Arkansas Blog

On Easter weekend shouldn't the Jesus Saves All, Even Public Education fundamentalist contingent be poring over their sermonds and getting their candles in order.

Only in the Bible Belt.

Good Gawd, so everyone has a hand in this controversial pie, eh?

You may be right, Max, this IS taking on a level of drama LR hasnt seen in oh......about 50 years.

I am appalled at Stump's comment on Max's blog that stated "I agree with much of what you said. But why is it always the black majority that must give up something and wait just a little longer." Follow the money, the extra services, the special programs, the new schools, the technology...a majority of it flows everywhere but West L.R. If the money, program, services flow was the other direction, J. Walker would be in court tomorrow. What is sad is that our entire community is suffering because of the short-sightedness of these 4 school board members and their worship of J. Walker and CTA.
I'm not in the classroom anymore but I would have LOVED to had a merit pay system. I didn't sit behind my desk and pass out worksheets and have kids take notes. My inner-city kiddos were engaged in hands-on learning that was active, relevant, and engaging AND their test scores were the best in my school each year. The problem is lazy administrators (most of whom have never taught well themselves or have been only a coach) and teachers who think watching movies, taking notes, and doing word searches is learning. Ask them to do more and they RUN to CTA crying. Roy G. doesn't tolerate such things and doesn't beat around the bush about expectations.
What has deseg done for my child? She sits in "watered down" AP courses. When I ask the teacher why learning isn't rigorous she says, "I can't have a 'real' AP class because when they 'balance' the classes, I get too many students who really aren't AP students." Now who is being discriminated against?
If the school board members want to really do something for the communities they serve they will, with one voice, demand parent responsibility and accountability and teacher/administrator excellence while supporting policies that demand high student expectations.
I'm tired of my children suffering because of lazy, irresponsible parents and teachers and incompetent administrators who are enabled by a cowardly school board who bows to the J. Walkers and CTA's in this community.

ARK. BLOG: Now wait a minute. How can you suggest on the one hand that Roy Brooks has done a great job at the same time you say the district is awash in watered-down AP courses, unequal spending and inadequate teachers? Does Roy Brooks bear no responsibility for this? CTA power is a myth. My kids have been in schools where good principals have rooted out poor teachers. The principal core is the board and superintendent's responsibility. No principal currently serving was hired by the majority black board.

I wish I could remember hearing Roy Brooks speak. I heard "Dr." Mitchell this morning. I heard Charles Armstrong quoted earlier this week. "Dr." Mitchell can barely use the English language. At one point, in the discussion of LRSD budgets she mentioned the board's "judiciary" [sic] responsibility. I suppose it has one when hearing certain appeals, but one would think their "fiduciary" responsibility would apply to budgets. She of course got in the requisite "aksed" [sic] him a question. Unfortunately, compared to Mr. Armstrong she does sound like a Dr. I don't know if Roy Brooks is any better, but my vague recollection is that he appears very articulate.

Folks don't have to be educators to be on the school board, but it would sure be nice if they were educated (and I don't simply mean degreed). How embarrassing.

ARK. BLOG: She's not a great speaker. But I'm glad you made this comment. Because it's made repeatedly throughout the silk stocking wards where Roy Brooks has his greatest support. I think she made her points clearly enough, if the argot might not always been that of a middle-class white person. I wish you could hear Roy Brooks speak at similar length.

Can't wait to see the ad posted for a new super when Dr. Brooks gets ousted. I bet educators across the world will be chomping at the bit to apply:

WANTED: An experienced educator with multiple PhDs in the fields of Education, Diplomacy, and Race Relations. Must never voice his/her own opinions, and be able to walk on egg-shells, through fire, and on water.

BENEFITS: Students in dire need of help. Disenfranchised teachers. A deeply fractured and angry School Board. And, of course, guaranteed coverage in all of the local rags.

Re: "a parliamentary maneuver postponed a move to fire him [Brooks]."

It was not a legal parliamentary maneuver, but a slick trick. Roberts' Rules of Order require a motion, a second AND A VOTE to adjourn a meeting. Baker Kurrus made the motion, it was seconded, and then Kurrus got up and said "no debate." He left and was followed by Fox and Berkley. Mr. Kurrus is correct that the motion can not be debated, but in order for the meeting to be adjourned, a MAJORITY of the board must VOTE. Since the vote didn't take place, the meeting was never properly adjourned. The "white flight" by the three board members should never have occurred. All members should have remained there until the motion passed. This would have given Mr. Armstrong time to enter and cast his vote to enter into executive session. Why has no one pointed this out? Isn't Baker Kurrus a lawyer?? Shouldn't he have known what he did was improper if not unethical??

Both camps need to calm down. I think Dr. Mitchell's call for a meeting on Good Friday is ridiculous. The Brooks matter can wait until next week. Might give folks the opportunity to cool down just a bit. And one more note about procedural issues, it would be nice if Dr. Mitchell would give school board members and the community a little more notice regarding such a crucial meeting. Four hours notice is too short. Both sides need to take a chill pill.

Kurrus is no dummy. Katherine Mitchell left the window wide open when she called the meeting to order before all members were present and accounted for.

I heard Dr. Mitchell on KARN this morning. If you read between the lines, it was clear that she has never liked Dr. Brooks. She voted against hiring him, and she has made a point of pestering him at every chance possible. She's such a two faced lying witch. She claims that she tried to work with him. I know many people who work at majority black schools, and Dr. Brooks is well liked at those schools among most teachers. There are some incompetent teachers who do really dislike him, because he would like them to consider other employment opportunities.

I'm getting sick and tired of school boards making contracts with superintendants, only to have later regrets later, and expecting the taxpayers to bail them out at the cost half million dollars.

"I"ve mentioned several times here and elsewhere that much of the support for Brooks has come from white parents in successful, majority-white schools such as Forest Park, Jefferson and Fulbright. Much, but not all. Terry is 56 per cent black. I'm sorry, Ms. Gray, about that misstatement."

If there wasn't a propensity to cast everything as a race issue, such apologies would be unnecessary.

Doc -
My understanding is that Terry is 75% minority and only 25% white. It's probably one of the most diverse schools in this city.

I'm not sure why kids are catagorized as black and non-black only...well, actually I do know. Dianne Curry's zone has a large Latino population. Who does she represent?

Doc -
My understanding is that Terry is 75% minority and only 25% white. It's probably one of the most diverse schools in this city.

I'm not sure why kids are catagorized as black and non-black only...well, actually I do know. Dianne Curry's zone has a large Latino population. Who does she represent?

Geez, the parallels to '57 are starting to get frightening: slick, unethical pseudo-parliamentary rules used at school board meetings; the same competitive spirit exhibited between STOP and CROSS; LR businessmen working behind the scenes to manipulate the district and the board; and, sadly, white people denigrating black people for cultural differences.
Knowing our history is supposed to help us avoid making the same mistakes; not provide a template for them.

A couple of observations.

1. I am inspired when I read the passion from lrsd parent. I would simply ask if your passion and that of your allies carries into political activism when it counts, on election day. Never ceases to amaze me how many people are bthered by politicians and supporters during campaigns and then pitch a fit when some with whom they don't agree gets to make decisions. Maybe this is a good civics lesson for kids. Elections have consequences and just because it isn't on Fox or CNN doesn't mean it doesn't matter. To the victor goes the spoils and all that.

2. Regarding Dr. Mitchell's diction. I heard an interesting program by a couple of voice coaches and linguist professors. They observed that white southerners are the most likely to judge the level of education based level of regional or ethnic accent. I suspect your belief that Dr. Mitchell lacks education is based in those stereotypes. My guess is that in parts of the country that many of us would be judged as ignorant based on the pace and accent with which we speak. This actually formed part of the underlying comedy in the original tale of "The Arkansas Traveler."

7 board members = 7 votes

Each board member represents what? More or less the same number of: citizens? Students? Schools?

Certainly not the same number of election votes, just the majority of voters from their districts.

If one member got three times the votes of another during the election, does that entitle him/her to three times the voting power during the meetings? No way. Right or wrong, it doesn't work that way. This isn't a general election issue.

mouthinfreely -
Dr. Mitchell was acting properly in calling the meeting to order. Unless noted otherwise, a majority of members present constitutes a quorum. That being the case, Dr. Mitchell, Mr. Daugherty, Ms. Curry, and Mr. Armstrong would be a majority and constitue a quorum which would be able to hold a meeting even if the other three members were not present. Would someone please tell me if I am interpreting this correctly?

The board has acted on many issues in the past when one or more members have been absent.

sure it is an elction issue. All of those people who showed up to help Diane Curry win the election weren't all voters in her district. They were just inspired and concerned and felt like they needed to change public policy. And for better or worse it looks like they are going to do it. This fight was decided last September. More people should have cared back then.

The famous Mark Twain quote should be kept in mind:

First God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made School Boards.

Maybe we can make Roy Brooks the new basketball coach. Pay is much, much better and the overall level of education on the team is on par with what the public school are producing.

Please consult the LRSD Board Policies http://www.lrsd.org/gen_info/policies/B/Section%20B%20Contents.htm

SECTION BEDC - QUORUM
"A majority of the Board of Education will constitute a quorum. A quorum must be present to convene a meeting that would enable the Board to conduct business."

SECTION BED- MEETING PROCEDURES
"The Little Rock School District Board of Education uses certain procedures for conducting business. Except as specifically altered herein, all meetings will be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order Revised."

Dr. Mitchell was correct in calling the meeting to order.

Baker Kurrus was wrong in moving for adjournment and then leaving before a vote could be taken.

Dr. Mitchell + 3 board members makes a quorum and can vote on any issue.

Translation: Even if Kurrus, Berkley, and Fox NEVER show up for any meeting which is called according to Board Policy (notification to public of at least 2 hours) Dr. Mitchell, Mr. Daugherty, Mr. Armstrong, and Ms. Curry have the power to meet, go into executive session, and vote to terminate Roy Brooks contract.

"Maybe we can may Roy Brooks the new basketball coach."

You sorta beat me to my point. I was going to ask if we could get Billy Gillispie for super. Or John Calipari. Or ... wait, I'm on the wrong board. Dang, these things are starting to run together. Fire Nutt! Fire Brooks! Fire Frank!

What is Arkansas's (Arkansases'?) problem with authority? There's some serious Freudian fodder here.

To add insult to injury Gillispie just signed with Kentucky. Ouch. So he is out of the running for Bball coach
and/or LR Superintendent.

"our community would be served best and God most honored by sincere efforts to find common ground rather than in changing leadership."

Why should the public, SECULAR school board care if God is honored? Considering the idiocy of the board's members (all of them, both factions) perhaps they could use a bit less of God's guidance and give reason a shot.

stump:
In September, lots people did care about the school board election, and they are many of the same people who have been showing up at the latest meetings.

Little Rock, like many places, has never had a large voter turn-out for its school board elections. In fact, compared to years past when members often ran unopposed (Mitchell in '05, and Kurrus & Daughtery in '04) or won in a race that got only a couple hundred votes (Berkley's 132 votes bested Lusk's 88), the election in September held a great deal of interest.

Over 3200 people from Zone 3 voted (1880 for Fox). In Zone 5, about 900 people voted the first time around, and over 1400 voted in the run-off between Brock and Curry (900 for Curry).

While the furor may have gotten out of hand, the attention being given to the school board now is far preferable to the apathy that usually surrounds our school business.

"ARK. BLOG: Now wait a minute. How can you suggest on the one hand that Roy Brooks has done a great job at the same time you say the district is awash in watered-down AP courses, unequal spending and inadequate teachers? Does Roy Brooks bear no responsibility for this?"

Watered-down AP classes predate Brooks by at least a decade or so. I graduated from an LRSD high school in 1995, and all my AP classes were watered down because of the presence of students (white and black) who were not capable of handling an actual advanced placement class. At my school, very frew of the students in AP classes ever took as many as one AP exam, despite the fact that fee waivers were available to low-income students to defray the costs of the exam (I received them myself). More than one of my teachers openly admitted that the courses were not taught at a true AP level. Conversations with friends at other LRSD schools indicated that the same situation was extant at other schools as well.

Brooks might be at fault for not correcting the situation (though one wonders if desegregation requirements would have allowed it), but you can't blame him for creating a problem that has existed since at least the mid-1990s.

A group of Little Rock evangelical pastors is weighing in on the LRSD controversy, issuing an "urgent appeal" to pray for "healing and reconciliation" in the districts leadership struggle. An e-mail sent out by Fellowship Bible Church pastor Ray Williams, and signed by pastors of eight other churches, points out that Roy Brooks has "regularly met with church leaders" since he's been in Little Rock, and concludes that "our community would be served best and God most honored by sincere efforts to find common ground rather than in changing leadership." The other eight pastors are Mark DeYmaz, Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas; Gerald Driskill, Little Rock Church; Bill Elliff, Summit Church; Kevin Kelly, Second Baptist Church-John Barrow; Tony Minick, River of Life Assembly of God; Antoine Scruggs, PromiseLand Church; Tracy Shelton, Living Stone Fellowship; and Bill Singleton, Liberty Fellowship Church.

Wow seem like a Bunch of (Radical Evangelical Churches and pastors) wish the press would ask some real questions about Brooks involvement with these churches and their role in charter schools issues and the home school parents the elements of the churches makes me a LRSD patron not want to vote for more funding for schools if asked for more millage! wonder how many homeschooling/private school parents are on this so called mothers committee ?
Seem like the most radical churches in Little Rock have weigh in to this issue stinks of Arkansas Family Council Members tactics. this school patron does not want the school spending one dollar of my tax money on radical religious propaganda in our PUBLIC SCHOOLS... no wonder it has a radical racial element look at the players/churches/pastors.these are some of the most racially segregated churches in LITTLE ROCK.

Somebody tells me Gov. Beebe said on radio today that he believes the LRSD death match is bad for the state's economic development, never mind the chirren. He wants the combatants to simmer down and do what's smart.

Amen, good Friday sir.

Oh i agree that Brooks didn't cause watered down AP courses. I'm saying that we need him to stay and continue to live the vision of becoming the "highest performing urban school district" so that we might have a chance at having real AP courses someday.

He's tackled the court case, test scores, etc. and has a lot more to do. He deserves the chance to continue given the success and despite some missteps.

BTW...Curry ran unsuccessfully several times and only won AFTER she lowered herself to align with CTA.

ARK. BLOG: My kids took some tough AP courses at Central and the scores indicated they'd learned what was necessary for college credit. I'm not beginning to speak for all of them, but better than a dozen of them seemed pretty good to me.

"What is Arkansas's (Arkansases'?) problem with authority? There's some serious Freudian fodder here."

Is there some S/M fodder in the comment? Something about "we the people" seems to escape you.

I have no dog in this fight but I couldn't but help laughing out loud at this one: "PromiseLand Church"
Rather presumptuous eh?

_

"My kids took some tough AP courses at Central."--AT

I think you'd probably find that Central, as with most things in this district, is a special case. The other schools in the district are simply not as fortunate as Central in terms of experienced teachers and privileged students (not many children of newspaper editors and judges at McClellan, at least not when I taught there). Central is a fine school, but it is by far the exception in the LRSD.

I don't care how you spin it. Calling a special meeting to deal with an issue of this magnitude on such short notice is not in the best interest of the community. The decision on Brooks employment could hold until next week. BTW, I listened to Dr. Mitchell's interview on KARN, I was not impressed. It seems Mitchell and Brooks have are in a personal death match. Maybe both of them should go. Let's clean house and start over at LRSB just like UofA should do with the athletic department.

Statement by lrsdparent "BTW...Curry ran unsuccessfully several times and only won AFTER she lowered herself to align with CTA." So do you lower your child everyday when you drop them off with teachers who are in the CTA? How baseless and crass can you get!