Rural Special gets waiver

Rural Special School Supt. Delena Thompson appeared before the Arkansas Board of Education last month and received a standards waiver to the regulation requiring a full-time superintendent.

Thompson explained to the board that the district anticipates a $200,000 shortfall in revenue versus anticipated expenses so they are looking for ways to counter that, one being having a part-time superintendent.

Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva commented, “I personally think we have way too many restrictions on standards that handcuff this kind of innovation.” He noted that districts with limited resources are in the position of asking “Why do we have to have these mandated positions that are not meeting our needs?” That puts unnecessary burdens on budgets, he said, and the state has formed a task force to review requirements that are not tied directly to student learning.

He thanked Thompson for her willingness to work at a reduced rate to support her school’s chance of success, and said he believes a waiver fits with the spirit of the law allowing isolated districts to regain independent status.
“If communities feel like they can better serve students in a different environment than they’re currently being served, why would we stifle that?”

Oliva noted that the four districts striving to operate independently would not be making the effort if the communities had not voted overwhelming to do so.
“If we can improve student outcomes, that’s what we stand for.”

In discussion about future needs for the position, Oliva commented that districts with small enrollments (Rural Special anticipates beginning with 206 students, Thompson said), may not need all the administrative personnel the state requires.
“They can hire really good teachers and navigate a lot of that administrative bureaucracy themselves, and then be a part of an educational cooperative,” he said. “They only have enough resources to focus on classrooms and that’s what districts should be focusing on.”

A state board member asked how the district is handling extracurricular offerings that smaller schools cannot provide.
Thompson said Rural Special has petitioned the Arkansas Activities Association to continue the extracurricular aspect that governed the school previously under consolidation, and it comes up for a vote this summer.

A board member asked if the staffing requirements are based in rules or in legislation, and Oliva answered that rules typically mirror legislation, so it will be something for further consideration. He noted that the staffing requirements have been around for decades “so it’s time to re-imagine some of that.”

Oliva requested that the board receive an update on the district’s progress in a few months.