Baker Kurrus, the outgoing superintendent of the Little Rock School District, addressed a meeting of the State Board of Education on Thursday before the board and a long list of speakers discussed a return of the district to local control.
State Education Commissioner Johnny Key laid out what steps would need to be taken to remove the district from state control, beginning with determining the progress of the district's academically distressed schools once test scores are evaluated in this fall.
Key also indicated that the appointment process for a community advisory board — which represents the district to the state board but does not have the power of a school board — could begin this summer.
It was the first meeting of the board since Key announced his decision not to renew Kurrus' contract in April, a decision many believe was motivated by Kurrus' criticisms of charter school expansion.
Kurrus, wearing a lapel sticker that read "Keep the public in public schools," boasted of the achievements made by district students and teachers during his year as superintendent.
"We worked, and we talked, and we rehashed and we rehashed," Kurrus said. "We’re never going to give up the institutions that make our cities great."
A long list of parents, local legislators and district supporters were lined up to speak after Kurrus.
Board chairman Toyce Newton suggested narrowing the group of speakers to prevent repetition, prompting a rebuke from state Sen. Joyce Elliot, a Little Rock Democrat.
“Since we’ve waited 18 months, if you want to hear everybody why don’t we hear everybody?" Elliot said. “I’m requesting the board stop cutting us off and let everyone be heard."
After a short break, the board agreed to hear public comments from all those who signed up to speak.
Check back with Arkansas Online for updates on this developing story and read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.