PINE BLUFF, Arkansas — The Pine Bluff School District is one step closer to local control once again.
On Thursday, the Arkansas Board of Education voted for a new board to take over. It will comprise local community members to decide the future of the district.
The school district has been under state control for five years, and with little being done to bring it up to standard, the district will now have a board with "limited authority," meaning Secretary of Education Johnny Key will continue to have the final say.
There are seven people who have been appointed to the new board:
- Dr. Stephen Broughton – Interventional Fellow, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Lozanne Calhoun – Vice President for Student Affairs, Southeast Arkansas College
- Dr. Charles Colen – Professor and Chair, UAPB Department of Industrial Technology Management and Applied Engineering
- Jomeka Edwards – Newborn Screening Laboratory Manager, Arkansas Department of Health
- Lori Guelache – Assistant Director, City of Pine Bluff
- Dr. Sederick Charles Rice – Site Director, UAPB HBCU Med-Track Program
- Ricky L. Whitmore, Jr. – Counselor Intern, Pinnacle Pointe Outpatient Clinic (Sheridan), and Counselor Trainee, Community Counseling Clinic (Little Rock)
While the Arkansas Board of Education approved Key's new recommendations, the new board members will need to get training before being installed.
"The new board members are very impressive and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their new role," Key said. "I am encouraged that the students of the Pine Bluff School District will benefit greatly from their leadership, and I look forward to continuing our work with the new board and Superintendent Warren."
In 2018, the state listed declining student enrollment, excessive spending and shrinking revenue as reasons for assuming control.
State leaders hope to have the new board up and running in January.