Taxpayers respond to the Little Rock School District, saying the buyout of Superintendent Roy Brooks contract is invalid and that a judge should rule against the school board. It’s just one of several potentially divisive issues facing the district. A judge will now handle the Brooks buyout lawsuit. Heading into a meeting here Thursday, the board faces a possible settlement in their desegregation case.
While trying to find an interim superintendent the Little Rock School Board is no longer accepting applications for interim superintendent. That ended Wednesday. But it's unclear just how sought after the job is. The interim position in Memphis public schools generated 25 applicants. It's unknown how many, if anyone, has applied for the LRSD opening.
Repeated calls and requests for interviews to Board President Katherine Mitchell have not been returned. In addition to finding an interim, a special meeting is set for Thursday to consider a settlement in the district's desegregation case.
The District's Attorneys have urged the board not to accept any settlement from the Joshua Intervenors and their attorney John Walker. In large part because a federal judge already ruled in favor of the district and released it from federal oversight. Walker appealed, but agreed to drop it, if the district implements a program to assess minority student achievement above and beyond what it already uses.
If that's not enough, the taxpayer lawsuit looms with the possibility a judge could find the buyout of Superintendent Roy Brooks’ contract is illegal if the board didn't follow state law when they called the meeting to fire him in May.
Despite rumors the board may settle with the Joshua Intervenors, board member Michael Daugherty insists it's only on the agenda to discuss it not agree to anything.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has gone on record saying if the district does settle, that on behalf of the state, he will intervene and try to stop it.
