School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – Little Rock School District – July 16, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Little Rock School District
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: Agenda Meeting/Board Work Session - Jul 16 2026
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-16
• City: Little Rock
• County: Pulaski
• State: arkansas
• Meeting Source URL: https://lrsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&id=225
• Meeting Listing URL: https://lrsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingTypeList.aspx
• Public Body Website: https://www.lrsd.org/page/board-of-education
• Meeting Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp-9-yeSiWRWIz0JpSwSeEw/streams
• Video Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp-9-yeSiWRWIz0JpSwSeEw

What Community Members Should Know

The July 16 board work session centers on several long-term issues that will shape the Little Rock School District over the coming years rather than immediate votes. Among the most significant topics are planning for the opening of the new West Little Rock High School in fall 2027, revisions to the district's Student Handbook and Code of Conduct, updates on early literacy initiatives, and organizational restructuring intended to improve student attendance and well-being.

One of the biggest discussions concerns how the district should draw attendance boundaries and determine the initial grade configuration for the new West Little Rock High School. District leaders emphasize that these decisions will influence enrollment patterns, staffing, transportation, athletics, academic offerings, and the future stability of Central, Parkview, Southwest, and Hall High Schools.

The board will also receive academic updates highlighting the district's literacy strategy and results from a state-funded high-impact tutoring initiative. The tutoring program operated under a $720,000 state grant using an outcomes-based contract focused on supporting third-grade students at risk of retention, with actual payments totaling $642,044.

Governance and policy issues also receive substantial attention. Board members will review a substantially revised Student Handbook and Code of Conduct, discuss possible governance coaching through the Council of the Great City Schools, consider updated public comment procedures, and examine the superintendent's evaluation framework for the coming school year.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Early Literacy Strategy and Intervention Systems

District administrators will present an overview of early literacy instruction from the earliest grades through intervention services. The presentation explains the district's emphasis on phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and reading comprehension while describing how students receive Tier 1 classroom instruction alongside Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions when additional support is needed.

Staff will also explain how assessments and ongoing progress monitoring help identify students needing additional assistance. This is an informational update intended to demonstrate how literacy initiatives align with the district's strategic goal of improving meaningful learning experiences.

High-Impact Tutoring and Outcomes-Based Contracting

The board will review results from participation in Arkansas' High-Impact Tutoring Grant Program established through the LEARNS Act. To improve competitiveness for grant funding, LRSD participated in an outcomes-based contracting initiative with state partners and implemented tutoring through the vendor On Your Mark.

The tutoring focused primarily on third-grade students considered at risk of retention because of literacy performance. Rather than simply purchasing tutoring hours, the outcomes-based approach links payments to student outcomes. The presentation will review academic results together with the associated payment structure.

Planning for West Little Rock High School

Perhaps the meeting's most consequential operational discussion involves preparations for the new West Little Rock High School scheduled to open in fall 2027.

District staff developed multiple attendance boundary scenarios and examined different grade configuration models after reviewing projected enrollment, facility capacity, transportation demands, staffing needs, specialized academic programs, and community impacts.

Officials stress that the decisions must preserve Central High School's role as the district's flagship comprehensive high school, maintain Parkview's magnet identity, continue stabilizing Southwest High School, and preserve Hall High School's intentionally smaller educational model.

Board members are not expected to make final decisions during this meeting. Instead, staff seek feedback that will refine future recommendations before formal board action.

District Organizational Restructuring

Superintendent Jermall D. Wright will present proposed organizational changes for the 2026-2027 school year.

The Community Schools Department would become part of the Culture, Climate, and Well-Being Department under Crystal Green-Braswell. In addition, district attendance operations would also move into the same department.

District leadership says consolidating climate, wellness, community schools, and attendance functions is intended to improve coordination and strengthen efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism through unified systems and shared resources.

Student Handbook and Code of Conduct Revisions

Board members will review an extensively revised draft of the 2026-2027 Student Handbook before it returns for final approval.

Major revisions include a new Statement of Responsibility shared by students, families, and staff; expanded due process protections; stronger equity language; additional definitions; updated disciplinary procedures emphasizing restorative practices; integration of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS); updated guidance on artificial intelligence and academic honesty; expanded employee responsibilities; QR-code access to disciplinary workflows; information about the STOPit anonymous reporting system; and incorporation of the district's revised cell phone policy.

District leaders describe the revisions as an effort to improve clarity, consistency, fairness, transparency, and legal compliance.

Board Governance Development

The board will discuss a proposal from the Council of the Great City Schools to provide governance coaching over as much as a two-year period.

The proposal begins with an evaluation of board performance followed by development of a customized governance improvement plan. Potential services include leadership training, strategic planning support, board self-evaluations, superintendent evaluation support, budget alignment, community engagement, and ongoing coaching during board meetings.

Board members are also seeking clarification from the Arkansas Department of Education regarding whether participation would count toward required board training hours.

Board Procedures and Community Engagement

Several governance discussions focus on improving board operations.

Members will review possible revisions to public comment language designed to encourage respectful and civil participation during meetings. They will also discuss the "Get In The Zone" concept, intended to increase board engagement with every school community while providing more equitable recognition of accomplishments across the district.

Financial Matters

The largest financial discussion involves the state's High-Impact Tutoring Grant. LRSD received a $720,000 grant through the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to support literacy tutoring using an outcomes-based contract. Actual payments under the contract totaled $642,044, and district staff report there was no local financial impact because the program was state funded.

The proposed Council of the Great City Schools governance coaching begins with an evaluation and report at no cost. If the board approves a full coaching agreement, the contract could total up to $40,000 over two years, with annual fees of $20,000 plus allowable travel expenses under the proposed agreement.

The organizational restructuring and Student Handbook revisions are both reported as having no additional financial impact, with implementation expected to occur using existing district resources.

District staff note that future decisions regarding attendance boundaries and grade configuration for West Little Rock High School will have operational and financial implications involving staffing, transportation, athletics, instructional programming, and facility utilization, although no final costs are presented at this stage.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

The principal policy item is the revised Student Handbook and Code of Conduct. Proposed changes strengthen due process protections, incorporate restorative discipline practices, clarify employee responsibilities, modernize guidance regarding artificial intelligence, improve behavioral definitions, and provide greater transparency for students and families.

The board will also discuss governance matters including its superintendent evaluation framework for 2026-2027, potential governance coaching through the Council of the Great City Schools, and revised public comment procedures intended to promote respectful participation.

Most governance items are presented for discussion and board feedback rather than immediate approval.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

Academic leaders will provide a comprehensive literacy update describing instructional practices, intervention systems, assessment strategies, and district progress in supporting early readers.

Staff will present results from the outcomes-based tutoring initiative, including student outcome information connected to the state's literacy grant.

Administrators will also present comparative analyses of attendance boundary options and grade configuration scenarios for the future West Little Rock High School, giving board members data to guide future policy decisions.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

The primary personnel-related discussion concerns organizational restructuring rather than staffing reductions or new hiring.

The Community Schools Department and district attendance operations would move under the Culture, Climate, and Well-Being Department to create a more coordinated approach to student support and chronic absenteeism.

The board will also discuss the annual framework used to evaluate Superintendent Jermall D. Wright during the 2026-2027 school year. No changes from the previous evaluation framework are recommended.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

Planning for the new West Little Rock High School represents the district's largest ongoing facilities initiative.

District leaders are evaluating attendance boundaries, enrollment projections, transportation impacts, staffing models, facility utilization, and whether the school should open immediately as a complete grades 9-12 campus or use a phased implementation approach.

Operational planning is intended to ensure long-term sustainability while minimizing disruption for students and families and preserving specialized programs at existing high schools.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Board feedback will be gathered during discussion of attendance boundary options, grade configuration for West Little Rock High School, and the draft Student Handbook.

Public comment remains part of regular board meetings, and the board will discuss revised introductory language intended to clarify expectations for respectful public participation.

No separate public hearings or additional community input deadlines are identified in the packet.

Community Impact

Students and families could eventually experience changes to high school attendance boundaries, transportation patterns, school assignments, and grade configurations as planning continues for West Little Rock High School.

Elementary students who need additional literacy support may continue benefiting from intervention strategies and evidence-based tutoring programs supported through state funding.

Families and students will likely see clearer expectations and disciplinary procedures if the revised Student Handbook is ultimately adopted, including updated guidance regarding student rights, due process, restorative practices, technology use, and behavioral expectations.

District employees may experience organizational reporting changes as attendance and Community Schools functions become part of the Culture, Climate, and Well-Being Department.

Taxpayers have an interest in both the efficient use of the $720,000 state tutoring grant and any future decision regarding a governance coaching agreement costing up to $40,000 over two years.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• Which attendance boundary option best balances enrollment while minimizing disruption for current students?
• How will transportation times change under each West Little Rock High School zoning proposal?
• What academic results were achieved through the outcomes-based tutoring program?
• How will the district measure success for the reorganized Culture, Climate, and Well-Being Department?
• Which Student Handbook revisions are expected to have the greatest impact on students and families?
• How will restorative practices be implemented consistently across schools?
• What criteria will determine whether West Little Rock High School opens with all four grades or through phased implementation?
• What measurable outcomes would justify spending up to $40,000 on board governance coaching?
• Will the Council of the Great City Schools training qualify for required Arkansas board training credit?
• What additional community engagement will occur before attendance boundaries are finalized?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 16, 2026: Board work session and discussion of all agenda topics.
• Fall 2027: Planned opening of West Little Rock High School.
• 2026-2027 School Year: Proposed organizational restructuring would take effect if implemented.
• 2026-2027 School Year: Revised Student Handbook is expected to return to the board for final approval following review and feedback.
• 2026-2027: Superintendent evaluation framework will guide the annual evaluation process if adopted.
• August 1, 2026: Proposed start date for the Council of the Great City Schools governance coaching agreement if approved.
• July 31, 2028: Proposed end of the two-year governance coaching agreement.

Key Takeaways

• Early literacy and intervention systems remain a major district priority.
• LRSD received a $720,000 state tutoring grant with $642,044 in actual payments.
• Planning continues for West Little Rock High School's fall 2027 opening.
• Attendance boundaries and grade configuration remain under discussion rather than final approval.
• District leaders propose consolidating Community Schools and attendance operations into the Culture, Climate, and Well-Being Department.
• A substantially revised Student Handbook emphasizes restorative practices and due process.
• Updated handbook language addresses artificial intelligence, cell phone policies, and anonymous reporting.
• Governance coaching could cost up to $40,000 over two years if later approved.
• Public comment procedures may be revised to encourage respectful participation.
• Most major items are discussion sessions intended to guide future board decisions rather than immediate final action.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://lrsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&id=225
• Meeting listing: https://lrsd.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingTypeList.aspx
• Public body website: https://www.lrsd.org/page/board-of-education
• Meeting video: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp-9-yeSiWRWIz0JpSwSeEw/streams
• Video channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp-9-yeSiWRWIz0JpSwSeEw

About the Public Body

• Name: Little Rock School District
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: Little Rock, arkansas
• County: Pulaski
• Provider: diligent-community

Keywords

Little Rock School District, LRSD, Board of Education, Agenda Meeting, Board Work Session, early literacy, literacy intervention, high-impact tutoring, LEARNS Act, outcomes-based contracting, On Your Mark, West Little Rock High School, attendance zones, grade configuration, Student Handbook, Code of Conduct, restorative practices, MTSS, PBIS, chronic absenteeism, Community Schools, Culture Climate and Well-Being, Council of the Great City Schools, superintendent evaluation, public comment, governance coaching, school boundaries, Arkansas DESE, education policy