Arkansas Blog

EARLY OPEN LINE????

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Does John Walker's law practice involve anything other than harrassing the school board, wasting taxpayer money and being a general nuisance?

Max - you're correct that the records should be open for public inspection; however, Walker should issue the FOI request to the LRSD not Hathaway. Walker is deserving of the records but he is grandstanding by seeking them directly from the private agency. Walker would demand that proper channels be followed, he should do the same.

Mouthin - I think Mr. Walker knows that. He's not relevant anymore. He just wants to be a spur under someones saddle.

I hate to bust your bubble, Goof, but anyone thinking Walker is not relevant had better recall that the whole deseg case involving all three districts hinges upon his reaction to any plan they bring out. Powerful state leaders are going to be approaching him along with the leaders from all three districts to see if they can reach some accord. Walker is not only relevant, he is the key to any solution in ending the deseg order that now binds all three school districts. With appeals, he can easily keep the districts in courts for many more years if he dislikes proposed plans or settlements or lower court decisions.

Not relevant to me, I wouldn't put my kids in those schools for no amount of money. People like Walker make me sick. What a mess he has helped make!!

Baker Kurrus is smart to avoid having any financial dealings with the school board. Given how screwed up the school board is with the undue influence of John Walker, why would anyone want to do business with them? West Little Rock really ought to think about splitting off from Little Rock and forming their own school district. It's obvious that the Little Rock School district has no intention of serving the needs of their children.

Now I may not have this exactly correct, but earlier one poster, perhaps grandmere, was very vocal about how Kurras had bought and developed property for the purpose on making it essential to the school district in such a way that they would have to be an exorbitant price, unjustly benefiting Kurras.

Now, because of Walker's actions/antics/harassment it would appear this property is not available to the school board at any price.

Hope it really wasn't a good property. By the time LR School District buys land it might be in the Maumelle watershed.

Soundman: considering your statements, it's not hard to see that you're basically irrelevant to the issue at hand. It matters not your opinion of his relevance, the fact remains that he is central to the deseg settlement.

Severus: It certainly is not obvious that LRSD has no intentions of serving the needs of those children. Being privy to certain people involved with this issue, I know that such is not the case. As mentioned earlier, the deseg case still looms over this issue and will have a bearing on any future construction or restructuring plans the district may have.
Adding to the debate are several factors: usage of existing buildings, rising construction/real estate costs, middle schools that are significantly below capacity, possible restructuring plans as an alternative solution, and demographics showing future needs according to growth or decline.
No, please don't oversimplify this matter and proclaim the "obvious" when such is definitely not the case.
As to Walker, we could discuss his abilities and shortcomings ad inifinitum, but it still doesn't change the fact that he is a critical dynamic to the affairs of all three Pulaski County school districts. The goal of reducing disparity is important. What fuels the debate are the methods of achieving this goal.

Again, there is nothing obvious when one gazes into the crystal ball. I just hope that the public will realize that the frontline staff of teachers and administrators, the corp of parent volunteers, and all the hard-working children continue to make education a priority for this community. The affairs of the school board members, businesses, or legal mavens are merely a sideshow that often distracts people from the real story going on in the public schools.

I applaud Nabholz for rejecting John Walker's FOI. John Walker does not speak for the LRSD board, even if is the puppet master for the black majority. Has anyone done a FOI on all contacts between board members and John Walker?

Interesting point, Severus, about Walker, board members & FOI. Maybe someone with more legal expertise can provide us with some insight on Walker & the FOI's applications to his activities/contacts.

Furthermore, regarding Walker's FOI request from Hathaway, one wonders if this is just a warning shot across the bow or something he plans to seriously pursue no matter what.

ARK. BLOG: Walker now tells me that Hathaway has changed course and agreed to provide the documents, as long as it's not viewed as a legal precedent.

Walker's letter states that Kurrus stated his own involvement in the deal was suspicious?
The FOIA covers public records kept as a matter of course by a public agency or official. Even if Hathaway's agent status extends this to him, why wouldn't walker make the request of the School District? Less dramatic?

What a great idea!