Editor, The Commercial:
I have always wished the best for the Pine Bluff region. From the outside, I see three new superintendents coming and controversy surrounding the termination of two of them.
I see the misuse of executive sessions in board meetings. As a former teacher in Pine Bluff and advocate for students, I always tried to speak the truth to each superintendent and board member I was privileged to speak to. When I read the May 2nd story about the consultant being allowed to be in the executive session of the school board meeting in Pine Bluff, I was concerned. That is too soft a word for it. Distressed? Disappointed? Frustrated.
Yes, frustrated. I do not know the consulting group except for what the article states. What I do know is this: only the school board and superintendent are allowed to be included in executive session, unless an employee is being disciplined. That does not include consulting groups, legal counsel or anything like that.
Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-106(c) is very clear about that. If a consulting group makes recommendations about employment, they make them to the superintendent. The superintendent takes them to the board. The board then has to make the tough decision about supporting or rejecting those recommendations. Roberts Rules of Order further clarify this, which most school boards claim to follow.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Also, why is the consulting group providing the board with training? The Arkansas School Boards Association provides this training for all new board members.
There is a great amount of potential for greatness in Pine Bluff and its students. As adults, we must set the right example if we expect our children to follow suit. Everything we do as educators should center around one thing: what is best for students.
Eddie Ryan Roberts
Hensley