The Little Rock School Board made no decision regarding the resignation of Superintendent Jermall Wright at a meeting Monday evening.
Last week, Wright announced his intention to step down from his position leading the Little Rock School District. During a special board meeting Monday, several community members asked the board to reject his resignation or for Wright to reconsider his choice. Wright has said he plans to stay on as superintendent until a replacement is chosen.
Board members then convened an executive session. They emerged having made no decisions on whether or not to accept his resignation. Wright has been in the position for about two years.
The LRSD has been through about seven superintendents in the past ten years. State Sen. Linda Chesterfield, D-Little Rock, said the district had been playing “musical chairs.”
“This district needs stability,” she said. “Our children need stability.”
Chesterfield acknowledged the board may be forced to accept Wright's resignation, but asked them not to.
Several community members argued Wright was stepping down after board members made the job unpleasant, expressing their belief that board member behavior was a motivating factor behind Wright's decision. Throughout his two years on the job, Zone 6 Board Member Vicki Hatter has regularly engaged in verbal tussles with Wright and other members of the board.
Angela Mole, a parent of a student in the district, addressed Hatter directly.
“I have been more than discouraged by your display, Ms. Hatter,” she said, also praising Wright for his "tolerance of sitting through board meeting after board meeting being belittled.”
Mole said Wright was the first LRSD superintendent she had seen who “really cared," adding that board member Sandrekkia Morning was also disruptive during meetings.
Parent Melanie Kramer said she had seen Wright be “verbally attacked” at “meetings that never end.”
She said her children ages 8 and 10 watch the board meetings because they are entertained by the fighting.
A disagreement ensued when Morning interrupted the meeting to explain herself. After a tense back-and-forth, she was told she was out of order.
The board was called into executive session to discuss three topics: the resignation, a possible interim superintendent, and the possibility of disciplining an unspecified board member. Hatter did not vote on the motion to go into executive session.
When board members came back after the meeting was over, they said they had made no decisions. Wright was not present when members came out of executive session.
“I just want people in the community to know that we've been through hard things before, we're going to be successful in this endeavor,” said Board Member Leigh Ann Wilson before the meeting was adjourned.
