A new lawsuit was filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court that aims to strike down a part of the Arkansas LEARNS Act.The lawsuit filed on behalf of Arkansans from Phillips, White and Pulaski counties claims the Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva and the state board of education were in the wrong when it voted and agreed to enter into a “transformation contract” in regards to the Marvell-Elaine School District. The lawsuit states the school district was deemed “in need of Level 5-Intensive Support” in December, and in April, the school board was stripped of its authority to govern and directed Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva to act as the district’s school board. According to court documents, the school district had been permitted a waiver by the state board of education in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years regarding consolidation for districts with student enrollment less than the state-designated minimum of 350.According to court documents, on May 5, Director Oliva and the state board of education held a special meeting in Little Rock to discuss on a “transformation contract.” The lawsuit stated it was held during a work day and miles away from the Marvell-Elaine School District. The lawsuit states the “transformation contract” is located in the emergency clause of the Arkansas LEARNS Act, but because state lawmakers did not follow parliamentary procedures, it is invalid. The lawsuit claims lawmakers in the Senate and the House did not hold a separate roll call to approve the emergency declaration, which is required by the Arkansas Constitution. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office responded to the lawsuit saying it “has no merit.”The response went on to say, “Chamber procedure for this session did not deviate from the process that has been followed by the House and Senate for decades. Democrats and liberal activists in this state are playing politics with kids’ futures while trying to protect the failed status quo. With the Legislature’s passage and Governor Sanders’ signature, LEARNS became the law in Arkansas. The Governor is confident in the process that was followed as well as the transformational, bold change it will bring to kids, educators and parents.”
A new lawsuit was filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court that aims to strike down a part of the Arkansas LEARNS Act.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of Arkansans from Phillips, White and Pulaski counties claims the Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva and the state board of education were in the wrong when it voted and agreed to enter into a “transformation contract” in regards to the Marvell-Elaine School District.
The lawsuit states the school district was deemed “in need of Level 5-Intensive Support” in December, and in April, the school board was stripped of its authority to govern and directed Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva to act as the district’s school board.
According to court documents, the school district had been permitted a waiver by the state board of education in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years regarding consolidation for districts with student enrollment less than the state-designated minimum of 350.
According to court documents, on May 5, Director Oliva and the state board of education held a special meeting in Little Rock to discuss on a “transformation contract.” The lawsuit stated it was held during a work day and miles away from the Marvell-Elaine School District.
The lawsuit states the “transformation contract” is located in the emergency clause of the Arkansas LEARNS Act, but because state lawmakers did not follow parliamentary procedures, it is invalid. The lawsuit claims lawmakers in the Senate and the House did not hold a separate roll call to approve the emergency declaration, which is required by the Arkansas Constitution.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office responded to the lawsuit saying it “has no merit.”
The response went on to say, “Chamber procedure for this session did not deviate from the process that has been followed by the House and Senate for decades. Democrats and liberal activists in this state are playing politics with kids’ futures while trying to protect the failed status quo. With the Legislature’s passage and Governor Sanders’ signature, LEARNS became the law in Arkansas. The Governor is confident in the process that was followed as well as the transformational, bold change it will bring to kids, educators and parents.”
