Best Interests of Students v. Self Interests of John Walker

Monday night, at a public meeting at Pinnacle View Middle School (PVMS), two parents submitted an alternative plan to those proposed by the Little Rock School District for the empty 70,000 sf building on the PVMS campus. The parents’ pragmatic approach suggested that the Little Rock School District utilize the building to expand campus capacity to accept rising sixth graders from the Pulaski County Special School District. In turn, the Pulaski County Special School District’s Robinson campus would accept rising ninth graders from PVMS. The two campuses are just 3 miles apart on Highway 10.

Collaboration between traditional school districts south of the river. What a concept.

Tuesday morning, Cynthia Howell wrote about it in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Tuesday afternoon, John Walker referenced it in a filing to U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall, Jr. and mischaracterized the parent initiative by writing: “on information and belief, it appears that the PCSSD and LRSD are engagedIn discussion regarding obligations and possible repurposing the Robinson schools and the Pinnacle View school in the LRSD.”

To our knowledge, they are not. But if they are, it’s about time.

Little Rock, Central Arkansas and the entire State of Arkansas will not grow or thrive until the best interests of students are prioritized over the self interests of adults, in this case, John Walker’s.

His latest, knee-jerk federal court filing embodies everything that’s wrong with public education in the county. Unitary status for PCSSD cannot come soon enough.

The irony in all of this is that individual parents do not need to wait on John Walker, LRSD or PCSSD. If it has capacity, PVMS is already available to LRSD students via School Choice. And Robinson is available to LRSD students in the same way. Simply complete and submit the School Choice Application by May1st. http://www.arkansased.gov/public/userfiles/Public_School_Accountability/Equity_Assistance/School_Choice_Application_2015.pdf

The only issue is whether or not the adults in charge, who claim they want everyone in traditional public education, will buck the status quo politics and create the capacity to meet immediate overwhelming demand.

Over John Walker’s and former LRSD board members’ strenuous objections, parents made Pinnacle View Middle School happen. If there’s a rematch, we’re betting on the parents.

P.S. When the Intervenors’ attorney can’t even spell “Schoool” correctly, you know he’s in a hurry.

Text of filing below. Actual filing attached.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

WESTERN DIVISION 

LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT PLAINTIFF 

v. 4:82cv866DPM 

PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL 

SCHOOOL (SIC) DISTRICT, ET AL. DEFENDANT 

MRS. LORENE JOSHUA, ET AL. INTERVENORS 

Intervenors’ Motion to Defer Hearing on Facilities 

to a Date After November 1, 2018 

The Court has indicated that it will make further visits to PCSSD schools –College Station, Fuller, Harris and Sylvan Hills. Intervenors counsel suggest that the hearing set for Monday, September 24, 2018 be deferred and reset subsequent to the Court’s visits to said schools.

Further, on information and belief, it appears that the PCSSD and LRSD are engaged In discussion regarding obligations and possible repurposing the Robinson schools and the Pinnacle View school in the LRSD.

Joshua submits that judicial economy would be best served by rescheduling the hearing. 

Respectfully submitted, 

/s/ John W. Walker 

 John W. Walker

JOHN W. WALKER, P.A. 

1723 Broadway 

Little Rock, Arkansas 72206 

501-374-3758 

501-374-4187 (facsimile) 

Email: [email protected] 

Robert Pressman 

Austin Porter 

Certificate of Service

I do hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing Motion has been filed utilizing the CM/ECF system wherein a copy will be automatically served upon all counsel of record on this 18th day of September, 2017.

/s/ John W. Walker 


Download the PDF here.

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