Court filings concerning motion to release incentive school Kindergarten seats, motion for taxation of costs, cross-petition for attorneys' fees, and enlargement of time

District Court, two orders; District Court, notice of appeal; District Court, motion to release incentive school Kindergarten seats; District Court, notice of appeal; District Court, motion for taxation of costs; District Court, brief in support of motion for taxation of costs; District Court, order; District Court, opposition of Joshua intervenors to motion to release incentive school Kindergarten seats; District Court, motion for reconsideration; District Court, motion for additional enlargement of time; District Court, motion for reconsideration regarding Little Rock School District's (LRSD's) motion to release incentive school Kindergarten seats; District Court, Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD) response to Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers (PACT's) motion for taxation for costs and PCSSD's cross-petition for attorneys' fees; District Court, brief in support of Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD) cross-motion for attorneys' fees; District Court, two orders, District Court, Arkansas Department of Education's (ADE's) response to Little Rock School District (LRSD), Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD), and North Little Rock School District's (NLRSD's) motion for additional enlargement of time The transcript for this item was created using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and may contain some errors. - IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS WESTERN DMSION LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT, * * Plaintiff, * * vs. * No. LR-C-82-866 * PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL * DISTRICT No. 1, ET AL., * * Defendant. * * MRS. LORENE JOSHUA, ET AL., * * FILED U.S. DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT ARKANSAS MAYO o 1997 JAMES '(ii. Mc.fORMACK, CLERK By: '{._~t, /\ N'>i L':-> _ OEP CL.ERK Intervenor. * MAY 7 \997 * KATHERINE KNIGHT, ET AL., * OFFICE OF * DESEGREGATION MONITORING Intervenor. * * SERVICEMASTER MANAGEMENT * SERVICES, A Limited Partnership, * * Intervenor. * ORDER Before the Court is the motion of 111 school districts throughout the State of Arkansas to intervene for the purpose of appealing this Court's Order of April 22, 1997, regarding health insurance matching. The motion is granted. appeal. The applicants may intervene in this case only for the purpose of prosecuting the DATED this {a~ay of May 1997. ~.~~,y UNITEDSTA DICJUDGE fl-IS DOCUMENT ENTERED ON DOCKET SHEET IN co~ WITH RULE. 5e AND,100 79(a) FACP ON ~ 6-7 IV 1Jt:: 2974 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTIUCT OF ARKANSAS WESTERN DIVISION LITILE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT, * * Plaintiff, * * vs. * No. LR-C-82-866 * PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL * DISTRICT No. 1, ET AL., * * Defendant. * * MRS. LORENE JOSHUA, ET AL., * * Intervenor. * * KATHERINE KNIGHT, ET AL., * * Intervenor. * * SERVICEMASTER MANAGEMENT * SERVICES, A Limited Partnership, * * Intervenor. * ORDER f5l~D u s o:sr:.:cr couRr EASTERN DISTR!CT ARKANSAS MAYO 6 1997 JAMOS '/1. McGU~ACK, CLERK By: \i ' \.lJ\ f\J~ ~ DEP CLERK In November 1996, the Office of Desegregation Monitoring ("ODM") submitted its proposed 1996-97 budget to the Court for approval. The Pulaski County Special School District ("PCSSD"), the Joshua Intervenors, and the Arkansas Department of Education (" ADE") filed objections to the budget. For the reasons that follow, the Court hereby .. approves the budget. 2975 I. The ODM is funded through contributions from the three Pulaski County school districts and the State. The State's share is $200,000.00, which is based on the amount that the State was paying the Pulaski County Educational Cooperative in 1989, the date of the desegregation Settlement Agreement. Each district's share is determined on a per-pupil prorated basis. See Little Rock School District v. Pulaski Counry Special School District No. 1, 716 F. Supp. 1162, 1165 (E.D. Ark. 1989). The 1996-97 budget submitted by the ODM shows a marked increase in the Benefits category, from a budgeted amount of $49,613.00 in 1995-96 to a budgeted amount of $120,109.00 in 1996-97. The ODM states the increase is due to changes in the State's method of handling health insurance premiums and teacher retirement. In the past, the State directly - funded teacher retirement matching and health insurance payments for the State's school districts. Employees of the ODM were included in the list of employees the LRSD sent to the Teacher Retirement System, and the State paid contributions into the Retirement System on behalf of ODM employees. The State also paid 50% of the health insurance. Under the new State funding formula, no school district receives any money fnm the S;:ate that is specifically earmarked for the payment of teacher retirement and health benefits. Rather, Arkansas school districts are required to fund health insurance and teacher retirement out of state equalization funding or local funds. 1 1As applied to the three Pulaski County school districts, the Court recently found that the new funding scheme for teacher retirement and health insurance benefits violates the terms of the Settlement Agreement between the State and the settling districts. See doc. 2930 & doc. 2967. The ruling on teacher retirement is now on appeal to the Eighth Circuit, and the Court uooerstuxls the ruling on health insurance benefits also will be appealed. 2 The PCSSD objects to the budget, asserting that the State's decision to terminate the payment of teacher retirement and health insurance benefits for ODM employees results in an increased contribution by the PCSSD to the ODM budget. The PCSSD asks the Court to direct the State to increase its base level of support for the ODM to the same level that it supports educational cooperatives. The ADE objects to the ODM's proposed budget, contending that the State is not responsible for paying retirement or health benefits for ODM employees and that ODM employees were and are ineligible to participate in the teacher retirement system. Finally, the Joshua Intervenors object to the ODM budget because they believe the ODM should employ three additional monitors in order to handle and investigate complaints of discriminatory treatment of black students. II. In Little Rock School District v. Pulaski County Special School District No. 1, 716 F. Supp. 1162, 1165 (E.D. Ark. 1989), Judge Woods directed the ADE to apply "the amount previously ordered for the Pulaski County Educational Cooperative" toward the budget of the Office of the Metropolitan Supervisor ("OMS"). The court further authorized the Supervisor to employ a professional staff of up to four people and stated: "In addition to each district's portion of Mr. Reville' s salary, it should add an amount equal to its portion of fringe benefits (e.g. hospitalization insurance), using the percentage used in calculating fringe benefits for the highest ranking person in that district. This 'fringe benefit' amount will apply toward offsetting the penalty Mr. Reville will suffer by leaving the New York pension program prior to the expiration of his six-year contract in Buffalo." .. 3 In December 1990, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals replaced the OMS with the . ODM, see Little Rock School District v. Pulaski County Special School District No. 1, 921 F.2d 1371 (8th Cir. 1990), and in February 1991, this Court found that the State was obligated to continue funding ODM according to its previous obligation. See doc. 1442 (Order filed on February 28, 1991). In July 1991, the Court directed the LRSD, "in the interest of administrative efficiency," to "provide payroll services to the Office of Desegregation Monitoring (ODM) for all ODM staff designated by the Desegregation Monitor." See doc. 1480. The employees of ODM have been listed as LRSD employees in reports submitted to the Teacher Retirement System for purposes of teacher retirement payments, and the State has been paying contributions into the Retirement System for at least the past five years on behalf of ODM employees. The State now argues that it is not and has never been obligated by order or agreement to pay retirement or health benefits for ODM employees or to permit ODM employees to participate in the teacher retirement system. The State claims that employees of ODM have been participating in the Teacher Retirement System and the State has been paying retirement 3Jld health insurance benefits for them without authorization under State law or an order of this Court. The ADE asks the Court to permit it to end and reverse any unauthorized participation by ODM employees in the Teacher Retirement System and provide guidance as to the disposition of any funds that may have been erroneously paid into the Teacher Retirement System by the State on behalf of "ineligible" ODM employees. 4 III. \ The Court finds that the employees of the ODM are entitled to receive teacher retirement and health benefits as other employees of the three Pulaski County school districts. When Judge Henry Woods recused in this case on July 6, 1990, he stated that if members of the OMS wished to return to their jobs with the school districts from which they came, the school districts must reinstate them. Judge Woods further barred the districts -from retaliating against these employees. See Little Rock School District v. Pulaski County Special School District, 740 F. Supp. 632, 633 (E.D.Ark. 1990). This Court reiterated that in an Order dated January 17, 1991. See doc. 1418. Thus, the Court did not intend that the employees of the OMS/ ODM suffer as a result of moving from positions within the school districts to the OMS and its successor, the ODM. In addition, in spite of the State's claim that it did not know that ODM employees were receiving retirement and health benefits funded by the State, there is no indication that the arrangement with the LRSD was hidden from the State. The Court sent counsel for the State a copy of the proposed 1990-91 budget of the OMS and asked for any objections. See doc. 1391. The ADE did not object to tne budgeted amount for berefits. See doc. 1397. When in December 1990 the Eighth Circuit directed the Court to vacate the order creating the OMS and replace it with the ODM, the appeals court stated the office should be staffed by a monitor and such additional personnel as the Court deemed appropriate. See Little Rock School District v. Pulaski County Special School District, 921 F.2d 1371 (8th Cir. 1990). In addition, the Court noted in September 1991 that the Arkansas Legislative Joint Auditing Committee would conduct annual audits of the ODM, and copies of the audit would be available to the parties. 5 See doc. 1510. Previously, the attorneys for the State were present, at this Court's request, for an August 7, 1991 hearing, at which the' Court discussed the ODM's budget and made reference to the audit by the Arkansas Legislative Audit Committee. See doc. 1507 at 10, 19. The Court finds that while the State may not have been aware that the employees of the ODM were being counted as employees of the LRSD for purposes of retirement and health benefits, this arrangement was not improper as a method of securing those benefits for ODM employees. See doc. 1480 (LRSD to provide payroll services to the ODM for all ODM staff designated by the Desegregation Monitor). Nor was the information unavailable to the State as the Legislative Audit was conducting annual audits of the ODM. The Court therefore finds that the objections of the ADE are without merit and will not require any repayment of funds previously applied. The Court, however, rejects the PCSSD's request that the State be required to provide teacher retirement and health benefits to the ODM employees as it does the educational cooperatives. Additionally, the Court finds no authority or suggestion in the record justifying an increase in the State's share of the ODM budget. Therefore, the Court will not order the State to increase its contribution to the ODM: budget. The Cot!.,1 expects the three districts to share the expense of the benefits package for the ODM employees in the same manner that they contribute to the ODM budget. 6 IV. With regard to the objections of the'Joshua Intervenors, the Court does not now intend to direct the ODM to employ additional monitors for the purpose of investigating complaints of discriminatory treatment in the disciplining of black students. Should the ODM determine that additional staff are necessary to carry out its obligations, the ODM may make such request to the Court. V. The Court having carefully reviewed the budget and the objections received thereto, see doc. 2870, 2885, 2886, the Court finds that the proposed 1996-97 budget for ODM should be and hereby is approved in its entirety . . -fl.._ IT IS SO ORDERED this & day of May 1997. ~l~~~ff UNITED STAT ms CJUDGE 7 MAY IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS WESTERN DMSION ? 1997 OFFICE OF DESEGREGATION MONITORING LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT v. No. LR-C-82-866 PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1, et al MRS. LORENE JOSHUA, et al. KATHERINE KNIGHT, et al. NOTICE OF APPEAL PLAINTIFF DEFENDANTS INTERVENORS INTERVENORS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Arkansas Department of Education appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit from the District Court's order, filed April 22, 1997 and entered on the docket sheet on April 23, 1997, granting summary judgment in favor of the Little Rock School District, the North Little Rock School District, and Pulaski County Special School District "on the issue of state fundLTJ.g of the public school employee insurance program." Respectfully Submitted, WINSTON BRYANT Attorney General ~ TIMO ~tio19 Assistant Attorney General 323 Center Street, Suite 200 Little Rock, Arkansas 7220 l (501) 682-2007 Attorney for Arkansas Department of Education 2 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I, Timothy Gauger, certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served by U.S. Mail, postage prepaid, on this 6th day of May, 1997, on the following person(s) at the address(es) indicated: M. Samuel Jones III WRIGHT, LINDSEY & JENNINGS 200 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 2200 Little Rock, AR 72201-3699 Christopher Heller FRIDAY, ELDREDGE & CLARK 400 W. Capitol, Suite 2000 Little Rock, AR 72201 Stephen Jones JACK, LYON & JONES 425 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 3400 Little Rock, AR 72201 Ann Brown ODM Heritage West Bldg., Suite 510 201 E. Markham Street Little Rock, AR 72201 3 John Walker JOHN WALKER, P.A. 1723 Broadway Little Rock, AR 72206 Richard Roachell ROACHELL & STREET 410 W. Capitol, Suite 504 Little Rock, AR 72201 James M. Llewellyn, Jr. THOMPSON & LLEWELLYN 412 S. 18th Street P.O. Box 818 Fort Smith, AR 72902-0818 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS WESTERN DIVISION LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT v. LR-C-82-866 RECE~VED PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1, ET AL MRS. LORENE JOSHUA, ET AL KATHERINE KNIGHT, ET AL litr-id- W-Yen J !.'./.\)' 8 1997 </:~,,,,,., OFFICE OF DESEGREGATION MDrJliORING MOTION TO RELEASE INCENTIVE SCHOOL KINDERGARTEN SEATS PLAINTIFF DEFENDANTS INTERVENORS INTERVENORS For its motion to release incentive school kindergarten seats, the Little Rock School District (LRSD) states: 1. LRSD encouraged parents who reside in the incentive - school zones to register their children for kindergarten during the registration process. Many black parents have registered their children but those children cannot be assigned because of the number of seats which have been reserved for white students. These are the only parents in the district who are presently unable to receive assignments. 2. The LRSD engaged in vigorous recruitment efforts during the 1996-97 school year as it prepared for registration for the 1997-98 school year. Attached hereto as Exhibit 1 is a partial listing of those recruitment efforts conducted by the district. Additionally, the information contained in the district's quarterly program planning and budget documents status reports and project management tools serve to supplement this listing. 3. Although the recruitment efforts yielded positive results, seats still remain vacant at the kindergarten level in the incentive schools. 4. Taking into consideration the importance of reserving seats for the recruitment of white students, the LRSD made special efforts during the recruitment season to register as many new white students as possible into these programs. The seats that still remain vacant should now be released to black students who can benefit from the educational opportunities which will be provided. 5. Attached to this motion as Exhibit 2 is a copy of the LRSD incentive school kindergarten assignments for the 1997-98 school year as of April 22, 1997. LRSD seeks permission to fill the - vacancies shown on Exhibit 2 with students from the waiting list. 6. LRSD is not seeking to release four-year-old program seats at this time. The district will continue its effort to recruit white parents for the four-year-old program and, to the extent seats remain vacant, will petition the court at a later date for release of those seats. WHEREFORE, the Little Rock School District moves for an order permitting it to release the vacant kindergarten seats at the incentive schools for the 1997-98 school year to students on the waiting list. {:\bomc\btll),llne!moe.- Respectfully submitted, LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 FRIDAY, ELDREDGE & CLARK 2000 First Commercial Bldg. 400 West Capitol Street Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 376-2011 B~ Bar No. 81083 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I certify that a copy of Incentive School Kindergarten following by depositing copy of this 8th day of May, 1997. Mr. John Walker JOHN WALKER, P.A. 1723 Broadway Little Rock, AR 72206 Mr. Sam Jones WRIGHT, LINDSEY & JENNINGS 2200 Worthen Bank Bldg. 200 West Capitol Little Rock, AR 72201 Mr. Steve Jones JACK, LYON & JONES, P.A. 3400 TCBY Tower 425 Capitol Avenue Little Rock, AR 72201 Mr. Richard Roachell Roachell Law Firm 401 West Capitol, Suite 504 Little Rock, AR 72201 Ms. Ann Brown - HAND DELIVERED Desegregation Monitor Heritage West Bldg., Suite 510 201 East Markham Street Little Rock, AR 72201 (:lliomolb1l,yllndlnao.- the foregoing Motion To Release Seats has been served on the same in the United States mail on 3 Mr. Timothy G. Gauger Office of the Attorney General 323 Center Street 200 Tower Building Little Rock, AR 72201 4 - April 21 , 1997 To: ~ancy Acre, Director of Student Assignmen1 From: Bed..-y Rather. Essie Middleton. Parent Recruiters Re: Recruitment efforts for third quaner 96-97 January edition of Little Rock Family Magazine published Public School Issue as a results of our involvement. Jan. 2 Worked with Dawn Jackson in planning neighborhood parent meeting. Jan. 6 Provided packets to Rector Phillips Morse Realtors Jan. 6 Mailed 15,000 Home and School Connection newsletters informing parents of registration. Jan. 6 Mailed registration packets to: I 3 5 Childcare centers 44 Homeowners Associations 210 Special Interest Patrons of Little Rock 88 Ministers Jan. i Gave presentation to HlPPY staff Jan. IO Held registration training meeting with all school secretaries. Jan.. IO Taped promo for Channel 11. "Always Kids, Educated Choice" Jan. 13 ?resented aI (?- grade transition evening meeting at Crystal Hill Jan. 13-14 Show and Tell in all schools sponsored and advertised through . .<\!Hance for Our Public Schools Jan.. 14 Attended PTA Council meeting aI Pulaski Heights Elementary Jan. 14 Presented at Early Childhood meeting Jan_ 14 Presented at evening HIPPY parent group meeting Jan. 16 Sent flyers home with elementary children on registration Jan. 16 Mailed letters to all P-4s on v.-aiting list to encourage kindergarten registration. Jan. 16-17 Posted flyers throughout the city on registration. Jan.. 16 Attended evening parent meeting in private home of Dawn Jack.son. Jan.. 17 An.ended 6~ grade orientation aI Dunbar Jan. 17 Mailed 400 brochur~ to PCSSD on Incentive Schools Jan.. 18 Panicipated in Saturday Mall show Jan. 2 I Registration begins through Jan. 3 L Jan 21 Open House, Elementary magnets Jan. 21 Provided information to Christ Temple Church Jan_ 24 Assist Steve Pintor Realtors Jan. 27 Assist Rainey Realty Jan. 27 Opai House. Incentive and Interdistria Jan. 28 Open House. Elementary Area and Secondary Magnet Jan.. 30 Participate in Arlc:ansas Legislative Day on Education with PTA Jan. 30 Open House, Secondary Area Jan. 31 Assist McNeil Smith Realtors Feb . 3 Evening presentation to network of Exeaitive Women Feb. 4 Presentation to Charlotte John Realty Feb. 4 Report of Biracial Committee Feb . 6 Presentation of Superintendents Student Council al Hall High Feb. 6 Parent Involvement meeting Feb. 7 Work with CARE office Feb. 8 Anend Sarurday, Title l Parent Involvement program Feb IO Open House, Metropolitan Feb IO Chili Supper at Mabelvale Junior High Feb 11 Attend PTA Founders Day luncheon Feb 11 Report 10 Early Childhood board on 4-year--old registration Feb 12 HIPPY board meeting Feb 17 Meet with Southwest Jr. High Recruitment team Feb I 8 Assist in assigning magnet students Feb 19 Attend Kids Count Coalition at Children's Hospital Feb 20 Meet with PCSSD PTA parents Feb'.? 1 Worlc with McKay Realry Feb 24 Meet with Janet Jones Realty Feb 2A Meet ,1,ith ~1LR PTA parents Feb 24 An.end HIPPY Black History Celebration Feb 26 Participate in Parent Involvement Workshop for Secondary Vice Principals Feb 28 Participare in parent Involvement Workshop for Elementary Vice Principals Mar 3 Assist Byer Agent Realtors Mar 4 Mail assignment letters Mar 4 Report to Biracial Committee Mar S -~ ho-well Realtors Mar 9 Desegregation application opened through Mar. 28 Mar 10 Worked with T omado victims in reassignment or transpOrtarion Mar 10.As.sembly for Success Mar 11 Anend PT A Council at mcClellan ~-1ar 1.2.Anend Friends Day at King Mar 13 Assisted Grobmyer Realty Mar 13 Requested labels from PCSSD to assist Hall High with recruitment Mar 18 Presentation to Janet Jones Realty Mar 19 Spent afternoon with Lisa Woodrow. new relocation specialist for RPM Realty :Mar20 Compiled Recruinnent Survey Results \far 25 HIPPY Parent Appreciation Mar 26 Worked with Barbara Sumpter. new relocation specialist for Entergy Mar 27 Early Childhood Parent Involvement meeting.. Pro";ded 80 packets for mailouts Pro\;ded 31 tours to individual families during this guaner December 19, 199-j- To: From: Nancy Acre, Directo& of Student Assignment ."'{! J ;,- / ~ ~"-13,ecky Rather & ~;,i,t(ddleton, Parent Recruiters Re: Recruitment Report, 2nd Quarter, 96-97 OCTOBER 2 Attend Youth Suicide Planning Meeting 3&4 Held Recruitment Workshops for all Principals and individual school recruitment teams. 5 Participate in Youth Suicide Conference 7 Met with LR Fa.1nily Magazine on story ideas for public school issue. 7 Met with Booker recruitment team 8 Attended PTA Council at Rightsell 8 Assisted UALR with maps 8 Assisted with Garland PrA recruitlllent 9 Met with Junior High principals and Dr. Anderson on planning transition meeting 10-11Delivered recruitment packets to schools not attending recruitment workshops 11 Prepared Program Budget Document Report 14 set up dates to meet with HIPPY 15 All school level recruitll1ent plans due 17 Attend Parent Involvement Advisory committee meeting 21 Send PYI to all elementary principals on 6th grade transition meeting 24 Met with Alliance for Our Public Schools 24 Attend Kids Count meeting 24 Mailed 216 letters to churches and homeowners associations about transition meeting 28 Mailed transition meeting letters to all 6th grade parents in the District 28 Delivered 600 transition flyers to PCSSD 28 Met with Eddie Collins and Susie Roberts at PCSSD about meetings on recruitment to incentive schools 31 Attended PUblic Education Forum 31 Met at Henderson about Jr. High meeting 31 Met with HIPPY advisory board NOVEMBER 1 Sent newly developed recruitment survey in tablet form to all schools to have parents fill out and return to parent recruiters. 1 Held meeting with communications on registration 7 Participated in evening meeting with Southwest Little Rocle United for Progress 10 Tour with 15 6th grade parents from Cathedral School at Mann, Dunbar and Pulaski Heights 12 Mailed letter to 6th grade private school letters - - 12 12 13 14 14 15 17 18 18 19 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 2S 25 25 26 27 inviting to transition meeting Attended regional PTA meeting with parents from all school districts Attended PTA Council at Badgett Attended meeting in Pine Bluff on school vouchers Sent flyers home with all 6th graders about meetings Prepare agenda, survey, and last minute details for Sunday meeting Schools first Bi-monthly recruitment survey due Held 6th grade transition meeting attended by approximately 600 parents Assisted with two tours at Cloverdale Jr. High Assisted with two tours at Dunbar Jr. High Meet about registration Mailed 100 evaluations to parents who attended transition meeting Assist at parent meeting on Adolescents Assisted with two tours at Forest Heights Assisted with t~o tours at Henderson Assisted with two tours at Mabelvale Jr. Assisted with two tours at Mann Jr. Met with Alliance for Our Public Schools about registration Assisted with two tours at PHJH Assisted with two tours at Southwest Met with Geyer Springs recruitment team Attended local meeting on charter schools Mailed Thank You notes to transition participants DECEMBER 2 3 4 4 6 6 9 10 11 12 12 13 16 17 17 17 17 18 19 20 Attended meeting with Hall High School parents Parent Open House at PH.JH Met with. principal at Hall High Met with committee on incentive schools Attended 90th birthday party at Rightsell Met with new principal at Mitchell on recruitment Parent open House at Forest Heights Made presentations on registration and legislation at PTA Council at Geyer Springs Attended luncheon for realtors at Forest Heights Attended Legislative meeting Attended Parent Involvement ~eeting Participated in planning meeting for PTA Founders Day Prepare mailouts for ministers, daycares and Housing Authority for registration Mail transition meeting evaluation results to schools Request private school labels for recruitment Met with Connie Whitfield on Rightsell and Mitchell recruitment Make Biracial Cot:llllittee report Attend celebration at Martin Luther King Attend meeting for legislative Advocates for Kids Attend ~eeting with Alliance for Our Public Schools The parent recruiters toured 48 families during the second quarter (Oct.-Dec.) of 96-97. Each family tour includes between one and six schools, depending on the grade level of child and availability of seats. At the special tours for 6th grade parents, the 16 tours at the junior highs ranged from 1 set of parents at one tour to approximately 80 at another. November 25, 1996 To: From: Re: JULY Nancy Acre, Director of Student Assignment Becky Rather & Essie Middleton, Parent Recruiters Recruitment Report, 1st Quarter, 96-97 1-31 Developed ad for Kid's Directory featuring Incentive Schools, CARE, 4-year-old program and registration dates. Ad was distributed trhoughout month of July 2 Met with Suellen Vann a.bout new Incentive School brochures 10 Met with Mable Donaldson for information on Gifted/Talented in schools 10 Mailed letter to all white students on 4-year-oid waiting lists offering available seats 12 Met with Parent Involvement Administrative Team about new District Parent Involvelllent Policy 14 sent memo to communications outlining agreed upon plans for Incentive Schools 17 Presented recruitment plans for the year to Director of Student Assignment 17 Met with Alliance for OUr Public Schools 19 L.~D 96-97 calendars ready for distribution to Realtors, prospective parents, etc. 19 Registration letters and flyers mailed to 156 churches and childcare providers in the city. 22 Attended monthly meeting of Parent Involvement Administrative Team 23 Met with Janet Jones Realty to provide new calendars 24 Work with new principal at Chicot on recruitment for school 24 Met with Pat Price on Parent Involvement workshop 25 Sent OERFs to McClellan and Henderson for recruitlllent efforts 25 Met with Ark. Co!!lIIlunity Fou.ndation 25 Julie Wiedower represented office in Magnet Meeting 29 Mailed calendars to all LRSD households informing them of registration, school opening dates, etc. 29 Participated in Principal Workshop on Parent Involvement 30 Attended Parent Involvement Conference with State Dept. 31 Attended Nuts & Bolts on Planning 31 Developed new letter to newcomers AUGUST 1 Press releases distributed on registration dates l Hold Secretaries inservice on registration " - - 1&2 3 5 7&8 12 13 14 15 23 26 26 27 27 29 JO Distributed registration posters throughout city in grocery stores, housing projects, medical offices, youth centers, Department of Human Services, etc. Meet with McKay Realtors Worked on CARE closing at several schools Registration in Schools Attend Early Childhood meeting Attend PTA Council Workshop at Ro~ine Met with Alliance for our Public Schools Nancy Acre met with ODM, PCSSD, NLR Sent letter to Communications about Incentive brochure Interdistrict schools open houses Magnet elementary schools open houses Area schools open houses Incentive schools open houses Mann, Dunbar, Metro open houses contact Sterling Ingran on extended day information SEPTEMBER 3 3 4 5 9 10 10 12 12 16 17 18 23 23 25 25 26 JO Assist Henderson Pl'A Ju..~ior High open houses Acre met with Bowles, Collins, Acklin, Jackson High school magnets open houses Area high schools open houses PTA Council ueeting Board Room Report to Biracial Co11I111ittee Attend Parent Involvement Administrative Team meeting Assist Henderson in Recruitment Attend Department of Education retreat Talked to Fa1nily Magazine about prOl:lotional stories due day - Gathered lists of names of recruitment team members from each school Worked with Sweeney Realty Review incentive school brochure Held meeting on planning 6th grade orientation Attended Kids Count meeting at Arkansas Children's Hospital Assist McCaskell Realty Attend Amendment One meeting at Governor's mansion The parent recruiters toured 16 families during the first quarter (July-Sept.) of 96-97. Each family tour includes between one and six schools, depending on the grade level of child and availability of seats. LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT KINDERGARTEN ASSIGNMENTS AT INCENTIVE SCHOOLS 1997-98 AS OF 4/22/97 ENROLLED WAITING LIST SCHOOL BL W/0 TOTAL VACANCY %BL BL AZ* W/0 CAPACITY Franklin 52 6 58 22 89.7% 33 13 0 80 Garland 23 3 26 14 88.5% 14 2 0 40 Mitchell 20 3 23 17 87.0% 36 13 0 40 Rightsell 20 2 22 18 91.0% 29 13 0 40 Rockefeller 28 26 54 6 52.0% 49 0 0 60 TOTALS 143 40 183 77 78.1 % 161 41 0 260 BL - Black Students W /0 - White and Other Students AZ* - Students who live in the attendance zone *The attendance zone students on the Incentive Schools' wa1tmg list registered during the initial registration period in January. These students were unable to be assigned to their zone schools due to rising P4 students who filled all seats available for black students. These students were the ~ students who registered during January that could run be assigned to their attendance zone school. I' 'V I , FILED U.S. DISTRICT COU"'l' EASTERN DISTRICT ARKANSA8 1,:f\ I .I. ;_ 1997 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRJCT COURT MAY 1 4 1997 CFFICE OF DESEGREGATION MONITORING EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS WESTERN DIVISION JAMES W. McCORMACK, CLERK LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRJCT V PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1, ET AL MRS. LORENE JOSHUA, ET AL KATHERINE KNIGHT, ET AL LR-C-82-866 NOTICE OF APPEAL By: __________ _ OEP CLERK PLAINTIFF DEFENDANTS INTER VEN ORS INTER VEN ORS Notice is hereby given that the Intervenors, 111 Arkansas School Districts, listed on Attachment 1, as Defendants in the above case, hereby appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit from the District Court's Order entered in this action on April 23, 1997. Respectfully submitted, INTERVENING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, DE.f"C...NDANTS THOMPSON AND LLEWELLYN, P.A. 412 South 18th Street P. 0. Box 818 Fort Smith, AR 72902-818 Telephone: 501-785-2867 Facsimile: 501-782-8046 r. #66040 THE NITED ST A TE DISTRlCT CO RT EASTERN DI TRICT OF ARKANSAS WESTERN DIVISlON i,i,'.\ Y 1 5 1S97 LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT av: -------,o~E":,"";:,_rcLIEE~Ri< PLAI TIFF V. 0. LR-C-82-866 PULASKI COU TY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 0. 1, ET AL. MRS. LORENE JOSHUA, ET AL. KATHERINE KNIGHT, ET AL. BLYTHEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT, ET AL. ~'Av l : o::n f 'I, J .., lvv, OFFICE OF DESEGREGATION MONITORING MOTIO FORT AXA TION OF COSTS DEFENDANTS INIERVENORS INIERVENORS ll\TER.VENORS Knight, et al. , Intervenors, by and through their attorneys, ROA CHELL LAW FIRM, for their Motion for Taxatio