Little Rock School et al v. Pulaski Cty School et al

Filing 5844

ORDER granting 5834 motion; directing UALR to refund all remaining Dr. Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy funds to the Pulaski County Special School District (80%) and the Jacksonville North Pulaski County School District (20%) within a reasonable time after 6/30/2024; and requesting UALR to account to the Districts, in due course, for how the rest of the Donaldson Academy money was spent. Signed by Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. on 4/18/2024. (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

CENTRAL DIVISION
LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT, et a!.

PLAINTIFFS

No. 4:82-cv-866 -DPM

PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT, JACKSONVILLE/NORTH
PULASKI SCHOOL DISTRICT, et a!.

DEFENDANTS

EMILY McCLENDON, TAMARA EACKLES,
VALERIE STALLINGS, TIFFANY ELLIS,
and LINDA MORGAN

INTERVENORS

ORDER

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has decided to
discontinue its administration of the Dr. Charles W. Donaldson

Scholars Academy. The last cohort of students supported by the

program entered in the fall of 2020. The Donaldson Academy did not
survive COVID and personnel attrition.

At the end of the

2023-2024 school year, when the program will close, an estimated

$1.45 million will remain of the $10 million contributed by the Pulaski
County Special School District and the

Jacksonville

North Pulaski

County School District. UALR seeks guidance on how to handle the

leftover money. The Districts move the Court to approve a refund of

the remainder to them (80% PCSSD and 20% JNPSD), with the refund
dedicated to helping pay for the Court-ordered facilities projects.

The McClendon Intervenors oppose this step. They suggest using the
money for another college -preparatory program and for scholarships
for former Donaldson Academy participants who dropped out of
college but have committed to re -enrolling.
No perfect solution exists for this unanticipated development. A

decade ago, the Districts committed $10 million for the Donaldson

Academy as part of their many efforts

at

achieving unitary status in

student achievement. They are now unitary in that area of Plan 2000.
So the Court must hesitate at imposing any new obligation.
But, because the matter involves an obligation already undertaken,

which cannot now be honored 100%, the Court must address the
unforeseen

circumstances.

comprehensive
ACT-focused.

college

preparatory

PCSSD

and JNPSD

programs.

These

have
are

These programs track the original goals of the

Donaldson Academy.
Intervenors

Both

is

The duplicative program proposed by

unlikely to

add

much.

This

leaves

the

college -scholarship and programs slice. The Court appreciates the
Intervenors' willingness to be involved in that recruiting folks to
return to

college.

But the obligations attendant on managing,

disbursing, and monitoring more than a million dollars for
scholarships would be many. Plus the scholars would not have the
supportive group activities provided through UALR and the

Donaldson Academy. Last, the Districts' proposal is sound. They're
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in the short rows but remain under Court supervision on facilities.

Both districts have undertaken substantial projects: PCSSD is
improving Mills University High School in many commendable ways;

while JNPSD is almost done with a complete rebuild of all its facilities
except its

kindergarten/pre-k

center. As the Court has said, this has

been an extraordinary effort.

Construction costs have increased

during the work on all these PCSSD/JNPSD projects. Channeling the
Donaldson Academy refund in support of those efforts, which benefit
minority students and all students, makes good sense.

The Districts' motion, Doc. 5834, is granted. UALR must refund
all remaining Dr. Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy funds to
the Pulaski County Special School District (80%) and the Jacksonville
North Pulaski County School District (20%) within a reasonable time
after 30 June 2024. The Court also requests UALR to account to the
Districts, in due course, for how the rest of the Donaldson Academy

money was spent. As the Intervenors suggest, this report will provide
useful information.
So Ordered.

1 F.
D.P. Marshall Jr.
United States District Judge
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