Special Session On Education Starts December 8th

Governor Huckabee says he will call a special legislative session on December eighth to work out education improvements. Huckabee says he made the decision Wednesday. The governors announcement in Little Rock comes a day after a special legislative committee wrapped up two days of hearings on how to give Arkansas public school students an adequate education. Legislators tentatively agreed on a funding formula. Consultants recommended to the panel that the state spend 825 million dollars each year to improve the schools. Huckabee had threatened to not call the session if he did not see an agreement with legislators on the horizon. Representative Harmon Seawel of Pocahontas has been working on an alternative plan that he says is close to Huckabees proposal. The governor wants to consolidate high schools in smaller school districts to make reforms affordable and improve curriculum. Rural superintendents and legislators have stridently opposed a cutoff number for consolidation. Huckabee targeted districts with fewer than 1,500 students. Seawel has said the plan he put forth and Huckabees plan are close, and said he was hopeful of a compromise. Huckabee and Seawel each have said they would take their plans to voters. Huckabee says he will continue to develop his plan for an initiated act, but wont put it into action unless the special session fails. Huckabee says he fears the session could end with no agreement or that an agreement could fall short of compliance with the state Supreme Court order to improve public education.