LITTLE ROCK (AP) - The Little Rock School Board's racially split vote last year to fire its superintendent and pay him $635,000 has prompted a review by Arkansas' highest court on whether such buyouts violate the state's constitution.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments tomorrow morning stemming from the board's vote last year to fire superintendent Roy Brooks. The four black members of the school board voted to fire Brooks, who is also black. Its white members voted to keep him.
A group of parents that tried unsuccessfully to block Brooks' firing is now arguing that such buyouts violate Arkansas' constitution, which says that public school funds should only be used for schools.
But an attorney for the school district says the challenge is pointless, since Brooks has long since been paid and was not included as a defendant in the original lawsuit.
©2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
