REGEIVED IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS WESTERN DIVISION APR 1 1993 Office of Desegregation Mcniu ing LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT PLAINTIFF V. LR-C-82-866 PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1, ET AL DEFENDANTS MRS. LORENE JOSHUA, ET AL INTERVENORS KATHERINE KNIGHT, ET AL INTERVENORS MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION For its motion, plaintiff Little Rock School District (LRSD) states: 1. LRSD seeks approval of construction projects at four schools: Chicot Elementary School
Jefferson Elementary School
Williams Magnet School
and Fair High School. Each proposed construction project and its impact upon LRSD's desegregation plan is described below. 2. The proposed projects which are the subject of this motion follow construction and renovation projects which have been completed or which are presently underway at schools in central and east Little Rock. The largest such project completed to date was at Washington school. Washington was demolished and rebuilt on the same site at a cost of $4,932,377.00. The capacity of the new school is more than double the capacity of the building it has replaced. ]allQr\CaDBUuclxxi.23. A new wing of ten classrooms was added to Franklin Incentive School and Franklin's cafeteria was remodeled in 1989. The cost of the Franklin project was $1,330,000.00. 4. Rockefeller, Rightsell and Ish Incentive Schools were renovated, including reroofing. beginning in 1988. Mitchell Incentive School was renovated at the same time. Stephens Incentive School received air conditioning, painting and carpeting. but was not renovated to the extent of the other buildings because of the plan to build a new Stephens school. The combined costs of the Rockefeller, Rightsell, Ish, Mitchell and Stephens projects was approximately $667,000.00. Capital improvements have also been made at Garland Incentive School at a cost, since 1988, in excess of $400,000.00. 5. LRSD is in the process of constructing a new Martin Luther King, Jr. Interdistrict School in central Little Rock. Construction is scheduled to be completed by August 1, 1993. The new King school will have a capacity of 696 students. 6. Plans are underway for the construction in central Little Rock of a new Stephens Interdistrict School which is scheduled to begin operations for the 1994-95 school year. The new Stephens school will also have a capacity of 696 students. 7. The LRSD Board of Directors voted on March 15, 1990 to seek to increase the LRSD millage rate by eight mils, five and one- half mils for maintenance and operation and two and one-half mils for debt service. The debt service mils were designated for capital improvement projects. LRSD committed to its patrons that 2 kaXliy\CanMn)c(kxL2certain improvement projects would be undertaken at Chicot, Jefferson, Williams and Fair. The millage was approved by the voters on April 19, 1990. 8. The Interdistrict Desegregation Plan, which was approved by the Court of Appeals on December 12, 1990, requires that [a]ll construction shall be subject to the court's prior approval and shall promote desegregation. Interdistrict Plan, p. 5. The recruitment of students to magnet and area schools is a part of LRSD's desegregation plan. LRSD Desegregation Plan, pp. 95-96
Interdistrict Plan, p.4. The proposed projects at Chicot, Jefferson, Williams and Fair will contribute to LRSD's ability to accomplish that goal. 9. The proposed project at Chicot consists only of the construction of a cafetorium for the school. The construction of the cafetorium will increase the size of Chicot Elementary School by approximately 3,000 square feet and the cafetorium will have sufficient capacity to seat at one time more than one-half of the children enrolled at Chicot. The Little Rock School District plans to have the cafetorium constructed in time for the beginning of the 1993-94 school year. 10. The proposed project at Jefferson Elementary School consists of construction of a media center and computer room for a net increase of approximately 1,300 square feet of space. The proposed project will allow three classrooms which have been converted to a media center and a computer room to be returned to service as regular classrooms. These three classrooms will be latlQ'VCooMnictkn.2 3occupied by classes at Jefferson which are presently taught in portable buildings behind the school. The portable buildings which are no longer needed will then be removed. The proposed construction project at Jefferson will not require any adjustment to the Jefferson attendance zone. The proposed project is planned to be completed in time for the beginning of the 1993-94 school year. 11. The proposed project at Williams Magnet School consists of expanding the cafeteria to meet the needs of the present student body and to accommodate P.T.A. meetings. Williams presently holds its P.T.A. meetings off campus at Hall High School. The administration area at Williams is adjacent to the cafeteria. LRSD proposes to construct a new administration area and to convert the present administration area into a multi-purpose area for indoor recreation and for expanded cafeteria space. 12. LRSD also proposes to convert the present multi-purpose area at Williams into two classrooms. Seven classes are now taught in five portable buildings at Williams. The conversion of the multi-purpose area to classrooms will allow two of those classes to be moved to permanent space. The proposed construction project will not result in a change in the number of magnet seats available at Williams Magnet School or a change in the process for filling those seats. The proposed project is planned to be completed in time for the beginning of the 1993-94 school year. kulqr\CBMnietxB.2 413. The proposed project at J.A. Fair High School consists of converting space vacated by programs no longer taught at Fair into usable classroom space. This conversion will allow LRSD to remove two portable buildings which are presently used as classrooms. Auto mechanics and carpentry courses have been moved to Metropolitan Vocational-Technical School and are no longer taught at Fair. The space which was devoted to these specialty courses consists of 3,450 square feet. The proposed project will convert the auto mechanics and carpentry classrooms into 2,180 square feet of usable classroom space which will accommodate ninety students and allow two portable buildings to be removed from the campus. 14. The new classrooms will be used to permanently locate some of the eight floating teachers at Fair who presently have no permanent classrooms. The proposed project does not change the capacity of Fair High School but merely converts existing space to a different use and allows the removal of two portable buildings. It will not be necessary to change the J.A. Fair attendance zone as a result of this project. The proposed project is planned for completion in time for the beginning of the 1993-94 school year. WHEREFORE, for the reasons set out above, the Little Rock School District prays for an order authorizing the construction projects described above at Chicot Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, Williams Magnet School, and J.A. Fair High School. Respectfully submitted, LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT ]c>d^\C<tnjctxn.2 5FRIDAY, ELDREDGE & CLARK 2000 First Commercial Bldg. 400 West Capitol Street Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 376-2011 By-:^ Christopher Helle: CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I certify that a copy of the foregoing Motion for Approval of School Construction has been served on the following people by depositing copy of same in the United States mail on this 31st day of March, 1993: Mr. John Walker JOHN WALKER, P.A. 172 3 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 Capitol Towers Capitol & Broadway Streets Little Rock, AR 72201 Mr. Richard Roachell Roachell and Streett First Federal Plaza 401 West Capitol, Suite 504 Little Rock, AR 72201 Ms. Ann Brown Desegregation Monitor Heritage West Bldg., Suite 510 201 East Markham Street Little Rock, AR 72201 ^Christopher Helleu?-^ / lntby\Canalructi<xi.2 6REGEP/EO filed HAY j lyw Gifke ci IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS APR 5 01993 WESTERN DIVISION carl R. BRENTS, CLERK ^-.uryontNfS, CLERK Sy-' OHP. CLERK LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT PLAINTIFF V. NO. LR-C-82-866 PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL DISTRICT NO. 1, ET AL. SCHOOL DEFENDANTS MRS. LORENE JOSHUA, ET AL. INTERVENORS KATHERINE W. KNIGHT, ET AL. INTERVENORS ORDER Before the Court is the motion of the Little Rock School District for the Court' to which there has been s approval of various construction projects no response. The motion is granted in part. In reviewing the motion, the Court is particularly concerned about the effect of the construction projects on the racial ratios at the schools. The Court approves the construction of a cafetorium at Chicot Elementary School as long as the new construction does not increase the school's capacity. The construction project at Jefferson Elementary School is not approved at this time. Because attendance zones for the new King Interdistrict Elementary School may impact the Jefferson satellite zones that are presently near King, the District may repetition the Court for approval of the Jefferson construction after the attendance zones for King are firm and Court -approved. In itsrenewed petition, the District must include the information: following school the current capacity of Jefferson
any changes in capacity that will result from and the precise number the proposed construction
of portable buildings that will and the number that will be removed remain at the school as a result of the proposed construction. Prior to granting approval for construction project, the District must the Williams Elementary School following information: the school' provide the Court with the s current capacity
the number of square feet that will be added any change in the to the school by the construction
proportional allotment of the seats among the Little Rock school's magnet School District, the North Little Rock School District, and the Pulaski County Special the precise number of School District
portable buildings that will the number that be removed and will remain at the school as a result of the proposed construction
and clarify how the present administration area will be rearranged, i.e. a single multi-purpose area or two separate areas, one for expanded cafeteria recreation. space and one for indoor Before the Court will consider project at J.A. approving the construction Fair High School, the District must account for the 1,270 square feet difference between the 3,450 square feet of old space and the 2,180 of new space and specify the exact number of new classrooms that will result from the construction. THEREFORE, the motion is granted only to the extent that the Court approves construction of the cafetorium at Chicot Elementary -2-School. The Court will rule on the remaining construction projects after the requested information is filed with the Court. DATED this ay of April, 1993. UNITED S' JUDGE COMPLIANCE VVITl ON docket SHEET W -3-1 Zf': ^14 THU 15:58 SUSAN W WRIGHT FAX NO, 5013246576 Pei-^fo P. 02 e 1 I L, FE s. 71 i ! JI s: >C: .J.. C i 1 i_. 1 ) TEB-1-94 TITU 15:58 SUSAN W WRIGHT _ FAX NO, 5013246576 P.Ol IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT U.S. EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS DISTRICT JUDGE SUSAN WEBBER WRIGHT FAX LINE (501) 324-6576 DATE: 2/17/94 TO
Ann z FROM: Barry NUMBER OF PAGES INCLUDING COVER SHEET 3 Message
The Judge said to please respond appropriately. ThanksJ ILED OISTPICT COUPT eastern district ARKANSAS IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS WESTERN DIVISION JUN I J 1993 CARL H. BRENTS, CLERK Sy-LL . A. W OHP. CLEflK LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT PLAINTIFF V. NO. LR-C-82-866 PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1, ET AL. DEFENDANTS MRS. LORENE JOSHUA, ET AL. INTERVENORS KATHERINE W. KNIGHT, ET AL. INTERVENORS ORDER The Court held a hearing on June 8 and 9, 1993, on plaintiff's motion for approval of the attendance zones for the King Interdistrict School and the site selection for the Stephens Interdistrict School. Most of the testimony addressed the King attendance zones
additional testimony on the matter of the Stephens site will be taken at a later date. The Court issues the following Order concerning the attendance zones for King. The Little Rock School District hired Dr. Leonard Thalmueller, a former LRSD employee, to draw up several proposed attendance zones plans for the new King Interdistrict School. The plan approved by the LRSD Board of Directors assumed that the Ish Incentive School would be closed unless 100 or more students in the Ish attendance zone wished to attend that school for the 1993-94 academic year. The Court finds that the zoning changes approved by the LRSD are acceptable. They were drawn in such a way as to minimize changes in the attendance zones for other schools. The Court approves the plan, however, only on the condition that Ish remain open unless the LRSD establishes, according to the Court's criteria, that fewer than 100 students wish to attend Ish during the 1993-94 academic year. The incentive schools are an integral part of the desegregation plan and the LRSD failed to present sufficient evidence to justify the closing of Ish at this time. The Court further finds that it would not be appropriate to close Ish according to the criteria set forth by the LRSD at the hearing. The Court orders that Ish will remain open during the 1993-94 school year if 100 or more students want to attend Ish. The 100 students who will decide the immediate future of Ish will come from the following groups
1. Students now attending Ish who reside within the Ish attendance zones
2. Students not attending Ish but who live within the Ish attendance zones
and 3. Students now attending Ish but who live outside the Ish attendance zones. The Court is adding this third group of students, which is significant in number, because it believes it is only fair to recognize that these students have a stake in the closing of Ish. Student assignments are confusing and are in a state of disarray for a number of reasons, including grandfathering leftover from the earlier controlled choice student assignment plan. The LRSD has the burden of recruiting students to populate the King Interdistrict School from the above three groups of students. The LRSD also has the burden of proving that fewer than 100 -2-students in the above-mentioned groups wish to attend Ish. Within 10 days from June 9, 1993, the LRSD must submit to the Court its proposed survey of these students along with its plan for executing the survey and implementing the sxirvey results. This plan must include a time schedule with deadline dates for implementing each step of the survey process, including the date by which the district will determine whether Ish is to remain open or to close. Because the district's student assignment plan for King includes closing Ish and reassigning those students to King, the LRSD must develop an amended student assignment plan for assigning students to King in the event Ish remains open. The district must submit this amended plan to the Court by July 16, 1993. The Joshua Intervenors will have 5 days to file their response and objections to the LRSD's survey and plan, and 5 days to file their response and objections to the amended student assignment plan. The Court notes that at the hearing the LRSD committed to a total of four four-year-old classes at King if Ish is closed. The Court believes this is a wise decision that will aid the LRSD's King recruitment efforts. The Court is not approving any expansion of the capacity of Jefferson Elementary School by approving attendance zone changes in this Order. DATED this //~ day of June, 1993. f UNITED STA^S 'DISTRK DISTRICT/ JUDGE -3- THIS DOCUMENT ENTERED ON DOCKET 3HS7 M COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 53 ANO/QR 79(alFRCP ON BY VOffice of Desegregation Monitoring United States District Court Eastern District of Arkansas Ann S. Brown, Federal Monitor 201 East Markham, Suite 510 Heritage West Building Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (501)376-6200 Fax (501) 371-0100 February 18, 1994 Justin Wooley 524 No. Bryan Little Rock, AR 72205 Dear Justin: Thank you for your letter to Judge Susan Webber Wright about your school, Jefferson Elementary. The Judge has asked me to write to you for her. Although she understands that people have lots of concerns and questions about schools and desegregation. Judge Wright is a very fair judge who has made it a policy to not correspond directly with members of the community about any case that is underway. Instead, she relies upon us in her Office of Desegregation Monitoring to talk with individuals and organizations about school matters and to answer the letters she receives. Im glad you like Jefferson and that you care so much about what happens there. I agree with you that it is a terrific school. 1 have friends who work at Jefferson or whose children are students there, and they all think its a super place too. Judge Wright also cares about Jefferson, even though she does not make the decisions about were the money goes like you thought she did. The superintendent and the people who serve on the school board are the ones who do that. But the Judge does tell the school district when it is alright to build a new school or to add on to an old one. She does that because it is her job to protect citizens constitutional rights and to enforce the school districts desegregation plans which have lots of promises about what the schools will do for children. Judge Wright is under orders from her bosses (who are the judges on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals) to make sure that any new school construction is fair and lives up to the promises made by all of the people who wrote and signed the desegregation plans, a contract called the Settlement Agreement. One of those promises is that e school districts wont make it harder for black children to get to school by just building new schools or adding on to old ones that are in the part of town where mostly white children live. Last March 31, 1993, the Little Rock School District asked the Court to approve some construction at certain schools, including Jefferson. The district asked for this approval by doing what is called "filing a motion, and Ive included a copy of the motion so you can read what the district said to the Court. The Court responded to that motion on April 29, 1993 in what is called an Order. Orders are the way in which a judge answers the person or group (called the "party") that makes a motion. Ive also included a copy of this Order so you can read what Judge Wright said about Jefferson, but 111 also summarize her answer here.Februaiy 18, 1994 Page Two The Judge toid the district that she needed more information before she could rule (that means to tell them "yes" or "no") on the new construction at Jefferson. She wanted to know how many students Jefferson could hold then and whether or not the new construction would change that number
she wanted to know exactly how many portable buildings would be removed and how many portables would stay at the school as a result of any new construction. Judge Wright also said that before she could rule, she would have to know how the district planned to draw attendance zones for King, a new school that was being built in a part of town that had an attendance zone for Jefferson. (By telling them that, she was protecting children and their parents so they wouldnt be confused about where they might be going to school after King opened.) Judge Wright told the district that they could come back to her again to ask for approval of the Jefferson construction after the attendance zones for King were final and approved by the Court, and after the district had answered her questions. Well, the district decided on the attendance zones in June and the Court approved them right away on June 11, 1993. But the district has never given the Judge the other information she asked for so long ago. The district answered the Courts question about the other three schools it wanted to build on to, but not Jefferson. What this means, Justin, is that it isnt Judge Wright who is holding things up at Jefferson. 1 am at a loss to explain why the district has given the Court information on every school but Jefferson. 1 suggest that you write to your superintendent. Dr. Henry Williams, to ask him the question that you put to Judge Wright because it is the school district who is responsible for this issue, not the Court. Ive given you a long answer to your short question, but 1 wanted to try to be clear about a matter that can be complicated and confusing to anyone, child or adult. 1 hope 1 succeeded, but you are welcome to call me at 376-6200 if youd like some more information. 1 used to be a school teacher and 1 really enjoy talking to students. 1 also have four children of my own. Theyve been scouts too, so 1 know that it takes a lot of hard work to get a merit badge. I commend you for your study of our community and our problems. Understanding how problems come about, how they get solved, and who is responsible for making changes is a very important part of being a good citizen. You have my very best wishes for successfully completing your merit badge, as well as my thanks and respect for speaking out about community problems. Sincerely yours, Ann S. Brown > Enc. APR- 5-94 TUE 15:43 SUSAN W WRIGHT FAX NO. 5013246576 P.Ol IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS WESTERN DIVISION LITTLE KOCK SCHOOL DISTRICT PLAINTIFF No. LR-C-82-866 PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT No. 1, ET AL DEFENDANTS MRS. LORENE JOSHUA, ET AL INTERVENORS KATHERINE KNIGHT, ET AL INTERVENORS ORDER Before the Court are a number of motions which the Court now addresses
(1) motion by the Joshua intervenors ("Joshua") for ruling on their request that incentive school benefits, including scholarship benefits, follow the incentive school children vs. a [doc.#1929]
(2) motion by Joshua requesting the Court to address certain issues regarding the budget process of the Little Rock School District ("LRSD") [doc.#1949]
(3) motion by Joshua to require the readmission of class members who have been expelled from the LRSD in violation of the LRSD's own rules [doc.#2051]
and (4) motion by the LRSD for approval of school construction at Jefferson Elementary [doc.#2090]. I. Joshua moves for a ruling on their request that incentive school benefits, including scholarship benefits, follow the incentive school children [doc.#1929]. Joshua also requests the Court to address the following issues regarding the budget processAPR- 5-94 TUE 15:48 SUSAN W WRIGHT FAX NO. 5013246576 P. 02 of the LRSD [doc.#1949]
(1) whether the LRSD is required to double fund the incentive schools
(2) whether, pursuant to the double funding, the LRSD is required to provide scholarship incentives and awards to students who attend or have attended those schools since the settlement plan
(3) whether the LRSD is required to provide training and educational opportunities related to potential placement in teaching positions in the LRSD to black parents and others who are placed as aides
(4) whether incentive school personnel who are required to work extended day and extended year programs are entitled to extra compensation for that extra work
and (5) whether the Ish children are entitled to receive all of their promised incentive school benefits when they attend King Elementary School. The Court denies without prejudice Joshua's motion for a ruling on their request that incentive school benefits, including scholarship benefits, follow the incentive school children. Joshua's motion was filed on August 2, 1993. Ten days after filing the motion, at the August 12, 1993 hearing on the LRSD budget, counsel for Joshua requested that instead of a hearing on this matter, the parties should first be "directed to sit and try to work this out." Transcript, at 10. Joshua went on to state that it is important for Joshua to sit with the school district and in good faith try to resolve these issues without judicial intervention. Id. at 11. The Court agrees and will defer addressing the matters raised in Joshua's motion until such time as -2-APR- 5^94 TUE 15:48 SUSAN W WRIGHT FAX NO. 5013246576 P. 03 the record reflects that the parties have unsuccessfully attempted to resolve the matter without court intervention. The Court likewise denies without prejudice Joshua's motion that the Court address certain issues regarding the budget process of the LRSD. The Court is currently addressing the budget process of the LRSD in an ongoing manner and will continue to do so on its own terms or that of the Eighth Circuit. Moreover, Joshua's motion consists of mere one and a quarter pages (four complete a sentences) and simply does not set forth sufficient grounds for granting the requested relief. II. Joshua moves for an order requiring the readmission of class members who have been expelled from the LRSD in violation of the LRSD's own rules [doc.#2051]. Joshua states that the LRSD "did not give the parents of the students recommended for expulsion either notice by certified U.S. mail or by hand delivery of the recommendation for expulsion and the reasons for it. Nor did the district give these parents the date, hour and place that the school board would consider and act upon the recommendation. Nor did the school district conduct a hearing within ten days of the suspension of the students
nor was a list of witnesses who would furnish information supporting the principal's recommendation made available to the students at least forty-eight days before the ten day hearing period." Joshua contends that the LRSD has failed to follow its own rules regarding due process and that because of that -3-APR- 5-94 TUE 15:49 SUSAN W WRIGHT FAX NO. 5013246576 P, 04 fact, the students are entitled to readmission immediately. As authority for this motion, Joshua cites this Court's previous orders and the desegregation plan. The LRSD has responded to this motion by asserting that the matter is now moot. Specifically, the LRSD States that on December IS, 1993, representatives of the LRSD and counsel for Joshua reached a negotiated settlement and all issues were resolved in accordance with the agreement among and between the parties. In this regard, the LRSD states that "the students were not expelled from the LRSD
any alleged rule violations were either waived or cured
it was agreed that the students would remain suspended through the end of the first semester, but would be allowed to take semester examinations and return to school at the beginning of the second semester." The LRSD states that the motion now before the Court apparently was filed prior to the settlement agreement. In light of the settlement agreement apparently reached between the parties, the Court finds that Joshua's motion for an order requiring the readmission of class members who have been expelled from the LRSD in violation of the LRSD's own rules should be and hereby is denied as moot. Joshua may refile the motion if the matter is not moot, or if new and relevant circumstances have arisen that would give rise to any relief. III. The LRSD has filed motion for approval of school a construction at Jefferson Elementary [doc.#2090]. By order dated -4-APR- 5.-94 TUE 15:49 SUSAN W WRIGHT FAX NO. 5013246576 P, 05 April 29, 1993, the Court denied the request for approval of construction at Jefferson, stating that the LRSD may repetition the Court for approval of the Jefferson construction after the attendance zones for the King Interdistrict school are firm and court-approved. In addition, the Court requested the following information
the current capacity of Jefferson
any changes in school capacity that will result from the proposed construction
and the precise number of portable buildings that will remain at the school as a result of the proposed construction. The LRSD has provided the requested information in the motion now before the Court. Having carefully reviewed the information, the Court finds that LRSD's motion for approval of school construction at Jefferson Elementary should be and hereby is granted. However, any new space generated by the construction must be dedicated to the use described in LRSD's motion. Any alternative use would have to be approved by the Court. IV. In sum, the Court denies without prejudice Joshua's motion for a ruling on their request that incentive school benefits, including scholarship benefits, follow the incentive school children, denies without prejudice Joshua's motion that the Court address certain issues regarding the budget process of the LRSD, denies without prejudice Joshua's motion for an order requiring the readmission of class members who have been expelled from the LRSD, and grants the -5-ePR- 5-94 TUE 15:50 SUSAN W WRIGHT FAX NO. 5013246576 P. 06 LRSD's motion for approval of school construction at Jefferson Elementary. IT IS SO ORDERED this <.3" day of April 1994. UNITED STATES DISTBaCT JUDGE -6-I r i i I I Ii I t little rock 3 SCHOOL DISTRICT RS
L3 '.1 '-qp ' JUL 2 9 1994 Olticss of DesegresatiOu Jefferson Elementary School 2600 N. McKinley street - Phone 667711--68228811 . Little Rock. Arkaneae 72207 July 21, 1994 Dear Parents
I'm pleased to welcome you to Jefferson for - - ____ ______ T C.i the 1994-95 TOb reassignment this year, ano i rruxy mns-i- fortunate and support during that period of twe. wh-* le resoecting to have patrons who want me to remain witn them while respecting ray personal goals and career opportunities. Because of some personal ='2iiliains^ ^k?nnA?int^nd this community and its patrons. Dr. and I and I have discussed this career opport^xty in detail and the superintendent, conversation and let you know want to share the results of and was how things stand at this time. concerned about the close to the opening of school impact of changing the school s leadership ' scnooi, and we agreed that any transipon careful consideration for al* involved. needed to be done with ----- With the other administrative changes in we were nor sure that we would be able to * ------------- - , J the district at this time, identify an acceptable candidate fo. rthirprincipalshipprior to the opening-off school. Dr. Williams will he recommending me to the Board of Directors nSrD
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:ro?.:aSnr
ositionJor_the X3^-9e^school^^ar Twill make a ^^oS^^^o^Itl^JrJ-^ition given^is additional You have flattered me by your e^Pr^^pons of t^ity confidence. However, as always I remind you ^^t it w tte com Y and will name an acting director ^is year. i * that we will make a time. involvement, the dedicated staf academic and behavior programs f and the parental support of the that make this an outstanding school. I I look that both Dr. Williams forward to a wonderful Y^^r and^please^feel^segre^^^^ and I want only the best for your Sincerely, Frances Cawthon Principal John w. Walker, P.A. Attorney At Law 1723 Broadway Ltitle Rock. Arkansas 72206 Telephone (501) 374-3758 F.AX (501) 3744187 RSCSfu DK ( d 1995 JOHN W. walker RALPH WASHINGTON MARK BURNETTE AUSTIN PORTER. JR. Offics of Dessgrega&a u Via Facsimile - 324-2146 December 13, 1995 Dr. Henry Williams Superintendent of Schools Little Rock School District 810 West Markham Little Rock, AR 72201 Dear Dr. Williams: I was somewhat surprised to learn that while a northwest Little Rock school has been slated for closing it is slated to be rebuilt. Please provide to me, pursuant to the Arkansas FOIA, all documents and written communication which have exchanged hands, between you, school district officials, consultants and patrons of northwest Little Rock regarding the closing tnd rebuilding of Jefferson Elementary school. Monday, December 18, 1995. May I have this information by Thank you for your cooperation. V, truly yours . J J wux a f W. Walker JWW:js cc: Ms. Ann Brown Ms. Linda Pondexter Ms. Pankye Fells Mr. Jim LynchArkansas Democrat (i^azcttc SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1992 Copyright 1992, Little Rock Newspapers Inc. Ex-teachers suit alleges bias in firing A former Little Rock School District teacher alleged Friday in federal court she was unfairly fired because she is black. The suit was filed by Christine Gatewood, a former teacher at Jefferson Elementary School who alleged she lost her job after she was off work during an extended sick leave. Gatewood, a black woman, had been employed as a teacher since 1987. The Little Rock School Board, named as a defendant, voted Sept. 28,1992, against renewing Gatewoods employment for the 1991-1992 school year. She said she was notified Oct. 1, 1992, that she had been fired. Gatewood asked for a court order reinstating her to her job and awarding her $200,000 in damages and lost benefits.Arkansas Democrat ^(Sazetle SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1993 Copjffjghl O 1993. Little Rock Newspapers, Inc. Jefferson Elementary raises most money for insurance Jefferson Elementary School was the overall winner in raising money for the citys Fight Back Insure the Children Program, city officials announced this week. A fund-raising campaign called Pennies for Pasta
Your Change for Change, netted $15,375. The money helps pay for insurance that children in the Little Rock School District can use to combat an alcohol or drug problem. Jefferson Elementry School raised $2,590.13. Jefferson also had the winning class the sixth-graders taught by Becky Ramsey. The class raised $382.26 and will receive an award and a free lunch party at the Olive Garden Italian Restaurant. We are elated at the amount of enthusiasm and contributions given by the students who pitched in to help one another, said Wendy Salaam, Fighting Back director. The pennies are continuing to roll in. The school raising the second-highest amount was Carver Magnet Elementary with $1,868.59. Central High was third with $1,533.18. The Fight Back insurance program paid the quarterly premium of $45,205 one week early as a result of the campaign. Another installment for the same amount is due by May 31.6a* X -f r ' **''**
ut if Arkansas Democrai ^^C^azctU WEDNESDAY. APRIL 28, 1993 Copyright 0 1993. Little Aock Newspapers. Inc. 1 "'X 1 51 '^1 X' > '?V . Arkansas Democrat>Gazene/Scon Carpenter LESSON IN CRIME FIGHTING Larry Jegley. chief deputy prosecuting attorney for Pulaski County, speaks with about 150 fifth- and sixth-graders Tuesday morning at Jefferson Elementary School. Jegley answered students questions about crime in their neighborhoods and schools. Deputy prosecutor trades views on crime with grade-schoolers BY LINDA SATTER Democrat-Gazette Staff Writer Fifth- and si.xth-grade students at Jefferson Elementary School in Cammack Village were treated Tuesday morning to lessons about crime and punishment by Pulaski Countys chief deputy prosecuting attorney. Larry Jegley, filling in for Prosecuting Attorney Mark Stodola, who was busy with grand jury duties, had no trou-ble warming up the large group assembled in the school gymnasium. Are yall really as smart as Ive been told? Jegley asked. His response: a loud, enthusiastic chorus of yes! and a sea of smiling faces, indicating Jegley had won the crowd over. After a brief explanation of what prosecutors do represent the people and make sure that laws contained in a thick book, which he waved before them, are enforced against criminals Jegley let the children tell their own tales of close encounters with crime. The policeman was chasing a man down the street. It was about drugs, one boy said. Jegley said the boy probably didnt enjoy witnessing that, but the youth insisted that it was entertaining. A girl said her mothers purse had been stolen at Harvest Foods. Another girl said she was in the Park Plaza mall parking lot when a man hit a little old lady on the head and took her purse. How can we stop crime? Jegley asked. Call 911, offered one boy. How can we fix it so we dont have to call 911 in the first place? Jegley asked. Execute people, a girl answered. Jegley, undeterred, pressed for a different answer after the laughter subsided. Teach people not to commit crimes in the first place, a boy offered. Jegley advised his young listeners that the key is to respect each other. He told them to give everybody the respect you would want to be given back. Jegley answered questions in simplified detail about how a person becomes a prosecuting attorney, and the difference between prosecuting lawyers, as one student put it, and other types of lawyers. He said his worst kinds of cases involve youths hurting youths, and that he wanted to be a prosecutor to help the community and because he likes courtrooms. Jegley said he has been a prosecutor for about two years. Before that, he worked for the state Court of Appeals for about six years. As for preparing for a career in law, Jegley said the first step is going to college and taking a variety of courses often English, writing, journalism and government courses. He noted that you can be an engineering major and then go to law school. His talk was coordinated by the Victims Assistance program at the prosecutors office, in association with National Crime Victims Rights Week. Arkansas Democrat ^(Oazettc WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1993 Copynght 1993. Little Rock Newspapers, Inc. ARKANSAS TIMES APRIL 21,1994 : The Aihatifas REPORTER WHITES NEED NOT APPLY At one LR school, desegregation proves too successful. BY JUDITH M. GALLMAN D *anny Johnson wanted his son to attend Pulaski Heights Junior High .School next year, but theres no room for his son al the .school liccau.sc hes while. Thats what the school told Johnson on Mai ch 2! when he went to pre-register his 11 - year-old son Jeremy for next year. Il seems the Pulaski Heights parents and school ofTi- cials have lx
en so successful al recniiting whites that dieir enrolinxjnl now tuns afoul of court-ordered racial guidelines. The result is a supreme irony In a majority black school district that has struggled for years to hold white parents. Denied admission to Pulaski Heights, Johnson says he is planning to buy a house in ConWay and enroll his children theie next year, continuing a trend that has seen Conway explode widi whites fleeing Little Rock. Ralph Hoffman, the principal of Pulaski I leighl.s Junior I ligh School, says the school has swung from a junior high that was roughly 65 to 67 |>eicent black in 1988 to a school that's 54 to 5.5 pcrcenl black now. Based on prc-tegislrallon figures for next year, however, the district projects Ihe junior high will be 51.8 |x
rcent black, which, the disulcl says, means loo few black students will l)C enrolled. I he projection prompted Dr. Rus,s Mayo, associate su|Krintendcnt for desegregation, todrafl a memo saying thatsludents who pre- regislcred on or after May 14 will lx
assigned by the Student Assignment Office. Basically, we will reserve vacant seals for black studenl.s while nonblack students will receive alternate assignments, Mayo wrote in the memo. Studenl.s who cannol be assigned will be placed on waiting lists. 1 he nxMiio also went to four elenxmlary schools, Teiry, Fulbright, Forest Paik and Oller Creek. Mayo said. iKcausc all will likely slipl)elowlhccouil-appiovcd minimumblack enrollment |)eicentage. Jefferson doesnt meet die minimum bul a memo wasnt sent there. The school dish id decision is al variance, however, with the federal courts Office of Desegregation Monitoring. Ann Brown, federal monitor, sayslhemlni- mum black enrollment should not fall below 40 |x:rccnl for elementary schools and 51 pcrcenl for junior high schools. Mayo agrees on 40 |)ercent for elementary schools, but he Insists the minimum for junior highs is 52.5 percent Moicim(X)ilantly,Brown believes tliccourt intended lo set racial guidelines, not quotas. Mayo see.s them as a quota from which tire disti id may not stray. Mayo said die freeze Is a temporary measure that may be lifted once die district has a dear understanding of next years enioll- inent. Though the policy ap|iears Io stale otherwise, Mayo said the district does not intend to exclude white students who are rightful residents of a school's attendance zones, only those who live outside the attendance zone. But at Ihcsainc lime, he saysonly that those in lite zone will be put on the waiting list. He also says the district wants Io Ixt sure all stiidenls in a school rightfully deserve tlie as.signmcnts. Ci ITn told that it has not been watched as :arefuUy by the Student Assignment Office in the past, Mayo said. Wecannot continue ignoring the plan or the court. Brown said ihedisU ict should look at other options beforeexektding white parents, whose loss could harm the racial composition of the whole district. One option is adding portable buildings, although thalsiinpossiblcfor some of the schools and Mayo counters such additions perpetuate dual education. Some school patrons, parents and teachers worry that die policy will drive whiles to private schools or other cities. Theres no such thing as a school too white in Little Rock, one parent said. But the School District has now ruled ollterwise. And the result may be al least two mote transfers to Conway. PERCENTAGE OF BLACK STUDEMta ANTICIPATED Pulaski Heights Junior High School 51.8 percent Terry Elementary School 39.9 percent Fulbright Elementary School 43.1 percent Forest Park Elementary School 39.2 percent Jefferson Elementary School 40.4 percent Oller Creek Elementary School 44.7 percent If pre-registration enrollment figures for the 194-95 school year for the above Little Rock schools hold true, these schools could end up with too few black students, which is why additional white students aren't being enrolled temporarily. The percentages indicate what percentage of the student body is expected to be black. Elementary schools cant have fewer than 40 i)crceiit, but the bottom limit for junior highs is in dispute. The district sets the limit al 52.5 percent
the Office of Desegregation monitoring uses 51 percent.Aricansas Democrat (gazette FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1995 LRSD to award new contract to finish library at Jefferson BY JAKE SANDLIN Oemocrat<3azelte StaM Writer The Little Rock School District plans to award a new construction contract next month to finish Jefferson Elementary Schools library. Problems also need to be corrected in the buildings outside walls and flooring, the only parts completed, Doug Eaton, the districts facility services director, said Wednesday. The district fired the first contractor in August because the job wasnt progressing, Eaton said. The completion date on the $480,000 project was supposed to be Aug. 7. The center is about one-third complete. The contractor, R B Builders of Bryant, couldn't finish because of financial difficulties, Eaton said. The district dismissed the company before the contract was up. A phone number for R B Builders has been disconnected, and no new number is listed with directory service. The company had completed other local work when awarded the contract through competitive bidding, he said. Sometimes a guy bites off more than he can chew, Eaton said. The job was too big for him. The contractor was bonded, and a new contract wont cost the district more money, he said. The district is negotiating with other contractors to award the contract a second time, possibly by the first week of October, Eaton said. Finishing the job is estimated to take 90 days. Well take the best combination of money and time we can, Eaton said. We just need to finish it, basically, Eaton said. Some of the workmanship could be better. We think we can get it better. He said several bricks will have to be pulled from the walls or sanded to improve their appearance. Jefferson Elementary, 2600 N. McKinley, is temporarily providing library services from a portable classroom and in room- to-room visits by its librarian. A former storage area is also being used for a health room because the health room renovation included in the project wasnt completed.Arkansas Democrat (gazette WEDNESDAY, MAY 24. 1995 Certificate of resistance SS V s AiKansas Democra-GazetlwSTEVE KEESEE ~ Jefferson Elementary sixth-grader Jordan received for completing the Little Tbo iL0 -A.R.Eu. iD>niujgy AMbuuussee nReessiissitaannccee tEdduuccaattwionn program. The certrfkrates handed out to 75 sixth-gradere at a specif iwatd ccearnemmnomnyi tthhaa*t also featu_r_e^d.4 a__ m_ _in_i_-m__u_s.i ca.l about ovovtoi anoiu peer pressure. I i Arkansas Democrai '^(Bazcttc FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 22, 1995 LRSD to award new contract to finish library at Jefferson ! BY JAKE SANDLIN Oemocrat-GazeBe Staff Witter The Little Rock School District plans to award a new construction contract next month to finish Jefferson Elementary Schools li- brary. Problems also need to be corrected in the buildings outside walls and flooring, the only parts completed, Doug Eaton, the districts facility services director, said Wednesday. The district fired the first contractor in August because the job wasnt progressing, Eaton said. The completion date on the $480,000 project was supposed to be Aug. 7. The center is about one-third complete. The contractor, R B Builders of Bryant, couldn't finish because of financial difilculties, Eaton said. The district dismissed the company before the contract was up. A phone number for R B Builders has been disconnected, and no new number is listed with directory service. The company had completed other local work when awarded the contract through competitive bidding, he said. Sometimes a guy bites off more than he can chew, Eaton said. The job was too big for him. The contractor was bonded, and a new contract wont cost the district more money, he said. The district is negotiating with other contractors to award the contract a second time, possibly by the first week of October, Eaton said. Finishing the job is estimated ' to take 90 days. Well take the best combination of money and time we can, Eaton said. We just need to finish it, basically, Eaton said. Some of the workmanship could be better. We think we can get it better. He said several bricks will have to be pulled from the walls or sanded to improve their appearance. Jefferson Elementaiy, 2600 N. McKinley, is temporarily providing library services from a portable classroom and in room- to-room visits by its librarian. A former storage area is also being used for a health room because the health room renovation included in the project wasn't completed.May 2 2, 2 0 0 2 139 elementaries share $400,000 in performance awards BY CYNTHIA HOWEU ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE CONWAY Teachers and principals from Arkansas highest-performing elementary schools said Tuesday that cash prizes totaling $400,000 from the state are an unexpected but welcome windfall that will be spent on employee bonuses, library books, musical instrument*
and electronic accessories. On Tuesday, state education leaders hosted a luncheon at the Agora Conference Center to honor two representatives from each of the 139 elementary schools that will be getting the awards, which are made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation in Bentonville. The distribution of the money is based largely on each schools percentage of fourthgraders who scored at proficient or advanced levels on the states Primary Benchmark Exam. The new Measuring Performance Honors program specifically recognizes schools either for their high percentages of students scoring at proficient and advanced levels on the math and literacy test, or for improvements in their number of high- scoring students. Its wonderful, a great treat, Beverly Kelso, principal at North Little Rocks Lakewood Elementary, said about the approximately $2,000 her school will get. She said her staff discussed several ways to spend the money and decided to purchase computer software and printers to be used by pupils. David Babb, principal at Springhill Elementary and Dean Burbank, principal at Collegeville Elementary, both in Bryant, also said they and their staffs are eyeing technology purchases for their awards, which range from $2,300 to $3,300. Faculty members from other schools had other plans. Shelly Woods, on the staff at Fairview Elementary School in Texarkana, said her schools $2,500 award will be used to get a long-dreamed-of fine arts program off the ground. String and rhythm instruments, as well as art books, are on the schools wish list. Little Rocks Jefferson Elementary and Batesvilles Eagle Mountain Elementary will use portions of their awards to expand the Accelerated Reader program, a supplemental program that rewards pupils for reading books and answering computerized questions about the stories. We want to build on our strengths, Jefferson Elementary Principal Roberta Mannon said, noting that her pupils read 20,000 books as a result of the reading program this school year. At Batesvilles West Elementary School, the $2,200 will be shared among the certified and noncertified staff in the form of employee stipends. And at Magazine Elementary SchooL the money will be used to buy and customize notebook binders for students. The notebooks, decorated with the schools logo and filled with math facts and class schedules, should build school spirit while helping students organize their school work, said Sandra Beck, the districts curriculum coordinator. Teachers and other employees at each school vote on how to spend the awards, and that process has not been completed at all schools. At Russellvilles Sequoyah Elementary, the staff is considering hiring a reading and math aide, purchasing Accelerated Reader materials, and repairing windows and other features of their building. Each of those options is being evaluated for cost before a decision is made. Gina Eason, a fourth-grade teacher at Sequoyah, said the money was a pleasant surprise but it was not a motivating factor in trying to raise student test scores. We wanted our children to succeed. We werent in it for the money, Eason said. She also said she regretted that not all elementary schools in Russellville were similarly rewarded. They worked just as hard as we did, she said. We all shared ideas. Ray Simon, director of the Arkansas Department of Education, on Tuesday called the awardwinning schools 139 of the finest schools this state could ever hope to recognize. Thank you for allowing us to honor you. John Antonetti, a former Sheridan School District educator and now an associate in a national education consulting company, was the keynote speaker at the luncheon. He told the crowd that Arkansas Benchmark Exam is a better measure of student reasoning and thinking skills than tests used in states such as Texas, California and Florida. You saw the challenges, Antonetti told the crowd. You met the challenges. For the entire state of Arkansas, let me thank you and encourage you to do it again. Its so wonderful to go out into the rest of the world and say, You have no idea what we have in Arkansas. The awards, which will be distributed within the next few weeks, range this year from $582 in the Poughkeepsie Elementary in the River Valley School District to $9,729 in the North Main Elementary School in the Greenwood School District. Graduation Gifts 20% Off ^^Through May 31 8121 ConftM Rood 614-9030 Mon
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This project was supported in part by a Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives project grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Council on Library and Information Resoources.