The Little Rock School Board voted to censure a board member at a meeting Thursday. A resolution was read calling out the alleged behavior of board member Vicki Hatter. At the same meeting, board member Sandrekkia Morning mentioned plans to resign. She said she hoped the board would “grow in harmony with each other.”
LRSD board tension
On August 15, Superintendent Jermall Wright announced his plans to step down from his position. The announcement came in a letter, a week into the school year. Wright had led the district for two years.
Four days later, community members asked him at a meeting not to leave his position. Many cited positive aspects of his work performance and the need for stability in a district that has had much superintendent turnover.
Community members called out board member Vicki Hatter as being the source of Wright's decision to step down. Hatter is typically very outspoken in meetings, often verbally sparring with her fellow board members.
On September 12, Wright made the decision to stay in his role. This was after the board voted to give him a raise of 3.7%.
At the last several board meetings, the board went into executive session to discuss “the possible disciplining of a board member,” but did not say who.
The censure was read aloud by board member Leigh Ann Wilson. The resolution listed several accusations against Hatter. It said she violated the Code of Conduct where it says: “Interaction between the superintendent and Board members will be constructive, open, productive and mutually respectful.”
The censure described her as being “repeatedly disrespectful in board meetings.”
The resolution also says Hatter violated rules about visiting schools without telling the superintendent. Another allegation says Hatter was slated to go to board member training in Orlando, Fla., in July 2023. When it was canceled, she did not repay her cash advance for a year.
After the resolution was read, Hatter responded to the accusations.
“I'll take this witch hunt. I haven't done anything wrong. I am on campus for reasons.”
She said she would not quit and that the censure only existed to keep her “in line.”
The censure passed with only Hatter and Morning voting against it.
The six-hour meeting had moments of tension. Earlier in the meeting, board member Evelyn Callaway suggested having armed guards during board meetings for safety reasons. Wilson disagreed, saying it was a “huge expense” the district could not afford.
“We have not had threats,” Wilson said.
Inaudibly, Hatter mentioned a situation where she felt threatened as a board member. Wilson responded “that was not a threat.”
Hatter later said that board member Michael Mason had mistreated her by “coming at her” in a “threatening manner.” Board member Greg Adams said she would be welcome to bring that up in the executive session.
The resolution to have an armed guard at the meeting was tabled without a vote.
The board also approved a workers' agreement with the Council of Great City Schools, a board development program. The program costs $60,000. There was a $20,000 discount applied if the board unanimously voted to go to the board development.
“I really like the incentive it has here,” board member Anna Strong said.
Hatter was the only member to vote no. She didn't say why, but her vote means the district will have to pay extra for the training.
A Little Rock School District spokesperson said they had no comment when asked by Little Rock Public Radio about Thursday's board meeting.
