Absolutely Pathetic -little rock/pulaski county schools

[bigpigpimpin]

Last night at the state championships I learned this. At the 5a state tournament at Magnolia, the school district would not pay for the kids hotel rooms. The KIDS payed for their rooms. At Hot springs for the state title game, the coaches paid for the rooms not covered by the AAA, and finally after the state championship game, they went directly back to the school because the district did not pay for them to eat.

No wonder everyone wants to get their kids out of little rock....

[Jackrabbit Hog]

Last night at the state championships I learned this. At the 5a state tournament at Magnolia, the school district would not pay for the kids hotel rooms. The KIDS payed for their rooms. At Hot springs for the state title game, the coaches paid for the rooms not covered by the AAA, and finally after the state championship game, they went directly back to the school because the district did not pay for them to eat.

No wonder everyone wants to get their kids out of little rock....

Something is amiss there.  Something, as in borderline criminal. 

[NuttinItUp]

That is dumb.

Write your city council person if you live in those cities.

[snoophawg]

There are several reasons my wife and I won't live in LR. This is just one of them. We live in Branson and are very impressed with the schools here.

[Knot2brite]

One of the major reasons I do not work in pcssd anymore...they used to not give a dime to athletics and the teams had to live off what they made from the gates.

[Dwight_K_Shrute]

That is dumb.

Write your city council person if you live in those cities.

City council may help but the school boards are independent entities from the cities in which they operate.

It's understandable to a point if the district does not have the $.  Wasn't LR schools in distress and/or under state control.  I know the superintendent from Bentonville SD was hired by LRSD. 

As far as hotel rooms go it's an hour away.  If the tournament was in Fayetteville it would be different.  Although it's an inconvenience at worst it's not that much of a hardship for a LR school to not spend the night in Hot Springs.  I'm sure during the season they travel an hour or more for some games during the week.

What normally run public school athletic departments usually have are booster clubs that help offset some of the costs that the school or parents can't cover.  I know in Bentonville the club is very active and contributes a lot.  They are trying to raise funds for a football stadium for Bentonville West through private donations.  I know Bentonville has higher income demographics than LR but parents and the community have to get active and do what they can.  This may include busting their tails, getting private businesses more involved etc.  They may already be doing a lot of that but when you have a big event like state tournament come up just got to do more.

Schools are so strapped for money as it is that it's a lot harder than you think to pay for and justify paying for some of these things.  With vouchers and charter schools more en vogue you will see more money and resources being siphoned away from public school districts.  The legislature seems more worried about getting guns on college campuses than improving public education.  I know that tax increases are difficult but I never have a problem voting for public school millage increases.  Can never go wrong investing in education.

[pigture perfect]

I'm thankful I worked in a good district(s) when I coached. This is not putting the kid first.

[Jackrabbit Hog]

One of the major reasons I do not work in pcssd anymore...they used to not give a dime to athletics and the teams had to live off what they made from the gates.

I'm not sure what the set up is in Memphis, where I live, but I suspect it was very similar to that before the Memphis School District and the Shelby County School District combined.  But if they were living off the gates, my goodness that wouldn't have bought gas for the bus to make the trip to the game and back.  When I call a Memphis inner city football game, you can often count the fans in the stands on two hands.  It's sad.  I watch kids who are obviously very athletic and could be good football players, just going through the motions.  You can blame them, you can blame the coaches for the lack of discipline, but I think more than anything else you should blame the school administration for allowing it to get to this point. 

[Vandyhog4]

I'm not taking a position on the issue, but I am curious as to why a team from Little Rock would need a hotel in Hot Springs?  I assume they might have had a shoot around at the arena and other obligations the day before, but the game was at 5:15 pm yesterday.  Not feeding them after the game is a bigger issue.

Also, looking at the schedule in Magnolia, Parkview played on non-consecutive days (2/28, 3/2, 3/4).  Not unreasonable to make multiple trips with that schedule.  The Mills schedule is a different story.  They played on consecutive days (3/2, 3/3, 3/4) with late afternoon/evening starts.

[NuttinItUp]

I'm not taking a position on the issue, but I am curious as to why a team from Little Rock would need a hotel in Hot Springs?  I assume they might have had a shoot around at the arena and other obligations the day before, but the game was at 5:15 pm yesterday.  Not feeding them after the game is a bigger issue.

The feeding thing is the bigger issue for me.

I bet if someone dug enough they would find a state law about having to provide food to kids if they are under your care or something.

[Atlhogfan1]

Some details seem to be missing.  Feeding the players seems an easy task. 

How is the corporate sponsorship support for the AAA events?

Georgia gets strong support.

http://www.ghsa.net/corporate-partners

Alabama and NC had revenue sharing as of a few years ago:

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/03/why_is_ahsaa_revenue_sharing_s.html

High School Athletic Association Finances in Southeast

State   Net Assets   Assets Growth Since '07-08   Surplus/Deficit in '10-11
North Carolina   $24,777,043   +32%   +$2,106,782
Alabama   $9,220,744   +25%   -$380,826
Florida   $4,799,036   +38%   +$940,868
Georgia   $4,089,213   +13%   +$48,358
Kentucky   $3,552,999   +6%   +$155,161
Arkansas   $3,260,513   +25%   +$215,463
Mississippi   $3,144,167   0%   -$251,199
Tennessee   $2,615,880   +320%   +$526,418
South Carolina   $2,471,098   -4%   -$44,398
Note: Data is from 2010-11 because not every state's 2011-12 filings are available.
Source: Nonprofit tax filings on Guidestar.org

[RaisinHog]

Definitely no need to stay the night if you do not have too.. have you ever went on an over night school trip ? No one sleeps they play grab ass all night much better to sleep in your own bed .. now at our school if someone qualifys for state be it FFA , FBLA, basketball , football whatever .. the supt. Will ussually tell us to take them somewhere nice and feed them on the schools dime .. when we do.have over night trips the club, team , or organization is in charge of paying for motel rooms ... Sounds to me like they need a fundraiser or a booster club.

[Jackrabbit Hog]

Sounds to me like they need a fundraiser or a booster club.

Therein lies the problem.  Apathy.  Lack of support.  From both the schools and families (but many of the families don't have the financial wherewithal to do much).

[code red]

I'm not taking a position on the issue, but I am curious as to why a team from Little Rock would need a hotel in Hot Springs?  I assume they might have had a shoot around at the arena and other obligations the day before, but the game was at 5:15 pm yesterday.  Not feeding them after the game is a bigger issue.

Also, looking at the schedule in Magnolia, Parkview played on non-consecutive days (2/28, 3/2, 3/4).  Not unreasonable to make multiple trips with that schedule.  The Mills schedule is a different story.  They played on consecutive days (3/2, 3/3, 3/4) with late afternoon/evening starts.

Agreed....just as well to sleep in your own bed.

[MountieDawg]

Even at the big money schools in NWA the school does not pay... The Booster club is responsible for raising the money for food and if needed lodging for the kids... NWA has tons of Walmart vendors and the average household income is much higher which make it much easier.  You would think in a case like this the AAA would pay for the food they are making the money off the ticket sales.

[3kgthog]

Happens everywhere. Kids going to nationals for things like FCCLA have to foot their own hotel bill in Nashville this year. And the state basically forces them to stay at a sponsor hotel downtown and they aren't cheap.

[RealHog]

I know the superintendent from Bentonville SD was hired by LRSD. 

Agreed with a lot of things you said here, and good post. Just wanted to mention the Bentonville guy you mention, Michael Poore, was hired by Johnny Key after he dumped Baker Kurrus (also appointed by Key) because he wasn't marching to the Walton company line of The Charter School solution for LR. The NWA group are very pro charter while many here want to try and fix the main issue, the public schools. I just moved to West LR from other parts of the state and don't have any kids yet but believe me, the Public v. Charter v. Private school topic is very hot button issue here. I'm just glad my district has an excellent elementary and middle recently built because Private schools were taking all the good students.

[hobhog]

There are several reasons my wife and I won't live in LR. This is just one of them. We live in Branson and are very impressed with the schools here.

Branson says it all.

[Porked Tongue]

With the extra funding going away, you have to wonder what happens to many of these schools.

[Hoggish1]

Last night at the state championships I learned this. At the 5a state tournament at Magnolia, the school district would not pay for the kids hotel rooms. The KIDS payed for their rooms. At Hot springs for the state title game, the coaches paid for the rooms not covered by the AAA, and finally after the state championship game, they went directly back to the school because the district did not pay for them to eat.

No wonder everyone wants to get their kids out of little rock....

It's going to get worse, continuously, from here on out.

[hawgfan4life]

HB1222 will be voted on as soon as Monday.  This bill is being advertised with a lot of misinformation.  What is fact is it is going to cost millions every year and is taking money away from public schools.  It is going to end up paying some of the tuition at private schools to the families already attending or that can afford to attend.  Anyone not wanting tax money diverted to pay tuition at private schools should contact their representative.  Right now, there is a lot t of support for this bill within the legislative body.

[Dwight_K_Shrute]

Agreed with a lot of things you said here, and good post. Just wanted to mention the Bentonville guy you mention, Michael Poore, was hired by Johnny Key after he dumped Baker Kurrus (also appointed by Key) because he wasn't marching to the Walton company line of The Charter School solution for LR. The NWA group are very pro charter while many here want to try and fix the main issue, the public schools. I just moved to West LR from other parts of the state and don't have any kids yet but believe me, the Public v. Charter v. Private school topic is very hot button issue here. I'm just glad my district has an excellent elementary and middle recently built because Private schools were taking all the good students.

Yeah Poore is basically an Asa crony.  Asa's grandson attends and plays for BHS, and I think that is how they got familiar.  I'm sure Asa facilitated the move in some form or fashion.

[Dwight_K_Shrute]

HB1222 will be voted on as soon as Monday.  This bill is being advertised with a lot of misinformation.  What is fact is it is going to cost millions every year and is taking money away from public schools.  It is going to end up paying some of the tuition at private schools to the families already attending or that can afford to attend.  Anyone not wanting tax money diverted to pay tuition at private schools should contact their representative.  Right now, there is a lot t of support for this bill within the legislative body.

Our state legislature is the absolute worst.  I'm sure there are a few good individuals but more Jason Raperts than not.

[GuvHog]

HB1222 will be voted on as soon as Monday.  This bill is being advertised with a lot of misinformation.  What is fact is it is going to cost millions every year and is taking money away from public schools.  It is going to end up paying some of the tuition at private schools to the families already attending or that can afford to attend.  Anyone not wanting tax money diverted to pay tuition at private schools should contact their representative.  Right now, there is a lot t of support for this bill within the legislative body.

Have you actually read the HB1222 bill??? From what I've read it's my understanding that students who already attend Private schools will not be eligible for a voucher.

P.S. There is a lot of statewide support for the bill too.

[hogsanity]

Close down about 50-75 of the tiny districts and use that money to bolster the bigger districts. Combine administration into one county district for each of the counties and save another 100mil or so each year.

Consolidation would fix alot of the financial problems in the Arkansas school system, but no one has the guts to do it.

[Inhogswetrust]

That is dumb.

Write your city council person if you live in those cities.

The City Council?  They don't run the schools. Why not try writing the one's in power. The SCHOOL BOARD.

[Dwight_K_Shrute]

Close down about 50-75 of the tiny districts and use that money to bolster the bigger districts. Combine administration into one county district for each of the counties and save another 100mil or so each year.

Consolidation would fix alot of the financial problems in the Arkansas school system, but no one has the guts to do it.

Hey now that's crazy talk.  County wide might be a bit difficult to get to, but in the meantime I agree tiny districts definitely, and there are some that are a bit ridiculous.

In NWA for example there are at least city wide districts here and many absorb the smaller cities.  Lowell is served by Rogers.  Centerton and Bella Vista with a combined pop of 35k are served by Bentonville.

I grew up in Hot Springs and we had multiple districts serving the same city, Lakeside, Hot Springs, and Lake Hamilton, and smaller ones such as cutter. Now all of those should have been one district.  I think this one guy Gerry Mander drew up their districts to keep a certain imbalance in place.

[hogsanity]

Hey now that's crazy talk.  County wide might be a bit difficult to get to, but in the meantime I agree tiny districts definitely, and there are some that are a bit ridiculous.

In NWA for example there are at least city wide districts here and many absorb the smaller cities.  Lowell is served by Rogers.  Centerton and Bella Vista with a combined pop of 35k are served by Bentonville.

I grew up in Hot Springs and we had multiple districts serving the same city, Lakeside, Hot Springs, and Lake Hamilton, and smaller ones such as cutter. Now all of those should have been one district.  I think this one guy Gerry Mander drew up their districts to keep a certain imbalance in place.

The districts were drawn up, in many cases due to the extreme rural nature of much of Arkansas at the time, and now even, of when the districts, were made. Now, no one wants to close districts because of all the admins & staff it would put out of work. Thy hide behind " but what about the children who will be on buses for 4 hours a day " as I said just consolidate administration and save a lot of money.

[Inhogswetrust]

I've had high school organizations stay in my hotels. The check usually came from the school itself. However sometimes a "booster" type organization paid it. I believe though that depending on distance, time of event and what type of event, what district/school mattered as to who paid the bill. 

[hawkhawg]

You can't spend money you don't have.

[ricepig]

I guess we need to schedule the state tournament in LR, they won't have to worry about spending the night. Truthfully, the gym was packed for the Jonesboro-El Dorado game, the teams playing in the game after this game, and even AAA members weren't allowed in until after we cleared out of our seats. As to paying for rooms, our district pays for the rooms at the state tournament, and the AAA does for the finals. The different booster clubs pay for invitational tournaments, or trips to Florida for spring break.

[NuttinItUp]

You can't spend money you don't have.

The government does it all the time. Its called the National Debt.

[GuvHog]

Hey now that's crazy talk.  County wide might be a bit difficult to get to, but in the meantime I agree tiny districts definitely, and there are some that are a bit ridiculous.

In NWA for example there are at least city wide districts here and many absorb the smaller cities.  Lowell is served by Rogers.  Centerton and Bella Vista with a combined pop of 35k are served by Bentonville.

I grew up in Hot Springs and we had multiple districts serving the same city, Lakeside, Hot Springs, and Lake Hamilton, and smaller ones such as cutter. Now all of those should have been one district.  I think this one guy Gerry Mander drew up their districts to keep a certain imbalance in place.

Hot Springs, Lakeside, and Lake Hamilton are too large to merge IMO but I do believe Cutter Morning Star should merge with Hot Springs, Fountain lake should merge with Lakeside, and Mountain Pine should merge with Lake Hamilton.

[jesterzzn]

I played basketball in high school in the Memphis area for a school generally accepted as one of the wealthiest public schools in the region.  My sophomore year we made the state tournament and got to travel to Nashville for a game (3 hour drive).  We left the morning of, had lunch payed for by our coaches (maybe by the school...not sure), played the game at 6-7ish (don't really remember), traveled home afterwards, and arrived back at the school well after midnight.  Almost all of us met up at Waffle House for our post game dinner, paid for by the parents.

Granted this was over twenty years ago, but I can't remember a single player or parent complaining.

[LZH]

You can't spend money you don't have.

bull, I did it all the time.

[rtr]

Sounds like LRSD suffers from poor leadership.

[lookawayquick]

LRSD has no school board.  You have to appeal to the Supe. Poore and he marches to Education Director Johnny Key's drum.  Poore moved down from Bentonville, Key from Mt. Home.  Something missing here?

[old_school_hawg]

I coach in class a, been to the finals three times over the years... That NEVER happens here. We pay now and figure it out later. Gotta take care of the kids better than that, that's BS.

[hawgfan4life]

Have you actually read the HB1222 bill??? From what I've read it's my understanding that students who already attend Private schools will not be eligible for a voucher.

P.S. There is a lot of statewide support for the bill too.

I have read it multiple times.  There is a lot of myths associated with this bill but it is a fact that state revenues will be lost and will impact public schools.  Dialogue has a lot of discussion about choice and it says it targets low income students.  The details are such that a very small percentage of low income will use it and then it works its way through a waiting list.  Every parent of private school students will get on the waiting list.  Over time more and more get selected.  Once selected, it is for duration of school career, all siblings are automatically selected, and the money can even be saved up for college.  Program increases by 10% every year.  It is going to be a snow ball effect in lost revenues each year and an increase in students on the waiting list being selected.

It is popular because people believe it will be opportunities for all students.  That is false.  It is a horrible bill for tax payers who desire to keep public schools funded adequately. 

[old_school_hawg]

This. We fund raise and have a very involved community and booster club. We have bought two sets of rings and we were able to raise the money in less than a week both times. We have a modest farming community, but the work ethic and team atmosphere isn't just in the gym. It literally takes a village! I agree that it's best to sleep in your own bed if you can, but you gotta feed them a good meal and reward them for their achievement.

Definitely no need to stay the night if you do not have too.. have you ever went on an over night school trip ? No one sleeps they play grab ass all night much better to sleep in your own bed .. now at our school if someone qualifys for state be it FFA , FBLA, basketball , football whatever .. the supt. Will ussually tell us to take them somewhere nice and feed them on the schools dime .. when we do.have over night trips the club, team , or organization is in charge of paying for motel rooms ... Sounds to me like they need a fundraiser or a booster club.

[old_school_hawg]

Ok.... Taking issue with the consolidation thing. I have taught and coached for 23 years at the 5a and 1a levels. The last 13 the 1a. Nobody has mentioned that most of the smaller districts achieve higher and are run more efficient than the larger districts. I mean, it is LR that is not able to take care of business here. Our school ranks in the top 5 in math and literacy and have an 83% college attendance rate and a 50% college grad rate. Not to mention a great, safe environment. Our teacher-student ratio is 13:1 and We have one of the best distance learning labs in the state. We are the ONLY school in Arkansas that you can graduate and boast 45 hours of college credit. We always end in the black and have never even been close to fiscal distress. In my opinion, the larger schools need to cut down their waste... Start there before you shut down higher achieving, more efficient machines. Without using names, I will give you an example: a district near us has been in fiscal distress the past five years because they built a basketball shrine instead of a nice, practical gymnasium, which is absurd. Now, tell me why we should close down the smaller districts? Ridiculous.

[Wildbill]

Close down about 50-75 of the tiny districts and use that money to bolster the bigger districts. Combine administration into one county district for each of the counties and save another 100mil or so each year.

Consolidation would fix alot of the financial problems in the Arkansas school system, but no one has the guts to do it.

ys
Yes you could close a bunch of smaller schools, but then you would lose many students from playing sports.  Smaller schools are so much more about family than the big ones.  Test scores are always better too.  Thats a fact!

[rtr]

ys
Yes you could close a bunch of smaller schools, but then you would lose many students from playing sports.  Smaller schools are so much more about family than the big ones.  Test scores are always better too.  Thats a fact!

Sorry, don't buy your premise one bit.

[hobhog]

Sounds like LRSD suffers from poor leadership.

They don't do what's best for kids because they are bias. But Private schools in LR are great.

Little Rock is a great town.

[HossHog]

Hot Springs, Lakeside, and Lake Hamilton are too large to merge IMO but I do believe Cutter Morning Star should merge with Hot Springs, Fountain lake should merge with Lakeside, and Mountain Pine should merge with Lake Hamilton.

Not everyone wants to go to a highschool with 700 people. I went to a small school and would much rather be at a 3A or 4A than 7A. But this is all just what different people prefer. 

[HossHog]

ys
Yes you could close a bunch of smaller schools, but then you would lose many students from playing sports.  Smaller schools are so much more about family than the big ones.  Test scores are always better too.  Thats a fact!

This is a good point about the sports. Kids who start in basketball at the 3A level wouldn't have a chance at the 6A or 7A at most schools.

[onebadrubi]

Happens everywhere. Kids going to nationals for things like FCCLA have to foot their own hotel bill in Nashville this year. And the state basically forces them to stay at a sponsor hotel downtown and they aren't cheap.

If the state isn't paying then they should have no say so in where you have to stay

[Inhogswetrust]

Hot Springs, Lakeside, and Lake Hamilton are too large to merge IMO but I do believe Cutter Morning Star should merge with Hot Springs, Fountain lake should merge with Lakeside, and Mountain Pine should merge with Lake Hamilton.

Magnet Cove would be attractive..................

[ricepig]

LRSD has no school board.  You have to appeal to the Supe. Poore and he marches to Education Director Johnny Key's drum.  Poore moved down from Bentonville, Key from Mt. Home.  Something missing here?

Yeah, about 20 years too late, that's what's missing.

[ricepig]

Ok.... Taking issue with the consolidation thing. I have taught and coached for 23 years at the 5a and 1a levels. The last 13 the 1a. Nobody has mentioned that most of the smaller districts achieve higher and are run more efficient than the larger districts. I mean, it is LR that is not able to take care of business here. Our school ranks in the top 5 in math and literacy and have an 83% college attendance rate and a 50% college grad rate. Not to mention a great, safe environment. Our teacher-student ratio is 13:1 and We have one of the best distance learning labs in the state. We are the ONLY school in Arkansas that you can graduate and boast 45 hours of college credit. We always end in the black and have never even been close to fiscal distress. In my opinion, the larger schools need to cut down their waste... Start there before you shut down higher achieving, more efficient machines. Without using names, I will give you an example: a district near us has been in fiscal distress the past five years because they built a basketball shrine instead of a nice, practical gymnasium, which is absurd. Now, tell me why we should close down the smaller districts? Ridiculous.

And this school is located where?