Add another moving part to the plans for the Little Rock School District as the city tries to get public feedback on plans to implement community school models in the state's second-largest district.
The program goes into place amid a rise in coronavirus cases and with a school board election scheduled for November as the district emerges from a five-year state takeover.
"We have intentionally pushed this back a few months until we could come to a time where we can have town halls like we're going to have the next two Thursdays," said Dr. Jay Barth, the city's chief education officer.
Dr. Barth got the job last December as Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. promised the community school model as a way to heal a district ripped by labor and leadership strife.
"We have good evidence now that they work," Dr. Barth said, with plans to share that evidence at the virtual town halls set for July 23 and 30.
The online town halls will spell out the four pillars of a community school plan, developed after tours of other cities around the country.
The first pillar is a pledge of wraparound services. like physical and behavioral health care right in the school building. Dr. Barth said mentoring services could also be offered.
"There will be enrichment activities outside of the traditional school day and the traditional school year," the director said of the second pillar that expands the clock and the calendar for schools using the model.
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During those off-hours, the building becomes a community hub, with classes and training for adults like second-language and computer skills.
The added services are paid for thanks to public-private partnerships, meaning outside money gets infused, but with a key difference from public charter schools. The public administration remains in charge.
"These are traditional public schools," Dr. Barth said. "They will remain traditional pubic schools, but they will be traditional public schools where there's additional support."
That figures to make these schools highly coveted. The mayor, Dr. Barth, and the district are all counting input and looking for signs of community involvement.
They need that involvement to get community credibility after five years of distrust for some while under state control.
"In Little Rock, for too long, residents of this community have felt they have had things done to them," Dr. Barth said. "We want to make sure this is a model with the voice of community members."
An announcement from the city says the virtual town halls will be held July 23 and 30 at 6:00 p.m. and can be viewed at LittleRock.gov and the city’s YouTube channel.
The Central Arkansas Library System’s Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library, Urban League of Arkansas, League of Women Voters of Pulaski County, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, Arkansas United, and the City of Little Rock’s Commission on Children, Youth, and Families, and Community Programs have partnered to host the town halls.
The public is also invited to share their thoughts on how the Community Schools Model should be implemented in Little Rock through email at jbarth@littlerock.gov.