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Waiver could make dismissal for Little Rock and Pine Bluff teachers easier

Teachers and parents with the Little Rock School District are worried a waiver to an education law could put their jobs in jeopardy.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Teachers and parents with the Little Rock School District are worried a waiver to an education law could put their jobs in jeopardy.

The Arkansas Department of Education was set to discuss an agenda item concerning LRSD Thursday, Dec. 13. It would allow them to waive a number of laws since the school is classified as in need of level 5 intensive support.

While the agenda doesn't specify, the Little Rock Educators Association expects the board to motion to waiver the fair dismissal laws for all Little Rock schools.

Fair dismissal laws help protect teachers an put in place steps that must be taken before a teacher can be fired. Last month, the teachers union and Commissioner Key approved a contract waiving the fair dismissal law for the 22 "D" and "F" grade schools.

Key believes this is a win for students because it allows the district to quickly make staffing changes, but the teachers’ union believes it’s unfair to teachers since it takes away their protection.

Because Superintendent Michael Poore couldn't be there Thursday and to give the community more time to respond, the board motioned to move the item to next Thursday, Dec. 20.

Some parents still made public comments at the meeting.

“I feel like the district has a lot of challenges, but focusing on the teachers as the reason for it is unfair and inaccurate. I want to see, if we are to meaningfully improve the performance of schools, we have to focus on evidence based solutions and going after teachers is not the answer,” said Amy Johnson, a LRSD parent.

Fair Dismissal Laws are also being discussed for the Pine Bluff School District. Chair for the Arkansas Department of Education, Dr Jay Barth, expressed at the meeting that the board was not being transparent by not informing the Pine Bluff community about this possibility ahead of time. Because of that, that item too is being moved to next Thursday.

Both the LRSD and PBSD education law waivers will be discussed Thursday, Dec. 20 at 10 a.m.

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