Will Public Input Really Change Arkansas Public Schools?

Recently, Dr. McNulty of Pulaski Special School District (PCSSD) was “separated” from his position as superintendent after the school board realized he was misappropriating funds. While it isn’t clear why he was spending ear-marked money so frivolously, the school board did mention that they are not given all financial reports before every school board meeting. If that is so, most of the waste went undetected for months, possibly years. Dr. McNulty was graciously separated early, with full pay and stipends until the end of this school-year.

Rose Bud School District has been in HOT water from recent actions taken by Superintendent Blackwell and the Rose Bud School Board. Without warning, according to dozens of parents, the Girl’s Basketball Coach was given a one day ultimatum — resign or the board will fire you at the next school board meeting. Why was he allegedly threatened to quit? The parents speculate that one family with prominence in the city was mad at how he benched their daughter, but no one truly knows, as his resignation letter was devoid of any facts. The parents wonder if it really was a powerful family, who also happens to have relatives working in the district, or if something more sinister occurred. Remember, if a teacher harms a child, the school is required by law to report such activities, but no report was ever made. Either the school denied the coach his due-process rights to fight the forced-resignation required under Arkansas law, or someone is hiding the truth.

“…will administrators be called out about misuse of taxpayer funds, unsafe schools and rapidly declining literacy rates?”

Just last week, a parent from Rose Bud called me to ask which law requires school administrators to notify parents of child/ren who have been threatened with harm and harassed. She reported to me that one junior high boy was the instigator of threatening physical and sexual violence on multiple students, yet none of the parents of the victims were ever notified. The mother also stated that at the next school board meeting, the boy was expelled, his mother (a teacher at Rose Bud) resigned, but the Rose Bud school still refuses to post minutes and audio of the February board meetings. Consequently, two members of the Rose Bud School Board are direct relatives of the student and his mother and another board member has a wife that teaches. This begs the question,  can the board actually be unbiased with so many personal ties to staff? The parents told me this boy has a long history of violence, including allegedly blackmailing another student with inappropriate photos. The parents stated they are shocked becuase he was promised he could attend school next fall at Quitman School District, after finishing online school this year. That is the same district that is under investigation for not following bullying and Title IX laws.

If parents and taxpayers are finally allowed to speak and ask questions at school board meetings, will administrators be held accountable when they are called out for misuse of taxpayer funds, unsafe schools and rapidly declining literacy rates? Will school boards start listening to parents when they ask them to hold the administrators accountable or told to follow district policy and Arkansas Law? Will teachers boldly stand up to administrators about education deficiencies knowing they will have parents who will testify to the board on their behalf?  Will public comments highlight the lack of accountability within administration offices who waste taxpayer funds and overpack classrooms to save money, which has led to the detriment of literacy and math scores? Those are the BIG questions we need answered. Sadly, the Arkansas Department of Education admits they aren’t allowed to interfere with school operations unless there is a law specifically codified regarding the issue or someone can craft a really well written Ethics Violation letter.

“Does anyone even care what “We the Parents” want?”

Senate Bill 90 will codify the law that schools have to allow public comment, which will allow the Department of Education to intervene. But what should concern Arkansans is that the Arkansas House Education Committee Members seem to care more about what the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators (AAEA) and the Arkansas School Board Administration (ASBA) have to say. According to two committee members, changes are underway to amend the bill before being presented tomorrow. Does anyone even care what “We the Parents” want? They can make laws all day long, but until there is a major overhaul of the current failing school system, more oversight of school operations and harsher punishments for fraud, waste and abuse, nothing will really change — that is, unless parents and taxpayers demand it.

Missy Bosch

Missy is the author of “Crushed, but Not Broken”, a story detailing her daughter’s diagnosis and her family’s fight with CNS HLH. She has a passion to improve education and help children with disabilities receive the education and respect they deserve. Missy and her husband are AF veterans and have 4 children.