McGill to retire from Academics Plus
Maumelle to continue budget meetings; Letter to the editor; Hogs roll past Fresno State plus sports and headlines
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MEETINGS: The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. The North Little Rock A&P Commission will meet Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 600 Main St. in downtown North Little Rock.
EVENTS: The high school football state championships wrap up Saturday with the 3A and 4A title games at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium, The games will be broadcast on Arkansas PBS and the 3A game features Mansfield against Fordyce at noon with the 4A game to follow 6:30 p.m. and will feature Elkins against Dardanelle. Also, go Redbugs!
McGill to retire from Academics Plus
Rob McGill, above, the CEO of the Academics Plus Charter Schools, recently announced his intention to retire from his position at the completion of the 2025-26 school year.
McGill, 57, has been the CEO for the school system after being named to the position in 2010. He has been in education for over 33 years and served as the acting superintendent for the Pulaski County Special School District before joining Academics Plus.
The system’s Board of Trustees announced that a search for his replacement has begun, and several potential candidates had applied for the position. Board Chairperson Adria Conklin said that the board will continue to accept applications through December and most likely start the interview process in late December and early January.
“Rob McGill has been instrumental in the success [here],,” Conklin said. “He has helped build the school system from one school and 535 students to 4 campuses and almost 2,000 students.”
The system is Maumelle Charter Elementary, Maumelle Charter Middle School, Maumelle High School and Scott Charter School.
“We are working toward having a new CEO in place by early summer 2026,” said Conklin.
Rob McGill’s accomplishments
33 years in education (August 1993 – June 2026)
CEO – Academics Plus – 16 years
Acting superintendent – PCSSD – 16 months
Principal – Pine Forest Elementary – 3 years and 8 months
Principal – Sherwood Elementary – 6 years
Assistant principal – Landmark Elementary – 2 years
Teacher – Pine Forest Elementary – 3 years
Teacher – Jacksonville Elementary – 1 year
Served simultaneously in the Arkansas Army National Guard until retirement in 2007
Accomplishments while at Academics Plus
Created a culture where excellence is expected from students, faculty and staff. With millions of dollars in scholarships, the school has a 100 percent college acceptance rate with students being accepted into some of the most prestigious universities in the nation.
Created higher graduation standards than the state mandates by requiring three concurrent credit/advanced placement classes, two years of foreign language, and four science credits.
Increased student achievement where schools are consistently scoring highly on the state rating systems, U.S. News and World Report, Advance Placement and Schooldigger.com.
Increased student enrollment from 535 in 2010 to currently almost 2000.
In 2020 received a ten-year charter renewal with a student capacity increase to 2000 by increasing 100 students per year. This was after only receiving three-year and five-year renewals previously. The approval was granted due to high student performance and a strong financial position.
With assistance from the Office of Education Policy at the U of A, created a merit pay program based on performance to reward all faculty and staff members for increasing student achievement and rating highly on employee evaluations.
Developed a policy of paying coaches and sponsors stipends for competitive team wins
Facility construction projects
Main 2 story portion of elementary building … $4.2 million
Elementary cafeteria and 17 classrooms … $4.4M
Purchased and remodeled Admin. Office Bldg. … $350,000
Leased, purchased and remodeled portions of Scott Charter School … $825K
Maumelle Charter Middle School/Maumelle Charter High School … $17M
Scott Charter School gym … $3M
Current Maumelle Charter High School … $32.8M
Maumelle to continue budget meetings
The City of Maumelle has already started a series of budget meetings to discuss and plan for the 2026 General Budget. These meetings are open to the public and will be livestreamed on the city’s YouTube page.
All budget meetings will start at 6 p,m. And be held in the Blue Room at City Hall.
For more information, call City Hall at 501-851-2500.
Budget timeline
• Tonight, Dec. 11: Budget Meeting No. 3
• Sunday, Dec.14: If necessary, Budget Meeting No. 4
• Monday, Dec. 15: City Council approval at Regular City Council Meeting
Letter to the editor: Update on Tree Clearing and Traffic Light at Riverland
Dear Editor
The City has issued a citation to Cypress Bay Development LLC, the owner of CCA phase 15, with a District Court date set for Jan. 6. It is anticipated that City Attorney Andrew Thornton will pursue replanting of the illegally cleared 50-foot buffer that occurred on the first three lots, along with potential additional penalties.
At the public meeting before the Dec. 4 Planning Commission Subcommittee Meeting, the business entity that intended to build a restaurant on the first lot withdrew its latest development plan and has no timeline for resubmission. Currently, all six lots have been cleared — three without the required buffer and three with it — and it appears that there are no businesses committed to building on the property.
Responsibility for the violation has been attributed primarily to Cypress Bay Development LLC and Holloway Engineering, the engineering firm associated with the project. However, it is evident that City leadership, including the Planning Director and Mayor, share accountability for inadequate oversight.
Traffic Light at Riverland
The Planning Commission previously recommended a curb cut across the Boulevard at Riverland Drive for a 2nd entrance to the six-lot property. The City Council returned the proposal, requesting removal of a future access connection to Paul Eells Drive in North Little Rock. The Planning Commission is expected to resubmit a revised recommendation to the Council at its Dec. 18 meeting.
Residents concerned about potential safety issues, increased traffic in Riverland and the Country Club of Arkansas, light and noise pollution, and added rush-hour congestion are encouraged to contact the Planning Commission, Planning Director, and Mayor by email or phone. Attending the Planning Commission meeting at 6:30 p.m. on December 18 would have the greatest impact.
Petition
A petition advocating for enhanced landscaping, including trees, at CCA phase 15, and in opposition to the addition of Paul Eells across from Riverland Drive is being circulated by Genoveva Gilbert, President of the Turtle Creek Cove Home Owners Association. To add your name, contact her at genovevagilbert@sbcglobal.net.
Steve Mosley (former Council Member), Maumelle
I was made to listen to this and, if you dare, so should you. It is weird.
Don’t want to cook this Christmas?
There’s some catering options for sides, desserts and mains this Christmas available from local restaurants.
The ones that sent along press releases include:
The Root Cafe: Sides and desserts are available for reasonable prices. The menu is pictured below.
They don’t have an online ordering option, so you can email catering@therootcafe.com to place an order.
Petit & Keet: The holiday menu is either a Half or full Prime Rib Feast. Costing, respectively, $275 or $425 for six or 12 pounds of food. Sides can also be ordered individually.
Click here to order online.
Order deadline for Cypress Social is Saturday, Dec. 20, while the other two are Sunday, Dec. 21 with Dec. 23 and Christmas Eve pickups, depending on the restaurant.
Cypress Social: The holiday menu is a full meal for $195 and includes a 10 pound (!) pineapple-glazed ham, with 10 pounds of sides and dessert. There’s also eight ounces of pineapple glaze included. Sides can also be ordered individually.
This seems like an especially good deal but I’m also the guy assigned to bring paper products to holiday meals. But if you throw an Allison Roman Christmas Day Ham Party, this might be something for you.
To order online, click here.
Christmas North of the River
The Ice Skating Rink at Lakewood is now open through Jan. 4 at 4500 Lakeshore Drive
The North Little Rock Christmas Parade is this Sunday, Dec. 14 and will start at 2:30 p.m.
Click here to sign-up or for more information. For more information on all the exciting things happening in North Little Rock this holiday season, visit: https://northlittlerock.org/holidays/
A Very Merry Maumelle (Key dates)
Ongoing
The Whimsical Trail opens at Lake Willastein Park and features a lighted trail around the lake starting at dark:30 daily.
A Very Merry Maumelle holiday display competition has also started and open to all non-grinches. If your first name is Clark, and you have an elaborate Christmas display at your home, I will personally give you a cash prize. If there’s multiple Clarks, it will be a random draw. Let’s not get crazy here, this place isn’t made of money.
The city will also start a holiday stock the pantries drive.
Spreading Christmas Joy
The annual Christmas at Methodist Family Health is underway and for more information click the logo above or here.
The site will give you a child’s wish list, along with the ability to purchase individual items as well as donate to the “Share the Light” Christmas campaign.
Sports
Arkansas 82, Fresno State 58: Hogs roll with dominant second half
Arkansas didn’t exactly play like a nationally ranked team on Saturday, at least not in the first half, but a win is a win, as the No. 25 Hogs defeated Fresno State, 82-58, in front of 11,534 fans at Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock.
The crowd wasn’t close to a sellout. Feels like $60 seats in the upper bowl might have had something to do with that but the fans were loud regardless.
This was the 26th time Arkansas has played in North Little Rock and the 25th consecutive, with an asterisk, game. The asterisk being the Covid year of 2020, which the Razorbacks skipped and Arkansas played all its games on campus in front of limited crowds.
As for Saturday, Arkansas improved to 7-2 on the season while Fresno State fell to 6-4.
Arkansas coach John Calipari affirmed his commitment to continuing to play central Arkansas in the post-game press conference.
“We’re the state’s basketball team,” Calipari said. “We need to be playing here”
He then rattled off his and team’s appearances while in town for the weekend,
“Last night, I was in North Little Rock,” Calipari said of the tip-off event with the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. “Then I did a function at the [Arkansas Museum for Fine Arts] for our [Razorbacks Foundation] people. Then went to the governor’s mansion and she had us over for a Christmas dinner.”
“ I just want us to make sure we’re giving back to this state. Everywhere I’ve been, it’s not just been about basketball. It’s not just been about the name on the front. It’s about the name on the back. It’s about the community you live in. It’s about the state where you live.”
Darius Acuff led Arkansas with 18 points. Joining him in doubles figures were Meleek Thomas and D.J. Wagner, who both had 12, while Karter Know added 11.
Curiously, Trevon Brazille, whose athleticism in person is jaw-dropping, only had 4 points. Brazzile, a senior, floats in the air, like a normal person would in the deep end of the pool but has been erratic in point production his entire career at Arkansas.
The Razorbacks have the rest of the week off before returning to action next Saturday with a trip to American Airlines Center in Dallas to face Texas Tech in the Revocruit Rematch. The game will tip at 11 a.m. and be broadcast on ESPN2.
Basketball schedules
Maumelle Charter
Boys
Friday, Dec. 12 ... at ... Bald Knob ... 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 16 ... vs ... Pangburn ... 8 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 18 ... vs ... Harding Academy ... 8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 19 ... at ... Wynne ... 2 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 22 ... at ... Ouachita ... 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... at ... Episcopal ... 8 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 9 ... at ... Lisa Academy North ... 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Riverview ... 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Bald Knob ... 5 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Pangburn ... 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Harding Academy ... 8 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... vs ... Lisa Academy North ... 8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.
Girls
Thursday, Dec. 11 ... at ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 12 ... at ... Bald Knob ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 16 ... vs ... Pangburn ... 7 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 18 ... vs ... Harding Academy ... 7 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 22 ... at ... Ouachita ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... at ... Episcopal ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Riverview ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Bald Knob ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Pangburn ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Harding Academy ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Episcopal ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Rose Bud ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 7 p.m.
Maumelle
Boys
Friday, Dec. 12 ... at ... Beebe ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 16 ... at ... Conway ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 19 ... vs ... Parkview ... 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 20 ... vs ... North Little Rock ... 11 a.m
Friday, Jan. 2 ... at ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... vs ... Jacksonville ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 ... at ... Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Beebe ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Catholic ... 7 p.m.
Girls
Friday, Dec. 12 ... at ... Beebe ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 19 ... vs ... Parkview ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 2 ... at ... Morrilton ... 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... vs ... Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 ... at ... Greenbrier ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30 ... vs ... Beebe ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Parkview ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Jacksonville ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Sylvan Hills ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... vs ... Greenbrier ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20 ... at ... Little Rock Christian Academy ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Vilonia ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 27 ... vs ... Mount St. Mary Academy ... 6 p.m.
CAC
Boys
Thursday, Dec. 11 ... vs ... Beebe ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 19 ... at ... Lonoke ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 30 ... vs ... Catholic ... 5:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... vs ... Lisa Academy West ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Robinson ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Lisa Academy West ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... at ... Morrilton ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Robinson ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20 ... vs ... Heber Springs ... 7 p.m.
Girls
Thursday, Dec. 11 ... vs ... Quitman ... 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 12 ... vs ... White County Central ... 6:15 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 19 ... at ... Lonoke ... 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 5 ... at ... Mt. Vernon-Enola ... 6 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 8 ... vs ... South Side ... 7 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 12 ... at ... Faulkner County HomeSchool ... 7 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 15 ... vs ... St. Joseph ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 ... at ... Morrilton ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20 ... vs ... Robinson ... 5 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 23 ... at ... White County Central ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Quitman ... 7 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 29 ... at ... South Side ... 7 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 2 ... vs ... Mt. Vernon-Enola ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... vs ... Bigelow ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Conway Christian ... 5 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... vs ... Robinson ... 5 p.m.
North Little Rock
Boys
Saturday, Dec. 13 ... vs ... Benton ... 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 19 ... vs ... Fayetteville ... 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 20 ... vs ... Maumelle ... 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... vs ... Central ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 9 ... vs ... Conway ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 7 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 7 p.m.
Girls
Tuesday, Dec. 16 ... vs ... Nashville ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 19 ... vs ... Greenwood ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 ... vs ... Central ... 6:45 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 9 ... vs ... Conway ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 13 ... at ... Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 ... vs ... Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 ... at ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30 ... at ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... at ... Central ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6 ... at ... Conway ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 ... vs ... Little Rock Southwest ... 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 13 ... at ... Jonesboro ... 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 24 ... vs ... Bryant ... 6 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 26 ... vs ... Cabot ... 6 p.m.
Health
Pandemic deaths unknown
The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.
Covid toolkit
There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.
If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:
Get vaccinated
Get boosted
Wear a mask
Avoid crowds