Roberts, Don, Ph.D.

Roberts was Little Rock School District superintendent.
CONTfNGENCY COMMITTEE REPORT LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT JULY 18, 1996 Rett Tucker and Roosevelt Brown, Co-chairmen Debbie Glasgow, Marian Lacey, Betty Mitchell, Skip Rutherford, John Walker Members of the School Board and citizens of Little Rock, my name is Rett Tucker and I am Co-chairman of the Contingency Committee approved by this Board earlier this year. Other members, who are present, include Co-chairman Dr. Roosevelt Brown, PTA Council President Debbie Glasgow, Mann Principal Marian Lacey, CTA President Betty Mitchell, fomier school board president Skip Rutherford and attorney John Walker. On behalf of Dr. Brown, let me begin by thanking the Board for putting your confidence and trust in us. We also want to thank th? committee members for their dedication and hard work. We met numerous times in the spring and put together the framework of a contingency plan in the event it was needed. We have had almost perfect attendance at every meeting. We took this assignment very seriously. We considered it an honor and an opportunity to participate in this very important process. We resolved from the beginning that we would put our differences aside and work toward consensus. When we were notified Sunday that Dr. Williams was going to Kansas City, we were prepared. To finalize our recommendations, we have met every day this week and now come before you with a recommended plan of action. 1This plan comes to you with our unanimous support. In fact, I must say that our committee-with strong wills, strong personalities, strong views and all the diversity we prize in Little Rocknever once had a split vote and never met an issue that we didnt resolve in a civil and thoughtful way. I have been part of many committees both personally and professionally, but this one has represented the best and most gratifying experience Ive ever had. Lets clarify first what we did not do. Although there has been a great deal of speculation, we did not consider the selection of a permanent Superintendent. That Was not our assignment. We do believe, however, that this is a very important decision in its own right because it comes at such a critical time. We focused on the short-term, although we define short-term as one to two years. Tonight, we have two major recommendations. Our first deals with getting through the next several days and weeks. In this regard, we congratulate Dr. Williams on his new position and wish him well. We thank him for his leadership and his service. This is a tough job. We recognize that and appreciate all he has done. Although Dr. Williams will remain on the payroll until September 1, we know that he will be spending a great deal of his time, his talent and his energy-as he should-on Kansas City and the future. 2While he will still be a very valuable resource for this school district, we proposefrom tomorrow through August 14, the formation of a five-person management team which would report directly to the Board. This team would operate in the same spirit that our Contingency Committee has operated: successfully addressing a short-term assignment. We spent a great deal of time and thought on the membership of this team. We looked for people with experience, with dedication and who had the energy to take on extra assignments. We recommend the following individuals: Dr. Victor Anderson would serve as the daily operations officer. He biings a wealth of experience as a principal, an administrator and, more importantly, as a person who is recognized as both a consensus builder and a team player. He would be in charge of day to day administration. Joining him on the team will be Sadie Mitchell, a former teacher, a former principal, and now an administrator, who has worked very closely with the elementary schools. Also, Jodie Carter, the principal of McClellan High School, who from first hand experience understands both the challenges and the opportunities of our senior high schools. Sadie will be in charge of all elementary schools and Jodie will have the responsibility for the senior high schools. The two other members come from our Contingency Committee. Let me add that neither sought a position on the team. In fact, both had to be drafted. 3Marian Lacey is the principal of Mann Junior High School. She is a principals principal and was such a positive voice on our committee. Marian knows the junior highs and her outstanding record at Mann speaks for itself. She will focus on all aspects of the junior high schools. Skip Rutherford, the only non-educator on the team, understands the school board better than most. He served on the Board from 1987 to 1991, as its president in 1989 and 1990 and coordinated two victorious millage campaigns. He will supervise communication and student assignments and will serve without pay. All of these members will continue to perform their current responsibilities. Marian Lacey will still be the principal at Mann and Jodie Carter will still be the principal at McClellan. Skip Rutherford will still work at Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods. Vic Anderson and Sadie Mitchell will still be district administrators. All of them, however, for the good of the district, will work on the management team which means extra duty and long hours for each of them. Please note that all four educators are or have been successful principals and the non-educator is a former school board member and president. The team is experienced. It needs to be because much will be happening over the next four weeksincluding the opening and beginning of school. We simply cant put this district on hold for that time period. This professional team addresses that issue. 4The second part of our recommendation relates to the position of Interim Superintendent. We considered many people and possibilities. We listened to board members and to interested citizens. We wanted to recommend someone who could provide effective, steady, experienced leadership
someone with local ties who understands Little Rock, Arkansas and state school funding
someone who could help this district and the Board in its search for a permanent Superintendent. We believe we have found that person. Tonight, we unanimously recommend to you. Dr. Don Roberts--the former Director of the Arkansas Department of Education and the former Assistant Superintendent of the Little Rock School District.-Dr. Roberts is an Arkansas native and was educated at Henderson State and the University of Arkansas. He served as State Education Director during the administrations of both Governor Bill Clinton and Governor Frank White. He has been a successful Superintendent in three urban school districts. We recommend him to you as Interim Superintendent for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two. This will give you the time, the breathing room and the opportunity to find the best Superintendent possible. As we know from experience, finding a Superintendent is not always a quick process. Dr. Roberts can and will help you in the search. He is 61 years old and retired in 1994 after seven years as Superintendent of the Fort Worth School District. This is a district with 72,000 students and 9,000 employees. Since that time, he has been doing consulting work with school districts across the country. 5He loves Little Rock, loves Arkansas, knows Little Rock and knows Arkansas. We sought him out for this position. He has always been dedicated to high quality desegregated education and seeks to build cooperation across racial lines. He is known as a person who keeps his word and works in good faith. He is an educator, an administrator and, we believe, a healer. He did not seek the job. We went after him. Dr. Roberts can be here tomorrow to meet with you individually and as a group. He can be in Little Rock and on the job no later than August 15. We also recommend the followins: When Dr. Roberts arrives on August 15, the management team will become an advisory team to him. Dr. Roberts would, of course, take over the day to day operations, but we envision the advisory team helping him on both a regular and as-needed basis. Their assistance in this transition will be invaluable. As I noted earlier, we believe Dr. Roberts should be given a one- year contract with the possibility of another year if needed. He has indicated he is not interested in the full-time Superintendents position, but, again, that subject is a matter for the Board to discuss at the appropriate time. We believe his compensation package should be comparable to that of Dr. Williams. 6V Dr. Roberts said it is extremely important to him that the citys leadership, the business community and other groups come together in support of the public schools. Weve seen a great deal of that happening already and tonight we have with us Mayor Dailey, other elected officials, city leaders, school patrons, parents and interested citizens who are here in support of quality desegregated public education in our city. As chairman of the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, I can pledge to Dr. Roberts, the board, and the management team, the Chambers continued support. The next two Chamber Chairmen, Doug Buford and Janet Jones, are here to back me up. Finally, and this is very important: to provide tfiis district with stability as it works its way through some difficult problems and prepares for the 21st century, our colleague and fellow committee member John Walker, has agreedin good faithto a two-year moratorium on initiating any new legal action against the school district related to the settlement agreement. Dr. Roberts expressed reservations to our committee about accepting a position in a district embroiled in litigation and controversy. This offer was made by Mr. Walker to Dr. Roberts because of Dr. Roberts past record in the Little Rock School District and the State Department of Education. This means that the Board, Dr. Roberts and the employees in the District, for the first time in almost 40 years, can concentrate totally and fully on educating our children and on implementing and, if necessary, modifying the current desegregation plan and getting out of court. 7These are our recommendations. We believe they serve as a sound and reasonable short-term plan. We also believe they serve as a new beginning for the district and a bridge to the future. It is amazing what we can accomplish when we work together. Madame President and members of the Board, the Contingency Committee respectfully requests your approval of these recommendations. Having discharged our duties and responsibilities, we have concluded our assignment and will disband as a committee following tonights meeting. We thank you for this opportunity to serve our school district and our city. Dr. Brown and I as well as members of the committee are now available to answer any questions you might haye. Thank you. C:\wpwin61'wpdoc3\aicker\Supmntendent.78 8RECEPCP Dr. Don R. Roberts 7216 Johnstone Lane Fort Worth, Texas 76133 (817) 346-6253 JUL I 1996 f 5 Office of Deseflfegation Monito..:0 Dr. Don fi. Roberts, served as superintendent of the Fort Worth (TX) Independent School District from March 1987 to July 1994. Before assuming the post in Fort Worth, he was a teacher, principal, and later superintendent of Weston (OR) Public Schools. He has served as associate superintendent of the Little Rock (AR) Public Schools
superintendent of Newport News (VA) schools
director of the Arkansas Department of Education, and superintendent of the Amarillo (TX) Independent School District. He holds B.A. and M.S.E. degrees from Henderson State Teachers College, (AR), has done other graduate study at the University of Oregon, and holds an Ed.D. degree from the University of Arkansas. Dr. Roberts has developed the Fort Worth
C^ (Community, Corporations, and - .- - - c is Classrooms) in cooperation with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the process to transform the FWISD through a variety of creative programs, educational restructuring, and school/business partnephips. Some of the initiatives under the c umbrella include: 0 The nationally recognized Vital Link program, which shows middle school students the connection between classroom achievement and workplace success, students and is The program began three years ago with 40 students. now a year-round activity involving 3,3Q0 Approximately 1,000 teachers have also been directly involved in Vital Link: 0 Equity 2000, a project with The College Board, that from the 1990- 91 to the 1993-94 school year. Sth and 9th grade enrollment in Algebra I showed a substantial increase. The enrollment increased from 2,850 to 5,626. Furthermore, by the end of the ninth grade more than 90% of all students had successfully completed Algebra I. Approximately 30% of the students made a "B or better in the course: 0 Significant technology improvements such as TechLab 2000, which enables FWISD students in all high schools and middle schools to use computer networks to study new industrial technologies and eliminate out-of-date industrial arts-type programs
Applied Learning activities, 0 including an Applied Learning Elementary School at Alice Carlson, and an Applied Learning Academy Middle School where students use the community as a resource and learn through hands-on activities in many locations
Page 2 0 0 The New Standards Project, a national effort to define world-clys assessment standards and develop an examination system that includes student projects and portfolios of student work
and The JCPenney High Performance Schools Project to train school personnel and parents in school'based decision making concepts tn FWISO schools. The District has become more open and more inclusive with strong emphasis on school-based decision iwking (SAW) and continued involvement and support of the Fort Worth ISD PTAs-PTOs, parents and the general coramunity. There are health collaboratives between ^^^5choo^ district and hospitals at three elementary schools. include the multi-age "Connections" program. .... . schools now offer year-round classes. The District s Adopt-A-School program has expanded with parent and connunity volunteers donating more than 575,000 hours to schools in 93-94. community. Early childhood initiatives On their own initiative, 12 Dr. Roberts has received many awards and honors, including twice being named one of the top 100 school chief executive officers by The Executive Educitor magazine. He was nationally recognized in Ndvenber, 1993 by the National Association of Partnerships in Education for his significant contributions to education reform and restructuring efforts. In April, 1994 Fort Worth won the Scholastic/National Alliance of Business Community in April, Award for Eacellence in Education. Following retirement from Fort Worth ISD in 1994, Dr. Roberts has worked with school districts in Arkansas and He several other states to implenent Vital Link programs. 1 has also represented Creative Learning Systems, Inc., developer and supplier of Technology Labs 2000 and other comprehensive laboratories for the study of science and technology.November, 1994 DON R. ROBERTS 7216 JOHNSTONE LANE FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76133 (817) 346-6253 TEACHING AND ADHIHISTRATIVE EXPERIENCES
Institution and Location Position Period Size Student/Emplovee Fort.Worth Ind. Sch. Dist. Fort Worth, Texas Superintendent 1987-94 72,000/9,000 Texas Christian University Superintendentin-Residence 1987-94 Amarillo Public Schools Amarillo, Texas Superintendent 1984-1987 27,500/3,200 Arkansas Dept, of Educ. Little Rock, Arkansas Director 1979-1984 450,000/1,600 Newport News Public Sch. Newport News, Virginia Superintendent 1974-1979 30,000/3,000 Little Rock Public Sch. Asst. Supt. Admn. Services and Pupil Services 1968-1974 23,000/2,000 Little Rock Public Sch. Little Rock, Arkansas Interim Deputy Superintendent 1967-1968 23,000/2.000 Weston Public Schools Weston, Oregon Superintendent 1959-1966 High Sch. Principal, Teacher, Coach 300/30 University of Arkansas Instructor Spring, 1970-1971Don
R. Roberts page 2 FORMAL EDUCATION
B.A. Economics Graduate Study Education M.S.E. Social Studies Graduate Study Education Ed. D. Educational Admn, Danforth NASE Fellow Henderson State Teachers College, 1958 Eastern Oregon College - Summer, 1959 Henderson State Teachers College, 1963 University of Oregon - Summer, 1965 University of Arkansas, 1969 1974 Selected and participated as one of 40 educational administrators from throughout the United States and Canada in an intensive two-month ^tudy program under the sponsorship of the Danforth Foundation and the National Academy for School Executives.Don R. Roberts page 3 RECOGNITION - HONORS, AWARDS. PRESENTATIONS, PUBLICATIONS (PARTIAL LIST]
. "Profile" - School Administrator, November 1994 Community Award for Excellence in Education - National Alliance of Business/Scholastic Inc., 1994 McKee Award - National Association of Partnerships in Education, 1994 Outstanding Service to the Counseling Profession, N.C.T.C.A., 1993 Distinguished Library Service Award, Texas Association of School Librarians, March 1993 The College Board - "Reducing the Education Deficit", Equity ZOOO - conference participant, Washington, D.C. Hay 1993 Alliance Recrafting the Business of Schooling" a JC Penney Compaiiy-Fort Worth Independent School District-National of Business Collaboration The Executive Educator 100 - Selected as one of The Top School Manaagers in the Nation, 1990 and 1993 it II What Superintendents Want From The Legislature And The Courts School Leaders Forum - University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, Hay, 1992 The College Board - Presentation to Foundations, Equity 2000 -New York, New York, April, 1992 Secretary of Labor - Press Conference SCANS - Washington D.C,, April, 1992 The College Board Regional Meeting, Equity 2000 - Fort Worth, Texas, February, 1992 The College Board National Forum - Equity 2000 - San Francisco, California, November, 1991 - NSBA, "Grow Your Own - Alternative Certification" San Francisco, California, April, 1991 Center for Creative Leadership Chief Executive Officer Leadership Development Program, 1990, 1991Don R. Roberts page 4 REC06NITIQW - HONORS. AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, PUBLICATIONS (PARTIAL LIST)
The Danforth School Administrators Fellowship Program, 1987-1988 The Academy for Educational Leadership - Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas 1986, 1987, 1988 "Improving the Climate for Learning", Irving Independent School District, Irving, Texas 1985 "Improving Student Achievement Through Outcome-Based Schools", NASE Seminar, Boston, Massachusetts, 1985 Basic Skills: General Leadership Workshop", Educational Service Center - Region.X, Richardson, Texas, 1985 Arizona Principals Institute, Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Arizona, 1984 i Secondary School Recognition Panel, Department of Education, Washington, D.C., 1983 n Improving Student Achievement", NASE Seminar, San Francisco, California, 1983 Member of Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities Student Body President - Henderson State Teachers College Distinguished Alumnus - Henderson State UniversityDon R. Roberts page 5 PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS fPARTIAL LIST)
0 Member of Executive Board - New Standards Project 0 Member Board of Trustees - The CoHege Board 0 Texas Association of School Administrators 0 Texas Center for Educational Research - Board of Trustees 0 American Association of School Administrators 0 Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development 0 Association for Childhood Educational International 0 Phi Delta Kappa 0 Horace Mann League I 0 Congress of Parents and Teachers - Texas and Virginia COMMUNITY SERVICES (PARTIAL LIST)
0 United Way Board of Directors 0 Collaborative Leadership Development Program 0 Leadership Forum Fellow - Fort Worth 0 Rotary PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Texas - Professional Superintendent Arkansas - Social Studies, Secondary, and Administrator Virginia - SuperintendentLRSD ADMIN. BULDING F.a\: I-501-32d-20: Jul 19 '96 11:41 P. 02/0i Little Rock School District Press Conference Interim Superintendent Dr. Don Roberts July 19, 1996 For more information: Suellen Vann. 24-2020 Little Rock School District interim superintendent Dr. Don Roberts will hold a press conference today at 1:00 p.m. School board members and LRSD manacement team members also will attend the press conference. The press conference wall be held in the Board Room of the Administration Building, 810 West Markham. ### 810 West Markham Street Little Rock, .Arkansas 72201 (.501)324-2000iP-H- - '^rp T ,-'C 1?5 PC12 H'JS 5e , 14:09 Dr. uon ii. Roberts 72IS Johnstone Lane fort !rLn, Texas 7513,? (^:.7} 34C-6253 Ct. f
on R, Ruterts, Inaepihidert Schoo! u-,su ict -r.-m narrn h3/ to Juv, 1994 Before 111 fort ^worth. ns was a tcachar, pr{nripa\ and later 4!sst,(nilng t-is poit ~.--v.,..,..y u.m S(jr,e>-<r.tQ'c!unt sfe'vad as superintc.-ident of the Fort inorth (''Xl s*r,rt Narrh I<?37 to duly, 1954 - - ' DisUict , . , Weston (3H) f"j3ic Schac'^s superHitandent of the nt 01 He ^a5 server* as isscciats iii -^OCk (AR) Public Schools
super!nter,dsn* i,Vn, schools
director of the Arkansas Denartmert (TX) IrdapeMent Schco' '' :2''^ oeyrees from Henderson State Teachers and h^lds V 'idivensity ct Crsgon. ano noias a., td.D. decree froir. tne University of Arkansas Newport Nows Edecotiort, Cl of ^1 deve.op^c the ren wc-th' t (tomnunity, Corporations t.asu.bueisj tf. couperatinn with the Fort Worth Chamber of Co.-rmerce the process to triiisforr me fki>U chreugh a va, ,vi- r tre e.-jeat!final reslr uctur jng. 400 sthool/b'isi.ness psrtnonship
, , i:.a is variety of creative programs, Some qC th? init:4{ives uiui^r the C umbreiia ircluoe- 0 0 0 workplace SL'ccfss itUdirntJ students i 11X 01 /eC lecogaiZgp V'lT.a'' link program, which shows miuglc. tonriPttisr. bewce.n ciaisrocn, aphieverent and ... reyah three years ago wth 40 (jiiiJd'le ano is r.pM ,4 ynar-fubncl activity invoUi.-.T 3 390 tsarhers have also been diractlv ifi Vitai tinx
4 year f'jbncl fqvSty ZODD, witii The toiiege i^oard, that from the 1990- *1 sefisc' ysar, Stn anj gvn grade enrnlinent if, '".'c<,Mru shnwed a Subsantul increase from 2,3%a to 5,676 91 to tn
Fij'"the."iio'"^, 1 fl j The ehroHfuert increcfsec! by the ena of the ninth grade mors than 90, of 31 i students hod success^u' 1 v cc-roloted AloGCrs Approximateiy 3in o'^ the studenrs raade a '> vr better in the rour.s
' I Siyniftcart ethnotosy itnprovar.cnt$ sucn ^tynirt^aft ethno>osy itufirove.'i'.cnt$ suer 33 'echi4rt jgQo rao
e3 fWlSD students in all high schorls and middle 5 use computer n?t*'crki t.c study n^w indusfrig'! < J,- e. ira.natg cut-of-date industrial arts-tyDe pregrar.s, i-r 3!i wh i ch Choo's to tef
hno''ogios and ivit>fs, an Applied learning fjtmfen.ofy >chool at AHce Cur'ior, ina in Appiic-d Lsarninq Acaceiry H'ldoie Sciioof where students us? the cenmumtv 35 a resource and e^rr. througn hands-cri activities in .'nany 'ocaticns
leafni05 nd "ear activnihi including ira Appi1pd use the ccnmunity 35 .c >jFr ICt 195 H!JG ' 96 14: eg 0 c Page 2 The Wert Stt<j3-d5 Prcjsct. a natuinat effort ic def'
ne war'.d-cUss assess?fit standards .y .<.j d- ew^Jnp an exaSinatian system that includes student proerts portfolios cf student wank
and The jr,Pe*irey High Perfovnafce st^cwils project to train school personnel and carrnts in school-hosed decision eiakmg concepts in rwisc schools. The District has becc.-*? wre open and laone inclusive with strong emphasis on school iiset! deciSion 'taki'>g (SSC**) and toAliwued involve-'nent and supp-.rt of the fort Wd-th .SO FTAs PlUs, p-ents and the general There a^^ health coraWirativE.s between the school district tariy childnood initiatives coomunity. ard iivspitJls it thres elewptary schools. Ir.rludi- th? BuUi-ige "Can,igctsons" program, Un tneir own initiative, 12 schools co* offer year-rriird classes, Ihe District's Adopt*A-School prcgfs has expanded fith parent ccnwjmty voiunteeri donating more than S?5.tK>C hours to srhoois in 93'54 Pr. Hoberts has rt-z^^vpt} many sMargs and honors. inc1u4n9 twice being named on* of the top lUO schnol chief executive officers by ZAe Ixvcuti^e fdf/catijr oagiiilne. He wa?. nationally recogniied in November. 1953 by the hatiortl Association af Pa-'lnrrsilip? Fducation for nis significant centrib'Jtions to ?ijucti3n reforw and restructuring efforts. Jn April, 19P4 Fort Worth won the ScholasJ</<atinna' aPianee of Business Cnmunty /M^rd for excellence m Educator, Dr. Foliovino retirewer.t I rort) ~ort Werth ISO in 1594 , Pyterts has wotVeel witn school districts in Ai-kaneas and eevex^si other states to iwpicjment Vical uin'K programs. has .also ropresnnted Creative Le^rhing SystaCuS, Inc He deve-oper and supplier of Techoologry r.abs 2C00 and other come-to,hen si ve laboratories for the study of soieno and tec.hKo.l cgy. .1' I HI I iN hiili imi LITTLEROCK is IA rSi FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECF'a SEP 1 1 JS3Z OFFICE Of SIC Bi RESOLUTIOR'w*R14Lf^ Qnnes Together OF APPRECIATION JOINTLY ADOPTED BY THE LITTLE ROCK ALLIANCE FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE GREATER LITTLE ROCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WHEREAS Dr. Don Roberts has served this community in a leadership role as the Superintendent of the Little Rock School District, and WHEREAS his leadership has lead to significant improvements in the health of the District, and WHEREAS his seasoned approach to managing the District has reinforced a sense of trust and commitment among its patrons, and WHEREAS his strategic focus throughout his tenure has stayed fixed upon an overriding goal of whats best for the education of all of Little Rocks young people, and WHEREAS our community, as represented by the Little Rock Alliance For Our Public Schools and the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, will benefit from Dr. Roberts hard work and commitment for decades to come. The Board of Directors of the Little Rock Alliance For Our Pubhc Schools and the Education Committee of the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce do hereby adopt this special resolution in appreciation of Dr. Don Roberts, for his tireless efforts to provide stability and improvement to UUU RuUCl USj ivx uii. vxwuu r the operation of the Little Rock School District as its Superintendent. ADOPTED THIS ELEVENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, NINETEEN HUNDRED AND NINETY SEVEN. Baker Kumis President, Little Rock Alliance For Our Public Schools Hubert Barksdale Chairman of Education, Greater Little Rock Chamber of CommerceArkansas Democrat ^(Gazelle FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1996 Board 1 Schools name interim leader with ties to LR BY CYHTHIA HOWELL Oemocral-GazBtle Education Writef Dr. Don R. Roberts, a retired Fort Worth, Texas, superintendent with deep Arkansas roots, is set to become interim superintendent of the Little Rock School District beginning Aug. 15. The Little Rock School Board voted unanimously to appoint Roberts to the position Thursday during a meeting in which civil rights attorney John Walker, as a show of support for the move, offered a two-year moratorium on, any new legal action against the , district related to the 1989 de-' segregation plan. Announcement of the moratorium prompted a standing ovation and cheers from the audience of more than 100 business leaders, government officials, parent activists and district employees. See BOARD, Page 12A Cooiiouod ftom Pago 1A lloborls, (H. wa.s a Lillie Rock assistant superintendent in the units and director of Ilie stale Department of Education under Govs. Bill Clinton and Frank While. He ha.s been nationally recognized for his Icadersliip in educational programming. in Fort Woi'th. Roberis mini- aged a district of 72.11011 studeuLs and 9.009 employees. When lie retired two years ago. the president of the Fort Worth teachers union wa.s (luoted a.s saying she ilid not believe Roberts had
i single enemy. Roberts will replace Dr. Henry Williams, 54, who iilans to become superiiilendenl of public schools in Kansas City, Mo., by the first of September. I want to help, Roberts said jp a telephone interview from lii.s home in Fort Worth. Ive always had an allegiance to Lillie Bock. i
Pending the outcome of contract negotiations, Roberts will sei-ve as interim superintendent for at least one and possibly two years while tlie school board looks for someone to fill the job permanently. ij He was reconiniended to the .school board Thursday night by 4 high-profile citizens' commit- lee that has been working since spring to develop a plan for teni- jSorarily filling the vacancy they ttiought might occur in the superintendent's position. T We considered many people dnd possibilities, Rett Tucker, 'co-chairman of Ihe cominittec, told the board Thursday. . Dr. Roberts loves Little Rock, loves Arkansas, knows Lit- lle Rock and knows Arkansas, Tucker said. "We sought him out fpr thi.s position. He has always been dedicated to high-ciuality xtesegregated education and Spek.s to build cooperation across raci!d lines. He is known ,as a person who keep.s hi.s word itnd works in good faith. He is ... we believe, a healer. The board also agreed Thursday to establish a management tpam to oversee operation of the district until RoberLs assumes .tlie job. The team, which will report, directly to the board, will begin its work today. r The appointment of that team elTeetiveLv end.s Williams supervision of the Little Rock district, although he will serve in an advisory role and draw his salary Until he officially resigns.
Members of the team include foUKdistrict employees, all with e$p^ricncc a.s principals, and (5n4 former school board president. ' The learn members are Dr. Vjc Anderson, assistant superintendent for secondary schools
Sadie Mitchell, assistant superihtendcnl for elementary schools
Marian Lacey, principal at Mann Magnet Juniur High
Jodie Carter, principal at McClellan High: and Skip Rutherford, former board president and a public relations executive. Anderson will oversee day-to- day operations of the school district. Lacey, Mitchell and Carter will work with the schools. Rutherford, who will serve without pay, will focus on student as- signiiieiil 1111(1 coiiiiiiiiiiicalioiis. All Hie team members will take on the duties in addition to their rurrenl jobs. Aller making the personnel recoiiniiendalions, Tucker an- nouuced the moratorium offered b.v Walker, who represents black families in the district's 13-year- old school desegregation lawsuit. "Thi.s offer wa.s made b.v Mr. Walkc'r to Hr. Robert!! because of Hr. Roberts' past record in the Little Rock School District and the state Department of Education. Tucker told the board. Thi.s inean.s that the board. Dr. Roberts and the employees in the district, for the first time in almost 40 years, can concentrate totally and fully on educating our children and on implementing and, if necessary, modifying the current desegregation plan and getting out of court," he said. At a break in the meeting. Walker praised Roberts, whom he has known since the 1960s. My commitment is to Dr. Roberts and what he stands for and the record he has in this district, Walker said. Dr. Roberts was here during the hard days. He demonstrated he was committed to the princi- ples of desegregation. lie showed it by example and personal witness. 1 do not know of a single thing that he ever did or said that would be racially divisive. I think someone like him has to have a chance, Walker said. The moratorium, while not unprecedented, is rare. It is significant because Walker routinely charge.s the district with violating provisions of its desegregation plan. Those charges lead to time-consuming federal court hearings. Walker said the moratorium will not negate the challenges already pending before U.S. Dis- trict Judge Susan Webber Wright. Rut some of the issues might now be negotiated bC-' tween him and the (listi'ici, making some of the court hearings and judicial orders unnecessary. Walker, who was a member of the contingency committee, said Roberts was tire group's first and only choice for the interim position. The committee recommended Roberts be given a contract similar to the one that paid Williams $115,000 a year. Roberts said Thursday he first talked to contingency committee members in April, but only in an advisor.v capacity. He said he wasn't interested in the job then. But when the committee members called him earlier this ' week, he said he would take the interim position if the board supported it unanimously and the busines.s community demonstrated support for the district. He said he wa.s sympathetic to the counuillees desire to stabilize the district, and he pointed out that this is the wrong time of year for a (piick search for a permanent superintendent. Roberts, who will be in Little Rock today to meet with board members and staff, grew up in NcNeil, in Columbia County. He earned a bachelors degree in economics and a masters degreeArkansas Democral-Gazettc/KAREN VANDONGE Civil rights lawyer John Walker talks Thursday with Marian Lacey, principal at Mann Magnet Junior High, as a Little Rock School Board audience applauds news that Walker won't file any desegregation-related complaints against the district for two years. He made the pledge in response to a board decision to hire Dr. Don Roberts of Fort Worth, Texas, as interim superintendent. in social studies from what is and hands-on instruction add now Henderson State University fostered a system of schoOlin Arkadelphia, and received a based decision making. ,t. *9* doctorate in educational admin- of Roberts three adult istraUon from the University of children live in Little Rock. One Arkansas at Fayetteville. son, Jon Roberts, attended the He first became a superinten- school board meeting Thursday dent al age 29 in a tiny comniuni-ty in Oregon. He served as assis-night. The other son, Dqn Roberts Jr., stayed at home jo tant superintendent in Little hold the telephone receiver next Rock between 1967 and 1974. He was superintendent of Newport News, Va., public schools between 1974 and 1979, when then- Gov. Clinton appointed him di-to the television .iso his father ,0' could hear newsireports about the board meetingj Also Thursday,' board mem-rSecto ro fo Ef dthuec afAlorkna nsas Denart- tractubarli eoflbyl idgiastciounsss etdo tWheililri acmohs,- ment ot Education. superintendent since 1993. In 1984, he left Arkansas to be ... ., superintendent in Amarillo, Attorneys for the district and Texas, for three years. He served Williams had-'been negotiating 7'/2 years as Fort Worth's super- early end to his contract even intendent. While there, he initi- before the Kansa^ City job offer. ated academic programs that at-
]Price GardnerTan attorney for traded national attention. J the district, said Williams had Under one program, the num- sought a payment of more thqn her of students^taking and pass- $200,000 from the district to end ing algebra in Fort Worth almost his contract. That 'includedna doubled. Another program, now duplicated in North Little Rock and other Arkansas districts, in$ 60,000 bonus that he was notJo get unless he stayed in the dis-trict until September 1998. 't Eager to keep the meeting lip-volved placing young adoles- beat, board members took no ap-cenls in various businesses and industries for a short time so they could see how academics are applied in the workplace. tion on the issue Thursday, saying they could meet with Williams next week to iron out the details of his transition from Ile also increased technology Little Rock to Kansas City. I I kiKaiiMs lyviiHKial iWiOpazvdv SAI UfJDAY. JULY 20, 1996 Intel iiii cliief of schools tells team: Carry on Roheils BY Cl inis HEINOLDS OntixKial Gn7Pllf' 3lnH Witlcr Little Rock'.s interim school siipeiiritendenl told a temporary nianagemeid team I' liday Io op erate the distiict as it's been run d!ig until In* takes over next month. Hnlil Dr Dim R. Robiutsstail.s Aug. 15. the Lillh* Rock .School Board ha.s established a manage ment learn of four ediicalors and OIK* businessman to ovrrser* IIk
Opel atiini of the district. The ap poinlmenl of the team elfeclively ends Dr. Ilenr.v Williams' super vision of the Little Rock district allhongh In* will serve in an advisory mle ami draw hi.s salary until he ofllcially resigns. Williams has been in Kansas (.'ity, Mo., Ihi.s week ami may return to Litth Rock Sunday. There was no word Friday whether he had negotiated a contract with of- ficials there, and Little Rock ) Sen nOBERIS, Page 9A * CoolioiiP'l hoin Paeje t A boaul noiidans were unsure it he planned to show up for work Monday. If be (Willianisi is hen* Mon flay, I want to talk Io him," team mtunln'r Dr. Vic Anderson said. We're not tiying to usurp bi.s an Ibfuily. The Imard askefl n.s Io pnivido the liansilion Irom Dr. Williams. Un's nia<b a caicei <!' cisifm. If any ptdbh'in.s arisf', Ainh'r ag.ed a di.-ilrict <if 72.(K)() sindetifs and (inphiyees. 'Last Sunday afternoon, I was onlsidi' playing wilh my two gi mxlkids in I'Oll Wculh." Roberts said. Monday morning Ihing.s changed." Although Roberts said he was unprepared for a ncw.s coiifer- (*nce. Ids remarks and easygoing style evoked applause and amens of approval. I in going to work wilh Ibis board and Ibis community Io pro vide I he best education for the children who go to the Little son snid lie cxpocls Ilie sfhool Uovk public schools." he snid. bojiKl Io work it Old will! Williams. Wf'v(! ben <h?i rijcd wilh the responsilul ity of moving forward." Tlie manage ment team hud died hriday with its future (inai'terback I" L ' jII Robeits and planned for the big game, School slarl.s in one inonih. You know what ha.s Io be done to get school started, Robeits saifL 'I'he team members are Anderson, assistant snperin t(*ndenl for secoinlaty schmds
Sadie Mitchell, assistant superintendent for elementary schools
Marian Lacey, principal at Mann Magnet .Innior llidh
Jodie (barter, principal at Mc<'lellan High Scimol
and Skip Ruth(*i- ford. former board president and a public relalion.s executive. Anderson will overset* day to day operation.s of Ihe school dis- Irict. ami the other edncaliou.s will work wilh the .schools. Rutherford will focus on commu uicatiou inside ami outside the disirict and student school as signments. Rutherford said Ihe leam will guide the district belwecfi now and when Ihe new superintendent lakes the wheel. Fridays first meeting was orderly and organized rh'spite Hie absence of a (listrici ebifd. We're doing what we would normally do. Anderson said. The p(!ople that open Ihe schools are not the superinten dent. Fresh off Hu* plane fnmi Texas, Roberts eascfl into bi.s role al a news conference Friday by letting busines.s leaders ami eflucalors km)W lu^ is not here to fix the schools. When Roberts beaded Hu* F(rt Worth schools, business leaders asked him how he would fix the schools. Roberts replied, I can't do anything al)oul il. I dfui'l know what io do ... but I said we can do something about il. The laid back Texan with Ar- Itobert.s said ht.s philosophy of education is to teach kids to dream, but he understands that not all student.s will end up at the Massachusells Institute of Technology. Lvmy kid who wakes up anywhere in the world has the right to dream about being a high achiever." Roberts said. Ann Brown, a federal court-appointed desegregation monitor, called Hoberls wonderful." We're very fortunate to have his view of the world," Brown said, lies down-home folk, and we can relate to that. Roberts said he had no immediate plan.s for hiring staff but did note that the districts' top t hree positions are vacant. I'm ready to try to provide any assistance and help to you that I can. Hoberls said. So the next time you hire a superinten (lent you can pick from the cream of the crop." Roberts said his contract with the district will be similar to Williams except a.s an interim superintendent, he won't rcipiire any bonus clause. Williams' contract set an annual salary of bonuses. and provision.s for Frank Marlin, Little Rock Classroom T(*achers Associalion executive ilirector, said (he buzz aboul Roberts is positive. Ue has a laitl-back style and seem.s to be firm in hi.s comic lions." Martin .Said. Board member Dr. Katherine Mitchell agreed. Dr. Roberts can do very well if Ihe boanl lets him do his job." I said Mitchell who has been a strong supporter of Williams. While she wa.s satisfied wilh the committee s choice. Mitchell said Williams should have been notified of the management team. Pending the outcome of con tract negotiations. Roberts will serve as interim superintendent for one and possibly two years while the school board looks for someone Io fill the job permanently. 'i'he board has not announced when or how the permanent superintendent search will be conducted. Roberts was recommended to Kansas roots expects the same support in Little Rock. The Little the school board by a citi zens ................................ committee that has been working Rock School Board voted unani- nionsly 'I'hur.sday for his appoint since spring to develop a plan for ment, and he received a standing temporarily filling the vacancy, ovation Friday when he was in trofiuced at the afternoon new.s conference at district headcpiar- teis. When 1 move on. 1 hope you'll still stand up." Roberts said. Roberts. 61, was a Little Rock assistant superintendent in the 1970s and director of the state Department of Education under (ovs. Bill (Jlinton and Frank White. He has l)een nalionally recognized for hi.s hmdersbip in educational programming. In Fort Wfuth. Rolu'ils man-Retired? No, just on recess School was out 2years for Roberts BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrai-Gazette Educaoon Wnter Dr. Don R. Roberts told colleagues and friends in Fort Worth two years ago when he retired as school superintendent that he wanted to rest but would return to work someday. Still. Roberts associates in Texas were surprised by the news last week that hes returning to a superintendents position, this time in Little Rock. Dr. Roosevelt Brown, a Little Rock dentist and co-chairman of the school districts citizen contingency committee, first contacted Roberts about the possibility last April. The committee was working on ideas for replacing Dr. Henry Williams, who they knew was like- his sons, who live in Little Rock, ly to leave the superintendents called to say that Williams had job at any time. Roberts told Brown he wasnt Mo. After more telephone con-interested. But he agreed to meet versations with Brown and other with the group on an advisory ba- committee members during the sis. week, Jan Roberts heard her hus- He didnt think much about band give his permission over the job until last weekend when the telephone to submit his name 1 Democrat (gazette F ------SUNDAY, 1996 ------------- Arxansas Democral-GazsneZSTATON BREDENTHA, Don Roberts talks Friday about his return to Little Rock, where the proud Papa" will be near two granddaughters. accepted a job in Kansas City, to the board. Roberts is a former assistant superintendent in Little Rock and a former director of the Department of Education. Pending the finalization of his contract, Roberts will serve at least one year and maybe longer in Little Rock while the school board searches for a permanent replacement I thin! he always wanted to be a part o. the Little Rock School District Jan Roberts said about her husband. It was just that there wers other things in the way or othe
things to do. Helping to lure the Robertse
See ROBERTS, Page 8E 8B Roberts Continued from Page 10 to Little Rock are two young granddaughters, the children of their sons, Don Jr., a respiratoby therapist at Baptist Medical Center, and Jon, who works at Landers Auto Sales Co. Daughter Susan Robbins, 32, a school librarian, lives in Fort Worth with her minister husband and two children. The Robertses are known as Papa and Mimi to their grandchildren. Hes excited about this move and Im thrilled about it, Jon Roberts said last week. Asked why his father would come oift of retirement for such a job, Jon Roberts said, My dad loves kids more than anything in the world. Anything he can do for a child, he is willing to do. Hell do a good job for Little Rock. tenure, he turned that around. He Business Community Award for also worked to equalize Fort Excellence in Education. ing veteran teachers pass a basic --------------------- skills test to keep their jobs, , . - . ------- Donna Parker, vice president Roberts said he would implement salaries paid in the suburban of the Fort Worth Chamber of the test because it was law. He got school districts. Commerce and its chief adminis- t .................... When Dr. Roberts came to trative officer, said that as the re- Fort Worth, there was not a soul suit of Roberts leadership, the .vAa,... uv.u.c , who had a good thing to say about schools had become responsive to actually given in 1985. the schools, Steve Palko, a for- the needs of the business commu- ~ ......... mer member of the Fort Worth nity and vice-versa. School Board, said Friday. Now ................... Worth teacher salaries with people are excited about the schools. He caused people to have faith. _ - Fort Worth Assistant Superin- He listened to us because he the process started but became superintendent in Amarillo, Texas, in 1984 before the test was Fayetteville Superintendent Bobby New. who once worked for Roberts at the department, knew we would get the students in praised him as a visionary able to our companies when they com- ................... - * pleted school, Parker said. He was intense and deliberate, and tendent Joe Ross called Roberis a he did what was good for kidk hands-on superintendent, espe- .................. ........... daily on matters pertaining to the move his vision from the boardroom to the classroom. Roberts was the fifth of five children in his family in McNeil. As a Little Rock district admin- ... .--------------- istrator in 1967 to 1974, Roberts district's budget. was credited with almost single- He would do his superinten- handedly designing and imple- denfs duties during the day, but menting the districts federal at about 4:30 in the afternoon he court-ordered, cross-town busing umwiwv. iw was mwr- would call in the district s finance system for desegregation in 1971, rupted by a two-year stint as a Ma- people, and they would work on which affected students in grades budget planning until two or three six through 12. in the morning, Ross said. He His parents operated a dairy for a while. Later his father was an of- fice manager for a construction company. Roberts left McNeil to attend what is now Henderson State University. That was interrine in Korea in 1953 and 1954. He retunied to Henderson, So after a vacation on the knew where every dime beach in North Carolina, Roberts "" ' . . . .. ----------.- One day we had one bus for where he pitched on a team that got down to counting pennies. He transporting orthopedically handi- won the AIC chanipionshio He knew where Him, was. capped kids, Roberts recalled, tried to play football but quit after Seventeen days later we were won the AIC championship. He When Roberts announced his recognized^trict of 72,000 stu- nizations in the district bought a well. During that^tZ hralZmetZ hrwaspaid^220( aZr'nri! At the end of the 1971-72 school marrifd. tnSa-W^his wifrwho moving to a district of 25,000 stu- FrmX,
i,c
"tT-----J/Tu"? At the end ofthe 1971-72 school married, in 1958, his wife, who fort worth Star-Tetegram" to thank year, a group of parents honored . ~ . him for his 35 years of service to Roberts for his work by present- grew up in Delight. Roberts taught junior high a year in Welch, La., before the young family moved to Oregon to dents that has experienced falling students. ing him with a miniature school enrollment, public criticism, He ccuIJ ao Luo and uic li dwindling funds and a 13 year old long as he wanted to stay, Palko ing, or BuD. ....................... wiirk in a frozen foods rnr^nanv desegrega .on laj^ - for a said. ' In different capacities in Little Robet^S inSon salary of about $115,000 a year. ................. . nuqeiu. imeiiuon He could have been here as bus and the title of Doctor of Bus- !rj r u XL J. . . , . : X., ixuMciLs itiienuuii was to earn Under Roberts, the district, in Rock, Roberts also handl^ stu- enough money to go back to Ar- ooerahon nitvs eham- a,Hiwow ------- to attend law school. That ~ . .J , ... X vx.w UUUJVb, XO XIVVIV, llUUCI W (lldU lldllUlCU tU- Robem said last week that cooperation with the citys cham- dent disciplinary matters, super- | vised principals, developed the did3? haDDenwead''he^^^ rested and played with his grand- ject C-Cubed. which is made up of budget and served as chief nego- children. He also did consulting programs to prepare children for tiator in bargaining the annual for school districts and represent- the workplace. C-Cubed short teacher contract ed an instructional computer com- for Community, Corporations and pany. He continues to serve on Classrooms became a national some national education boards. - - - - during his brief retirement he ber of commerce, developed Pro- wife took teaching jobs in Weston. He conceded that retirement took some getting used to after the After a five-year stint as super- , , ----------------- intendent in Newport News, Va., pawwm model. Educators from more than Roberts returned to Arkansas, *
, at age 29 a dozen states, as well as foreign this time as the director of the'-' Oree First a teacher and a coach, Robe^ capped his seven-year ca- reer in Oregon by becoming superintendent of the little district rigors of being an urban superin- duplicate it in their schools, tendent. His wife joked that his re- ...... ' countries, studied the program to General Education Division of the The family returned to Arkan- sas so Roberts could get his doctor- Little Rock residents have to newed interest in household af- look no further than across the Ar- fairs took some adjustment on her kansas River to see one such pro- Frank White and then Clinton . ----------------------------... jxxw again. P n . . . During his tehure,'Roberts in- Roberts, 61, has aged well since School District last year adopted stigated a training program titled he last uyed in Arkansas. He lost Fort Worths Vital Links program. Program for Effective Teaching the pipe he always used to smoke. Seventh-graders, supervised by or PET. Virtually every adminis- teachers, spend a few days of their trator and teacher in the state at- state Department of Education ate at the University of Arkansas at under Gov. Bill Clinton, then Gov. ............................................. Fayetteville. He then took ^e job of interim deputy superintendent gram. The North Little Rock His brown hair is thinner and grayer, but not much. He is tall, standing 6 feet 3 inches. Uis summer vacation performing jobs tended workshops where key com- - -------- in local businesses and industries. ' " ................... tanned face highlights the blue The purpose is to show the stu- eyes behind his glasses. dents how lessons they learn in On Friday, he wore a dark suit school are actually applied in and starched white shirt with red- businesses. in Little Rock, working while Paul Fair, who held that position tlien, went to get his doctorate. Roberts intended to stay on the Little Rock job a year but stayed seven years, serving as an assis- tant superintendent under Super- ponents of successful instruction intendents Floyd Parsons and were identified and practiced. - Also during Roberts tenure, the statewide student testing pro- then Fair. Fair, now executive director of the Arkansas Retired Teachers and-blue print tie when he attended a news conference in Little Other C-Cubed initiatives in ----- ---------- Fort Worth led to more students Rock. He wore dark dress shoes, taking and passing Algebra I and not Western boots.----------------------the increased use of technology as Roberts speaks slowly and with a tool for acquiring academic little inflection. But speaking to skills, Roberts said. the school board, district employ- ..................... gram was started and scores were Association, said Friday that he publicized, gifted-and-talented ed- was overjoyed to learn of Roberts ucation was developed, including intentions to return to the school the Governors School for Gifted 1 dont want to scare evei-yone into thinking that I am going to and Talented, and the department began assisting schools in acquiring and using computers. system. He is a very able school administrator, Fair said about his ees, city leaders, reporters and a few old friends, Roberts joked easily about himself. , _____ _____________,xxx I want to establish my intel- more kids would go to college if mittee Hillary' Rodhani'^Clinton lectual capabilities first, Roberts they knew a reason for it. More led that devised education stan- told the group. I graduated third kids wouldnt drop out mentally dards for the state. Also during his in my class in McNeil, Arkansas. when they are in middle school if. directorship, the states ftinding He paused, Of course there were they knew why they were there. -----' ' * only six people in the class. Thats what C-Cubed was about. , former colleague and golfing bud- Roberts in Arkansas is closely dy. They could not have chosen linked to education initiatives of come into Little Rock and do all of Clinton as governor. Roberts was this, he said. But, I do believe an ex ofilcio member ofthe com- formula was declared unconstituanyone better than Dr. Roberts. But turning around the Fort Worth system may be Roberts greatest achievement so far. If there was any criticism of him in Texas it was for not making changes quickly enough to satisfy some people and for a reluctance to conthont controversy. There are those who believe you can only have growth if you have controversy and chaos, he told the Star-Telegram. I simply do not believe that. tional and revamped. Lawmakers Colleagues say The Fort Worth C-Cubed pro- approved a penny sales-tax in- wrought miracles for the Fort ject is heralded as the forerunner crease that resulted in improved Worth district. of the School-to-Work movement teacher salaries. The districts finances were in now sweeping . the nations . Roberts was on board when the disa^ay, and jts^ cash reserves schools, Ross said. ,/. /state's controversial teacher test- r:?-'
.L_.. Lw- In 1994, Fort .Worth won the > ing law was enacted in 1983. Became superintendent. During his Scholastic/National Alliance for spite his own opposition to mak- Roberts nearly depleted when Roberts be-MONDAY, JULY 22 1996 Convripht O I htia &. Welcome, Don Roberts Little Rock has been waiting for you w HO SENT Little Rock this new. interim superintendent of schools, the search com- mittee or Heaven? Don Roberts sounds custom-ordered. You got your .Arkansas rootsMcNeil in Columbia County. You got your Little Rock connectionsDr. Roberts was an assistant superintendent of the school district back in the '70s before becoming director of the state Department of Education in the administrations of both Bill Clinton and Frank White. Yes. you got your cool, even, bipartisan temperament. When he re- Tliank you. Mr. Walker. Welcome. Dr. Roberts! Peace, ain't it grand? Little Rock could use a breather from the positively Dickensian case that has held the school district and its families in thrall for what seems as long as Jamdyce v. Jamdyce. Can it be I possible? Can people treat one an- i other as people instead of plaintiff j and defendant? To quote Rett Tucker This means that the (school) board. Dr. Roberts. ' and the employees in the district for the first time in almost 40 years can i tired as school su- concentrate fully on educating our children....' That perintendent in Fort Worth, where he ran a district with 72.000 students and 9.000 teachers, the president of the teachers there said union she didn't believe Dr. Roberts had made a single enemy. .And thats the opinion of the president of the would be nice. It would be glorious. .Actually, there's a lot of education going on in the Little Rock district but for too long its been obscured by lawyering and badmouthing and all that race business and general ideological irrelevance. Itll be good teachers union! Those negotiating sessions must have been remarkable. To quote Rett Tucker, co-chairman of the citizens committee that recommended Don Roberts
We sought him out for this position. He has always been dedicated to high-quality desegregated education and seeks to build cooperation across racial lines. He is known as a person who keeps his word and works in good faith. He is... a healer. Dr. Roberts was healing the school districts most obvious woundthe legal kindeven before a unanimous school board voted to hire him. It seems thaL in the course of his interviews, he e.xpressed reservations about accepting the job so long as the district was tied in Gordian knots by litigation and ill will in general. And so John (The Litigator) Walker offered to hold off any new lawsuits over the settlement of Little Rocks endless school desegregation suit. John Walker had been filing such pleas for years. Now hes declaring a welcome truce. Wow. to get the spotlight back on whats important teachers teaching and kids learning. John Walker knows Don Roberts, and thats enough to let him give the man a chance
Dr. Roberts was here during the hard days. He demonstrated he was committed to the principles of desegregation. He showed it by e.xample and personal witness. I do not know of a single thing he ever did or said that would be racially divisive. I think someone like him has to have a chance. Everybody in Little Rocks school district, especially the kids, deserves a chance. Don Roberts may be just the man to give it to us. Welcome home, Don Roberts. We have missed you. And its clear we need you. Just your arriving has lifted the whole tone of how we speak to one another. Itll take some getting used to, but all of us look forward to being nice to one another again. Its about time the kids had that kind of i example set by the alleged grown-ups. |I Arkansas Democrat^^azcltc THURSDAY JI II Y 9R . iQQR "" 1 --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ Walker qualifies no litigation vow: Board must back new school chief I I BY JULIAN E. BARNES Democrat-Gazette Staff Writer HENRY WILLIAMS signs 35-month The attorney for black chil- contract to become superintendent of dren in the Little Rock school desegregation case said Wednesday his moratorium on new litigation against the school district hinges on board support for the new interim superintendent. Civil rights attorney John Walkers six-page letter Wednes- Kansas City, Mo., scboois. Page 9A. ate a climate of "good will and sues with the federal court. Immediately after Little Rock school board members appointed Roberts on July 18 to the interim post for one to two years. Walker announced his plan to temporari- racial cooperation. which he ly halt new legal action. That prosaid will be needed after the dis- nouncement prompted a standing trict gets out of court. ovation from an audience of 100 The letter is addressed to two business people, government offi- members of a black community cials. activist parents and school group formed to analyze Little employees. ! Rock'S school desegregation plan. Roberts, retired superintendent lines ongoing litigation that he although copies were sent to 19 of the Fort Worth. Texas. School ' plans to pursue and tells school black communitv leaders inboard members that they risk le- ' ' ' day to critics of his stance places limits on the moratorium, out- Roberts. retired superintendent gal action if they do not follow the wishes of Don Roberts, named interim superintendent a week ago. The letter concludes by emphasizing Walker's desire to cre- DistricL was a Little Rock assistant I volved with the schools. Walker superintendent in e 1970s and i was responding to questions that Hafeeza Majeed and Mark Cole. served under Govs. Bill Clinton and Frank White as director of the members of a fact-finding com- state Department of Education, mittee. raised about Walker's pledge not to raise new legal is- Walker said Wednesday that See Lti ILK, Page 9A Letter Continued from Page 1A he has come to trust Roberts over a period of manj years. Although he was initially skeptical of board. Roberts' ap- ! and a request for about 5600.000 in legal fees from the Little Rock district. Walker said the moratorium does not apply to his concerns about student discipline, either. But he will give Roberts an opportunity to address his complaints before he files a motion in federal court, he said. School board member Judy Magness said she wasnt surprised by Walkers stance. "He already has enough litiga- - . ------ tion hes filed in the last two trusted. week, months to keep him busv for two In his letter. Walker makes it vears or more, Magness said. clear that if the school board Rett Tucker, co-chairman of seeks to change the spirit of the pledge bodes well for the district, the committee that recommended desegregation plan, he will go ....................... ' ~
back to court. pointment was j suggested by a j citizens committee charged .... . with finding a Roberts. Walker said, the man replacement for i ' championed black childrens in- Superintendent , terests when it was unpopular to Henry Williams S, ' do so. when it became John Walker I learned ... that he was a dif- i ferent kind of white man. Walker I said. "He wanted to do the right clear last spring that he was seeking another job. Williams was selected to ! thing, and his words could be become the new superintendent in Kansas City, Mo., last week. School board President Linda Ponde.xter said that Walkers said. Walker alluded to as much ir. his letter. He emphasized that while he remains a passionate advocate for black children, people must understand that giving biac.k children's needs more consideration does not mean that white children suffer. "The new objective that I have in mind at this time is to ensure that the goals of the settlement agreement are implemented within a framework of good will and racial cooperation which will extend beyond any final court judgment in the case." Walker said. ' -Majeed. to whom Walkers let- - J r, J -----------------------------------ter was addressed, was pointed in Both the letter and Pondexter Roberts, said the retired Fort her criticism of Walker. She insin- said Walker had offered Williams Worth superintendent did not . _____ a similar moratorium on litiga- . .. lates solely to Dr. Roberts and not tion. The no litigation promise re- to the school board, Walker wrote, If the board takes any ac- Pondexter said she believes want to come to the district in a litigious environment. Walker, who wanted Roberts to that Roberts will keep the "lines take the Little Rock post offered of communication open and en- ' tion which is contrary to the de- the moratorium on his ownwhich I segregation plan and to Dr. came as a surprise to Tucker Robertsjudgments, thismorato- As he has come to know Walk- num does not apply. "er in the last year. Tucker said, he Walker said school boards that opportunity to move forward for has been impressed by the advo- emerged after the 1989 desegrega- the schoolchildren. Ponde.xter ---- tion plan, and the superinten- said. .And John Walker is going sure that the latest moratorium lasts. The district is being given the cate. dents they appointed, have sought to be an integral part of that. to undermine the desegregation Walker said his moratorium "If you listen and show respect bers. she said, he can be very reasonable," Tuck- uated that he had sold out -lo white elites, and she said she feared the black childrens interests would be compromised by a ban on new legal action, "I don't understand how an attorney who has been so-called fighting for those causes .,. can back away from that unless there has been some sort of agreement made with school board memplan. Walker said Roberts will does not apply to three matters work to implement the plan, now before U.S. District Judge Walker said he wants to make Susan Webber Wright com- er said. Cole, the other person Walkers letter was addressed to, said sure the school board backs up the new superintendent. plaints about the double-funded incentive schools, a motion to on I trust Dr. Roberts. Walker force the Office of Desegregation said. I want to trust the school Monitorings recommendations. _ Tucker also said he thought he had questions about whether Walkers call for a moratorium re- the moratorium would prevent el- fiected cooperation throughout ements of the desegregation plan the community to try to solve the from being implemented or districts problems. changed. Cole would not offer ex- "1 think Mr. Walker is ready for amples of problems he thought a new day in the district Tucker should be addressed.Arkansas Demcxrrar (gazette J VVEDNESDAY, JULY 31. 1996 New school chief to draw $115,000 in yearly salary 'BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer Dr. Don Roberts, hired July 18 as interim superintendent by the i Little Rock School Board, signed a contract Monday entitling him to an annual base salary of $115,000, a $15,000 retirement investment and $11,639 in fringe benefits. Roberts, 61, the retired superintendent of the Fort Worth, Texas, public schools, said earlier this month that he would take the Little Rock job for a minimum of one year and possibly longer. The language in his new contract permits that flexibility. - The term of the contract is about one year, starting Aug. 15 and ending Aug. 31, ISffJ. After thaL the contract will be in force on a month-to-month basis imtil Roberts or the board ends it with 60 days notice. Roberts succeeds Dr. Henry P. Williams, who will take over as superintendent of the Kansas City, Mo., public school district 'Thursday. As Little Rock superintendenL Roberts will take a cut in his base pay. Before retiring in 1994 from the Fort Worth districL Roberts salary was $122,000. Fort Worth had more than 70,000 students and a budget of about $300 million. In Little Rock, a district of about 25,000 students, Roberts base salary is the same as that paid to Williams in each of the past three years. However
' Roberts contract allows him to decline certain fringe benefits in favor of cash reimbursements that would be added to his monthly pay. Also, Roberts will be entitled to $15,000 to fund a retirement investment of his choice. If he remains in the district beyond Au-vs-. gaging in any act that brings the disgust 1997, the district will fund the trict into disrepute, including habitretirement account at the rate of ual use of drugs or alcohol., - $1450 a month. Williams was enti- . Roberts, a native of Columbia -------- County, worked as a deputy and tied to a $10,000 yearly payment. Contracts for previous superintendents in Little Rock provided the administrators with district- leased cars for business and personal use. Roberts contract enti- ties him to a $50(}-a-month automo- of Education. bile allowance and $60 a month payment for his cellular telephone expenses. He also will get $200 a month for incidental e.xpenses as well as reimbursements for business trips and other expenses as allowed by district policy. He will get 20 days of vacation and 24 days of sick leave. He will not be entitled to any compensation for accrued vacation time or sick leave unused when his contract ends. During his first six months on the job, Roberts will get up to $5,000 to move his belongings to Little Rock He also will be eligible for monthly payments of up to $1,500 to cover costs associated with relocating. Those may include the cost of maintaining two residences, travel, house-hunting expenses and lease deposits. Roberts contract is five pages long, compared to nine pages for Williams agreement with the district As an interim superintendent Roberts has a contract with none of the trust fund and bonus provisions included in Williams contract Had Williams worked in Little Rock five years, he would have gotten the proceeds flx)m a $60,000 trust fund. His contract also included provisions for bonuses to be paid for accomplishing goals. That provision was never fulfilled. Williams contract with the district also included provisions dealing with professional training, consulting, evaluation of job per- formance. and organizational membership fees. - Roberts contract includes a provision giving the board the authority to fire the superintendent for en- assistant superintendent in the Little Rock district 22 years ago. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he directed die general education division of the state Department_Ajkansas Democrat W (gazelle J THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1996 Superintendent ready to start ' work on improving LR schools BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer The Little Rock School Districts new superintendent urged city, business and education leaders Thursday to spend the year working together to improve education, which will in turn cause the city to prosper. At a reception held in his honor, Dr. Don Roberts said he was eager to work. I want to help you improve the educational opportunity and system for kids, he told about 150 people in the lobby of the Aerospace Education Center. Take advantage of me," he said. I have done some good things. Im not perfect: I cant walk on water. But I can help you. Take advantage of that. Don't have me sit there and take care of the stuff that goes on from moment to moment. Let me help you come up with something that all of us can support. Roberts, 61, became interim superintendent Aug. 15. He was recruited by a biracial citizens committee and agreed to stay on the job at least a year. Roberts was an assistant superintendent in the district more than 20 years ago and is a former director of the Arkansas Department of Education. Most recently, he was superintendent for almost eight years in Fort Worth, Texas, before retiring in 1994. I am pleased to have this challenge, and, if I have the opportunity to do the job without being overwhelmed by activity and minutiae, 1 believe I can do something to help you," Roberts said. And, by doing that. Ill be helping myself because I really want to see Little Rock progress and become the city it can be. This city has tremendous potential, but it liasn't reached where it needs to be," he said. As I said to you before, you can't have a wonderful city with a soriy school system. We dont have a sorry one. but we got one that is not near what it could be," he said as the crowd applauded. Roberts said a unified effort to improve education is particularly important with the approach of the 40th anniversary of the integration of Central High School by nine black students. He said he hopes city leaders will be able to show the results of a year's efforts to reporters who visit Little Rock and Central High next year. The reception for Roberts and his wife, Jan. was sponsored by the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and the Little Rock Alliance for Our Public Schools.2B WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1996 Aikansas Democrat (gazette Students need computer training, LR school superintendent says BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer The Little Rock School Districts superintendent revealed some initial concerns about the district and shared a few of his educational beliefs at a sparsely attended public meeting Tuesday night at J_A Fair High School. Dr. Don Roberts told about two dozen parents, students and staff members that he had visited 31 of the districts 50 schools including six Tuesday since becoming interim superintendent in mid-August.. One of our significant needs is technology. he said. We are not anywhere close to up-to-date. Roberts admitted that he gets frustrated trying to operate his own personal computer, but he said students must have access to the types of computers used in business and industry. "Its not right to allow students to leave school without showing them current technology. Roberts said, adding that hell be working with the staff and the school board to develop strategies to acquire equipment He also said students in their early teens must be exposed to varied careers so they will understand the importance of their schoolwork and can select courses appropriate for their interests. A career-education program for seventh-graders that Roberts orchestrated as superintendent in Fort Worth. Texas, won national recognition. It is being emulated in other districts, including North Little Rock and Pine Bluff. Roberts described himself as an advocate of converting junior highs into more nurturing middleschool programs. Every place I have been, if they didnt have middle schools when I got there, they did when I left, he said, though he added that he wouldnt recommend an immediate change for Little Rock partly because of the complexity of the districts school assignment plan. In middle schools, the student body is divided into groups and a team of teachers is assipied to each group. Scheduling is more flexible, and more multidisciplinary lessons are offered in middle schools than in junior highs. Generally, middle schools serve sixth, seventh and eighth grades, so sixth-graders would leave elementary schools and ninth-graders would be moved to high schools. Proposed changes in the grade configuration have proven controversial in the past. Roberts also said he believes athletics and the arts are essential programs. He said he didnt particularly agree with Texas no-pass, no-play rule for student participation in e.xtracurricular activities. Roberts is seeing the good and the not-so-great in his visits to the schools. Im seeing some good environments, he told the group. But he also recalled seeing a lot of inactivity at the end of class periods. and he recounted an exchange he had earlier in the day with a student he found sleeping in class. Youngsters hanging around a local mall and smoking at 3 p.m. on a school night also caught his attention. "They didn't have any business being there, he said. Somebodys mother or father or grandmother or ^andfather was not paying attention. Roberts will hold two more public meetings this month. The next one is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at Franklin Incentive Elementary School.I Arkansas Democrat W! (<3azelle WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1996 LR official seeks relief for schools Desegregation plan said to be time stealer BY LINDA FRIEDLIEB Democtat-GazetlG Stall Wrilor The Little Rock School District superintendent called Tuesday for the relaxation of the districts desegregation i)lan. Dr. Don Roberts, speaking to a handful of parents at a town hall meeting, called the court-mandated program an activity plan that use.s up stalT time. We have to have some relief from the desegregation pian, either letting us not have to do some things for awhile while we modify the plan or else changing the plan so it's an educational |)lan, not an activity plan," he said. Robeils said the requirements the pian imposes on administrative stair nicnibers prevent them from doing other things with their time. He said the plan's requirements could prevent the implementation of a strategic program that parents. community members and educa- i tors developed last year. Nearly 300 volunteers took five months to write the plan, also called A Vision for the Future, to guide district olficials development of school programs and policies over the next five years. It contained recommendations to ! improve student achievement, increase enrollment and strengthen I district finances. I dont want it (the strategic plan) to wither and die," Roberts said. But it may have to if we can't get relief. He said he would like to replace the desegregation program with education-based goals and a tiiiietable for getting the district out of court by accomplishing those goals. Then we need to get together a's a community and decide what needs to be done, he said. For example, he said, one part of,the plan requires field trips for students. I'd much rather have a regulation that says all the kids at Mitchell (fneentive Elementary School) will learn to read, Roberts said. Robeils said he also planned to promote extracurricular activities. He said he met with the citys religious leaders to encourage them to help generate programs for children. .-Young people are going to be involved in something, going to join something, he said. Thats lyhy so many are joining gangs.
He said he felt programs such ' as athletics, music and art are important to students education.
Its not where you get involved, necessarily, he said. Its that you get involved.Arkansas Democrat ' . FRIDAY. With dist r-fli c t d1y ing Roberts Continued from Page 1A on vine, chief hcipes new ideas bear fruit BYCYNTHIzX HOWELL ARK.\.vs.As oExsxux f (.,v.r.n In his first 100 days on the job, Little Rock Superintendent Don Roberts kept many of his thoughts to himself as he became reacquainted with a school district that he left 22 years earlier. This week, Roberts revealed his views on the state of the Little Rock disirict in a televised 45- minute address to the school board and in other conversations. He said the district is dying on the vine. It is a school district so focused on the details of a complex 1989 desegregation plan that employees can't concentrate on leaching children, Roberts said. Dwindling while enrollment, old schools in disrepair, and a lack of up-to-date technology systems also are among problems Roberts cited. The problems aren't hopeless, Roberts said, but the district must change its way of doing busine.ss. He proposes asking a federal
judge for a break of up to nine Don Roberts Monitoring Io shill temporarily from moiiiloriiig to advi.siiig Ihe disirict in budgeting, sludenl as-signmenl, sluir development and sludenl discipline. A revised plan should focus on eight lo 1(1 points Unit are Ihe most ini])ortai)t, he said. I'm not telling you what we ought lo do al this moniciil,'' Roberts said aboul Ihe operation of the district. Im telling you we ought to slop doing it the way we are doing it During a break, people could form coalitions and everybody would work together to modify the plan. "If the judge allows us lo lake a break from the plan, its our obligation lo come out of it wilh a new game plan that ________ _ couliiicl .sclllemenl, avcrliiig a sirike by teacher.s. Since Ihcn. he ha.s worked lo unite a school board thal has been publicly split 4 3 on key issues. Lalely. he has been working with the privalc coiiipanies thal provide transportation and custodial management for the district lo improve their services. One of Roberts chief concerns i.s school buildings. The dislricl need.s new ones, and il needs a bond issue lo pay for repairs lo existing schools, he said. Il cant be good advertising for us to have il said in the Wall SliTvl .Itninml thal we have a school that needs .$6 million in re-pairs,* Roberts said, referring lo a recent article about Central High. When do we fix il? When il costs $12 million? We have lo "I lur (Ilie want a titialily, de-segregated school district." Roberts said. Thi.s society is pluralistic. Our young people must learn lo work an<l live logelher. They can't do that if they are .separate during Iheir formalive year.s." Roberts also wants to address Ihe district's academic program. The dislricl has some good schools, but others aren't so good and need innncdiale work, he said. Finding new and improved ways to teach inalhemalics to more sludent.s is critical, he said. A recent national study indicated that a black student who doesn't lake high school geoineliy has a 1- in-60 chance of completing college. For whiles who don't take geometiy, Ihe chance is 1 in 20. But students of either race who will have a If the jiiilge allows ns lo take a break front Ihe plan, S Otherwise^ ohHgalioii lo come out of it with a new game so plan Ihal will have a chance of success. Otherwise, much opposition - - chance of sue- Roberts we'll have take the course* have a l in-4 chance of completing college. Nalionally, only about 17 During the proposed brcal
so fast, we wilt have no chance I of ever getting a new plan going. district officials would conceii- has Roberts also well have so iiiiieh opposition so fast, we will have no chance of ever getting a new plan going. uisuivi uiiiviuia wuuiu vuiivcu-. naS proposed Irate on improving the quality of that the disirict develop a less percent of Don Robei ts , said. black students ever set foot in geometry class- Roberts I months from requirements of court-monitored desegregation. the schools and proposing modifi- disruptive system for handling cations to the desegregation plan. misbehaving sludenLs. Il is a proRoberts also wants the stalT in the posal that John Walker, an attor-federal Ofiice of Desegregation ney for the class of black sludent.s See ROBERTS, Page 20A in the school disirict, has doubts ---------- --------------- about. Too frequently when a teacher suspends or intends to discipline a student in some way, an advocate for the child either an attorney or someone else be- comes involved, Roberts said. That takes everybodys focus ofT what should be occurring in a school and onto a negative. We have lo remove Ihat component to an outside locality, Roberts said. He has suggested Ihal a staff member from the Office of Desegregation Moniloring supeiwise the discipline case.s below Ihe level of expulsions. Student advocates could still participate in the process, but il wouldn't divert the attention of everybody in a school from other duties. Roberts said people may wonder if the proposed timeout from desegregation moniloring is the best idea he can produce. I could have come up wilh a 1,000 things, he said. Thats not the problem. This step will help us say to the community that things are going to be different. Weve got to get people to come togellier lo change the culture in our district. Roberts has made some measurable progress. Almost immediately upon assuming his job, he got the district and the Classroom Teachers Association lo reach a show our kids that we care aboul Iheni and that we dont want them to be in unacceiilable buildings." The district also need.s to build one or more schools in west Little Rock lo atlracl while fainilies lo the disirict and lo ensure that the district will continue to seiwe both black and white families. Student enrollment is now 67 percent black and 33 percent while, compared with 65 percent while and 35 percent black in 1974, when Roberts last worked in the district. The disirict also needs to improve alternative education programs for students who arent doing well in traditional academic programs, Roberts said. The programs should help sin-dents grow and improve themselves. he added. Plans are already in the works lo introduce 500 of the district's junior high studenU lo the world of business next summer. The students, supeiwised by teachers, will work for a week in local businesses to show the pupils why an education is important. Roberts, as superintendent in Fort Worth, implemented a similar program that became a national model. The Little Rock Alliance for Our Public Schools has committed to help fund the program next year. Roberts, who at 62 has been an educator for almost 40 years, told the Little Rock board that he is no longer interested in being a traditional superintendent. Tn the time tliat I'm here 1 don't want to just do those things that I've done for my whole lifetime and that you have seen a thousand other people do. That wouldn't be valuable use of my lime." he said. I don't think Vm smarter than anyone else. I'm just looking at it from a different point of view. I do believe all'those years ofexpe-rience ought lo let me see sonu things that might be of benefit ti this district and this city. T'm going to be obsessed will*, making .sure that teach the chil dren' becomes our motto. I hope we get a chance to come up with soniething together that will allow us to do that." Arkansas Democrat azeUe 9 TUESDAY. MARCH 25. 1997 Find new "chiefby98, Roberts tells LR scliobls a t U'. .V BY CYNTHIA HOWELL ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Interim Superintendent Don Roberts has asked the Little Rock School Board to find a successor by the end of this calendar year. i School Board President John ' Riggs IV confirmed Monday that he will issue a news release today announcing that the board will search for a new chief executive with the goal of having that person employed by September. Roberts, 62, said Monday he is willing to stay on the job briefly after the arrival of a new superintendent to help with transition. He also said he is willing to assist the district on future projects but does not want to be the full-time superintendent ! ' T Roberts and his wife, Jan, intend to continue living in central Arkansas, where two of his three adult children and two of his four grand- I See ROBERTS, Page 11A Roberts pontinued from Page 1A children live. Roberts became interim superintendent of the states largest district last August at a salary of $115,000. He succeeded Dr. Henry Williams, who left to become superintendent in tlie Kansas City, Mo., Scliool District. A native of McNeil in Columbia County and a former Little Rock School District employee, Roberts was recruited by a citizens committee chosen by the School Board. Tlie committee co-chairmen were Dr. Roosevelt Brown and Rett Tucker. Tucker was chairman ofthe Greater tittle Rock Chamber of Coimnerce. ' Roberis said when selected that Hd would serve at least one year and possibly two. "Committee members heralded Rdberts as a healer. Civil rights at- tdrhey John Walker, a committee member, joined in praise of Roberts and pledged to not sue the _ district in federal court during Rbbcrts tenure. Roberts had been living in retirement in Fort Worth, where he hh'd served for more than seven years as superintendent in the district of 72,000 students and 9,000 teachers. During Roberts tenure in Fort ^prth, the district was nationally recognized for academic programs, ihcluding the Vital Link program in which sixth-graders and their t^hchers were placed in businesses and industries for a week so they could see how their lessons were applied in the workplace. Roberts worked in tlie Little Rock district in tlie late 1960s and early 1970s as an assistant and deputy su- p^erintendenL He left Little Rock to become superintendent in Newport I?ews, Va., but returned in the late 1970s to become director of the general education division of the Ajrkan- sas Department of Education under Giivs. Bill Clinton and Frank White. IJe later was superintendent of the Amarillo, Texas, schools and then the Fort Wortli district " Shortly after taking tlie Little R'bck job last year, Robeifs urged the School Board to ask a federal judge for a hiatus of up to nine months in federal court monitoring of
the districts desegregation ef- fqhs. He called it a Kings X, after a gum he played as a child. Roberts spiij district employees needed the time to strengtlien the districts educational program and propose modifications to improve the 1989 qqsegregatioii plan.
,,U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright agreed to the moratori- ' IArkansas Democrat ^(Ojizclk | > WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1997 Save our schools, 1997 ust M In 1957, Little Rock again has a choice. The city can stick with the same J old reflexive responses and watch its school district slip back into resegregation. Or it can think anew and act anewwhich is what leaders worthy of the name do when their communitys situation is new, Don Roberts, doing toe district a last service on his way out as school superintendent is a fair-minded, realistic veteran of the school wars. He proposes that the school district concentrate on educating kids regardless of color, and proceed to build public schools where Little Rocks school-age population is. Heres a way to bring back public education for all. But there will always be those who would rather stick to old obsessions. And toe old obsession with racial balance has left this district anything but racially balanced. Some members of toe school board un- derstMd toe challenge and are prepared to meet it Mike DaugherW, for example, cant sw the sense of continuing to bus black kids long distances to already predominantly black schools. He understands toe attraction of neighborhood schoolsfor families of any race. And hes for more nei^borhood schools as a way to keep families in their neighborhoodsand in toe public system. So is Ricky Hicks, another member of toe school board. To quote toe Reverend Mr. Hicks: I dont know how we ever got to the point where we measure educational quality by toe number of white children in a classroom. Ive never been concerned about the number of whites in my sons classroom, but I am concerned about the quality of education. So are most parents. Racial balance in the schools is desirable, but when that one goal began to take precedence over convenience, practicality, efficiency, reason in general, and finally education it^if, we lost sight of what integration was about: equal opportunity. Instead, integration has been reduced to some elaborate, expensive, and in toe end meaningless numbers game. We need to get back to thinking about what is best for each individual child, rather than in terms of racial blocs, their leaders and lawyers. Paul Greenberg Were all in this together. When youve been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years (1957-97) its only natural that leadership becomes reflexive instead of responsive. John Walker, whos been lawyering this cause just about since it was a cause, had an immediate reaction to Dr. Roberts new plan. It sounded a lot like: Hell. No! Or maybe Forget, Never!' To quote him more precisely, Mr. Walker says the new plan has no possibility of meeting our approval. Mike Daugherty is hoping John Walker will reco^ider. I think once he studies these revisions, says Mr. Daugherty, he will imderstand that this is for the better, even if he does not agree with all of it ^e Daugherty sounds like a cockeyed optimist which is just what this school district needs, but it may be too late for some of us to adjust to new realities, John Walker has been fighting the status quo of 1957 so long he may have lost touch with the realities of 1997. It would be nice to have his help in saving public education in this community, but, with or without Mr. Walker, the public schools can and will be saved. They must be if Little Rock itself is to have the kind of future all would wish for it. Sometimes old victories lead to new defeats. By sticking with old strategies, and old plans, new challenges go unmet Just look at what has happened to racial balance in school after school in the Little Rock district Look at how little has been aa A fl I' JI Ji '> ' 4-1 achieved at what great e.xpense. Think of how much could be achieved with some flexibility, imagination, and a newly united communityif we put ideology aside and concentrated on toe kids. A blueprint for toe future of public education in Little Rockits called Plain Talk, and it ishas been produced under the aegis of toe University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Will it be consigned to toe shelf, or take life? .4 grand opportunity to act on that report now approaches: This capital city is about to commemorate toe 40to anniversary of toe crisis at Central High. It was more than a constitutional crisis. It was a moral crisis, too. In many ways, it represented a failure of toe imagination, of toe spirit, of toe local, state and national conversation about race. - If we simply go through this months cer- emoni^ without applying toe lessons of that crisis, without reaching out to one another for new ways to undo old mistakes, those ceremonies will be only thatceremonies. Worse, our leaders can use this occasion to go through the same old motions and take toe same old, predictable positions,.- What a grand opportunity this anniver: sary would be to do something different to get together behind toe school boards new plan. What a good time this would be to convene that Community Congress mentioned in UALRs report on toe schools: an open- minded group of people, people with no axes to grind, who are broadly representative of toe people ofthe city and are connected in ways that will permit their work to flow back and inform others in toe community. Plain Talk uses as its frontispiece a quotation from Will and Ariel Durants The Lessons cf History. Their words would seem particularly relevant to Little Rock just now) When toe group or a civilization declines, it is through no mystic limitation of a corporate life, but through toe failure of its political and intellectual leaders to meet the challenges of change. ----------------- Paul Greeuierff is editorial page editor of the Ariamsas Democrat-Gaeette. He vxn the Pulitzer Prize inl969fi>r editorials oixna civil rights. IbUllOniALS T The continuing crisis L>i>ii liobcrts bluepniit for chaise ,J,I R DA.'.C..R... ..w. .n s Aii/'iisl .2..!.ll.l.i .in .sMvliiiouuuil wwuniiiiihui gfo<) ulipp IiIlIl wWecsstl LLilUllllee llie (jlisoeiiiiglilcncil yenr of Hoek, ifs (Jie lasleslgixnviiig pail of InIIinIKe'(leepn
-h1lullnldlrrie<dfl a'IInI.dI ninety- II. ..II.. >...1 !, I . r seven. Leading the front page of IJie Uie cily. bill JI lia.sii'l had a new paper were stories, |ilclnres, and graphics re<-ounling Ihe daik ages- Ihe Cenlial High Crisis of l(Ki7. That was years back, when cleaily we .(lidn'l know heller. All llic ncw,s jilay .^.ven Uie aiiniveisaiy left mom at Ihe .lop of Uic page for just one oUier slo-schooi since BZ7H. Il's liard to Lliink of a boiler cx- ample of what's wrong with Liltle Rocks school dislvicl limn IJial last lad. U.S a.s if public educalion had ly: a single column article with Ihe subhead, given lip on a whole section of the cily and was reli-ealing into a shell. If Ulis school dislricl ts Io keep hum be,, 0, , I ....................c o. .m...i.n'og resefgretga*lcd -- amnmd IIlI' s.s amlmmoossti w, ..I i i , 1. Ihei-c, folks-were going to have to at- would be inodiricd. ttrraacctt wwhhiillee sslutuddeennLt-s! ttoo fdhioe opnuhbiilnic ibio li'l ............s-'l'ools. And where are so many of Illis Storys all loo current. those while sludenls? Out west "It Some Uilngs don t change. Some would biing more whites into die dis- ,U)ing.s don I even have enough d id," Dr. RoberLs stus of die pre- 'J'' sL'liool. "Wc can't recruit go.slisakes. I'oityycais ago, die debate em now" cciilercd on Litde IliK-k's plan for in tfgiadon. hotly yeais later, die dcbnlo
Nope, its not a reprint iloiii 1957. <11------ -fr- vaicillKV. OIIIIIU Jnjiijs don't liiivc cimiigli com iJ'llie jilan would let more kids go /.QiiUnn .............to schools in Uieir own nelghbor- Wno^nAi TIv iimVi , AIJxevsQeVgfMievgsnii uiMono nhooooudss.. iIimnaaggminee:: AA KkiKdi ccoouulldd walk to school raUier Uiaii spending an hour J** ret^J approach lo '9 schooling. A pleasant side effect . More stable neighborhoods. This plan is a lol like what lute- ---- J i.i vciii:u Ine Revised Desegregation and Edu- 'I'hls latest Cliffs Noles-veislon of t1h,e_ _o_ld, deseg p--l-a--n. Xis
a. lo. t .b e lte* r (Jinn fgturiauloionniaisisls ubaaccKk inin utileie o6o0ss utliioouugj^liitt racially integrated education would fp low and focuses on Uie basics of be: reasonably pracUcal. Instead of education, not racial percentages, al- ... .... tendance zones, and fleoLs of buse.s. wiial it t(K> oflen turned out lo be
an tanxviiso andi ric"ki s"h1 a*w"s'*. Ilie jd"!a n wa.s spends mnilnliownosik anbolte lobo ioiinledgogrngllee UUiniet schoolswhile putUng educaUoti not Robei-ls to Lillie Rocks school board rust but last Make Uiat a distant last 'ri' ,interested parlies ln.sl after an biunease check list of minute nTvL?'i I n ............... specincnUoiis Uinl would make the .It was his goodbye gift to Uie dis- smallest-minded bean counter look inct, a last chance to make sense broad-minded and generous and educationof de- .R segregation. But al least one intereslcd parly gave It Uie same old heave ho. John Walker, Who represents a group pf: children in Uie de- Pffgregatlon lawsuit, hn.s V.een uncharaelerlsll-cally recepUve Uiese last few nionUisa leinpo- This plan would move 9U)-Graders out of junior biglis and into high schools, an Idea Uial some of us former rniy concession to Dr. Roberts, a man of'unqualiried good will. But now Mr. iow-on-lhe-totem-pole OUi-Gradeis recommend highly. The Inst Uiiiig must hormone-spiked, rage-agalnsl-authorlty 9Ui-Graders need to be is role models. And most of Uie district's higli schools can acconiniodate .Walker, Esip, sny.s: As far os Im con ., lu.i.m.,..- uh. uie.v,s one 01g, oig eerned (Uic plan} has no possibilily of excepUonCenlral High. How ac-iiiee ng our approval. First of all, its coiiuiiodate a few hundred more stu-a noUinig plan. It doesnl do anyUiing. dents al a school already bursting It says black children have no rights wiUi 2.000 sludenls? Good question >d this ts d.mul cosi^Utuljjjiinl ihc superinlcndenl admils. But where rights lor black childioii." Uiere's a will .... . a. '.u.v,, IIU IglllO and tins case Ls about coirsUtutioiial a !llli Grade claw, llicies one big, big '5'Pe pages of i..c.co lu mis piun. nui noi Uie Revised Desegregation and Ed- much. It's only 16 pages long. And Uie ucatioii 1 Ian, we .seem lo have supcrinlcndcnt can sum it up in Iwo oussed die section that .strips black words: Education Fii-st, Now Uint anybody else of Uieir would be a nice legacy lo leave Uie noble Till! l/iliii UZt.ll,..,. i iii . There's more to this plan. But not ' 11 T 1 I ... .. xviiiii MW < iiitu ivgiH-y lu leiive uie Ml i'J ^'slricts incoiiiing superintendenL will Into anything, and. in Uiis case, Ix-slie Caniine. And it wouldnt hurt 1 he's done il ag.ain. Conclusion: If people of good will have to save public education hi this town wllhoul him, Uien we'll have to do il wllhoul him. Uic kids, eilJicr. I Obiy. Now let's get on willi it '\Vli:il R niiM iriipfessTvi'^nioiir iir. llolieiLs plan i,s Itijil il ran Im
lead in one silling. Amazing. Compare il lo the 2iiich pile ufjaigon known a.s llu' I T WAS WIIDLLY a plcasuh' (o vis-il with Don Roberts again. lie dropped by before his nieefing Thursday nighl and (irovcd just as Ai kansa.K hoiH'.sl as he w:i.s nine 1 lie monliis ago back when he came up V'c
'' os ii wwiitihii mthe Iiddeeaa oolf a lIir uiiccee bellwoeen IIhe Df .y.gK.galion 1 ian
md iLs equally districts warring liidions. A King's X 3 0^0*'^'"
*': he -alled il. Out ol llial peaceliil lime Tool Kit. No piiy.sic.s lexibooks ever lookiti KO inlimidafing. The original plan is big ami complicaled enough lo Ialled i(. Ont ol'ihal peaeel'iil iiinl Ilie wink ol d<izeii.s olroneei'iii'd I'ilizeii.s lamc IIk' Revisml Desegre galion and lxhn'alion I'lnn, Ihil unieK.s we ael oil il, 40 yeais hum now it m: i hc.illh taie leform bill. And aboiil be only bmely recnllcti as the Insl IaIKs tu ls.llepffull]l, Dllro,n,i llR,.oIbe .1i'4ls was a.1b.1le.. II.o. .g..o. ..I__ J I ..... Ihrongh Ihe revised plan section by seclion Ihe oilier da.v in less Ilian an hour. And if you've ever bilked with/lieen hilled by Dr. Robeils. you kmiw he'll never be aci iised of rirsli chance lo keep l.illh- RoeVs school disliii'l horn becoming almosl as seg regaled a.s il wa.s in Ti7. The sohilion, just a,s in .57, is up lo n,s. We can take Ibis plan serionsiv, all ,, ,1...................................................o...f. ..n..s.,. ..o...r. mgivvee up.. vWvee can lfoorrmm tlhimall .1 M M o A Hr Commuiuly t4tugiT.s.s recommended aail lMllecNNmei l, AAlr-klr. , csrpiie.,eitiill, (wl,iliici..hl. ...... I...........11__ . .. . . . nolcli behnv slow. i.s one To simimarize: The pian emphasize.s reading and malhemalics, including algebra. Don Robeils would like to see a I'ily Wille campaign to gel kids Io read. II would be similar to Uio statewide campaign under way now in 'Ibxas. "I in anolher report and pul educalion lirst - before Ihe race issue, before our own precious egos, b,=fv.v lawyers fees and all the salisfactions before waul lo create an alnio.spliere." he .sjijs, "where you leel had if you're iml of cheap dcmagogueiy ... or we can Walch Ilie laigcsl school ilislricl in Ilie slate go .lim Crow again. This lime maybe for good. Ami what hajipeii-s Io school dis- Irirl.K lia.K a way of Imppctiing (o Ihi* I ........ ^c.iiltiicc..-s. lIuhceyj sseeinveo.. iI,z<nn,iKk aarroouiinndii natl leu<0 ig- (.oiinl ns in anil pass liny America's inner cilies. Tliis discussion RHerieridil'cs EhtnnniilMHwip. ..... ... . .... _. ... The plan calls Ibr building Iwo new elcinenfaiy schools. Due wouhl go up al Ihe site of the former bil l just about Illi' l,ii(Je Kock School Disliicl. Il's aboiil Lillie IliKk We can save our schools, or we can jusl for s,
........ - jgiveil nil.. W>e
Ic.aIlnl .sMauvee our ciily, or ndrritflti. Slephen.s ^hool near downtown. Once We can squabble, or we can work Io-that school IS budt, Ihe district would gelher. The basic decisions in life cluse down Garland Elemenlar,v jii.sl don'l change all Lhal much: Wlielher a few blocks away. Ilie other new il's ISKTZ or KHZ?, Rs slill decision time. Aikansas iX-inocral B^lnHislirHl inza Avltnnnan 7?r(f>azcllc RsinliliRboil 1819 Arf<an,sa,s Deniociat /^(l,*)jizell<.' Aihans-'if
' Npwr.f>ni)ei Walter E. Hussmnn, Jr.. Publisher Grinia Smith, |r. F.tpculhx FOHoi Pnul Gificnborg f.Mo'ial Pego FMiv on WUUNESOAY, SEPl EMBER 3. 1997 Poul n. Smith VP/GiuvalMunngitr Lynn tlnmlllon VP. Oi'r/fllioiij John Mobbs Larry Graham Cicul.il:cn Dtifeloi Ealol Jellery, Jr. ot PlOfOOtIQ/'t Cnpylglll C mriMto Rock NnwatMlpAil. Inc Arkansas Democrat '^(ij^azctte ] WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1^7 Schools awaiting ruling -'Little Rock owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Don Roberts, who returned to the Little Rock School District more than a year ago. -Roberts, a nationally known educator, had retired after mitigating the Fort Worth School Districts problems. Hanng previously been an assistant superintendent of the LRSD, he was well aware of our problems, but was willing to return and help in a time of crisis. With the help of relaxed requirements from Judge Susan Webber Wright and the hard work of a dedicated school board, the district has had a good year. .As Wright recently reported, virtually no reports of school violence, labor strife or infighting among school board members and the superintendent Where do we go from here? We are rapidly approaching the point where professional educators, dedicated school board members and parents will give up and simply write off the district as a lost cause. Wright has before her a revised school district desegregation and education plan prepared by an outstanding superintendent who knows the problem and has come out of retirement to work and study this problem. The hope of the Little Rock School District will rest with her decision. Is the primary goal of our district to be education or continued litigation? H. PRICE ROARK Little RockArkansas Democrat ^(gazette FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 199ff^. 5E Fof rhef intcrirn school chief to stny on with district as consultant fet^llS^S15.SS?cS- Sof Edu?ahom''''Sete^re^otiltions'T''"" '"a rt^^P^^vision of the school money for educating children who Mo'o!^ToSvcS^TiS' iofyei ' mSKKSSss
for the district as a consultant Tie distocts new superinten- Mauuaie ! dent Les Carnine, said Thursday dent for desegregation that Roberts will work through " ' March as a consultant to him and to the board on matters related to supervision Of the school pleted negotiations on a revised distnct by the end of the 2000-2001 - plan with civil rights attorney John school year. , Walker. In other business, the School fSSf5 =S SBStoS BBSS ...I..... g.jSTss.-'sa
CoiSwSpecFa!^ch?o! '5^e Little Rock board also Last week Roberts and attor- Schools vokeSp^ortfoftt^ ?^finl^^X "1' J th. d^ SSKSKa^LTd,rx^^ S5TdX^Jd'3,t^S" position of associate superinten- Roberts was an assistant superintendent in the Little Rock dis- trict in the 1960s and later became , J------ST."-----------: The proposed plan is now CIVIC leaders asked him to serve as awaiting federal court approval siinonntQTiaor,* lone II . Thursdays regular monthly school board meeting, representa- superintendent in 1996. He accept-
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