Times Editorial : Greenland survives
Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008
In the end, the Arkansas Board of Education decided to give the Greenland School District a new lease on life rather than close its doors forever and push a forced annexation on a neighboring school district. As the good news crept out of Little Rock on Monday, thousands across Northwest Arkansas breathed a sigh of relief. So did we.
In no way does this mean Greenland is off the hook for its poor financial planning. Education Commissioner Ken James announced that he would appoint his own district superintendent, and that the services of the Greenland Board of Education will no longer be needed. Reports noting the school district's progress will come along every three months.
Mind you, this is great news. Monday's alternative was annexation - a death sentence of sorts that can snuff the life out of a community if you're not careful. Despite its place on the state's fiscal distress list, we did not believe that Greenland schools were the lost cause some observers accused it of being. Yes, the district recently made a move to fill the shoes of a superintendent that has still not submitted his resignation. Yes, the district finished the school year $ 140, 000 in the red. Yes, students have already begun bailing ship for nearby districts with far fewer questions about their long-term health. But we don't believe any of these problems are so bad that they can't be fixed.
For the sake of hundreds of young people, teachers and parents who love Greenland schools, we hope they can be.
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