Education Board Approves Making Changes In Consolidation Rules

The state Education Board today gave its interim director the go ahead to consider revisions of rules governing consolidation of smaller school districts. But the board told temporary director Tom Courtway to not go too far in trying to interpret the Legislatures wishes. Courtway said he and state Education Department lawyer Scott Smith would work over the weekend and inform the board of any changes in the provision on Monday. Courtway is due to go back before a legislative committee Wednesday. Legislators may clarify the rules when they go back into session next week. The Legislature is in recess from a lengthy special session that ended earlier this month. At issue with the consolidation rules is how districts with fewer than 350 students are to proceed in merging with other districts. The consolidation law came about as the Legislature worked to address a court order to improve Arkansas public schools.