The Arkansas Public Policy Panel sends word of a rally at the Capitol at noon Saturday in support of Little Rock public schools — a response to the surprise replacement of Baker Kurrus as the School District superintendent by the Hutchinson administration through his education commissioner, Johnny Key.

The Policy Panel says the move to replace Kurrus with a Bentonville educator July 1 part of a push to privatize schools, cut funding and weaken school standards. It said the Little Rock schools have made “remarkable progress” under Kurrus.

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The sudden termination of Mr. Kurrus on April 16, throws Little Rock back into a spiral of uncertainty and undermines the hard work that has been done to date. This political move resurrects the very type of instability used to justify taking control of the district. A year into state administration, LRSD is back in chaos and uncertainty, and there still is no plan for our children or our schools.

This action ruptures the trust of the people of Little Rock and shows we cannot expect the state to deal effectively and apolitically with our schools. It shows that we must seek a return of Little Rock schools to local, democratically elected school board. Our community deserves to have a voice in the governance of its school district and input into decisions that fundamentally affect our children, the economy and quality of life.

The news release said Kurrus should be reinstated.