It’s time for the Pine Bluff School Board to begin the process of re-accreditation. The district isn’t regionally accredited, and that’s a problem.
A huge problem, as we see it.
On Sept. 20, the board voted 4-3 to reject a measure that would have the district start the process toward regional accreditation. This development came in response to Superintendent Michael Robinson asking the board to allow him to begin the task. Robinson has said the lack of accreditation is unfairly hurting graduates who have applied to certain colleges.
And we agree.
Board members Herman Horace, Harold Jackson, Leon Jones and Andrea Roaf-Little opposed the measure, while Henry Dabner, Phyllis Wilkins and Stephen Bronskill supported it.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
During a brief discussion, Roaf-Little said she wants Robinson to explain the benefits of accreditation and does not know why it was stopped under previous Superintendent Linda Watson.
Kenny Pennington, director of AdvancED, reported the district is not regionally accredited.
AdvancED is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that accredits primary and secondary schools throughout the United States and internationally.
Pennington has said he tried to meet with Watson during her tenure as superintendent with the goal of getting the district re-accredited regionally, but he could not get her to visit with him. Watson has repeatedly said she cannot talk about the issue under the terms of a lawsuit she settled with the district after her termination last year.
The district lost its accreditation under Watson’s tenure; however, the details of why that happened exactly remain a mystery.
Board member Leon Jones said at an Oct. 4 work session meeting that he opposes spending money on an outside entity to evaluate the district when Pine Bluff educators know their district’s strengths and weaknesses. Jones called Robinson a “third eye,” meaning that he is knowledgeable to see and discern.
We agree with board member Phyllis Wilkins, who said at that same Oct. 4 work session that accreditation “gives the community a sense that you have passed all the marks and you are ready to be at the top level in terms of giving care to your patients. It is very important. It means we are open for business and we have the best workers and staff.”
School board members, please consider allowing your superintendent to do his job and begin the process of re-accreditation. Each and every one of you know that a vibrant, healthy school district is vital to a local economy. And right now, the Pine Bluff School District isn’t up to par on so many levels.
This could be one giant step in the right direction for our district. We urge you all to take action and make re-accreditation happen. Do it for our community, do it for our teachers, but most of all, do it for our children.