself even if that were to occur. I >> I may have misheard you and not a big deal, but the selection of officers should be the first thing then do the draw. >> That's okay. Somebody said something the other way. >> No, that makes that makes more sense to
040me. >> I'm glad you brought that. All right. So, if um >> there's nothing else. Absolutely. If there's nothing else, thank you so much. >> Okay. >> Yeah. You can't see it because we can't we don't have the internet. But the the only other thing that was on that agenda was um the the proposal from a couple years ago, the council of great city schools, the board training, there was a space on the agenda for them to come back and talk about that training again with the new board to see if that is something that the new board wanted to do. That was the only other thing that was on the 19th agenda. a year and five months. I didn't get to do that. >> Did that how long ago he voted for that? >>
041Yeah. Yes. >> You know what I would say on that? Just I mean I'm not going to be here. >> Um just just just for um I guess maybe continuity and allowing them to kind of get in. I wouldn't have that on the first meeting agenda. I would have that maybe in April or um April or definitely April. until like they're able to get in and understand it. Well, not understand it, but realize they're on the board and then that first agenda meeting in April, they're able to have that instead of putting that on the business meet, the March business meeting, because technically whatever we're talking about now, >> we it should be for next week. you know that that is what I would madam chair I would ask for that to be moved to
042an April meeting and taken off the draft agenda for uh March for for the next >> but that's how we wound up it being a year and five months we kept just >> no no no no we I don't know how we did that because there was multiple dates set on that so I I I personally I don't know but I'm glad we didn't that was $60,000 for 12 hours so but the options. >> Okay. >> Oh, the options. >> Yes. >> I was Well, I don't want to be >> No, sure. >> I was saying what what is on the agenda is not for them to make a decision about anything. It is to talk about the options are available >> for training. It's it's um the he'll be talking about the original plan,
043the idea, what it looks like. It's not for them to make a decision. And we also threw in a couple of other options um just for them to start thinking about what they want what path they want to pursue. So this is just it's just presentation information is not >> for them to >> and if no vote >> and if right now there's nothing >> on the agenda but for the election of officers and drawing of the So >> is that the only thing on the agenda? >> And so like no no business is going to take place next week? No, because this is a but we we didn't want to bring >> stuff for them to actually vote on because this will be their first time here. >> Got you. >> Yeah. So that
044that is is >> and they're not here to talk about what they want to >> nothing there's nothing >> that also >> related to that and I've I've emailed all of you about it. uh the the new members the new members need to have a thorough uh onboarding of the district who who who does what let them see their faces but also I'll make some work for Mr. because if I can since they're going to be here next Thursday and there's not going to be a meeting perhaps someone could go over some the the the broad strokes of parliamentary procedure so that they'll uh be ready for the next meeting they'll be here and surely they wouldn't have made appointments to be somewhere else >> well that's what we did and then when we came
045back I mean typically that that is what happens at your first meeting so when we came back we had all that we did norming teaming We did our colors. What type of person? Color. I'm a I don't know. Orange and No, I was gold. I'm I am an analytical person who like that. I ask a bunch of questions and it was >> three of us on here that was like that. So, um, and so that meeting was for that setting. We we didn't do a lot of we didn't do business. is we just kind of set it up a little bit and yeah and just did the the only thing we voted on was our officers. >> Sounds perfect. Any other comments? >> I do like somebody who's going to be here next time. I
046do like that idea of >> of um of having a chance to have some discussion >> Yeah. about how the board wants to go forward, you know, for itself and functioning, you know, together and and and we'll have to have the, you know, we'll need to have routine business, you know, that will be there, you know, financial reports and if there's any more personnel things to approve and so there'll be some of those routine things, but I appreciate the light schedule in order to allow us to do some of those brainstorming and figuring out where to go next. >> Be sure to do that after you adjourn meeting. >> Okay. >> Just talking back and talking back and forth is great. You need to do that. But I would adjourn the meeting first. So the
047talking back and forth is not uh since it's going to be I don't know. It's intuitive. I can't figure out how to say it. It would be best to not have it as a part of a of a business >> formalized formal meeting. Sure. Does that make sense to you, Miss Chairman? >> It makes sense. Um, I think that I think that just structuring it in a way that is formalized because we generally have discussion matters and so if there's someone who might facilitate that discussion, sounds like it would be, you know, appropriate. Well, >> I appreciate Mr. Hatter's memory. early days I don't remember very clearly those long zoom meetings in the beginning but but I do think um but you know even if we have a little bit of discussion of brainstorming where
048we might decide to do it at the next month at the agenda we need to have a broader discussion >> you know but to be able to plant some seeds so that we could have a a more informed discussion at that time >> and I would like to just bring this thing back up um for those that may remember Uh, I suggested for us to put an end time and whatever doesn't um get taken care of um by that end time, whether it's 8:30 or early or whatever um to where it's it's more structured. But if we go back to how at one point we was doing really really good about with our agenda meetings, we only talked about what was going to be on the business agenda and we didn't use our agenda meetings
049as we have the last few years, right? where we'll talk about we'll have a whole agenda and then when the business meeting comes it's another agenda that we didn't hear anything about but then we're voting on and there's a lot of emails that goes back and forth for us to vote on something that we didn't talk about in in the agenda meeting. So if we can go back um to how we were the first three two years, three years um that would that will be great because it it provided structure and then we kind of got away from that which then the walls just was gone. >> You know how I feel about structure? As long as it's going my way, I'm for it. >> When it's not, I'm not. We have a hand down
050there, Mr. Rose. >> I'm sorry. >> I said we have a hand down there. >> I don't look at him. I forget. >> I know. >> Mr. Bal, I'm sorry. I just wanted to make sure I acknowledged him. >> Uh, no. I I was just been talking about the next meeting. Uh, I know we had the um state of the district address yesterday and so um to the new board members and the people that weren't at the state of the district address just to have some knowledge of some of the things that Dr. right might have brought up in that address if there are like is a summary just that we can give to the new up and coming members on the board so that they can kind of know some things about I guess
051the last year or so just to give them some knowledge about things that'll be expected and moving forward just some information that's all >> thank you >> I was going to say before Miss Hatter heard Mark I was going to say that I hope that the four of You won't intimidate the other three into hurrying. There's nothing wrong with being here on 10:00. And if there's a hearing after that that lasts an hour and a half, there's nothing wrong with that. Y'all have got you got to get over the idea that you have to hurry because when we hurry, we make mistakes or we or people don't get an opportunity to express themselves. I I just that's I I'm just going to say it again. It doesn't hurt to be here for a while. It's
052once a month. It's notice. Well, the agenda meetings are different. Agenda meetings can be just cut off. Everybody gets mad and goes home. But with a a regular business meeting, it's once a month. It's not going to kill anybody to stay up late. Even if it's a school day, next day, which it is, it's just something you it's a part of the job. >> So, so anything else on this particular agenda item? No, I don't tell. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Let's let's not uh let's be careful about how we speak because I don't think we've been rushing anybody. I mean, we have been here late and you do have uh you do respect everybody's time. So, let's not throw out all this negativity about what we should and shouldn't do. And besides, the new board
053will determine how they want to conduct their business from that point on. So, your ideas are great. Uh, I'm sure they're listening, but I think when the new board comes on, there new ideas and new ways to do things. So, let's not >> Well, I think that's exactly what I want. I don't want the four returning members to tell the other three, we've got to get out of here by 10:30 >> or 10 or 9:30 or any any given time because then they'll if they start off with just a tiny little edge of intimidation, it'll last and they'll think we have to get out of here quick. >> Trust me. Anything else on this particular agenda item? >> No. >> Just real quick, I do want to add um so that everybody is aware, all
054three of the incoming board members were invited to our district leadership team meeting on Thursday, even though we had a little fire incident outside of the school that threatened the meeting. Um but they did have an opportunity to meet all of the district leaders and to know their roles and what they do. And so we have we we do need to have a formalized um orientation process, but this was our first step. um so that they won't enter their first meeting at least knowing who the district leaders are and what they're doing they had an opportunity to to to ask questions and all that. So we we have started we can start that this week. >> Okay. And um madam chair if if this is just along with putting together the the orientation is um
055the national schoolboard association and have the effective school board member and so that book is is I mean it's nuts and bolts like school boards across the country we do the same thing uh we are the compliance piece we're the accountability piece we are the collaborate collaborators we are the liaison we are the political arms terms of the district. Um, every school district across the country as long as they're elected, uh, that's their role. Um, so, uh, in that they'll, it has a great introduction. I mean, I spent a lot of time, um, being trained both in-house as well as out of house with with with them. And then um the last thing I do want to say because this is really important because um when uh grievance hearings and present >> more comments coming
056up. >> Oh no. This is >> Oh no no no. I'm done after this because I'm hopefully we can get out of here soon. Oh it's it's my daughter's birthday. She's 22. >> Yeah. Um so uh grievance hearings and uh uh personnel hearings those are two separate things and and the board um not all members of the board understood that. And so uh and sometimes even from a district standpoint, it was a grievance a grievance hearing was treated as a personnel hearing hearing and making sure that that training happens to where make making sure that training happens um to where they understand the difference and to a board president is able to preside over uh these hearings and grievances. is um and so like you don't always have to pay somebody to come in to
057preside uh over a hearing. >> It's not a formal meeting. >> What is it thinking? >> It's agenda. >> Okay. >> All right. Go ahead. Did you have a comment um on this particular agenda? I think that let the new people be new. >> We had it figured out six years ago now. They need to get to work together and they'll figure it out, you know, really because I think a lot of things, you know, will make people confused. So, let's, you know, How we supposed to do this all? >> We're talking about the meeting. >> I know what you're talking about. >> Yes, ma'am. >> That's the reason why they appoint the board. >> I mean, it's an we're talking about their agenda. >> I know that. >> Okay. >> But I think that
058the u u >> I know what you're saying. >> It it went on too long. >> I know what you're saying. >> I mean, really. And I would like to get out of here. >> Yes, sir. And even though I enjoy your company and that's I mean really we need to move on. >> All righty. >> M what's on the agenda? >> Okay. So the next Yes. The next um item would be board comments which is what I was inviting you guys to go to. Any more comments? >> Oh god. I I wrote a farewell address, but I didn't bring it. So, I'm not the the the character of the board when I came on. I came on after uh immediately after a a uh terrible conflict of some sort, but I did set out
059to make all of you my friends, and I think I did. That was I felt like that was an important aspect of getting this board to function because you were dysfunctional for the first two meetings after I got here. I mean, it was a lot of glaring and hollering and I couldn't I couldn't take it. I had to do something to be friends with everybody in hall so that I could be so the board would be cemented together through something. And um I probably brag on myself too much, but I think I think I did a good job of that. And I would hope that the four going forward will remember that you need to be friends. You might don't have to love one another and invite them to your house, but you need to
060be friendly. You need to be friends. Greg told me, I don't remember if it was first time we had lunch or if it was the first meeting or something. He said, "I always try to be there by 4:30 so we can break bread." that that needle that we get fed that is that is where I did my work to fix the things I saw is wrong with this board. When you're in a social setting, you can you can get to know each other and understand what people's strengths and weaknesses are. And just don't forget that. And I'm not going to be gone for a long time, but don't forget it. I'll be here to remind you something. That's my question. >> Madam Chairman, I just want to say thank you to all the citizens and
061the stakeholders in Little Rock School District. Thank you for allowing me to serve be a public servant. Uh I've worked for the city of Little Rock, work for the mayor of North Little Rock. I work for the federal government for over 40 years. So public service is who I am and I will be continuing to do that as a Arkansas state representative, District 79. I want to say thank you very much. Yes, sir. Mr. Adams, >> thank you. More was said as appropriate when we had a reception earlier today, but I do just want to say thank you in this setting to all our board members who are leading their service. Thank you for your time and service. Nobody will know. Nobody ever knows how much time and energy and effort that goes into it.
062We appreciate that and we wish the best in whatever the next chapter holds for you. I'd like to uh >> Okay. I'd like to um thank and I want to let you know that my constituents I tried to bring up the things that needed to be brought up or questions that you had that you posed to me. Now, this is a difficult job. Don't let anybody tell you that it's not. You really have to be it's about the kids and about the educators. Uh I know we had to make some bud budget cuts, but if you want to find out where the money went, check the check place over there on State Street. Yeah. And uh state capital. We had money. And people need to understand that this is not personal because CTE was my
063area. Don't blame the board. Blame Sarah. >> Absolutely. >> A commercial. >> Put it where you know, put it where it belongs. Cuz I got tired and said, "Well, the board did this." But we have We don't have the money cuz she took it. >> But we praying for y'all. >> It's not an easy job. They need to have we we should have been getting a sal. >> Oh gosh. >> Yes. >> All right. >> I'll just go next down the the row. Um, I already said thank you guys um for uh just thank you guys for um supporting and and uh just supporting uh me through this time and serving on the board. I do deal um with what all my colleagues said as far as um this is not an easy job and
064and part of and part of it not being easy. It is right when you're looking at all of the information we get. We get a lot of information. We get things that never make it into the public eye. Um that are pretty serious things. Um, and then we also, um, there was a political component to it. Um, it's not always saying it is the state issue and that you can't hold us accountable because you're supposed to hold us accountable because we come out and we ask you guys to go vote. And so like you, so we can't have it both ways. So what I would say is make sure you understand how to engage the school board. the school board. You should engage them. Schoolboard members, individual members. You should engage individual members the same
065way you do city council, the same way you do state legislators because we are them. The only difference is we are not paid a salary. And so like we are true public servants when you really think about that because I don't know if y'all how many times have I been on on the news? All of that stuff wasn't true. Some of it was put political a lot of it was put political theater, right? to get you to and it's politics, right? Some of it turned personal. But at the same time, I want you guys to understand, don't let school boards off off the hook and and and say, "Oh, you know, they're only doing what the state says, so why do you vote for us? Why do why do we pay to get on the
066ballot?" You guys have to really think about about that. And so if you guys see something on the ballot and I know that um I as I'm saying about to say this and then I hear staff saying you know we we don't want to impact our jobs and things like that but is it is your constitutional right to talk to school board members. It is your constitutional right to organize and get um folks together to pressure us to or or to help us understand or pressure us to vote a certain way and not go along to get along which is status quo. And so I want you guys to understand um how to engage us which is the same way you eng about education and so many people come down to the capital for education
067but it's crickets at the local level and most of the damage is being done at the local level. Most of these things that happens, it could be turned around or else we can be creative and write a policy or do things differently or word things differently to where we are in confines to where we are abiding by the law, but at the same time having compassion and having equity. And so my parting words is engage more with with the um school board. Don't look at us like, "Oh, they're you guys give us way too many passes." Way too many passes. So, that's all I wanted um to say on that. And yeah. Oh, and I did get a little uh a letter from the um legislator. It just talked about the time of service and
068the advocacy work that um was done prior to um me coming on on on onto the school board. So I am appreciative of that as well as the lifetime um u award uh I received for serving. So that was cool. >> Uh yes. >> Yes ma'am. >> Um I don't look at it as being a hard job, a difficult job. I don't even look at it as being a problem. My why is the students and my how is how do we get them there? So to me I feel strongly that a board meeting should be 80% about your students and the data and the other 20% should be about the other. Now I know that's protocol every situation. I feel strongly that you need to follow protocol because eventually it will probably end up here
069if you're not satisfied. So if you don't follow protocol somewhere in between you're going to have some problems. You're going to have a mixup. It's going to go this way. This going to go that way. So we must understand protocol and we must understand order. So I would say to the board members, I think you're going to do great. There's a lot of learning to do. Please be a self-thinker because people to me that are not self thinkers are easily influenced. So when you come aboard, be that self-inker. Follow the data. Listen, pay attention and be okay with whatever decision you make because it is all about your decision and once you make it, it's made. But do that in the way that you feel it should be done. >> Any comments? >> I got
070one short thing that commented earlier. >> I tried to influence everybody on this board and never succeeded. So don't expect to be able to influence a lot of them. >> Any comments? >> Many hands make light work. See y'all next week. >> I love that. >> What was that? Many hands make light work. >> Many hands make light work. See you next week. >> All right. And one other comment. Maintain authenticity. That's what I want to say. >> Um I think that um we do a lot. We say a lot. Um some things need to be done, some things don't. Some things need to be said, some don't. I um I liken it to the parable about the two lumberjacks. One mama Jack works tirelessly without breaks while the other takes regular play breaks. The
071second producing more because they use time to sharpen their acts highlighting the value of efficiency, self-improvement and rest. Be wise and welloing and other comments comments. >> Okay, thank you so much and we are excused. Thank you. This is practice for what's to come.