Hempstead County officials have been served with the federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Attorney John Walker on behalf of Mineral Springs School District Superintendent Curtis Turner, Jr. and Board of Education members Mike Erwin, William Dixon, Dorthy Vaughn, Shelia Jackson, Ray Hawkins, Jamie Jackson and Zemera Newton. The document was filed with the office of Hempstead County Judge Haskell Morse.
Judge Morse issued this statement Saturday via email, "We were served this past week and I have read parts of it. It is 313 pages long. I have contacted our lawyers in Little Rock and Hot Springs, and made copies available to them and they can handle it." Unquote.
Hempstead County Clerk Sandra Rodgers, when asked Friday, said, "I haven't read it." Unquote.
The lawsuit also includes as defendants Arkansas Education Commissioner Johnny Key, the Arkansas Department of Education, and the members of the Arkansas State Board of Education. (Saratoga Arkansas Digest is currently working on confirming the possibility of another individual and entity being added to an amended filing.)
The suit contains several allegations against the defendants alleging, among other things, diminishing of the quality of education of black students. The lawsuit alleges state officials "encouraged white students and black athletes to transfer from Mineral Springs to the Nashville School District."
Mineral Springs is alleging revenue was diverted the past several years from SWEPCO's John Turk Power Plant near McNab, which is located within the boundaries of the old Saratoga School District. Parts of the power plant are also in the Hope School District.
The 2013 Fiscal Distress finding and the state takeover of the Mineral Springs School District and alleged denied benefits for free and reduced lunches are also contained in the lawsuit.
Turner was appointed superintendent by then Arkansas Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell after the state took over the district and dissolved the school board. His contract has subsequently been extended by the school board. Kimbrell ordered the closing of the Saratoga Elementary School as part of the state takeover.
special thanks to Saratoga, AR Digest
Judge Morse issued this statement Saturday via email, "We were served this past week and I have read parts of it. It is 313 pages long. I have contacted our lawyers in Little Rock and Hot Springs, and made copies available to them and they can handle it." Unquote.
Hempstead County Clerk Sandra Rodgers, when asked Friday, said, "I haven't read it." Unquote.
The lawsuit also includes as defendants Arkansas Education Commissioner Johnny Key, the Arkansas Department of Education, and the members of the Arkansas State Board of Education. (Saratoga Arkansas Digest is currently working on confirming the possibility of another individual and entity being added to an amended filing.)
The suit contains several allegations against the defendants alleging, among other things, diminishing of the quality of education of black students. The lawsuit alleges state officials "encouraged white students and black athletes to transfer from Mineral Springs to the Nashville School District."
Mineral Springs is alleging revenue was diverted the past several years from SWEPCO's John Turk Power Plant near McNab, which is located within the boundaries of the old Saratoga School District. Parts of the power plant are also in the Hope School District.
The 2013 Fiscal Distress finding and the state takeover of the Mineral Springs School District and alleged denied benefits for free and reduced lunches are also contained in the lawsuit.
Turner was appointed superintendent by then Arkansas Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell after the state took over the district and dissolved the school board. His contract has subsequently been extended by the school board. Kimbrell ordered the closing of the Saratoga Elementary School as part of the state takeover.
special thanks to Saratoga, AR Digest
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