Polls open in Jacksonville school election

Voters cast ballots Tuesday at the Jacksonville Community Center to determine if Jacksonville will form its own school district.
Voters cast ballots Tuesday at the Jacksonville Community Center to determine if Jacksonville will form its own school district.

The polls are open and voters have begun casting ballots Tuesday in Jacksonville's special election to determine whether it will separate from the Pulaski County Special School District and form its own district.

At the Jacksonville Community Center, which is home to three precincts in the city, three voters were in line when polls opened at 7:30 a.m. and about 10 had cast ballots by 8 a.m.

Proponents of creating a Jacksonville/North Pulaski School District have long sought an opportunity to break from the larger Pulaski County district and have said they believe voters will favor a split.

Diane Hammersley, 60, was among the first to vote at the community center, casting a ballot in favor of detaching.

"It's good to have blanket coverage, but Pulaski County is getting too big," she said. "I think we should be able to have our own say."

Takecia Campbell, a 35-year-old teacher in North Little Rock, said she voted in favor of Jacksonville getting its own district because she doesn't believe the city's schools have seen significant improvement since she or her parents attended.

"I think we've been neglected by the county," Campbell said, adding that in turn thwarts population growth and diminishes enrollment. "I don't think there's been any focus here."

Campbell said she's "pretty confident" the detachment measure will pass.

Leo Miller, a 61-year-old court security officer, said he also cast a ballot in favor of the new district, saying the community "deserves" it to bring in a renewed focus and better resources.

"Our children are going to dilapidated, antiquated schools," he said. "It's time the state spent money on Jacksonville."

But, Miller said, while his family is firmly behind the effort, he won't guess the outcome before polls officially close at 7:30 p.m.

"This is Arkansas," he said. "I don't know."

For more on this story, see Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Reader poll

Do you think Jacksonville should have its own school district?

  • Yes. 85%
  • No. 9%
  • It won't make a difference either way. 6%
  • Other (please comment). 0%

66 total votes.

To look up your school district zone or ward: CLICK HERE.

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