By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
The Pulaski County Special School District’s population is up, technology is improving and progress is being made, but Dr. Jerry Guess, the superintendent, said Thursday the district would more than likely remain under state control for two full years—the maximum allowed.
But what Jacksonville resident Rizelle Aaron wanted to know and asked the superintendent was simply, “Who is really running things? Are you in charge, or is Dr. Tom Kimbrell (the state education commissioner) telling you what to do?”
Aaron was one of just a handful of parents and teachers at the district’s annual report to the public in the district’s board room off Dixon Street in Little Rock.
Guess said the report is usually given at a board meeting, but since PCSSD doesn’t have a board he was presenting the information himself. “It’s a privilege and pleasure to give this report,” Guess said. “We’re off to a very good startfor this school year.”
He said the number of students has increased. “Our last count of students, Pre-K to 12, is 17,700. That’s up considerable. I’m glad patrons are returning and seeing that we are offering high-quality education.”
Guess said the meeting was to inform the public on the direction of the district, give an update on test scores and discuss any regulation changes.
In answering Aaron’s question, Guess said the board appoints or hires the superintendent to manage the district’s day-to-day operations.
“Since this district has no school board, Dr. Kimbrell is the school board and he has given me the opportunity to run the day-to-day operations,” said Guess who consults with Kimbrell often.
“Believe me when I say, I have enough responsibility to scare the dickens out of me,” Guess said.
Going through his eight-page report, Guess reminded everyone that the district was placed in fiscal distress by the state, which removed the seven-member board and the former superintendent on June 20.
Guess was hired by Kimbrell, on a one-year contract. “I hope it will be longer,” Guess said. Dr. Don Stewart was brought in as a consultant to provide technical assistance and oversight. William Goff, a certified pubic accounting working in the Arkansas Department of Education was recently named the new chief finance officer.
Guess said that the PCSSD “may remain in fiscal distress and operate with Dr. Kimbrell as its board of education for up to two years.”
Among the positives or improvements that Guess cited were that all schools were fully accredited, and the district had refurbished or refreshed 4,000 computers to advance the district’s technology level, test scores had met standards on test scores for the first time in years and if it can do it again this year the district will be out of school improvement.
“We’ll still have some schools on the improvement list, but the district will be out,” he said.
He said a “big piece of our success” has been increased and improved staff development. Guess said the district was “engaged in an aggressive campaign to implement the new state Common Core standards.”
Guess said the district’s website has been revamped and had 1.6 million hits since April, and that the district has 6,000 friends on Facebook.
He boasted the district opening a high school in Maumelle and a middle school in Sherwood. Guess said everyone involved in the design and construction of the new Sherwood school did a great job. “We’ve had no problems,” he said.
But while he celebrated those two new schools and an elementary school the district opened in Chenal three years ago, not all is rosy with facilities.
“PCSSD facilities average 41 years old with the oldest being built in 1952. As the schools age, the district is experiencing an accelerated rate of system failure. In addition to the stressed infrastructure, many facilities require construction projects in order to comply the Americans with Disabilities Act,” he said.
Guess said to streamline operations, Jacksonville Elementary was closed and the STAR Academy, which was at Jacksonville Middle School, was moved to the high school.
The city of Jacksonville has expressed interest in the closed elementary school and has met with Guess. “It’s a closed school and I’m happy to see Jacksonville express an interest in using it,” the superintendent said. He said he will look at options and consider what is best for the district.
Dr. Robert Clowers, executive director of academic accountability, gave an overview of state and federal mandated test scores. He said the district was improving and doing well at the elementary level, but relatively flat in the middle schools and on the juniorliteracy test.
“We need to do better,” he said, adding that the district was vigorously looking for ways to improve.
