001Evening May 15, 2025 agenda. Go ahead and call the meeting to order where we do have a quorum. So, we're going to move forward with district celebrations. Thank you. Pleasure for me to be with you tonight and particularly so because you see this stack Dumbar's been working hard and we're here to celebrate them. All of these are partnerships that I'm going to introduce to you on behalf of D on behalf of Dumbar. So, I'm going to ask Principal Kaine and Charlotte Joiner Watson, our our teacher um partnership liaison to please come up here and join me. Dr. Wright and would it be director Johnson? She's smiling. She's like, "The paparazzi is ready for me. Come on up. Y'all can stand right here." And as we introduce these partners, um, we can take a quick photo
002and then at the end, if any of you would like to say something on behalf of the partnerships, we will certainly let you get right over there so we can get a photo when when they come up. Okay. The first one that I'd like to introduce to you is Arkansas Teachers Federal Credit Union. Is anyone in the house tonight on behalf of the credit union? No. Okay. Can we get a f photo? Do I need to take this? Okay, I can multitask. Um, but we're excited about Arkansas Teacher Federal Credit Union because they're going to help the school with financial literacy. Of course, it's a perfect fit. And of course, it's not only going to apply to students, but staff and parents as well. And I know that um the credit union manager Sandy Becker,
003which is a a familiar name to many of us, is excited about this partnership at Dumbar. And so are we. Right. So, we got that photo done. All right. So, our second partnership is with Dollar General and this is on John Barrow. We're gonna Anybody here from Dollar General? Well, we're we're we're pleased that Corey Willis, the uh manager, agreed to this partnership. Schools need partnerships like this because not only is it a good resource to teach students basic customer service and retail, but it also is a good resource for general supplies when we need it and when they find that it's appropriate to ask for it, right? So, we appreciate Dollar General um partnering with them. All right. And our third Let me make sure this is right. Yeah, third uh partnership is skin
004fix. I hope I can get an appointment there. Now, the thing that I love about this is these young students are interested in cosmetology stuff and this is a great partnership. We're thrilled that they're going to offer that. So, you know, uh this is something that but they're not going to just focus on that. They've also agreed to support like Christmas meals and and support for students and things like that. So, thank you to Med Well, I'm sorry, Skin Fix Med Spot. There we go. Okay, so next up is Second Baptist Church. Now, I know I saw Pastor Pel. We're glad you made it. Thank you. This is not a stranger to us. Second Baptist on John Barrow supports a lot of uh uh our district endeavors and we're grateful that they're stepping up to
005the MA play to make their partnership with Dumbar official. So thank you very much for that and I would like would you like to have say something on behalf of the partnership at all? Um we're just excited excited to partner seeing what we can do with Dumbar. They may not hear you. We just excited to partner with Dumbar. That's one of our missions of our pastor is to get into the community and so we just want to see what we can do and help in any possible way possible. Thank you. We love it. Okay. And then next up is Verizon. Verizon Little Rock. And we Huh. Verizon. Anybody have a Verizon phone? Business solutions are important. You know, all of our students have smart devices, but it's really important to not only be intrigued by
006that, but to understand how it works, what true customer service is, client experience management, and so I think that's what some of what Verizon is going to offer the school. So, thank you Verizon for that. Y'all are being awfully patient with me. Okay. New Tyler Barber College. This is also not a a new uh partnership to the district. They've partnered with schools before. They understand how important it is to uh help students feel good about themselves. When you feel good and you look good, I think you act good, don't you? So, that's a helpful that's a helpful uh partnership there. We thank New Tyler Barber College. I'm sorry all these folks were too busy to come, but we're giving them some good PR, which what counts. Okay. Beacon of Hope Youth Foundation. I notic how
007said she's here. Come on up. Yeah, we're we're glad we're glad you're here. She was so impressed with your your career fair. She went last night and I was too. You know, they have a lot of activities yesterday. Busy folks supporting these kids and trying to help them take the next step. And uh and I'm I'm thrilled that Miss Hellet was here tonight. You know, she was in the VIP's office last week showing Jackie and I a video she had of students setting up shops and actually selling their work. And so they're learning some real entrepreneurial skills through this. And she wanted me to share the video, but my technology was too inferior to help you with that. But if you'd like to say a few words on behalf of your partnership, please do. Okay.
008I didn't prepare a speech, but I'm excited to partnership with Dumbar. We got some good stuff. Um I host children business fairs and teaching them the real world um skills that they would need. So the business fair is hosted by the children. So they run the fair um providing the tools that they need. So, I need all you good folks to partner with Beacon of Hope to host the business fair and come over to Dumbar because we're going to be hosting them over at Dumbar and to shop. These students will make their bracelets and things and then sell it. It's wonderful. We appreciate you. And not just on bracelets. I have two sisters. They have a they start travel agency. Oh. So, they do travel. Wow. See, kids are in it. I mean, they're they're
009ready to go. Okay, so those are our partners for the evening. But before I take a seat, I would like to make all of you aware. Yes. Give them an applause. Oh, absolutely, absolutely. I was going to do that at the very end. Do you mind? Okay. Uh, and before but before we take a seat, I wanted to also make uh you aware that we have 176 Arkansas Scholar graduates for this um graduation class for 2025. I know several of you have been presenters for Arkansas Scholars for us, Director Hatter, Director Johnson, Director Adams, maybe some of the others have done it in years past, but we wanted to make sure that you were aware of these outstanding seniors. And if you know any of them, be sure to congratulate them. So Pam, if you'll
010take us to the last slide of our partners, and I'm going to let Principal Kaine brag on these folks for you before we have a seat. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. Good evening. Um, board president, directors, uh, Dr. Wright. Um, I'm going just sum it up like this. Business, leadership, entrepreneurship. That's our magnet. That's our goal. And in that for this magnet to truly work, we want to make sure that our students really experience what it is to be parts of business, hear from business leaders, business experts, leadership from our churches, our community, and also entrepreneurship, being able to create on their own, and also be in business for themselves. And so that takes a lot of partnerships, which I am I am fortunate and blessed. Miss Watson Joiner has really taken it on. Also,
011uh, Mr. Thomas um Mr. Pastel Thomas our community and schools coordinator together both of them put on a spectacular career fair that started in the morning where students were able to have mock interviews with true with businesses. So all some of them were not here this evening were there yesterday all day they um interviewed students gave them tips skills some students actually have some some extra interviews coming up because of how well they done and then also that evening we came back and we bring it for our parents and also the community as well. So again, Dumbar, Business, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Magnet Middle School, look for us. All right, we're going to be trying to get everyone on board because that's what it's going to actually take to ensure that our students are successful. So, thank
012you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. So, we are going to continue uh in the spirit of celebrating. We have a very special group of students here with us today and I think they are quite identifiable in the room. Um as all of you know this is the first year that Mary and G Lacy opened up as a school and so there are many great things to celebrate um about the first year opening of Lacy. Uh, one of which is the fact that their soccer team in their inaugural inaugural year went undefeated and they also was there like a is there a middle school state championship? Just undefeated season. All right. They went undefeated season. How many games? How many games? Eight. Eight and zero. Eight and zero all year. And so we want to
013uh recognize each of these students for their accomplishment and for making history. So congratulations to each one of you. As I call your name, please come up. Alan Martinez. All right. Oh, Mr. Bali. When we Yeah. When they when they when we get all of them up, uh, we'll do the photo, but you want to come down and shake their hands while they come. Thank you, sir. Uh, Gresner Mayor Mayora. Ricardo Garcia, Jose Panuko, not here. Leester Kale, Jorge Yucida, Mr. Little slower. Little slower. Dr. Right. Mr. B, you slowing us up. Congratulations. Justin Osabas. Is Justin here? All right. Jose Pen Peneda. Panida, Derekson, Lindo, Emanuel, Espinosa, Axel Perez, Jefferson Cardardoza, Rebecca Az Yanilan Martinez right Manny Abando Emmelia Padila Isaac Ramos right Anthony Yamos Antonio Hernandez S here Marlon Galo Roberto Esparza Philberto
014Chub is that everyone know I got one more person Delvis Bar Diego ooa Is that everybody? Who's here? All right. And the coach is his in here. Mr. Carlos Julio Ortega. Coach Ortega. Thank you, sir. And also, Principal Porter is here. You want to come up and get in the group picture with your students? While they're getting situated, let's give them one more big round of applause. [Applause] Give him step up. Make it work. No, it's okay. She's like, "No more shifting." Okay. Come on. At least that's a real smile. [Applause] Okay. Good evening for everyone. Hey. Hey. I I I didn't prepare one one speech, but I want to say thank you for the chance. It's a new history with Lazy Lions and we are so proud of being part of of this school
015because it's a new system of integration. We got we are celebrating the difference in our school and we are so happy for this and I appreciate your help. I want to say thank you to everyone and God bless you. Amen. All right. Congratulations again team for making history. We're going to continue with our celebrations for the month of May. Starting with story time with pastors wrapped up for the school year at Terry Elementary yesterday. Throughout the year, pastors from AC oh uh pastors from across central Arkansas have visited classrooms and they support our students by helping us continuing to um elevate the love and the joy of reading. So, we thank you to all of our pastors who participated in story time with pastors all year long. We mentioned it briefly last week, but we'd
016like to extend congratulations again to the 2025 teachers of the year and classified employees of the year for the Little Rock School District. In the photo from left to right, we have Mr. Rex Deloney, high school teacher of the year, Miss Christy Broomfield, elementary teacher of the year, Miss Victory Golden from Lacy Academy, um LRSD teacher of the year, and Mr. Eddie Hunt from McDermott, who is a custodian classified employee of the year. Oh, I'm sorry. I was going to say I don't see that on. Congratulations to all of our teachers and classified employee of the year. [Applause] All right. We also celebrated nurses appreciation day last week. Next slide. From caring for scrapes to managing daily health needs, the dedication of our school nurses keeps our students healthy and ready to learn. The Little
017Rock School District is grateful for everything our nurses do. Thank you to our nurses. [Applause] Yesterday we had our LRPTA council award honores and if you were not there you missed a treat. Every year is a treat but we had a special treat um this year and I think she's pictured on the next slide. So I will wait till I get there and talk about her then. Um several honores were recognized this week for u at the special lunchon. Categories included essay winners featuring impressive student speakers, poetry and creative arts by talented students, scholarship recipients as well as staff and school PTA honores. There are too many to name individually but you see them all pictured here and one of our students pictured here uh Empress Butler from Little Rock Southwest. Was it recorded yesterday?
018I recorded it on my phone. All right. I think it's something well we probably need to get permission but um I would love to share that with the board members and uh the community at large. Um her story is very compelling and really shares um why we all are here and it really highlights the most important aspect of our work. We have many students who come from all types of backgrounds and some have more challenges and difficulties than others and some of our students despite their challenges and difficulties are finding ways to excel and push through challenging circumstances. and Miss Butler's um essay demonstrated that like um like I've never heard or seen before. So, I definitely wanted to um highlight her. You can clap now. Also, earlier this month, we observed National Principal Day.
019We also celebrate them in October. I guess we have days for multiple months or days, but uh anyway, uh happy National Principal Day to all of our amazing school leaders. We simply want to say thank you. [Applause] Also, we had another very uh important event on last Friday. Was that last Friday? Yep. Match day. For those of you who don't know, we are going into our third year third year partnership with ULR in our teacher residency program. We have uh teacher interns who spend their entire year with us in their last year uh completing their degree uh in a paid internship in LRSD. And this year we have four or three three uh year-long interns who'll be working at JA Fair uh next school next school year. We matched them last Friday with their teachers
020and we had a great welcome uh reception u from the students um at JAF Fair to welcome them to their school community and so they'll be with us all next school year. So thank you and congratulations to this year's cohort of UAR interns. [Applause] In celebration of a year marked by growth and reflection, the school honored uh Washington Elementary School today honored the legacy of beloved head custodian Mr. Bobby Davis, whose recent passing left a profound impact on the school community. In recognition of his dedication and joyful spirit, the new space will be named the Mr. Bobby Davis Outdoor Learning and Play Center, a place where students will continue to do what Mr. Davis loved most, which is learn and play. The photo you see on the bottom left features Mr. Bobby's grandson who was
021on hand for the dedication today. Looking good, feeling good. Shout out to Good Fellas and Washington Barber College for working their magic uh Mabelville makeovers. As part of the community school model, these organizations support Mabelville Middle each month by providing barber services, uplifting and motivating students to success. Community school coordinator Stephen Young facilitates connecting the students to these services and this has become such a staple. It's almost like it's just a part of what they do um at Mapleville. So, thank you to all of our community partners who make this who makes um who make this happen for our students on a monthly basis. Something I went out today and I got a line. [Laughter] Thank you for sharing Johnson. [Applause] We are just one week away from graduation and we are proud to recognize
022these exceptional four students from each of our high schools with academic excellence and dedication for academic excellence and dedication. Featured in Little Rockway's head of the class, they represent the very best of Little Rock school district. The students pictured have the highest GPA from all of their high schools. Each one of them in excess of 4.0. Miss Allison Bilin from Little Rock Southwest High School, Victoria Blake from Park View, Vera Canoe from Hall West, and Yaya Yonas from Little Rock Central High School. And you'll hear or see more about him right now. We'll go ahead and clap for those four. [Applause] As you know, each year we have uh several students across our high schools who are named National Merit semi-finalists and they compete for the actual National Merit Scholarship uh uh winners. And this
023year we are proud to celebrate two Yasim Bagot and Yaya Yonas from Central High School who were named National Merit Scholarship recipients chosen from 15,000 finalists na nationwide. These two exceptional students stood out for their academic excellence and leadership and have each earned scholarships from the national this is an abbreviation so I'm thank you from from them congratulations to these two students. [Applause] Speaking of history, uh we had history made at Lacy this year. We now have history made at Little Rock Southwest High School. Congratulations to Bria Green, the first student athlete in the school's history to sign a full golf scholarship. Bria will be continuing her academic and athletic journey at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. By the way, Bria set the high bar as the lone member of the Griffins golf team,
024a true trailblazing paving way for future Griffins. And we've highlighted her journey, I think a couple of times over the last couple years, and we are happy and excited to see where it has ended and where it will be taking her. So congratulations to Bria. If you think you're seeing doubles, which sometimes my eyes does that, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. Dante King and Dave King, twin brothers in the construction technology pathway at Metro Career Tech and students at Little Rock Southwest High School have officially been hired hired by Nabot Construction as part of their paid youth apprenticeship program. Dante and DaVon are powerful examples of what's possible through career and technical education, and we could not be more proud of both of them. [Applause] This week, it was fun to uh
025surprise Otter Creek music specialist uh Karina Johnson with a title of 2025 Arkansas Fine Arts Teacher of the Year. She inspires students every day, and now the whole state knows it. In addition to the title, Miss Johnson received a $1,000 cash award and a citation presented in her honor by State Representative Tara Shepard. Congratulations to Miss Johnson. Congratulations to Central High's very own Mary Fleming. She achieved an extraordinary milestone by completing the London Marathon and earning the title of an Abbott six-star world major marathon finisher. This remarkable accomplishment places her among a select group of just 20,000 people worldwide who have completed all six world marathon majors. Boston, New York, Chicago, Berlin, Tokyo, and London. That's exciting, Miss Fleming. Your LRC family is very proud of you. Congratulations. [Applause] A full circle moment at Wakefield
026Elementary. Earlier this month, Wakefield proudly welcomed back Tamarian Wilson, former student and now future Buffalo Bill. Tamaran, who attend who attended Wakefield from kindergarten through fifth grade, returned to speak with students about the power of setting goals, working hard, and believing in yourself. Congratulations to you, uh, Mr. Tamaran. [Applause] Speaking of Wakefield, the school recently marked its partnership with Palaskki Heights United Methodist Church, an incredible 17 years hosting an end of the year lunchon. What started as a small tutoring initiative has grown into a vital support system for Wakefield students. This this school year alone, 38 dedicated volunteers work weekly with 67 students, helping to strengthen their reading and math skills and building lasting relationships along along the way. So, thank you to all of the volunteers from Palaski Heights Methodist Church. [Applause] surprise. Thanks.
027Congratulations to board member Anna Strong. She was recently honored with the inaugural distinguished alumni award from the Clinton School of Public Service. This recognition celebrates her commitment to public service and her impact on children through her work. Congratulations, Director Strong. [Applause] On yesterday, uh Mr. Mr. Bali and I had the privilege of serving on a panel with Miss Angel Burke, hosted by the Eisenhower Institute. Students with the institute were visiting Little Rock as part of their continued education outside the classroom. The Eisenhower Institute empowers young leaders to tackle society's most challenging public policy issues in real time. And we had a a great opportunity to engage um and discuss various issues uh with these students who are all students at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. Reading in the rock is never going away. Um, and we
028will be flooding your uh timelines and social media with all of the activity that will be occurring. These are just some pictures that highlight the work that continues to go on and we um I believe just delivered or have delivered recently all of the seven books, five priority, one for every other. All right. several books that all of the students will be getting uh to take home this summer and we will be engaging in several other uh reading in the rock activities across the course of the summer. So stay tuned and we will be sharing as always if you want to donate to the foundation to support reading the rock the information is there for you. All right, next week marks some pretty significant events for LRSD. Graduation ceremonies on Thursday starting at 9:00 a.m.
029with Little Rock Southwest. The full schedule along with a map is posted on the website and on our social media in English and in Spanish. But before we get to graduation day, we have one more important um activity that will be occurring on Monday, which is academic signing day uh for LRSD's top academic performing students. Of course, board members are invited and we hope to see you there. Clap for our And last, uh, the official topping out beam signing ceremony will be held Wednesday at the new Pinnacle View High School to mark the latest construction milestone, but due to it being a working construction site, attendees will be limited for the ceremony. However, Baldwin and Shell has made the beam available for the community to sign through Monday morning. So, if you are able to
030come out and be one of the few limited people who are able to be there, please come out on Wednesday. You can sign right now through Monday. 1:30. Anything else, ma'am? All right. That is it for our district celebrations for the month of May. All right. Good. All right. So, we're going to go ahead and move forward with public comment. This is a place in the agenda when we hear from the public, parents, stakeholders, and friends of LRSD. We'd like to hear public comment regarding LRSD issues. We allow three minutes for public comment. Our responsibility is to listen to your comments. We are not allowed to respond or have discussion. So, if I leave anyone out, just let me know. I have Dr. Bradford. Dr. Bradford. Actually, I am representing the CPC, the classified. Okay.
031So you'll be able to speak at that time. Okay. Doug and Marie. Doug and Marie. Is that Were you wanting to just sign in or was that just a sign in perhaps? Okay. Just sign in. No problem. Would you like to? Sure. Okay. We're together. Okay. And what's your name, ma'am? My name is Misty Outlaw. All right. Misty, you're speaking on her behalf. Yes. Okay. Very good. So, thank you for allowing us to speak tonight. Um, you've probably all received a couple of my emails this week. Um, I am a Central alum, a proud Central alum and a parent of a current 10th grade football player, um, who is actually in attendance tonight. Um, I do want to thank Director Hatter for responding and letting me know that you have received my emails. Um, so
032the issue that we as athletic parents at Central are facing right now is our students, our athletes do not have weight equipment in the new facility. We have a multi-million dollar facility that was recently built and it's beautiful and we love it and we're super excited about it, but it is not able to be used to its full potential at this point because we do not have equipment to use. Um, we have our players, our athletes of all sports, not just football, use this equipment. Everybody, we have close to 500 athletes at Central. We're one of the biggest, we're the biggest school. We have close to 500 athletes. It's 20% of our population of our school. You need this equipment and we don't have it. Um, if you're familiar with Central, you know that we
033have Quibly Stadium and we the equipment that they have right now is what we call the staff dungeon. That's staff with a ph. Let me just say that. Okay. It is old. It is dark. It's hot. There's no air conditioning. They've been using this facility for years and for the past two years during construction we've dealt with sewage issues that have backed up into this into this area. Um staff infections literally my child got staff last year um because of the situation down there. Um we've dealt with plumbing issues. Plumbing was cut off. They didn't have access to water. They were drinking out of water hoses during practice over the summer. It's 114 degrees outside last summer and our kids are in a basement in Quigley Stadium while we're waiting for the new facility. And
034that's great. And they were dealing with it because they knew the potential of the new facility. But here we are six months after completion of the facility and they're still in the dungeon. They're not able to use the facility that we spent so much money on and we've promoted so highly. They're not able to use it. And it's heartbreaking because these kids have worked so hard. Coach Robinson came in here two years ago for the football team specifically and has done wonders with these kids. They're their GPA have increased. Their behavior is better. there he is doing and his staff are doing incredible things but they're being hindered by things like equipment and again like I said it's not just affecting football basketball the wrestling team swimming everybody uses this and it's not available beyond
035the equipment now we're being told that we don't have athletic transportation that How are our kids going to get to practice? How are they going to get to activities? If you are your alert here, so just try. Okay. If you're a child whose parents work and you don't drive, how are you getting there? Our coaches should not have to pick up students and drive them home in their personal vehicles with no gas or mileaged reimbursement. Shouldn't happen. We need to do better. We need weight equipment. We need transportation. Thank you. [Applause] Okay. Um, let's go ahead. Um, I think it's Courtney Emory parent from Central Emerson. Emerson, you're going to hear the same goodness from me. Is that right? All right. Central parent. Um, I have been the booster president for the football team for
036three years. Uh, my son, Landon Emerson, has played on that team. We have been working tirelessly around the clock to try to get them water, to try to get them snacks and food. Um, I work handinand with the football coach. I hear um they are constantly hitting brick walls, whether it's plumbing issues, whether it's sanitary issues, whether it's transportation that is a new issue. We are trying to grab anything we possibly can to continue the momentum of this program moving forward. Um, it has been a tragedy for the last three years for these children who are academically rock solid, who have their parents involved, who their discipline is on board. These guys have worked hard. Now, it's our time as a district to show up for these guys. Thank you for responding. I'm one of
037the ones that sent the email, got no response from anybody except Miss Hatter. So, that needs to be commended. Um, we want that communication so that you guys can actually know what is happening at our schools. We have worked handinhand with Mr. McGee. We are getting no response. It is emails going back and forth. That's not a way to work together. We're here to support the kids. We're here to support the district. We're doing everything we can from our standpoint as parents to let you guys actually know what's happening. So, I am begging you to please don't shut the electricity off June 1st. Don't shut it off because these guys are not going to have access to a wait room. That's 500 students. 20% 20% goes away. We're back to where we are talking about
038numbers. So, it's here and we have the opportunity to make this change right now with phone calls making sure that either we move the new equipment in. We were asking simply where are we? Where are we with the ordering? Do we need to do fundraising? Where is that communication as the booster to in order to get those funds? That's not being communicated. I could be wrong. Don't know that that's been communicated to our coaches. I'm asking. I'm not getting any answers. I am begging at this point. Leave the lights on. Let these kids do what they're doing. Let these coaches stay a part of their lives during the summer. If we disconnect for them, we're going to lose them. Thank you. Thank you. All right. And our apologies if we have not um not only
039specific to one uh request, but we do try our best to respond. Sometimes we'll get to it, sometimes we won't. So, we do apologize when we are not able to do that. But most often we do see them. We do see them and we do try and make comments to those that are uh can address it. Okay. All right. So, let's go ahead and move forward. All right. District committee report certified PPC. Good evening. Good evening. It's me again. Lucky that um had a death in her family, so she is not able to be here this evening. Um and I will be short and sweet tonight, I promise. So, um the compensation committee, that's the committee that meets with administration to work on compensation for employees. We met last week um just to kind of
040an exploratory meeting. We'll meet again um next week, May 27th. Um that is next week, the week after next. Um and some of the things that we were talking about are insurance, apparently the state contribution for insurance. um is required to go up and or the district contribution for insurance is required to go up um based on state um requirements. And then we also discussed a bonus um just preliminary discussions. Um and uh some other items that have come to light that employees have talked about or requested are bereavement leave which we did discuss at length during our last compensation sessions. Um as well as a retirement incentive and we did discuss that as well. We actually had one in the document that came to the board um but we removed it because um we
041didn't think it was um finan fiscally responsible to ask for both that and the sick leave payout in the same um same year. Um, a few other concerns that have come up are scheduling of students um, returning back to their home schools from AL. Apparently, a large number of them seem to be um, placed in certain um, elective classes. And that also seems to be happening with newly enrolled students. They all seem to be being placed in these certain elective classes with with this certain teachers. Um, and so the question has has come up of who's making that decision? What's making that decision? Are these students choosing this elective or they're just being placed in it because there's availability? What's what is the deal on that? Um, the policy committee, um, that's the the committee
042that's working on board policy proposals for certified staff at the moment. Um, we met this week and we will meet again Monday. Um, we're nearly finished with certified. We are down to two policies. Um, and we hope to finish those on Monday to finalize those on Monday. Once that is finalized, the final edits will be done and then the entire uh proposal document will go to the personnel policy committee um and then come to you guys. Um, we also, you know, I'm trying to be positive about where we are in certified, but that's not even close to the finish line because we still have the entire classified document to do as well as the procedural manuals for both. Um, and just uh a small recommendation that the board might want to consider extending the classified
043personnel policy manual. And I'm sure she may speak on that here in a few minutes because there is absolutely no way that we are going to get that done before end of contract. There's just it's not going to happen. Um, first of all, I don't think those of us on the committee are going to come to work that much in the summer. Um, paid or not. Um, and second of all, it's it's it they they deserve the same time and commitment that we spent on on certified. Um, a lot of their ma their the bulk of their manual is like the certified, but they also have special sections for each unit. So, you know, we want to give them the t same amount of time and consideration that we gave certified. Um, and that is
044the end of my report. short and sweet. Um, I would like to take a small point of personal privilege if I could just because y'all love me so much. So, those of you who have known me for a long time know that um nearly 18 years ago um I had a child that was three months premature. She weighed a pound and 12 ounces when she was born. Um and a lot of it was due to stress was the reason she came early. Um we found out last weekend that she um has made the Arkansas State University dance team and she will be a Redwolf dancer next year. So we are so excited and proud of her. Um she has she has worked through a lot of health issues and if you looked at her today
045you would have no idea that she was a preeie a micro preey at that. So we are very proud of her and thank you for the point of personal privilege. Y'all have a good night. Oh I had a question question. We have a question. Did you have a question? Just one quick one. Sorry and I probably missed it because I was typing. Um you mentioned that uh there is a elective course. What what what elective course and and can you um expound on that just a little bit more so I could understand it? Um the elective course is is one of the arts. Um I'm not sure exactly which one which course it is. Um and I believe it is at man but I'm not positive. This seems to happen though. this was not like
046a one-time instance that has come up. This seems to be happening um frequently in our schools and and I think maybe and this is just my personal opinion. This I don't have any data to back this up, but maybe those classes aren't full and maybe that's why students are being placed in them when they come back from AL or when they come back from or when they come into our schools, you know, like in the middle of the school year or something. Maybe there's room in those classes. Um, I'm not sure, but it seems to be occurring with a frequency um that warrants inspection because if they if if the kids are requesting that that elective, that's one thing. But if they're just being placed in there because maybe there's a strong male teacher in
047there or something like that, that's a little bit of a different problem because, you know, the kids electives are the the classes the kids choose. And um when there's a limited number in middle school that they can choose, you want to make sure that um that you're not using those classes as a babysitter service. you know, you want the kids to learn and get something out of the class if they're going to be in there. And we do have a lot of strong male teachers in our art classes. So, that's why my assumption may have more information on the specific class. Um, and she may have reached out to Dr. Wright about it. I'm not sure. Um and my last thing is a policy deal um which you know I know we're going to deal
048with the policy um document once it uh we're we're going to go over the policy document hopefully at the same length and grade that um you all have went over but uh it's we was looking over the policy and and I was looking for something around um um fratinizing um in the workplace like um uh having the relationship or nepotism uh within uh the within our policies but I couldn't find anything. Is is there um something about um are you talking about like husband and wife? Are you talking about like an administrator and a Yes, I'm talking about like whether it's an administrator messing with someone uh within their district, having a I mean within their building, having a a romantic relationship or just nepotism of just um hiring of um families or friends. Um
049so I'm speaking about um someone in authority um um having relationships with people with within their uh building. So the only nepotism piece around certified staff really has to do with evaluations. Um and that is that you can evaluate someone that you're related to which means that administrator can evaluate someone they're in a rel relationship with or that they um are related to. Um there there was a board policy and I'm not sure which section it was in that said board members could not be could not be responsible for I believe hiring or firing a person that they are in a relationship with or they related to and I don't know I mean and keep in mind I've got a lot of years on me so um I'm not sure if that is still in
050current policy or if that was former policy but it was in policy in board policy at one time. I don't think it was under certified staff though. I think it was under the board of directors part of the policy. So um so I asked that because uh uh myself and the attorney uh our board attorney then we're working on the language of that be and so we could um uh minimize stop or discourage uh those type of things that are happening u within the district. And so the thought is to um put it in the PP in the personnel policy. However, I was thinking maybe a board policy since it was um or else it could it could be dual dual dual policies whatever saying the same thing just at different levels. Um, so and
051and so I wanted to ask you um about that to see if um we had something because we couldn't find anything about the nepotism or um having a relationship with a subordinate. I don't think it was ever in certified policy. I don't think it was ever in certified or classified policy. think it was in um the board a board of directors policy and there may have been something in the administration uh part of the policy but I'm not positive. Okay. And I'm not sure either if there I think there's something maybe in state law about evaluation waiting. Yeah. Yeah. Well, it's not it's not really about just just the evaluations. It's it's about the promotions. It's about um uh the conduct. It's it's about a series of things that that's able to create a hostile
052or a toxic environment or else just an uncomfortable environment. And so just making sure that but again myself and Chris Heler look to see if that language was there and so we was just thinking about just revising one of the existing policies to add it. That's what I was like I said it's never been part of certified policy. It's always been a higher up policy, like an administrative policy because we have husbands and wives that work all over the district. So, and and lots of families, too. You know, I grew up in a small town. I always say in Little Rock School District, it's like kind of like a small town. Don't talk about somebody to somebody else because everybody's related. Yeah. Kind of works that way in small town, too. And yeah, so that
053wasn't in certified or classified policy. and and and and this was really just more so to keep the health of of the ecosystem going but not you know because we all have somebody always come from a large family or extended family. So this was more of a healthy uh ecosystem type type deal. So that's why I was thinking about it having it at the uh board level 2000. I'm sorry. No, I was just saying thank you. Did you have something else? In 2000 Okay. There was a board policy that uh I looked into this in 2000. A board policy that would not allow board members to sit over the hiring of a relative. The other way around, if the relative was already working there, it didn't disqualify a board member, a person from running for
054the board. I feel as though last year I read that in state law. I think it is in state law. So a policy would necessarily be required. Well, but it's only pertaining to board members. I think it is. Yes. And what I'm and what and just to be clear what I'm talking about, I'm talking about uh directors, principles, anybody that has um authority over um someone um that would and could create a host, you know, uncomfortable. However, that will be defined or can be defined environment. And so again, um that that language is coming and so um uh yourself and the board will will see it to you know soon. Yes, it it is draft. Yeah. Trying to get done. We're finished. Drafted already. Yeah. And you know, days are getting shorter. Thank you so
055much. And it's not for board me. I I know for some reason it went to board members. It's not for board members. It's for staff like hiring people. Okay. Thank you so much. Classified PPC. Good evening. I'm Dr. Angela Bradford and I do represent the classified PPC. We had a very productive year. I'm not really here to talk about that. I'm here to talk about the policy committee and Teresa just made my job a lot easier. Thank you. But uh we did start the process with classifi I'm sorry uh certified in December. So we've been working on um align it to the um ASPA as well as uh also to the learns act for six months and most of these people are about to go off contract. Only three of us are 12 months. So
056I am actually here to appeal to you and ask if you would really consider extending um this process because we're again we're trying to wrap up certified probably next week but we uh believe that certified deserve just as much uh time. So even we can push it back to September that would uh that will really be helpful. I'm will I'm 12 months so I'm willing to work with HR as well as our attorney over the summer to try to align our policies to the certified but I don't think this process should be rushed at all. So that is really all I have, but if you had any questions, I'm here. Any questions? Go. I was just going to add you guys have been super patient from on your end and you've been really helpful and
057and we have done I think a lot of the leg work on the front end, but I agree with you that it will will become more diff I mean I'm here for the summer but um but but it will be more difficult I think to get a quorum in our group over the summer. So, and it's been very tedious, but I will say this, it has been a learning curve for I believe for all of us, but especially for me. So, I haven't I actually enjoyed the process. We have some um hiccups, but we seem to be on the right track now and I appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Absolutely. Okay. So we are going um one other So we would need as a board just if I may to
058follow up on that we would need as a board to take action on that I believe because we did in our in in our motion that we approved Dr. Wright when you when you it was ear in the fall sometime when we kind of came to our agreement. We did make a motion and I'm just No, you're good. I'm just talking to you. Are you here? Are you hearing Dr. Wright? All I was saying, we will we will have to take action on that um because we did say that we would we would have that revision done um before the contracts this year and so and also in in our agreement with you. So I just think that as we do that as we re reevaluate that timeline we will need to make sure we
059are looking at all the pieces for action. Okay, that sounds good. Thanks. Thank you. All right. Okay. So, we are on superintendent advisory committee report and we actually have a report in our packet if you guys would like to take a look. Uh, do we have anyone representing? Okay. For your review, Madam Chair, is this just something for us to read? Yes. Yes. Okay. Yes. And why wasn't it uploaded for us to read it in our packet? for instead of taking time at the business meeting to read it and digest it, it is part of the agenda for the committee reports as it always is. We typically just hadn't had them, so that's all it is. Okay. I I was just curious cuz um I thought it was Okay. And so we can read this
060at our leisure. Yes. Okay. Because there was a pause, so I just thought you I just I just wanted to make sure that you you were able to see it and find it and you know know that it exists. Okay. All right. So, we're going to move on to the consent agenda. All right, Madame Chair. Yes. With that um consent agenda, I would like to pull out the fourth round of hires. I have a couple questions and just and we could just do a separate vote on that. 5.9 uh I believe. Let me see what it is. 5' 5 5 I'm sorry I'm just flipping here you four though it's 5.9 5.9 okay 58 the regular personnel 5.9 5.9 m okay all right anyone else have anything for consent agenda okay I entertain a motion
061I move approval of consent agenda. Okay. A second. Are you moving approval of the consent agenda minus that piece? Yes. Yes. I'm sorry that I assume when she withdrew it, it's not longer a part of the consent agenda. We usually will structure it. Oh yeah. You know, we usually just read each bullet. Just said with the I don't like being scripted by the administration. Oh, don't be an independent thinker. Oh dear. All right. Second. Okay. So, it's been moved and properly second uh that the LRSD board of education approve the consent agenda items as follows. K well K through 12 ELA and mass STEM academic supplemental supports 2025 to 2026 city yearou contract 2025 to 25 to 26 to dieou contract river mountain I care MOA Medicaid billing specialistou community service learning applications donation property
062personnel changes any questions yes well no we I'm sorry it's a consent agenda it's been moved there's a there's a on the Lexia on the Lexia contract, there is quotes in there for schools that are closing um and that needed to be pulled out so we don't pay for those uh school buildings that won't have students in them. Brady um obviously uh Carver um and Washington would merge but Brady no longer would be in existence and the contracts for those title one schools have Brady listed u multiple times and then it's part of the quote Mr. cuz I So before what do we need to do? Yeah. In in regard to this so before we approve that that should be it's accurate. So the numbers that they gave us are for enrollment for kids right
063now but they those are not the school. It's it's about the kids and about the number of students not the schools. Okay. Because the schools were were listed. So it appears that they're for the schools. I understand that concern. Yeah. I think that's fair. But it is it is about the number of students and that's where the kids currently are which is how they come up in the in the numbers. Got you. And my last thing really quick is the light lift. Um the five schools for the partnership um they weren't identified in the quote. So correct. Uh have y'all ident identified them? Yep. Those are places where they're leaders in the first three years just to get them going with tracking data. Um we didn't do everyone because all of our leaders don't need
064it. Oh no. Oh, I I was just cur I was just asking about the the ambiguity like within the contract and making sure that we are not paying for um Yep. We have things we don't need to thank you so much for sharing that information. So, it's on the consent agenda. So, I don't want to I know but but I just want I don't want to Well, since it's on the consent agenda, it appears that we should pull it if we're not if we need to discuss it. No, you can I mean that is technically that is that is correct. I just open my notes that's all. Okay. Okay. So, it's been moved and properly second. I'm sorry. Who second it? Anna Strong. All in favor? I I Any oppose? The motion carries. Okay. So,
0655.9 employment recommendation. Yeah. So um quick just a couple of quick questions. This is the fourth round and um there is a restructuring of um first there are numbers there are folks on this um there are positions on here at certain schools that didn't have any openings that currently have warm bodies in them and there's no riff in those uh school buildings and so it looked like they are just being placed um at at at those buildings. So I have a couple of questions um around whether or not um applications went out. Was a hiring process followed or were they just placed there? And then um the other question is probably the most one of the most important um questions would be around student registration because of that being a main vein of of our
066district and because um the executive uh director uh that was you know I'm not sure we we was told he retired but he didn't uh that person position didn't um vacate. So trying to figure out what are what are what are what's going to happen with that uh executive director position? Um will they will someone be over um student registration because right now it's all novice people the um uh with the folks that you place over it doesn't know anything about student registration. Um and uh what other this is for Dr. Right. Uh what other senior level central office staff um have been re reassigned? And this is really, you know, I just want to make sure that our district stay whole and not weakened um by um actions that may not be all the
067way thought out or planned out. So all of these actions were thoroughly thought out and planned out. And when I did the budget presentation, that was a section that I covered in terms of student registration, who was going to be over it, how it was going to be restructured, and we we're actually returning a senior level um administrator back to student registration who has worked in student registration for several years who have I think she's been doing care for just like last year. So all of that um I went over thoroughly when I did the budget presentation. Is that CR because Crawford wasn't okay. So just you know I just want to be be sure because even in the restructure of student registration um that wasn't a plan given it was names given um that
068will move over and take over these duties. So and the person you placed over um student registration one of your deputy superintendent knows absolutely nothing about student registration. know nothing about the systems or anything like that. And even though if it is um Miss Crawford, if that's who you're talking about, um she left a little, you know, she she wasn't there when it restructured and and went to the system that is currently in. And just to be clear, um I'm really concerned about the integrity of and the level of of um work that student registration does and how involved it is. and for us to um remove systems and structures and people that know how it works. Um, we are setting our district up for a landslide and and and so um I I I
069want to be clear one to see what the structure is because an arc chart wasn't given to us just names and salaries and more money and and all of this and lastly I guess it's two parts. Um can I address each thing one by one? By the time you're done, I'm not going to student registration. What's the the first? It's student registration. So, you can go with that one first cuz that's the heaviest one. Go ahead. So, as I said, all of the the plan for student registration was covered in uh the budget presentation. It wasn't just a list of names. There was a section that dealt with Dr. Lauren's um areas responsibilities there. It was listed there um the different people that would be working under student registration. The rationale was given for why
070it was combined and aligned that way. And then secondly, this is not something that we just haphazardly done. This has been something that we have been working on since I would say probably Decemberish. And so Dr. Luring in addition to Tracy who also supports um um can't think of Tracy's last name. Yeah. Anyway, uh but they have already started having uh training with school. Um they have already uh been working and getting prepared um for this transition. In addition, there are several things about the student registration process that we um have been discussing about changing to make it better. And so again, none of this stuff that we have proposed are things that we have hazardly put together and just brought before the board. These are things that we have had extensive conversations and planning
071about in preparing uh for this transition. Okay. So again, um the fact for me, I mean, you mentioned those those those individuals and at one point uh student registration uh we used to get a lot of complaints on on student registration and that's since have no longer been since um the executive director changed the systems. And so to place people over Um and even the people you mentioned, they you know to place people over um a critical a a major artery of our district that are novice. Um I think that's I just want to say that's your opinion. No. Okay. Well, then we that's not my opinion. I will make a point of order that this is not related to this agenda. It it it it is it is related to positions. It's related to
072the sustainability of our district. is related to um ensuring that we are not making h um so the point is well the point is taken okay but move forward move forward with your question so so my so my question is um will the let me frame it way will the um will the executive director of student services be placed somewhere um somewhere else in the district. Um, or else will will will that person still have a role in student assignment? I mean, I'm willing to bet $500 on right on the way that this is going to go, but you don't have to bet. You can look at the documents that I provided the board. It tells you specifically that person's name and what happened to that position. it it's not it's not anything we need
073to guess about and I'm not going to publicly talk about that individual here but you you as well as everybody on the board got the report with the names and the reasons um um and the explanation about the particular positions and so it is clearly listed there for you to know yeah you said retirement or or termination is what you said that's not what it says retirement or elimination so I was just curious on why it was eliminated because if you're bringing over another high figure salary to um student registration. You're actually raising that. No, I'm not. Miss Hatter. If you were paid attention to to the to the budget presentation, we eliminated that position and we aren't adding anyone else. All of his duties and responsibilities has been shifted over to other people. There
074have been no other additional positions added. I got you, Dr. Wright. And I do want to just quickly say this just to round it off to get to the next quick point. I do listen very clearly and um I listen to every word and I read everything. It's just that when you present things or when things are presented, it changes and so it's hard to trust what is said and what is is done. What has changed, Miss Do you really want me? So can we can we move to the next question? Miss Wesley is Can we move to the next? Whenever it's possible, I would like to make a motion on this since this is on the floor. Okay. So the next question and discussion after the motion we could we could have some discussion
075but can we go ahead and and finish up the questions header I understand you have one more question is that okay okay um the la the the last question is for some of these um positions on the fourth round uh there they are being placed in positions in campuses that did not have any vacancies. So, and and there was no uh application uh put out for a vacancy. And so, I was curious no matter if uh people are just being no matter if it will either be double staff, which I I I I hope that that's not the case, and I don't necessarily believe that is, but um ensuring that cost at that building doesn't rise no right if there no right if there's no resonations and no retirements coming out of certain buildings. Can
076you give me an example of of the position that you're talking about so that I can uh respond clearly because I I don't know what I don't I don't know what you're talking about. Sure. Uh I'll just throw one out actually my notes. Uh we can Park View. Park View gained about a few um positions, a few people that wasn't necessarily on their um they gained new um folks. Who what position? Well, we we can't talk about names. So, what's a position? I don't know. I can't recall all of the positions like a dean of students. Park for you has always had a dean of students. I know. there's a new hire in that building but the old hire. So like if you're not able to give the answer because you don't know that I
077don't know what I can't that I would respect that better than just getting an answer for the sake of the answer. I'm asking you specifically what are the positions so that I can respond with a correct answer. I just said Dina I just said deina of students and I said to you that that's not a new position. I didn't say it's a new position. And I said there are people in the building that haven't been in there going into a position that's already occupied. So if there's if there's there could be people who have not who are not going to be recommended for a contract for 2526 and those names aren't going to appear on any list right now. So if you're seeing someone going into a position that someone is currently in you know
07810 times out of 10 it's going to be because that person is not being recommended for next year or that person may have been move moveing to another role. I mean, it's it's I have to have I mean, I have to look at specifics to be able to answer. I'll just pull I'll just pull pull back from that one. But um again, I just really wanted to highlight the fact that people are moving with I I just wanted to highlight the fact that um folks are moving within the district and into positions that's that have not been advertised for or that haven't been um a hiring process for. Um and then curious about of course the state of um the student uh registration office. So that's all I have. You don't have any more time.
079Can I ask you to please provide me the specifics of the positions and people that you're referencing so that we can look into it and see because I can't. Okay. So let's let's do that offline. So the chair will entertain a motion. I'm just asking her if she can send it to me right now. I'm not saying right now. I mean I'm just um okay chair entertain a motion. Mr. Pesley I would move that we approve the employment recommendation contracts for the 202526 school year for round four. Second. It's been moved and properly second. Any questions? Any questions? It's been moved and properly second that the following employment recommendations for 2526 school year be approved. That's round four. Okay. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Motion carries. All right. Okay. So, let's go
080ahead and move to All right. Schools and academics renaming the media center at Roberts after Misty Sims. This is an action item. We have someone to present this Mr. Helm. Good evening. Good evening. Dr. Wright, board members, um it is an honor to be here today. If I haven't met you yet, my name is Stephen Helmick. the proud principal at Roberts Elementary and I'm grateful to be here today, but it's it's also hard. Um, I'm not here alone. I want to acknowledge in the room specifically the people that are here and then also the people that are watching online. I've got with me today Tammy Hickden and Charlie Lindsay who are reading teachers at Roberts in the back. Allison Weider, one of our counselors in the back. I've also got doctors Keith and Bashan Morris
081here with me. Bashawn was Misty's sister. I also have with me here tonight Mrs. Melanie Phillips. And I know watching I have the first principal of Roberts Elementary, Barbara Anderson. Hundreds of staff members and people that know about this, thousands of families who have been impacted by Misty Sims. Before I share the the rationale for what I'm going to request before the board tonight, I want to read just a a little bit of what I got to read at Misty's funeral. Misty was the assistant principal at Roberts Elementary when I was hired there as a fifth grade teacher. We then served together as assistant principles under Barbara Anderson at Roberts. In the past seven years, I've had the honor of serving as her principal as she's been a reading teacher to hundreds of children. Over
082Thanksgiving break, we all lost a great boss, an incredible colleague, an amazing teacher, and most importantly, I lost a wonderful friend. In the weeks that followed and now months that followed, I've walked alongside friends and staff members, community members and students and our collective grief. But one thing has consistently stood out to me, and it's important that the board hears this. Misty Sims was a champion of all people. Elementary students of all ages have shared. When she passed away, we brought the students in, the counseling team at Roberts, the administrative team, the reading teachers, and district counseling support met with our students. And here are some of the things that they shared. They lost their most favorite teacher. They lost a teacher who made them feel safe. A teacher who made them feel like they
083could conquer anything they might face. You see, Misty believed in them. She taught them and pushed them. And therefore, these students grew not only in literacy knowledge, but in confidence that stems from having someone always in your corner. Teachers and staff shared over and over how Misty saw them. Her precise attention to detail allowed her to see people when they needed to be seen. Her support was gracious and intentional as she leaned into their educational, emotional, and spiritual needs. Misty and I had a unique relationship because she was my boss and then we became co-workers and then she did something that's pretty unique. She could have easily been the principal at Roberts Elementary instead of me. And she decided that she wanted to step down from title leadership to get back into the classroom to
084make a difference in the kids' lives, teaching kids to read because that was her true passion. And so I knew that I had someone always in my corner. And so on those hard days in leadership, I would go down to her in her reading classroom and ask her for wisdom and advice because she was always a willing ear to listen. And my rationale to the board that you guys have before you, some of this will be a little redundant, but I'm going to read the whole thing. Misty Sims was an integral part of Roberts from the beginning of the school's history. She was the first assistant principal at Roberts and served in that capacity for eight years. She was an assistant principal when the school earned its national blue ribbon distinction. During her nine years
085at Roberts, she decided during her ninth year at Roberts, she decided to transition back into the classroom due to her love of reading and passion for working closely with students to help them grow as readers themselves. She served as a reading teacher at Roberts for the past seven years, making a tremendous difference in hundreds of students lives until her death over Thanksgiving break in November. Not many people do that, right? Not many people step down from leadership to follow a passion. She was a beloved staff member at Roberts Elementary and a dedicated employee of the Little Rock School District, serving her entire career in the LRSD. She started her career at Franklin Elementary and taught there until transitioning to Roberts in its inaugural year. And I'd be remiss without mentioning she was part of what
086is called the Fab 4 at Franklin, Melanie being one of them. Mrs. Paula Smith, a retired teacher from Bell Elementary in August of 24 after more than 30 years of service in Little Rock School District. Mrs. Tari Anderson retired from Otter Creek Elementary in January of 25 after 30 years of serving in the Little Rock School District and currently Mrs. Melanie Phillips brings 25 years of teaching experience and currently serves as the special education lead teacher at Dr. Mary and G. Lacy K8 Academy. Misty was part of that incredible crew that dedicated her entire year to kids here in the district. So here's my request. It would be an honor to celebrate her legacy for decades to come in a space that she helped cultivate and build. Roberts would not be what it is without
087her. And this seems to be a fitting tribute to a phenomenal person, an educator. And part of the ask is is the media center is because if you've been into Roberts, it's 15 years old, still a beautiful building. But the first thing that you see when you walk in that building is that media center. And when everybody in this room is long gone, I want to guarantee that my friend and a devouted employee of Little Rock School District, her legacy will remain. So when kids 50 years from now walk into Roberts Elementary, they'll say, "Who's Misty Sims?" And they will get to see on the plaque outside of that library, who she was, what she meant to us what she meant to the district, and who Roberts is, and who we will continue to be
088because of the legacy that she left. So board, my request is that you would honor my request of naming Robert's Media Center the Misty Sims Memorial Library. Questions? Mr. Wesley, I would like it would be my honor to make the motion to that the LRC board approve the naming of the Roberts Media Center after the late Misty Sims as presented and with great appreciation to the Robert's family and to Misty's family. You stole my thunder. So, her father was part of the village that raised me at Central High School. So second that motion. It's been moved. I would I'd like to second as well. Yeah. She had multiple seconds. I um her father was uh a teacher at Central High School when I was uh first came and and his mo and her mother was
089career and tech at Hall High School. I know this family well. And you stole my thunder. I will give it right back if you like it. You uh because uh these were my friends. I know you know sometimes you just walk away and you don't see people but this hurt me dearly. I remember when you all were little bitty so that's a long time ago. So I'm still in here. You go ahead. So, uh, it would be an honor to, um, move that that I second it. It's been moved and properly second times three. I believe that is. Is that correct? All right. That the LRSD board approved the naming of the Roberts Media Center after the late Misty Sims as presented. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? The motion carries. [Applause] All
090right, we'll move to 7.1. Future Smiles Dental Clinic. Take a minute. Don't mind. Take a minute. You guys want to take a reset? Take a minute for this. Absolutely. Good evening everybody. Miss Wesley. Good evening. Miss Wesley, it I need to make a statement before we begin. Yes. So, um since I am an employee of the Arkansas Children's Hospital and and both of these next two motions have to do with business arrangements between the district and the Arkansas Children's Hospital in order to avoid any conflict of interest or even an appearance of conflict of interest. I'm going to step out of the room to not be a part of any discussion or vote. And if board members would please come get me when it when this is over and I will come back for the
091rest of the meeting. Thank you. Absolutely. Board members under um just for the board's edification under policy 1.6 board member vogen Mr. Adams has declared a conflict has removed himself from the meeting room. Once that is done according to policy um they will not be considered present at the meeting. So your your voting number changes a little bit. He will be considered not present. So uh that will that will impact your vote count potentially. I just wanted to make you aware of the policy before we got going. Mr. Just a quick question. Um, so my in my day job I have members members of my the membership organization that I work for who work for Arkansas Children's Hospital. Is that do you feel I should have probably asked this before right now. I feel like
092that's a fairly distant connection. Um, would you consider that a conflict of interest that I should also step out for? I ordinarily would not. um you don't have a direct financial interest, which is what the statutory standard for a conflict of interest for board members are. Okay. Uh as Mr. Adams said in his remarks, he wanted to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, not so much a direct actual conflict. Um I am reluctant to label that there is a conflict in your case. Okay. Um but that ultimately could be a board decision on how the remainder of the the Is that somebody that like you you you lobby for? I mean because like you you're a lobbyist. I don't in my I mean I I don't even honestly we know who works in there. Is
093it nurse practitioners at this point? I mean I don't even know who works in health center at this point, but they might be a member of my organization. I don't honestly know. I mean if it's a nurse practitioner they might think you're fine. Director Director Stone you had a if if you are not comfortable. Yeah. if you're not comfortable. That's so true. Okay. I mean, I'm comfortable with it, but I just kind of wanted to make sure you guys didn't feel like it was uncomfortable since I do run a membership organization for encouraging you to be comfortable. Okay. And I did also used to I also used to work at Children's and oversee the schoolbased health centers, but I think that makes me a strong. Yeah, that was a long time ago. So, but I
094feel Thank you so much. Thank you. I just wanted to make sure I was being very transparent and clear with everybody about u potential, you know, relationships. Absolutely. Thank you. Thanks for your patience. Yeah, of course. Um, good evening. Mary Otwell, schoolbased health clinic coordinator. If they have questions. Oh, okay. That's what I was like. I don't know how much I need to say here. So, we've heard the presentation. Any questions on Future Smiles Dental Clinic? Any questions? I entertain a motion. I move that the LSD board approve the preation of the future dental clinic operated by LRSD and all of theouus supporting the operation of the schoolbased health clinic. It's been moved and properly second that the LRSD board approve the creation of the future smiles dental clinic operated by LRSD and all theus
095supporting the operation of the schoolbased health clinic. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? The motion carries. Moving on to 7.2. Arkansas Children's Hospital AC Primary Careou. Entertain a motion. Yes, ma'am. I move that the Lur Rock board approve theou between Arkansas Children's Hospital and Lur Rock School District. Second. It's been moved and properly second that the LRD board approved theou between Arkansas Children's Hospital and LRSD. Any questions, comments? All in favor say I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you. 7.3 financial report. Oh, very good. Retreatment, please. I'm sorry. Walk slowly. It'd be really funny if we all set up. [Laughter] It was somebody down on this end. I'm not sure. I thought he walked. Good evening, boy. Good evening. Good evening. I won't be before you long. We got any money for weight?
096It won't be just like the last presentation. What you We got any money for weight equipment? Oh my static. I'll address that too. But I before you going to have your financial take uh report for April, uh which is still kind of boring report, but I'll show you some highlights a little bit later here. So not much change. seem like we have been meeting every Thursday but since the last Thursday not much changed on this report uh for the most part it's coming in in these latter parts of the of uh of these financials I have here only 24 million so we collect almost 25 out of 86 million as of this report of course I mentioned before our major tax collection comes in May so that uh so we did get that about I
097think 53 I'll pull it up here shortly but liquid property we had about 11 half million come in. We budget about 13.6 in excess commission. You kind of see where they're following. Uh I'm going to jump over to another thing real quick. So this will be a report for next month once we close out. So this is all our all our actual tax accounts out there. What I show you on that summary page. Uh if I go to this is actually in our einance system. If I go to bottom line, we budgeted 213,436,21. what we've collected so far is 209 2081 175. So we have a remaining balance of about 4 million $4.2 million to collection for the remainder of this fiscal year. So we'll get another payment as well. So I think we're going
098to be pretty close to meeting those projections here. I feel very confident in that. So you can kind of see this is what I actually put my voice get louder. I guess they turned me up. All right. What what I actually put on that summary page is basically what we pull out. Well, it's the same thing we pull out of Ein. So this is a look at ERP system. So, we're getting pretty close. All right. Uh, interest on investments. Uh, we budgeted 2.6 with 3.9 there. Uh, that's going to that won't be the same for next year because that large amount of capital improvement funds we have is uh going down fairly quickly with the projects we have out there. So, going back through our expenditure update and hopefully maybe on the next update on
099here. So our salaries uh salary account I typically give you update every month. So if you actually looking at that report out there it's going to show you a balance out there but uh it's basically when we run that payroll and uh the incumbrance is uh actually reducing don't reenumber until like I think the following month. So it typically shows a a little balance out there 7.9 but that true balance once you actually go dig down in there's about point or $300,000 or so that's available. So that's good showing that we're not over budgeting salaries. uh taken in the fact that we did enhance stipens this year. We did do a sick leave payout and we did something else as well I believe as well. So that that's good we were able to cover that
100within that. We do have some items of concern that we're looking at for next year. These architect and the and the actual construction concerned that we have to have some money later on. But other pieces we are looking at ways to reduce overtime in the future years along with looking at some of the student transportation. uh the supplies are typically kind of washed based on how they people actually budgeted. It should have been probably more money in 66150 versus 66100. So that's kind of roll up and textbooks as we go look at textbooks adoption this year. We'll kind of see. So there are a few schools, a few programs that we left off. So when we submitted budget, we had to act for some more textbooks. So we may put a little bit of cushion
101on there. We've tried to budget as streamlined as possible this past year because we was already in a deficit state. So, as we go into the upcoming year, we're going to be looking at everything with even a finer two cone to make sure that we're pretty that we're as lean as possible, but we're realistic on our actual expenditures. As we look at our uh fund balance update, operating fund balance currently at 23,965 989 as the end of April. capital improvement fund. You can see us declining from that 100 million we had uh at the beginning when we got second round of second round of Monday. So 33 million uh federal fund balance 361,000 of course that goes and comes based on our reimbursement. So at this point it was positive uh child nutrition balance they
102have spent down. I think this is a million dollars less than what they had before but they're still in a very healthy state. So, as they they continue to do those projects we have out there and uh make enhancements to our child nutrition program. Any questions so far? Yes. Yes. Art. Uh what does the governor's every kid gets a breakfast have to do with our child nutrition fund balance? Uh won't really for this year it doesn't affect anything for next year. So breakfast will be universally free. Uh so you'll most likely be adding we may be adding an agenda item for next month as we look at C community eligibility out there uh and seeing how that's going to think that will be the way to go. Uh we may have a few schools we
103can include in that but that may help out with some of the the debt we we're seeing across the district. So uh debt is good and debt is bad. It mean that I more kids are eating in our cafeteria. They're enjoying those pizzas and wing Wednesdays and all those other things that they've enhanced our child nutrition program. We do want to feed them, but we do have to address the debt as well. So, uh, but, uh, I don't think it's going to really have a effect on us. Hopefully, hopefully it'll have a positive effect and make sure that those kids that may be struggling to pay for a breakfast in the morning, they'll come and eat. So, yeah, Mr. Bailey. Um, yes, ma'am. with the lunch debt. Um I know what Let me just start
104here. Like with the lunch debt for um the high schoolers, right? It's like like $20,000 or something like that or less than that. Have to see how much it is. So yeah. Um, is there any room for just the district to pick up and pay for that debt instead of going out to the community be, you know, off trying to get some someone to offset that when um we could look in our coffers to see about um covering that debt. And what I'm talking about part, I'm talking about all of that, but I'm also talking about if there's any high schoolers, particularly seniors, um, that have lunch debt, then we should just automatically forgive that. And and then two, I then I'm I'm I'm aware that that would be a board motion and approval deal,
105but but to have people potentially um not graduate or having to not eat, I mean, we have to feed them legally even if they do have a debt. But um is there any way for the district to offset that instead of going to the community to have the community offset it? I think you could you could probably pass a district policy, but when we're looking at this fund balance here, we have a positive fund balance in child nutrition. That fund balance was negative or they get to a point where we are negative at the end of the year, the district has to automatically contribute. Uh but based on I think law and based on policy, we have to have some type of collection procedures. Those procedures have kind of changed in the past depending on
106we're going to feed the students and that's why the debt has continued to grow but we have to have some type of collection process in place or contribution in place. We typically we're not I mean board action can I guess do anything but typically you wouldn't contribute to a child nutrition program until it's actually in the red. We're not in the red. It's just that we have outstanding accounts out there and I mean you typically try to collect from those parents uh the best you can. I I don't want to I can't give you any legal advice on there, but I think you would have to take take some kind of policy that we have to abide by at that point. So Okay. So So maybe something more um in the middle of the road,
107it would be to not withhold um any type of promotion or food from a child. Um, so if they're um promoting up to the ninth grade or whatever or to the fifth grade or whatever grade they're promoting to are out, then maybe a policy on that to where we don't um hold the child um education and promotion um in in the balance because of a debt that they have nothing to do with because they don't work, right? So, okay. Can I just add something? Um, and I'll get Miss um Walker Hind Walker Hind to um give us a statement about this, but I remember her stating something about there was some type of legal restriction that prevented us from being able she talked about us being able to use federal funds and district funds in
108the past to be able to re relieve uh the debt. and I don't want to misspeak, but I know she stated to me when we were at the event that that is no longer um an option, but I can't remember the rationale and all that, but I'll get her to provide a response to assault. And then secondly, we're not going to uh prevent a child from graduating or being promoted uh because of lunch debt. I don't want that to be a concern of anybody now. The board, it shouldn't be a concern for the board. Go ahead. Go ahead. Well, I just want to understand get some clarity too that even with the lunch that it's not going to prevent graduating singers from getting transcripts. Okay. I was going to say there is some misinformation going
109around social media about that right now. Um that I do think it might be nice if the district put out some clarity on that too. So you do have financial obligations before you graduate. If you had library fine, whatever it might be on someone and try to satisfy, but based on you do have to push forth some type of collection. All these uh child nutrition funds are USDA funds. They're federal funds. So they're looking at those things. So uh so we couldn't do anything just to forgive or wipe out. So it would have to have operate money that come over there and actually uh subsidize that that program. So and just to be clear, it's not misinformation. Uh you have to satisfy your debt. And so it's not misinformation that is going around. It's factual
110information. Um because if people don't if students have uh a debt sitting on the books, we could withhold um things from them. And so that's why I was saying we need to do a board policy that helps people um particularly the campuses and staff know in general that that should not be a barrier as uh director Bali uh stated. So could you speak on that that information piece? I will have to that that's going to be in the student handbook at that point. So so on our part I mean they may have a balance out there but balance can be for many things. You have your child nutrition you may have whatever act books or whatever or Chromebooks and different things like that. So you do have some collection. There may be some that may
111keep them from graduating or promoting up whether they hold diplomas or whatever it might be. Whatever's in the student handbook it should be addressed out there. So I have to research that and see. Okay. It's not specifically just for child nutrition balances. So, okay. And districts around the state and around the nation are dealing with this the same thing. So, okay. Yeah. We don't feed, we don't go out there if a kid doesn't have, you know, money. We don't go give them like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or something. They get the same thing. There's no shame it out there, but we do follow up with the parents. And I mean, the kids aren't treated any different out there. So, yeah, that's embarrassing. Yeah. Well, we don't we don't embarrass nobody. So, yeah. No.
112But that concludes my Oh, well, no, I didn't. Y'all got me off track here. Y'all gave me seven minutes, but y'all took up all No, just so just just pause for a second. But the fund balance here, you can kind of see the decline here. We're at the pretty much at the end of the fiscal year. Those balances are going down. It's going to jump back up a little bit, but not much as we uh continue to pay off for those rest those payrolls for the rest of the fiscal year and those summer payments. So, uh, the one in yellow is the one we'll have to address here sooner than later on rest of our, uh, facility needs that we currently have. So, but this will look a little bit different on next month as
113far as, uh, what you see on on this this balance here, what I just showed you, kind of a glimpse on what we've collected for M so far. But, Mr. Bailey, have you start talking to us about bond payments yet? I haven't. No, we don't have any any new bond payments yet. I'm gonna probably follow up with Stevens and kind of see what the market is looking like now. Interest rates are a little bit different. I just hadn't had a check in with him lately. So, okay. Because I remember when I was looking at it with a group of us um looking at our bond at our bond payments, our recent ones, it looked like the district is going to right as the years go on, the district's going to end up paying more money
114for our bonds um or like our payments, right? Because we get the discount on the front end. it was explained the way uh we get the discount on the front end, but then we end up paying heavily um as years go on. And so right as um the forecast is the decline um and a large chunk of that bond payment is going for a new high school. And so we want to make sure that um the rest of our district is is is um sound. So, at some point I would um welcome a work a budget just a strict budget work session to really dive down into um the budget. Um um so I I'll include the debt service payments. Our debt service is levelized once you issue that bond out there. You may have
115a disc bonds may be discounted on the front end for investors but for us that payment is pretty much if it's going to be 26 million maybe 26 million 102,000 one year 26,13,000 26,000 26,1,000 so it doesn't fluctuate that much at all because it's levelized over that period. So our bonds are scheduled to pay off in 2022 now. I believe we extended them 19 years from the 2033. Mhm. Uh now what I was talking about actually looking out and seeing cuz we're going to have to go out. So we we hadn't totally financed West Little Rock, right? That was I mean more than we actually and that was from the millillage. Most of that money is millillage money. Correct. Majority of the money yet was financed for uh for Lacy for Southwest for Central that
116we're completing now. West Little Rock is not scheduled to be completed the 27th. So we have a little time on that. We do have Park View coming on uh with their auditorium. I think we had one more. We have chillers at Pinnacle View. Of course, our Pinnacle View High School is our larger project. So, the other smaller projects we pretty much have finished for the most part, but we're in progress. So, but we can we can provide that. Yeah. So, Madam Chair, at some point um for us to do a financial strategic plan for going out five years is going to be crucial um um in the upcoming uh years. And so, uh definitely welcome that. and um even looking at our current strategic plan to even see if that have to be redone based
117off of that. Okay. Are you are you in a place for questions? Yes, ma'am. I'm finished. Yes. Okay. All right. Yes, ma'am. I was just curious. I know um I know we just presented finally on the early childhood task force that met. Has the facilities and finance task force produced a report or anything that or any any got a recommendation? I'm not sure if it's been has it been shared. I don't know if that was ever shared with us. Um anyway, that that might be a good at least starting place for where things were about a year ago. If that could be shared. Other questions? Okay. I have one. I'm sorry. Yes, ma'am. What is the total debt on meals? Are we just talking about high school, middle school? When you said I think Miss
118Hatter throw. Yeah. When we have debt, it's all projects. It's just the overall whatever. Yeah. for the meals. Central is in debt. How much? Central wouldn't be in debt. It would be just the district. So, Central is just a project over there. So, I get Well, I can let y'all take if y'all want to talk about Central again. No, I mean the total meals that parents owe the total monies that parents owe for meals. Oh, for meals. So, when you're saying meals, I'm thinking about millage. Oh, I don't know. I'll get a report. I'll have Miss Walker produce a report for each school and you all can see. Well, it could just be just elementary, middle, and yeah, we'll we'll get it cuz we have patrons that may take care of eight school A, B,
119and C and then I mean, typically we do have people that come forward with it. So, especially if they they need a tax deduction or something like that, that's a good way. So, I'm retired. I can write you a 500. Okay, we'll send you in. We got it on camera. You better knock that out. You better knock it out. Another question, but I'll get that for you. Okay. You didn't that that wait room equipment. Yeah, you didn't mention. Well, y'all was still on this item. I was discuss part of this. So, a lot of things and of course I we typically don't expect you all to have a lot of comments on there because we don't want to constitute a meeting or anything on there when you all are chiming back. So, uh we're researching
120that right now. I I typically keep all my emails and everything. So the agreement if you go back when Mr. Poor was here and before when the facility was designed many years before we even got this new rendition. So part of that fieldhouse facility was supposed to be private funded about half of it. That's what I thought of it was supposed to be half out of booster. So uh we didn't get into that part. So from the get-go that project has kind of been over overfunded over budget uh because the prices went up. It was a clear understanding from the athletic director currently in place along uh district athletic director. I have emails as well that in part of the fundraising it says for weight equipment. Uh we I didn't know people were still down.
121I don't know if anybody thought they were still using the old facility. That doesn't make sense to me at all. Uh not even coming at that point. But we have that new facility. The facil the waste there. Some of them were being refurbished and some of them should have been purchased. as we look at it. I have access to the activity funds they have. They have funds available and they've raised funds as well. So, we're going to check and see where what where they are as far as ordering those pieces out there, but it shouldn't be a situation where we are now. So, so, so what about the the project management of it? I mean, and that's what I said in my email back to the equipment wasn't a part of any of that. So,
122the project management, so we it took what year and a half, two years to build that. So it was conversation throughout that on who was responsible for what portion of it. So yes. Yeah. I'm sorry. Let me just No, because I was cut off real quick by um so because I was you know because we can email back and forth because it's all foyer. I mean um we we've done it several times be um in prior. So it's not a big deal for us to email back and forth. Um, but if the project was being managed and monitored correctly, then it would have been noticed that equipment wasn't ordered by a certain time. Definitely at grand opening, it would have been noticed that we don't have equipment in here. Um, you know, it is at
123this point it it's almost like it should be a a a district um expense um or or or something because just the you know it is a bad look. So so the things we did so we we pushed the grand opening the facility was wasn't 100% completed when we did the grand opening. If you notice you can look in the background and see honors and things was not finished. So we pushed it where they could actually play football or have games on the on the field. So the facilities still being finished but I mean it was I mean I have emails and we'll get to the bottom of it and get get the things done. So I mean we're checking on along with Dr. Lauren and athletic department. But I mean once we turn over
124a facility is typically turned over. We ordered the things that were a part of that project. Uh no different than the science wing. Now you may have some things occasionally you may leave out that you have to go back but I mean it was specific on who had the responsibility. So I don't ever put blame on other things. I mean we're going to look out what's best. It's not about blame. It's just what it is. We're going to solve the solution. So we're a solution solver. So at that point we'll get it. So So we'll have it at the June meeting. What's that? We'll have a solution because I should My understanding is we've already got a solution. The email we got from Dr. Luring. Okay. I thought it was pretty clear that this is
125on uh the public. We're going to we're going to get it resolved. So, it shouldn't be heavy on you all. Is your question response? Yes, ma'am. Um I got the same impression that you have uh because uh as far as the weight equipment is concerned now first of all this uh project tripled in size from the original okay and I'm not tripping about that but it was my impression that the boosters were going to do that and now we're going to flip it and be responsible. I said we I said we're going to resolve it. It's going to get we're going to research this. Okay. Money has been raised in a name of something. So, and I mean we have funds in there as well. So, we're going to make sure. So, weights typically I
126mean most weights metal weights don't degrade. You can refurbish them, refinish them. Now, there may be some new items that need to be purchased as well, but I mean for the most part I we've ordered the things that were needed, but we'll resolve it. The little fuss that we've had questions. Yes. The little fuss that we've had could have been resolved, I think, a lot easier by someone that I'm not going to name, but I'm pretty sure Dr. Wright knows who it is. Okay. Oh, can Mr. McGee I just I mean Mr. um Bailey, sorry, I was saying about M Mr. McGee because I was looking at the email. Um, so if I'm hearing you correctly, you're saying that the boosters raised the funds, the money is sitting inside the activities funds and and are
127you saying the booster or the school or Mr. Mc or somebody did not um order it like because essentially that is what you just said. You said the money is sitting there and they do have funds available. I can't tell you if he who ordered or hadn't been ordered if the service has been apparently they had and this is just for clarity. I'm not I'm just trying to get clear. So that's what we got to I mean I've just made aware that people are still using a part that we built a new building for that should have been out of there which so the other part is about electricity. So this project is midway through. We have a new science wing going on. We have a baseball part that's going on. So part of the
128field renovation was replacing those light poles there that we have to bring up to standard. So that requires you to run new electrical service. So service has to be disrupted along with putting new service in for the baseball certain times. So that's been part of the project for the whole time. So uh feel ever a part of it. Yes, ma'am. It was always a part I cuz that just sounds so brand new. Yeah. So we I mean we totally it was a lay down area. We totally messed it up doing that part. So it was Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So I'll entertain a motion. I entertain a motion. Sorry, I went a little longer. Well, we just said a while ago. Madam Chairman, I move the LRSD board accepted the April 2025 financial report as submitted.
129Second. It's been moved and properly second that the LRSD board accepted April 2025 financial report as submitted. All in favor say I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you so much. We'll get you the updates by next week. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So, we're going to go ahead and move to uh act 503 of 2025. So, it looks like we are looking at um moving to make a decision specific to the years four versus six as well as the members five versus seven. Map. Yes. I'd like to make a motion that the that in response to act 503 of 2025 that the LRSD approve a four-year board terms for future elected board members. Is there a second? Wait a minute. That's not all of it though. No, we're doing one at a time.
130Yes, ma'am. And let me Could you repeat your motion, please? I'm sorry. Yes. Yes. you know, as you mentioned, you know, that that because of the act that in the future, if we follow the act, we have to have either four or sixyear Yes. terms. And so, my motion is that in response to act 503, that the LRSD board approve four-year board terms for future elected board members. Second. It's been moved and properly seconded that in response to act 503, there will be four-year board terms um specific to the reconfigured board in March 2026. All in favor? Has it been second? No. Oh, discussion. It's been second. Discussion. Okay. Discussion. Okay. I'm sorry. I thought we had a lot of discussion last week already. I'm sorry. That's that's on me. I'm sorry. Go ahead. So
131my discussion on this um my gut originally said to me four years and I think you know a fiveyear a fiveyear ask which is what we all had felt like a lot right five years feels like a lot but I wanted to just put out there and be really clear about the guidance that came from the school boards association in there and just acknowledge what that could mean if you know based on whether how many members we choose and that means more than half of our board turning over every two every four years. So it would be if we chose seven members, we would have three seats turn over one term and four seats turn over the next term. And that just feels like a lot of uh lot of turnover. And so I just
132I I just wanted to note that out loud. And I mean I think it's a balance between recruitment and um retention of people. if um it's hard to recruit somebody for a six-year term. Yes, it is. But but it is it is also hard to lose half your board at a time potentially. You got to remember also the census the 2030 census that we're going to have. So, so that's going to make a change also. Right. Right. We had that correct? Yeah. I was going to say that if we choose six-year terms, um, we some three or some four of a seven board, seven member board is going to have to give up part of their term in 2000 or in 2022 when we, excuse me, 2032 when we redo the census because the board
133will have to it'll they'll it'll be turned over. Um, okay. Four years sounds good, but six years, yeah, it's a long hard road to hold. Imagine doing six years, but you're conserving a lot of board culture, which um be good or bad. I would like to get rid of some of it. So, I don't know. I'm going to I'm inclined towards six years at this moment. I'm not. But as you all know, I hearing new information, I can change my mind. Yeah. Okay. Miss Callow express. Okay. Again, I would like to speak against this entire act and I'm going to do it again. Uh because I feel that this entire act is should be illegal. I feel that the Little Rock School District has been targeted. I agree. I think that uh we are number
134three according to the young man from uh Springdale who announced that oh we have 21,000 people well that's great but uh I when they when when when we came back the first time and they expanded the board to nine which I thought was a lot but anyway uh and then all of a sudden here we are first time we have fallen under that number. We are the school district that's always been the largest. But why are you targeting us and going to make all of us run again? break in tradition, break in discussion and make everybody run again so that it can be more confusion. Well, you know why? Oh, well, I know why, but I'm just saying I'm trying to be nice here. Well, I'm I'm not ready to be nice with them. Well,
135I mean, I'm trying. Okay. But uh but I really feel that I will not be voting for this and I'm not going to vote for it cuz I'm against resegregating Little Rock School District be it on the board or the entire uh uh district. Period. I hate to interrupt you. I hate to say this. If you're not going to vote, if you're going to abstain, and you know that ahead of time, I am not going to abstain. I'm going to vote against it. Okay. I didn't understand. I apologize. Okay. Thank you, director. I won't vote against it. Okay. You finished now for the time being. All right. Director Adam. Yes. I just wanted to respond to the concern that was raised about the four to six years. I I respect that concern and about the
136with the idea that that it's potential that you could have that much turnover. I think the reality is is that we have not is that that that is that you know people particularly if it's not an um even with five-year terms we have people who have been agreed to run again and so I think the chance chances that you're going to have a wholesale brand new half of a board every time in practicality is not likely and and I and I am very concerned that you know what we've seen in um in all the board elections that I've been involved in is that for the most part we don't have a great deal of candidates and that I think that that six years would could make it even more discouraging to attract people to be
137involved as candidates. And so I I think among the imperfect choices that we have four or six to me I think that that four is better. I don't think we have no choice. Any other questions comments? So, it's been moved and properly second that in response to act 503, LRSD board will approve the change in years of term to four specific to the reconfigured board on March 2026. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? No. I oppose. She. Okay. Rose Callaway. The motion carries. Okay, I'm ready to make the next motion for the um size of the board. Okay. Uh I move that the Little Rock School District um have a seven member board in um accordance with the act 503 of 2020. Yeah. Uh 2025. Um and of course you we know that
138Chris Heler is still looking at this. So this is not like we can always go back and change it. So um so my motion is that uh we are as we go to a seven member board. Um and that is the motion. Do we have a second? Second. It's been moved and probably second discussion this part. Go ahead. No. Okay. You gave it to me last time. Go ahead. I love this. I uh voted against the first part, but I can easily vote for this part. I felt like a nine member board was too many to begin with. The part I don't like is that at some point we're going to have to decide two of us are going to have to go whether we do it voluntarily or we draw lots and see who
139gets the black P. Um does it have to be black and does it have to be a Well, it had to be a P just for my for my for my pirate work from Treasure Island to work. Um, that's the only that's the only downside I see to seven board members. And and you know, I I have a hard time giving up my seat. I was elected for a five-year term. I've served less than a year of it, and I'd rather have somebody, you know, run against me, quit me, and send me home, then just say, "Oh, I'll give up." So, okay. Other questions or comments? Um, I'd like to make another comment. You said yes ma'am. Okay. For I said for now. Okay. For this the reasons that I listed previously, I am voting
140against this because I think the entire law is prejuditial. Other comments against B. So I just I I'll vote how I feel like I want to vote. I just want some reassurance that if the school district enrollment reaches 20,000 that this is not a final decision and it can stay a nine member board if it goes back over 20,000. I don't want this vote to be finalized and then we go to 22,000 and still okay well we we de voted on it being seven and and I want I want that to be stated and it to be you know understood. So we need to redo that motion. So I've in speaking with Chris, he does indicate that he is willing to meet with us and and we'll kind of address some other things specific to
141this entire piece going forward. And Mr. Hel, not this piece of it, but because he says if it goes to 20,000 Yes, ma'am. Which makes a lot of sense. Absolutely. Okay. Yes, ma'am. That uh really how long do we have? Was this a done deal? Okay. Uh if we get that number right, all of this we can table. And that's what Mr. Heler said when we were sitting down there. He said that there there is no harm in in making a decision on this now. Um because he said that um he he's still researching it. Um so he did give some assurances because too just like someone mentioned about the census and so um that's another um uh deal that he said he was going to look into. I just wanted to bring that back
142speaking with him today. He absolutely he said that too. Oh he said that he said what now? He said that he is open to speaking with us and because of what has come about here recently he can meet with us in executive session to advise us specific too. But do we have to make this decision tonight? We need to make those. No. No. Do we have to? He He recommended that we do. That was his recommendation. No. Okay. Other questions or comments? Other questions? Comments. I have I have a comment. Yes, ma'am. Um I'm I'm not confused and I know that we all were elected by our constituents and sometimes I'm I'm wondering about that. we were elected, but yet you can tell us what we are supposed to do. So, I'mma leave that as
143a legal matter. Um, to me, I'm I'm going to try not to get stuck. So, whatever we vote on, I'm going to take it and I'm going to use it to the best of my ability and if I choose to run again, I will run again. And my focus will still be on student outcome because, you know, this right here can give you a little anxiety and you can go back and forth. So, I'm not going to focus on that. If it's a legal matter, I'm going to let legal handle it, but in the meantime, I'mma go with what the majority of the board wants to do and I'm gonna make it work. Good. Thank you. Um, I just wanted to make sure, Mr. Rose, that I understood what you were saying about there's no
144telling whether I understand. Go on, please. The law act 503 says that an entire school district board of directors is required to be elected during the first school board election after a school district dot dot dot. right has fallen below the average daily membership requirement under 613 634 which is the 20,000 with you so far. So you said something about drawing lots for who stays in after the election after the election. So that would be we have to draw that's drawing lots for the length of terms. I'm talking about drawing lots to avoid having whoever is going to draw our maps come back and say I cannot fix it where two of you aren't running against each other. Well, I mean, that's not the way we draw maps, though, is to help us draw maps.
145I mean, I don't think Well, I was going to say I think we draw maps that make the most sense for the district to equitably align our constituents, right? And and then if we when we're wherever we land, there may be two of us running against each other or there may but I don't I think drawing lines around where our current board members houses are feels a little bit shortsighted, but that's how it works. Have you ever seen that? That's how it works. pit two sitting officials against each other in an election. No, it's never done. Hadn't been done in Arkansas as far as I ever know. Ever. And I've heard of it very rarely anywhere else. And and two, if if you um paid attention to the last um debacle with the drawing of
146the lines in the congressional of the state legislators race, uh uh they left um Senator Love out of his district. And so um and so we know that um inequitable practices, bias practices, racial practices, infringements happening with with with the red lining of um e electoral districts. And so that's why it is upon us to be extremely diligent um in writing this work. And and last time we have GIS and we have the metro plan that will uh do the you know that have done the work for us in the past. And so um yeah, so I am not for any of the racial biases that happens within the political elections, but then we know that that is a real reality of what happens. We we know the ACLU is suing behind that the state
147of Arkansas. So that makes sense. I would like to say to a it's directed to Miss Johnson. I don't think it's a legal matter. I think it's a political matter. And I think as as a result of it being a political matter, it has to occupy some of our attention. Well, you know, it can be political and still legal. If it's a political matter, then you need to deal with it in a legal manner. Okay. Just a just a comment. I I think that, you know, the reality is for anybody who'd be watching and we I think everybody here knows that that if you know that if all nine of us decided and and all nine of us may not decide to run again for different reasons, but if all nine of us decided to
148run again, there is no, you know, mathematical way to go from nine board members to seven without having at least one of the new zones with two people in it, two presently sitting. And it's possible it could be three. you know, cuz we don't, you know, for how it goes. I mean, that will certainly be me and you. That that is just, you know, that's just part of the reality of the situation and that we'll have have to think about and um, you know, as we go. But I I I think that's part of the awkwardness of the whole situation and part of the reason why I want to I would support moving on this tonight so that we can be as thoughtful as possible with the time that we have and trying to decide
149what are the best zones going forward that make the most sense. I have come up with a new rationale for why I voted no a minute ago and why I'm going to vote now. Okay? It's that in response to act 503 phrase. I'm not responding to that law. I don't believe in it. Believe it's unconstitutional. That's what I think. Yeah. Well, I wish you had said that earlier and I wouldn't have had your second one. Why? But that's what I was trying to say. I think the entire act is unconstitutional. Not unlike so many things that they have passed this uh past uh congressional session, not only in Arkansas, but in the United States. They are really making it up as they go along and it's affecting certain people. That's the reason why I refuse
150to accept resegregation. I am not going to vote for something that could possibly resee not only this board but resegregate this district and possibly uh go to the point where this district is destroyed because you know we have had a lot of money taken out of this district for that reason. So to to me now is the time to say, "Hey, look, I didn't appreciate what you did before. I am not going to vote for anything that has to do with this and say it's okay because none of this is okay. It wasn't okay for you to take all that money to cut out family and consumer science and whatever. Whatever. I'm voting no. Y'all can vote how you like." Other comments or questions. And you know what, Miss Galloway, you're absolutely right. But we
151have to realize we do have a legal team and that should fall back on our legal team. We don't trust them. Well, that's all that's all we have. Well, our legal team is supposed to take instruction from us. And that's right. And they're supposed to take instructions for from us and I am not happy with that. I'm going vote against it, but y'all do what you like. Any other questions or comments? So it is a motion lane motion on the floor in response to act 503 that the LRS approve the change in the number of directors to seven specific to the reconfiguration or reconfigured board in March 2026. It's been moved and properly second. All in favor say I. I. I. Those opposed? No opposed. Volley opposed. Rose opposed. Callaway. Any other opposed? The motion
152carries. I'll carry it up. Okay. All right. Could I bring up one more item of discussion on on this note? Um, so I've been I've read through the um the redistric the draft contract for redistricting specifications. Um, and it it looks like in here we can have an any number of draft maps that we at least one draft plan for review by the jurisdiction or you can have multiple um draft plans for the jurisdiction. And I was going to suggest that perhaps we go ahead and make a motion to have let's say three example maps uh for us to consider in this contract and go ahead and put that out there since we now consider that for that. No, but by considering that by even considering that you're giving them the ability to say I
153can tell y'all what to do. I mean, we have people who are not in our district, like you mentioned about Fred Love, who all of a sudden he got redistriced out. And so, like, if you don't like what I'm saying, well, I mean, really, but that's all that this is. That's the reason why I think that this whole act is invalid. I hear that. Can Can I go ahead? So, I hear that and I am not saying we'd have to accept one of the three necessarily, but it would be in my eyes a good starting place to at least have someone who does maps for their job um put something on paper for us that meets the requirements of having equitable equitable population and and understand the demographics of what it looks like in certain
154maps. And then if we don't like any of that, we can perhaps go back to the drawing board. But in my eyes, it makes sense to go ahead and start working on that cuz we have like two we have two and a half months, y'all. Okay. So So to respond to that um and and your statement for someone who does that for their job, um that is to assume that the other maps have not been done by professionals and that's a mis that that's an assumption. So what maps the maps we're talking about? So we're talking about the the So just a point of order. Excuse me. Just a point of order. Excuse me. Just a point of order. Do that. So why do I do that? So she can. Okay. I mean she can,
155but Okay. So um in speaking with Mr. Heler, what he recommended that we do is what we've done. And so I believe because he is our legal advisor, it would be you know expedient that we do what he advises us to do which is to move forward uh as we have done that. And so the next thing on the agenda would be comments and so that's what I'm moving to. Amen. Superintendent andor board comments. Well, it's board comments or superintendent comments first. I'm sorry. Board comments. Yes. Oh, and director. I'm sorry. Always doing that to you. I'm sorry. It's okay. I'm here. Yes, sir. Um, so I just I I think it was really great the um presentation about dedicating the media center at Roberts. Absolutely. To uh Miss Misty Sims. And so it was
156to me it was just a reminder also with celebrations with our classified and certified staff. I believe his last name was Mr. Collins. Yes. Am I correct? Mr. Collins. Collins from Washington. In Washington. So, two different dedication. Well, one that happened this week and one being proposed. And so I think it's just important that we uh understand the uh the importance of positive promotion in the district and uh that being done in ways where we engage people um celebrate and support and the best way to do that is in in person. And so, um, with Mary G. Lacy, once again, I'm just going to bring it up that, uh, Coach Davis has reached out and wants to know when his, uh, honoring and renaming of the gym happens at Lacy. I think that's so important
157because it brings members from our community back out to our schools, uh, possible opportunities to recruit, bring enrollment up, and celebrate once again. So, I think we should uh put a timeline on on that because he's asked about it uh twice at least in my emails. And also, um just one point of clarity mentioning the buses with the athletics uh going on. Parents have reached out to me and asked uh that they've said that they don't have buses now. Uh I was under the impression that we were removing buses that weren't being used or underutilized, one of the two. And so if it would just be some some type of information to get out to the parents to say, "Hey, we're not taking all the buses away. We just using buses for the best uh
158purposes and making sure they're not underutilized." As well as this whole thing about the school lunch debt and seniors not being able to get diplomas and transcripts. If it's true, what can we do to rep prioritize some of that money for the seniors so that we're not having seniors graduate and not being able to take those next steps they need? Or if it's not true and they could stop worrying and stop reaching out to people saying that their child's not going to get that. That's all I have to say. Thank you. Yes. More comments or Mr. Bailey, it's true that they do still have some buses, right, for athletics. Is that what you told us last time when I said I was afraid you were gonna get us back in court if you took them
159all away? Remember that? Oh, yeah. You did say that. I don't recall that, but we do still have we might we might you might have said that. But it would have I know the plan when we presented the our budget reduction was to look at those athletic buses. I told you we had like school may request five from five different coaches where you only needed two. Absolutely. So, those are things we're looking at. So yeah, that's that's what we talked about, but we are going to be reducing the amount of buses out there because we have to reduce our budget and we have some wasteful uh spending. We have a new athletic director start July 1st. So they we're looking at all aspects, but they will have some buses still. So yeah, they'll have buses.
160Okay. So we probably won't have to go back to court. I don't think we have to go back to court. That's one of the things we went to court for in 1983 was not having buses to carry black kids back and forth or and poor kids back and forth. poor kids in general back and forth from home to practice. Okay. If and if you are a senior and your mom has a $500 meal debt, you still can graduate and get your diploma and transcript and transcript. That's true or false. I'm not saying that true or false. I can't tell you that's true or false. It is true. It is still graduating. I'm not sure about anything that but the transcript piece and that's why I have to look at student handbook on what to go
161by. But yeah, it's it doesn't create uh keep you from graduating or promoting anything. Yeah. But so and so that's probably why it's maybe important to do a a board policy to make sure that transcripts and things of those nature that will propel them to postsecary whatever lane they go in is not upheld because of debt um that they are not even legally responsible for since they're minors. So thank you. Thank you Mr. V. Question me. I'm sorry. board comments. Yeah. So, uh just, you know, I I do um support uh what uh Director Bali said about Coach Davis. He's been asking for this. Um and and it's not nec Let me just clear up that language that I just said. This this is something that like the district did back when uh Cloverdale was
162still open. We dedicated the gym. We also said that it is moving forward. Even at the grand opening of Lacy, um they even mentioned it as as the Davis Coach Davis uh gym. And so, uh perhaps we just need to uh put that on right on the agenda for a board action to be done just as we seen tonight to officially name it that um instead of waiting because it looked like um although we have you know the director have asked we still haven't u moved on that. I would hope that if we that we probably wouldn't have to that the superintendent would be on that and we wouldn't have to Well, a superintendent already said yes. Um it was the past and then there's been so many emails even prior to uh director um
163uh Bali coming on. Um and then I'll wait. Um and and and the other piece I do want to say and um take it how how you will but I it come from the most genuine uh place possible is um as a board and each board member regardless if this entire board flips um or portions of it flip or and most importantly just for now uh we are board members and we oversee and we um run the school district and we supervise and um we are supposed to hold the superintendent accountable. There is so much turmoil in our district whether it's psychological violence, whether it's retaliation, whether it's pettiness, whether it's vindictiveness, whether it's unclear communications or what have you. And my request for the board, as y'all know, I say the same thing in
164p in person as I do behind the scenes, is that each member start operating as the board. The board doesn't work for the superintendent. The superintendent works for us. And it seems like ever since he did that deal where he quit on 20 minimum of 20,000 people in our district, held us out for 5 weeks, came back with those demands that this board have the majority of the board have been voting along with whatever he brings regardless to what it is. And so my hope is that the board and the board members, I'm not saying the entire board is doing this, but those members that are is just going along with it and giving what appears to be heartfelt speeches behind why I'm voting for this and I believe in this and we need to
165do this. you guys, we really need to be holding this superintendent accountable more so than what we more so than what is currently being done. And so, um, I say that whether it's it holding him accountable to what he say, whether it's the in integrity, whether it's weakening our district or not, um, we just need to be more accountable uh, not only to our district, but also to our voters who voted us in. Thank you. Do you add Thank you. Um I want to make a a general comment, but I do want to respond to the thought that Miss Hatter gave. I really disagree with uh that view that anybody on this board is is making thoughtless, you know, decisions. I I think that even tonight we can see that we made decisions and sometimes
166we didn't always agree. But I don't assume because somebody disagrees with me that they are not thoughtful and that they're make not trying to do the best that they can and making the best decisions that they can. And I believe that everybody that I've worked with on this board does that. Even when I disagree really strongly, I don't doubt that people are trying to make the best decision that they can. And I don't think it's a helpful narrative to to suggest that some of us are not thinking or taking our responsibility seriously. I think it's fine for us to have honest disagreements, but I don't think it's right and helpful to um impugn people's intent because I'm going to assume the best intent and I think there's reason to assume the best intent that that's
167what we're trying to do. The more general comment I wanted to make is I think something really special or important happened just in this past month that you know we go from month to month and we're and we're dealing with you know the things that we that we're dealing with and and all the specifics that we vote on but in general that I would suggest that that the district has two big challenges and one is to improve academic performance for our students all of our students And the second is to deal with the um the realities of our fiscal situation and to to make the adjustments that we need to so we can be sustainable and do the very best job we can for the most students. And I think that this month we have
168done both. We have seen evidence of both. Uh last week we had a presentation by Miss Gudy and and others about the academics. I believe we are making progress. We are not where we hope to be of course but I think we are making progress. We think about the years um that we have had a board back and we look at where we started and where we are now and I think that the pro the plans that we're making and whether it's um the test scores we have whether it's more attention to students who are have historically struggled and and have been left out of concerns. I think we're making progress in each of those and and that was shown this one this month. There was an example and I think we made uh hard
169choices and grappled with the realities of our finances so that we can not be distracted by that and we can try to live within the means that we have. we can argue about about and nobody I don't think is satisfied with why we're we're here but there are things that we don't control but the things that we can control and to me it really felt like that when I think about this semester or these last few months like we have turned a page to a different chapter where we are making some progress like we want to see on the academics and we have made significant progress in being fiscally responsible and sustainable and that Credit goes to to this board and credit goes to the administration for all the work that has got us here
170and I hope I look forward to what we can do in the future and I hope that we don't get too distracted by all the things that we talk about and have to debate and and um that we lose track of those big pieces of progress. Let me I just want to say one more thing and I'm going to leave that alone, but um I think that we're at a turning point here and the turning point is going to change completely by legislation that was done by this last uh legislative system, be it what I said or what I implied. This is 19 This is 19 This is not 1957, but it sounds a whole like that's what we trying to get to. You know, I've been here a long time. I don't want to
171go back. And this is where it looks like we're going if we comply. I think they'd be satisfied with 1977, which is still bad compared to now. I just I um I think we've made all our comments. We have um Superintendent You have one more. I just have one quick one. Um just a a a point of um good intent can also create harmful practices and harmful actions. And so it's all right for a person to have good intent or to assume good intent, but if it's equivalent to a person who speak equity, but they practice inequity in practices. And so when we're looking at intent, um, we still need to measure it by the practices and what goes out. Um, we can say all these good things. if we can get caught up on
172um c our celebrations which we should because our teachers and our uh building leaders they are our teachers are really doing the hard work and making sure that our our students are metriculating through this system however I also know that our teachers are also in turmoil they also is feeling um and it's the entire system in our district the retaliation that I continuously get calls on or else unclear plans and it will be remiss of me for me to say that I don't believe that especially since you know I believe this because not because if if if I present something and it's talked down or voted down and they think that they are voting against Vicky Hatter because I'm not getting any personal gain from being up here. They may get something from voting against
173against what they think I'm saying because it's for me. It's not. It's really for for you, Little Rock and Beyond. And the other thing is the retaliation piece. I do believe that because anytime that you have a sitting superintendent saying to you that you told another board member to do something to you and not tell them, I that is retaliatory. And so what? Yeah. Could you repeat that so I'd understand it better? I think we need to be very careful. No, I want I want Well, I just think we need to be very careful that our code of conduct is we do not criticize employees, including the superintendent, in public. Well, I'm not criticizing. That's not a criticism. Okay. That's not a criticism. That's a point of fact. Miss Wesley, I I just think that
174we need to be very careful that we do not provide a forum for conduct which is against our code of conduct. And so I'm going to be happy then when you guys then because it's coming. So I'll just say this and I'll be done with it. It is coming um for you guys to take a position on Michael Mason's assault towards me and in one executive session. So So I want you to keep that same energy. I just want because you witnessed it. Okay. Miss, let me just say this to the public. You know what? We are a board. So if you send an email to one board member and not all of the board members, then we can't assume that something is going on. If it's going on and you have proof and you
175do nothing about it, that's not our fault. If you don't go through your progression of chain of command, that's not our fault because it's there for you. So, if it's going on as adults and you don't want to step up, personally for me, if something was going on with me, I'm going to tell somebody and I'm gonna bring it to you, but I'm also going to have documentation. I'm going to have proof. So, you have to understand something. Whenever you send something to one board member, the rest of us don't get it. So, we'll hear it for the first time. So, we all can't maybe respond or react or maybe send it to the appropriate personnel. I don't think you guys understand that. You have to you have to embrace all the board members so
176we can all get it at the same time. It doesn't mean just because I'm your board member in zone 7 that I can't speak for people in zone one. It does not mean that. What it means is that if it's going on then you need to bring it so we can deal with it because I don't know and I'm not going to assume and I'm not going to jump on the wagon and I don't know who driving it. So let me say this. Please, when you have a problem, address your problem. Do not be afraid of retaliation because there's an issue for that. You can deal with that. Embrace all board members. Send it to all the board members so we all can deal with it at the same time. So, you can't say, "Well,
177you know, she ain't going to say nothing about it and he ain't going to do nothing about it." But we don't know. We don't know. Now, let me say this. I don't really get a lot of emails and phone calls because I just don't deal with a lot of I don't knows or did nobody tell me or I didn't get the email. So, let me just say this to you. Please, if you're going to send the email, send it or the phone call. Let all the board members know so we all can be on point. Thank you, Miss Johnson. Um, and I just want to say real shortly that um, you know, there are times that, you know, I think that our district is a really good example of what just happens in life. I
178mean, there are going to be times that people have disagreement. There are going to be times when there are contentious situations. Everything does not need to be said in every forum, but but sometimes we just learn from it and we move forward. So, I really applaud what our district has been doing. I think that we have had some very challenging times, but we have moved forward and we have done so together. So, I really applaud what we've done because it's been very difficult and uh we want to go ahead and yield the floor to the superintendent, a fearless leader, and fearless leader. And as for his comments, all right, so I prepared a couple of things. Um, and so I'm going to read and talk. It won't be long. Um, first of all, I do
179want to say that right now we have um we do have a survey out to all of our staff, a culture and culture and climate survey and we will be sharing those results um with the board which I'm hoping will give a true um assessment as to how our employees are feeling uh with regards to the climate and culture of the district. And so there will be data uh to substantiate or not substantiate some of the comments that you hear in terms of our district is in turmoil. I don't believe our district is in turmoil. Um our data doesn't show that our district is in turmoil. What I do believe is that we have had to a number of things. We we have had to deal with some very tough situations. We've had a change
180in state laws that have had drastic changes in how we do things. Um I am a new leader in the district with a different focus and I have introduced lots of new different practices that are you know new to the district and so all of those things um I do believe has been challenging and difficult uh for some of our employees to deal with but I do not believe um and I know that the data that we have received thus far does not show um from our employees that our district is in turmoil. Um in addition to that I also unfortunately we live in a time where misinformation is readily available and is commonly presented as truth. Um and even more unfort unfortunate is the fact that there will always be people who will latch
181on to misinformation and run with it as if it's true. For my first almost three years here I have sat up here and have been very passive when it comes to confronting misinformation that is presented as truth. Most often, I try not to prolong meetings by going back and forth. And at other times, I'm honestly just too tired, either physically or mentally, to deal with the false narratives that are often spoken and accepted as truth by some on our board, I'm sorry, by some in our board meetings. However, the damage that is done to LRSD by not fact-checking statements and allegations made is too great not to address. And so, I've recently decided to address several statements that have been made um the last few months. First thing I wanted to address is that the
182superintendent, it has been stated repeatedly uh that the superintendent and his administration have stopped people from bringing grievances to the board. To my knowledge and based on the knowledge of staff, we do not know of any case where an employee has been kept from having a hearing in front of the board when they have had a right to do so based on policy. I have asked the individual who made this statement for examples or evidence to support this claim and as of today I have not received any information. There was a public comment a couple of board meetings ago uh where it was mentioned that staff at Brady and Carver who were deemed effective and selected their preferred options and were not guaranteed interviews at the schools where they were selected um which was part
183of our hiring and recommendation process for the 2526 school year. In order to examine how and where our processes broke down and was compromised and to help remedy the situation for those impacted employees, I have asked twice for the names of the employees. To this date, I have not been given one name. This one I'm not going to address because we addressed it in the last meeting with regards to the fact that we have so many programs and we keep adding programs. It was stated in a very disheartened way or I felt very disheartened when I heard the statement in a recent board meeting that the administration sanitizes the results from data presentations about programs that we are using to make it look like the program is working. And this probably bothers me more than
184anything else. If this were true, this would be highly unethical for us to do so. If there is a program that is not working based upon the data, you have seen us make program changes like we recently did with Lexia in the elementary grades and magpie. Our focus and goal is to improve student outcomes. We will not be we will not be wasting time using something that isn't working or making the data look good just to say something is working. Doing so is extremely unethical and counterproductive to our goal and for what I stand for individually. comments regarding to the policy committee and the work that they're doing. I'm going to leave that alone because that process has improved and has gotten better. But I do want to state that the personnel policies that the
185committee is working on was never intended um to replace the PPM. That is something that had that keeps being restated. Once the board policies were revised, the intent is to create a policy and procedural manual which that is going to take the place of the PPM. Last week it was stated that the district is hiring mostly outside people and bypassing experienced and qualified LRSD employees for external candidates. I have pulled the data asked for the data to be pulled for every person recommended for a 2526 position from February 1st when the recommendation process started up until this current date. This includes school-based and district office positions. So far, there have been approximately 2550 recommendations approved by the board. Of that number, 25 are out of district personnel. The remaining 2525 individuals are current LRC personnel.
186When you look at this data in percentages, 25 external hires represent less than 1% of the total number of individuals who have been recommended for the 2526 school year positions. So again, I wanted to make sure that I went on record to address some of the um statements that have been made. um and to provide um an explanation for those because it's important to me that we don't dwell on or believe um information that is not informed by correct data. Thank you. Okay. Uh the um chair will entertain a motion for adjournment. Um I have something. Um I think that if we're going to have the superintendent point of order No, no, no. because because if he's going to address things without naming thing people point of order he should I mean that's something that
187we so we we want to maintain I'm going to let that sit and speak for itself. Okay the chair will entertain a motion sir. If there is no um um objection we are adjourned. M do we have a an employee waiver? Yes. Yes. Yeah. Since we since we Yes, we're ajourned from meeting. Why did we not have the Why did we not have that hearing in as a part of a great agenda? Why did we separate it? That's just the way it's always been done. Yes, it's always been done that way. Okay. Okay. So, can we move on to the Do we need a break? Do we need a break? I don't care. We get It's not going to take 10 minutes, is it? Okay. Yeah. Just a couple minutes. Five minute break. Okay. I'm
188meeting. Okay. Good evening. So, we're going to go ahead and call the meeting back to order, ladies and gentlemen. I now call this personnel hearing to order pursuant to Arkansas code 6-17-414 which allows employees to request a waiver from the school district board of directors. The school district board director grants a waiver. It will be effective only at that school district at that school district. Therefore, the LRA school district administration has advised the employee slapplicant of the disqualification and the right to request a waiver on behalf of the LRSD administration. Representative will present the affected employee and facts for board consideration. The board check personnel hearing is open. The affected employee should appear at the meeting and be prepared to present their respective case and answer the board's questions accordingly. And the circumstances that the
189board may consider include but are not limited to the following. The age at which the crime or incident was committed. The circumstances surrounding the crime or incident. The length of time since the crime or incident. Subsequent work history. Employment references. Character references. Other evidence demonstrated that the applicant does not pose a threat to the health or safety of school children or school personnel. The board will discuss all issues regarding to to the I think this should be background check appeal or back check appeal. Okay. Background check appeal request in the open session. Board executive session is not applicable concerning any background check personnel appeal hearing. Madam chair, whenever you're ready. Yes, sir. Board members, uh I have a packet in front of you. Uh this should be very brief. Uh this involves uh Mr. David
190Rollins, a classified applicant for the Little Rock School District. Um I will I will kind of skip ahead and make this as brief as I can. the administration uh recommends that the waiver be granted. Um on page two, you'll see the results from the Arkansas Department of Education on Mr. Rollins background check uh that dates back to 1988. Um and this also is pretty standard in terms of the length of time and the offense that uh that arose. What is interesting about Mr. Rollins situation is on page three and this is something that we almost never see from the department. Um the managing lensure attorney from the state department said this uh this offense in 1988 arose during Mr. Rollins military service. Had it not been in his military service as a result of the
191way they did reporting back then, it probably wouldn't have shown up at all. And um for the department to say it is my opinion that Mr. Rollins would be an excellent candidate for waiver. Uh should give the board a great deal of of confidence. Turning to page six, uh the administration would like to highlight that Mr. Rollins in his application for employment disclosed the prior criminal history along with factual details of that. Uh he also brought various documents. He was extremely transparent, extremely forthcoming. Um and as as we have done these things before uh I believe uh after page 12 there's a a unnumbered page 13 with three options. Um the administration recommends option one that Mr. Rollins request for waiver of a disqualifying offense be granted. Um, and I have a resolution prepared for
192the uh for the chair at the conclusion of it. Administration would request a good vote from the board. Any Yes. Good evening everybody. Good evening. Good evening. Statement that you'd like to make? Uh, yes ma'am. Um, I'd just like to say uh first of all uh I thank you guys for the opportunity to to speak. Uh and I'd just like to say you know this happened some time ago and uh matter of fact a lifetime ago I I would think uh considering I was in my 20s. So um I'm a little nervous. Um you know I I would think that Um, it's okay. We forgive you. Take your time. Well, thank you. Take a deep breath. You know, I you know, I I um I love the military. When I was in the military, I
193loved it. I mean, I I enjoyed it. It was a good job. And couldn't nobody mess that up but me. And uh, of course, I did. And I just like to say that, you know, during the time that that happened until now, I've had a lot of chance to reflect and, you know, I've beat myself up time and time again, you know, but I did finally come to the point, you know, where I said, you know, it happened. I just get on with my life, you know. Um, I was a single parent when this happened. And uh so when I when I finished uh you know serving what I had to do, I came home and I raised my kids as a single parent. You know, both of them went to college, you know, and
194I enjoy, you know, my grandkids now. And I would really, you know, I don't want to be given anything. I just want to be afforded the opportunity to show to show you guys my work. Um I don't I don't want Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Takes a little pressure off. No, no problem. Any questions? Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion that we that the board approve option one and um approve the waiver request. Second. It's been moved improperly. Second that we approve the waiver request. Any questions? I have one. Um I've tried to read it and I can't read fast enough. Y'all getting ahead of me. Um the difference between one and three. Did he Did Mr. Rollins uh give false information or is that I didn't think so. But did
195not I think I misread something in option three. One uh three is three is related to falsification of the job application which is not the case in Mr. Rollins place. Gotcha. So, it doesn't need to be on there, does it? It's always play. It's a boilerplate form that we use in every one of these. Got all in favor say I. I. Any oppose? The motion carries. Congratulations. Rollins. Wasn't nearly Wasn't nearly as hard to do as you thought it was going to be. Stand up. There was it. Thank you. I think this one one of those one of those great Park View Patriots. There's one park you patrons. I move we second hearing. No objection. If Okay. Uh if we if there is no objection, we are a journ. Thank you. Sorry about that. We
196got excited.