The Arkansas State Board of Education has voted to continue state control over two financially troubled school districts.
The board on Friday unanimously approved a proposal to continue state control of the Pulaski County Special and Helena-West Helena school districts. State education commissioner Tom Kimbrell said both districts still have financial-related issues that require the state's governance.
Kimbrell has placed superintendents in each district and established community advisory boards to oversee the schools.
Both school districts are classified as fiscally distressed and have been given five years to solve their financial troubles. If they don't, they face being consolidated or annexed to nearby school districts.
Both districts are nearing the end of their third year in the distressed category.