PCSSD superintendent search in final stages
Federal cuts hit close to home; EAA’s flying roadshow to be in North Little Rock; PCSSD names Building-Level Staff of the Year plus headlines and sports
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MEETINGS: School Boards will again be hopping this week and next as the North Little Rock board will have its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. tonight. The PCSSD board has a special call meeting tonight, and a possible special call meeting next Monday night. For more on that keep scrolling. The Maumelle City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall.
EVENTS: Easter is this Sunday and in a bit of cosmic coincidence Eastern Orthodox Easter, or Pascha, is also this Sunday. While the Christian faiths haven’t really aligned since that schism thing, this Sunday is one of those times the two sides come together and speaking of Holy Week, if you need something to do tonight, Asbury United Methodist Church in west Little Rock is having a Maundy Thursday service at 6:30 p.m. and will feature a stage production where I will be playing the part of Chief Priest 2, a small but mighty role with three lines that I mostly know. Admission is free, of course, because it is, you know6j, church.
NOTICE: MAUMELLE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION VACANCY
The Maumelle City Council is accepting resumes from residents interested in service on the Maumelle Civil Service Commission. An appointment will be made to fill a six-year term ending May 1, 2031. The applicant must be a good citizen and a resident of Maumelle for more than three years, not holding or being a candidate for political office or be connected in any official capacity with any political party or organization. Resumes should be submitted to the City Clerk/Treasurer’s Office, 550 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, Arkansas 72113 no later thm
DOGE, federal cuts hit close to home
The wrecking ball that is the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, better known as DOGE, has mostly been felt elsewhere but those cuts, along with others that are planned, will have a direct impact on Maumelle, as well as the rest of Arkansas.
As for the city, the long-planned Gateway Park, is in peril, or at least the crown jewel in the Central Arkansas Regional Greenway, the bike trail that would connect central Arkansas from Conway to Hot Springs along with Cabot to the northeast and most points in between.
In a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Rails to Trails Conservancy, asked Sec. Sean Duffy, to “protect federal investments in active transportation in the face of heightened agency scrutiny of previously awarded grants — including those that fund bicycle infrastructure.”
Duffy, whose qualifications for the job include reality television and hosting a Fox News show, said in a Wednesday interview on Fox Business that, “enough with the green, enough with the social justice” but wasn’t pressed on what exactly that meant.
There’s roughly $3 billion in active funding for projects across all 50 states, and that includes the Central Arkansas Regional Greenway, mixed in with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program, Safe Streets and Roads for All program,; Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program; Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program; and the Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program.
“More than half of Americans live in a county where trail and active transportation networks are being developed,” said Kevin Mills, the vice president of policy for Rails to Trails in a press release. “These investments are vital to the economic development and mobility plans of hundreds of regions nationwide. Local officials and business leaders are prioritizing these investments because they understand that making it safe to walk and bike is essential. "The projects that this funding supports are saving lives while creating new jobs and delivering the quality of life that Americans deserve."
The letter was signed by more than 175 local officials from 35 states, Arkansas among them, and Washington, D.C.
"Leaders in communities across America are choosing to invest in active transportation to realize the safety, economic and quality-of-life goals we share," Mills said. "We're looking to [the Department of Transportation] for a productive and reliable partnership to invest strategically to connect safe walking and biking routes and benefit communities nationwide."
Other projects with state connections include the Razorback Greenway in northwest Arkansas and the Memphis Walk and Roll, which extends into east Arkansas.
The Center for American Progress identified 106 grants and leases in Arkansas that have been targeted by DOGE.
The bulk of which are in central Arkansas, or the Second Congressional District with 44.
They are:
$5,000,000 grant, Little Rock, Department of Defense, University of Arkansas At Little Rock, Basic Scientific Research
$12,144,894 grant, Little Rock, $9,686,542 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Education, Arkansas Public School Resource Center, Teacher And School Leader Incentive Grants (Formerly The Teacher Incentive Fund)
$987,654 grant, North Little Rock, $248,898 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of State, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, Energy Governance And Reform Programs
$1,454,835 grant, North Little Rock, $1,415,012 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of State, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, Environmental And Scientific Partnerships And Programs
$38,900,000 grant, North Little Rock, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, USAID Foreign Assistance For Programs Overseas
$9,996,101 grant, North Little Rock, $6,196,101 cut claimed by DOGE, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, USAID Foreign Assistance For Programs Overseas
$12,000,000 grant, Little Rock, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, USAID Foreign Assistance For Programs Overseas
$15,000,000 grant, North Little Rock, $10,600,000 cut claimed by DOGE, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, USAID Foreign Assistance For Programs Overseas
$16,499,709 grant, North Little Rock, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development
$14,000,000 grant, North Little Rock, $11,650,000 cut claimed by DOGE, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, USAID Foreign Assistance For Programs Overseas
$13,000,000 grant, North Little Rock, $2,849,579 cut claimed by DOGE, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, USAID Foreign Assistance For Programs Overseas
$6,500,000 grant,Little Rock, $4,072,938 cut claimed by DOGE, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, USAID Foreign Assistance For Programs Overseas
$48,000,000 grant, North Little Rock, $42,507,888 cut claimed by DOGE, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, USAID Foreign Assistance For Programs Overseas
$11,300,000 grant, North Little Rock, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, USAID Foreign Assistance For Programs Overseas
$15,000,000 grant, Little Rock, $10,700,000 cut claimed by DOGE, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, USAID Foreign Assistance For Programs Overseas
$27,400,000 grant, North Little Rock, $18,500,000 cut claimed by DOGE, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, USAID Foreign Assistance For Programs Overseas
$4,000,000 grant, North Little Rock, $1,000,000 cut claimed by DOGE, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, USAID Foreign Assistance For Programs Overseas
$22,460,000 grant, North Little Rock, $3,311,920 cut claimed by DOGE, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, USAID Foreign Assistance For Programs Overseas
$8,500,000 grant , North Little Rock, $5,445,744 cut claimed by DOGE, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, John Ogonowski Farmer-To-Farmer Program
$4,880,223 grant, North Little Rock, USAID, Winrock International Institute For Agricultural Development, John Ogonowski Farmer-To-Farmer Program
$429,725 grant, state-wide, $236,869 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Service, Department of Human Services
$7,229,333 grant, state-wide, $560,134 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Services, Department of Human Services
$12,487,030 grant, state-wide, $6,826,024 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Services, Department of Human Services
$2,928,174 grant, state-wide, $168,756 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Services, Arkansas Department of Health
$1,120,813 grant, state-wide, $205,979 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Services, Arkansas Department of Health
$7,194,830 grant, state-wide, $824,842 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Services, Arkansas Department of Health
$1,063,636 grant, state-wide, $889,896 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Services, Arkansas Department of Health
$2,583,302 grant, state-wide, $908,244 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Services, Arkansas Department of Health
$6,043,140 grant, state-wide, $4,257,940 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Services, Arkansas Department of Health
$40,411,710 grant, state-wide, $22,386,319 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Services, Arkansas Department of Health
$78,177,470 grant, state-wide, $26,852,250 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Services, Arkansas Department of Health
$173,699,918 grant, state-wide, $74,068,018 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Services, Arkansas Department of Health
$757,298 grant, state-wide, $312,278 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Services, Arkansas Department of Health
$21,230,264 grant, state-wide, $9,589,090 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Services, Arkansas Department of Health
$32,950,719 grant, state-wide, $22,045,324 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Services, Arkansas Department of Health
$12,676,621 grant, state-wide, $746,210 cut claimed by DOGE, Department of Health And Human Services, Human Services, Arkansas Department of
$10,947,991 grant, state-wide, Department of Health And Human Services, Human Services, Arkansas Department of
$3,019,980 NIH grant, state-wide, $1,220,142 cut claimed by DOGE, National Institutes of Health, UAMS
LEASES
Little Rock: Agricultural Marketing Service
Conway: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Little Rock: United States Trustees
Little Rock: Small Business Administration
Little Rock: Geological Survey
Little Rock: Occupational Safety And Health Administration
PCSSD School Board to meet tonight, discuss superintendent search
Is that a white puff of smoke over the administration building for the Pulaski County Special School District?
Maybe but time will tell, etc,, as the School Board will have a special call meeting to discuss the superintendent search at 5:30 p.m. as in-person interviews with the six finalists concluded on Tuesday.
District spokeswoman Jessica Duff said another special call meeting could be held next Monday, “In order to avoid a late night, there is a chance there will be an additional special board meeting on Monday.”
Tonight’s meeting will be livestreamed here but if there’s a Monday meeting, it will not be livestreamed “due to a scheduled internet outage with the District's provider, Ritter Communications,” Duff said.
The six finalists, in alphabetical order are:
Tracy Allen, currently the principal at Sylvan Hills High School and former principal at North Little Rock High School.
Brett Bunch, currently the superintendent at Brookland School District in northeast Arkansas.
Dr. Jonathan Crossley, currently the superintendent at Hope School District and a former principal in the Little Rock School District.
Dr. Jerry Gibson, currently a consultant and a former superintendent at several districts in Texas.
Jeff Senn, currently the superintendent at Lonoke School District and a former principal at Maumelle High School.
Dr. Sonya Whitfield, currently the Deputy Superintendent of Learning Services at PCSSD and has been with the district since starting as a teacher in 1992.
The in-person interviews were scheduled after a series of public meetings with parents and stakeholders at high school across PCSSD and the district has previously said they’d like to have a superintendent in place this month.
Former superintendent Jerry Guess is serving as interim and he previously served as superintendent from 2011 to 2017.
Education News
PCSSD names Building-Level Staff of the Year
For the first time, the Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD) will recognize support staff in addition to teachers from each school in the District. Schools nominated a teacher and a support staff employee who will contend for a chance to be named District Teacher and District Support Staff of the Year.
This will be the fifth year that PCSSD will participate in the Arkansas Teacher of the Year program through the Arkansas Department of Education. The school-level winners for the 2024-2025 school year are vying to earn the spot of the 2026 Arkansas Teacher of the Year. Last year, PCSSD Teacher of the Year, Jeanie Wilcoxon, won the 2025 Arkansas Teacher of the Year. This year’s teacher nominees are as follows:
BAKER ELEMENTARY: Jamie Garmon
CATO ELEMENTARY: Mindi Reed
CHENAL ELEMENTARY: Mary Muller
COLLEGE STATION ELEMENTARY: Stacey Moore
CRYSTAL HILL ELEMENTARY: Crystal LeWoff
DAISY BATES ELEMENTARY: Tracy Hill
HARRIS ELEMENTARY: Wendy Sanabria
LANDMARK ELEMENTARY: James "Jay" Loy
LAWSON ELEMENTARY: Amanda Sahlin
OAK GROVE ELEMENTARY: Ashlea Blakely
OAKBROOKE ELEMENTARY: Jeannette Myers
PINE FOREST ELEMENTARY: Amanda Fowlkes
ROBINSON ELEMENTARY: Chanetra Gaines
SHERWOOD ELEMENTARY: Tiffany Darr
SYLVAN HILLS ELEMENTARY: Shasta Anderson
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY: Haley Jones-Massey
MAUMELLE MIDDLE: Craig Tyson
MILLS MIDDLE: Samone Vail
ROBINSON MIDDLE: Catherine Ziller
SYLVAN HILLS MIDDLE: Haley Frakes
SYLVAN HILLS JUNIOR HIGH: Alexandria Slater
MAUMELLE HIGH: Allison Shepherd
MILLS UNIVERSITY STUDIES HIGH: Michael Flowers
ROBINSON HIGH: Lyndra Romack
SYLVAN HILLS HIGH: Andrea "Elaine" Harris
SUCCESS LEARNING ACADEMY: Amanda Hill
This is the first year for schools to nominate a support staff employee to compete for District-level recognition. This year’s support staff nominees are as follows:
BAKER ELEMENTARY: Stephona Williams (Cafeteria Manager)
CATO ELEMENTARY: Carla McGee (Nurse)
CHENAL ELEMENTARY: Susan Duncan (Registrar)
COLLEGE STATION ELEMENTARY: Lakisha Nash (Student Services Liaison)
CRYSTAL HILL ELEMENTARY: Reid Altom (Speech Therapist)
DAISY BATES ELEMENTARY: Kami Hammond (Dyslexia Interventionist)
HARRIS ELEMENTARY: Jessie Watson (Lead Custodian)
LANDMARK ELEMENTARY: Gabriela Vega (ELL Assistant)
LAWSON ELEMENTARY: Ana Gomez (Lead Custodian)
OAK GROVE ELEMENTARY: Janet Peach (SPED Para)
OAKBROOKE ELEMENTARY: Larry Clark (Security)
PINE FOREST ELEMENTARY: Jessie Thomas (Registrar)
ROBINSON ELEMENTARY: Patricia Davis (Bookkeeper)
SHERWOOD ELEMENTARY: Carol Riddle (SPED Para)
SYLVAN HILLS ELEMENTARY: Rachel Moorman (Dyslexia Interventionist)
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ELEMENTARY: Jennifer McQueen (Registrar)
MAUMELLE MIDDLE: Linda "Sharon" Tackett (Secretary)
MILLS MIDDLE: Michael Robinson (SPED Para)
ROBINSON MIDDLE: Paris Tatum (Bookkeeper)
SYLVAN HILLS MIDDLE: Paula Falls (Lead Custodian)
SYLVAN HILLS JUNIOR HIGH: Marilyn Pugh (Lead Custodian)
MAUMELLE HIGH: Deborah Price (Bookkeeper)
MILLS UNIVERSITY STUDIES HIGH: Vickie Jackson (Custodian)
ROBINSON HIGH: Dani Knight (Attendance Clerk)
SYLVAN HILLS HIGH: Angie Hughes (Nurse)
SUCCESS LEARNING ACADEMY: Aviva Randolph (ALE Para)
DISTRICT / BUILDING LEVEL: Yolanda Richards (Executive Assistant)
The District winner will be announced at a celebration event in May.
High in the sky, and we’re all about to have fun
The Experimental Aircraft Association’s flying roadshow will be in North Little Rock this Friday through Sunday at the municipal airport.
Flying along for the show is the Ford Tri-Motor, that last came to North Little Rock in 2017.
The Tri-Motor was first built in 1929 and was in regular service until 1949.
The EAA plane was in The Family Jewels, a 1965 comedy with Jerry Lewis, and the 2009 Johnny Depp film Public Enemies.
“We will have a crew of three people that will be in North Little Rock, but the local chapter will also supply several volunteers to help out as well,” said Drew Stephani, a spokesman for EAA. “With rides planning to start Friday morning, the crew typically arrives Thursday afternoon, weather permitting of course.”
The Friday forecast is a partly sunny kind of day with a high of 86. The Saturday and Sunday forecasts, however, call for a chance of rain both days.
The weather has a definite impact, Stephani said, calling it “a major factor in our operations” as it is a deciding factor in “the number of times we are able to fly.”
Tickets to ride are $105 for adults and $75 for those 17 and under.
Each seat gets a window with some amazing views on the 30 minute flight.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at FlyTheFord.org.
EAA has a North Little Rock chapter, Stephani said, No. 165 and they’ll be assisting with the visit.
ASBTDC sets New Lender Quick-Connect Event for Small Businesses on May 7
Small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking funding will have a unique opportunity to pitch their projects at Lender Quick-Connect: Find Your Funder.
The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is hosting the new no-cost event on May 7, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Reynolds Business Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
In just one afternoon, attendees can connect with multiple Arkansas lenders and pitch their business financing needs in a fast-paced, one-on-one meeting format.
Each participant will be matched with up to seven lenders, based on key business details including their industry, credit score, business stage and project scope.
Attendees can also:
Meet with credit counseling services to discuss financial readiness
Engage with ASBTDC business consultants and Small Business Administration representatives
Get expert tips on crafting a compelling funding pitch
Participating lending institutions include Arkansas Capital Corporation, Arkansas Federal Credit Union, Arvest Bank, Bank OZK, Communities Unlimited, FORGE Community Loan Fund, Hope Credit Union, First Community Bank, First Security Bank, First Service Bank, Regions Bank, Simmons Bank, Southern Bancorp Bank, Southern Bancorp Community Partners and U.S. Bank.
The event is designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the funding landscape and build relationships with funders who have a proven track record of small business lending.
“We hope this format will be more efficient and less intimidating than approaching individual lenders,” said ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine. “With banks, credit unions, microlenders and Community Development Financial Institutions all taking part, Lender Quick-Connect will showcase a wide range of options for funding a new business, business purchase or expansion.”
Pre-registration is required. To reserve your spot, visit tinyurl.com/325wetrc or contact ASBTDC’s Nick Stevens at 501-804-4530 or njstevens@ualr.edu.
Through its offices around the state, the ASBTDC offers no-cost services and resources for Arkansas entrepreneurs and small businesses. For more information, call 800-862-2040 or visit asbtdc.org.
Disclosure: ArkansasNewsroom.com is an ASBTDC client.
Upcoming Travs games
At Springfield, now through April 19, Saturday night doubleheader
Midland (six-game homestand)
Tuesday, April 22, 11:05 a.m.
School Day: Putting the "field" in "greatest field trip ever." | Presented By Simmons Bank
Senior Day: Presented By ArchWell Health
Slap Bracelet Ruler Giveaway: Presented By Simmons Bank | First 3,000 Kids (one item per person)
Wednesday, April 23, 6:35 p.m.
Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at DSP Box Office). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed
Thursday, April 24, 6:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: $3 Thursday
Enjoy $3 Beer Garden Tickets and select Concessions deals.
Friday, April 25, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks Friday - TBA Theme: End your week at DSP with a BANG. | Presented By Metro Disaster Specialists
Saturday, April 26, 6:05 p.m.
Post-Game Wrestling: Time for the Main Event. Stick around after the game for post-game matches featuring the stars of Memphis Wrestling. | Presented By Midtown Billiards
Malmö Oat Milkers Night: Did Someone Say Dynasty? Your other home team is back from their astonishingly successful first season to make even more history in what could be this year's most unforgettable game, including fun like VIP seats, a crazy first pitch, Oat Milker Fan Trivia, the chance to sign an Oat Milkers contract, and more. | Presented By Oatly
Sunday, April 27, 1:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at DSP Box Office) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers
Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon.
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game. | Presented By First Community Bank
At Tulsa, April 29 - May 4
Easter Egg Hunts
Saturday, April 19 at 9 a.m. at Burns Park Soccer Complex
Saturday, April 19 at 10 a.m. at Rose City Community Center
Saturday, April 19 at 11 a.m. at Glenview Community Center
Saturday, April 19 at 10 a.m. at North Heights Community Center (Levy United Methodist Church)
Sunday, April 20 at 3 pm at Sherman Park Community Center
Camp Healing Hearts offers free grief camp
Losing a loved one is difficult for everyone, and grieving a loss is essential to accepting painful feelings and creating an opportunity for growth and a new sense of normal.
Camp Healing Hearts is for Arkansas children ages five to 18 and their families who are grieving the death of a loved one. Part of Kaleidoscope Grief Center, a program of Methodist Family Health, Camp Healing Hearts is a FREE overnight event that will begin at 5 p.m. at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock on Friday, May 9 and end at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10. Registration deadline is Sunday, April 26.
Utilizing both therapy and recreation, our camp offers children and families an opportunity to discover their own inner strength. An adult caregiver is required to accompany the grieving child or children attending camp. Activities include heart-to-heart time, fishing, crafts, games, campfires, s'mores and much more. It is best for children and families who have experienced a loss of 3-to-6 months or more. Only 100 spaces are available.
You can apply online at https://form.jotform.com/scox/CAMP_HEALING_HEARTS or download the application and mail it to:
Dao Ward
Kaleidoscope Grief Center
1600 Aldersgate Rd., Suite 100B
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
Application deadline is Sunday, April 26.
Kaleidoscope Grief Center serves grieving children, teens and their families throughout Arkansas. Grief can be an isolating experience for children. The program helps those dealing with loss and bereavement through education, therapeutic and recreational services, grief support programs, counseling and Camp Healing Hearts.
To register for Camp Healing Hearts, learn more about Kaleidoscope Grief Center or find out how Methodist Family Health can assist your family, visit MethodistFamily.org.
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