The wrong direction

We have been told the decision is final. Michael Poore will soon be the Little Rock School District’s new superintendent. It was a done deal for him to take over as soon as Johnny Key announced the contract for our acting superintendent would not be renewed. I was disappointed, to say the least.

It is difficult to believe that certain folks with a great deal of money and influence did not play prominent roles in seeing to it that the majority of the state Board of Education voted to approve charter-school expansions. Superintendent Baker Kurrus advised against this, using sound data to show that charter schools were not a panacea. To the contrary.

I believe it is important to keep our public schools viable. I fear that what has happened during these past few weeks is a step in the wrong direction, and the way it was done is disconcerting.

The accomplishments Mr. Kurrus made have been outlined many times. He has done yeoman’s work and earned the respect, trust and admiration of parents, teachers, administrators and the community at large. We were so encouraged by this. We feel good about what has been taking place because of his efforts. It was stunning to read that he would not continue in his position as superintendent.

Perhaps at age 75 I have become cynical, but I cannot shake the feeling that special interests with money and power seem determined to undermine the very foundation of a viable Little Rock School District. We all lose. I don’t deny that some assistance and changes are needed in some schools, but not through the expansion of charter schools. JANICE CHOATE

Little Rock