At a special meeting on Wednesday, the Arkansas State Board of Education authorized the Blytheville School District to sign the state’s second transformation contract.
Public schools with a D or F rating or those designated as needing Level 5 Intensive Support can collaborate with open-enrollment public charter schools or other state-approved organizations to establish a transformation campus through a transformation contract. The partnerships are made possible by the LEARNS Act, a 2023 law that redesigned the state’s K–12 educational system.
Due to persistent academic, budgetary, and administrative problems, the state board dissolved the Blytheville School Board in May and classified the struggling eastern Arkansas district as needing Level 5 Intensive Support. The classification denotes the greatest degree of assistance or intervention from the state.
In order to create a transformation contract for the district’s administrative and educational management, the Arkansas Department of Education released a call for proposals in May.
Eight entities expressed interest, and six of them finished the entire application process, ADE Deputy Commissioner Stacy Smith informed the state board on Wednesday. Smith suggested that the board permit the district to enter into a transformation contract with AMS Impact Group after four made it to the final interviews with a committee in Blytheville.
According to the company website, the charter management firm oversees nine other schools in Arizona in addition to the Academies of Math & Science in Little Rock.
According to Smith, the committee believed the group was dedicated to Blytheville and the community. According to her, AMS personnel lived in the neighborhood for days before conducting interviews, speaking with locals at eateries.
According to Smith, they were among the few organizations who truly had a genuine interest in both managing the school and being involved in the community. To the members of the committee that day, they undoubtedly sold themselves.
ADE staff in Blytheville have already been collaborating with AMS colleagues. Smith stated that they will be in charge of the district’s day-to-day operations, curriculum instructional support, direct staff assistance, and professional development if a contract is accepted. According to her, the organization has also presented a comprehensive strategy for community engagement, which may involve a community advisory board that would offer input on the district’s operations.
“We have a long way to go in Blytheville, but transformation is starting,” Smith said.
Following the board’s unanimous vote to approve Blytheville’s transformation contract, Education Secretary Jacob Olivanoted stated that the decision to disband the board was not made hastily and was the result of a year-long effort to resolve the matter.
According to Oliva, this region was unable to even get a toilet to function. How can we expect pupils to learn while the basic amenities are expected to be inoperable?
According to Oliva, ADE personnel and the community have prioritized making the first day of school ideal for children and families throughout the past two months. “The excitement surrounding Blytheville schools is infectious,” he said, adding that the AMS team has also been on site and interacting with families.
“This is such an exciting time, and we’re going to see monumental gains very quickly because we’re now focused on students and not adults,” Oliva said. Students are telling teachers and administrators that they feel like this may be the first time they genuinely learn something.
In May 2023, the education board authorized the first transformation contract in the state between the Friendship Education Foundation, a charter management business, and the Marvell-Elaine School District.
The original duration of the contract was July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026. The contract may be renewed or terminated early. The deal called for the foundation to receive $200,000 a year for the first term and $50,000 for the transition period, which ended on June 30, 2023.
As a 501c(3) public charity, Arkansas Advocate is a member of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network backed by grants and a coalition of donors. The editorial independence of Arkansas Advocate is maintained. For inquiries, send an email to [email protected] to reach Editor Sonny Albarado.
Partner Content by Arkansas Advocate
It’s dragon-slaying time!
The Arkansas Times, which relentlessly defends the fundamental rights and liberties in our community, stands as a light of truth in an era when critical voices are being silenced more and more. Our commitment to provide uncompromising journalism has never been more important, especially with Arkansas in the center of a broad culture war that is impacting our libraries, schools, and public conversation. We can’t accomplish our goals of defeating dragons and holding those in positions of authority responsible alone. You can guarantee that independent journalism in Arkansas not only endures but flourishes by making a contribution today. We can join the fight and make a difference together.
