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| | Lake View timeline
Saturday, Apr 3, 2004 Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Following is a timeline of major events since the Lake View School District's 1992 lawsuit against the state of Arkansas: -1992, the Lake View School District in rural eastern Arkansas sues the state claiming an unfair distribution of school funds in violation of the state and federal constitutions. -1994, then-Pulaski County Chancery Court Judge Annabelle Clinton Imber rules that the school funding system violates the education article and the equality provisions of the Arkansas Constitution. -1995, the state Legislature makes changes to the public school funding system in an effort to dole out funds more equally. -1996, Voters approve Amendment 74 requiring all school districts to have at least 25 property tax mills for maintenance and operation. -2000, the Arkansas Supreme Court reverses the lower court's dismissal of Lake View's lawsuit and sends the case back to the lower court. -2000, then-Pulaski County Chancery Court Judge Collins Kilgore surprises those involved in the case by announcing that he will consider whether the state's education system is "adequate," not just "equitable." During the trial, the Bentonville, Rogers and Little Rock school districts sided with Lake View, arguing that the state's education system is inadequate. -2001, Kilgore rules that the education system is neither adequate nor equitable. -November 2002, the Arkansas Supreme Court upholds Kilgore's ruling and sets a Jan. 1, 2004, deadline for the Legislature to comply with its order. -January 2003, Gov. Mike Huckabee proposes consolidation of nearly 200 of the state's then-310 school districts as a way to afford educational improvements, particularly for the expansion of high school curriculums and increasing teacher pay. His plan never makes it to a legislative vote. -Jan. 22, 2004, the Supreme Court, frustrated that the Legislature missed its deadline for compliance, announces its intention to appoint a special master to monitor lawmakers' work. -Feb. 3, Former Supreme Court justices Brad Jesson of Fort Smith and David Newbern of Little Rock are named as special masters in the school reform case. They are given 60 days to issue a report on the Legislature's efforts. -Feb. 6, 2004, the Legislature, after 61 days in special session, agrees to consolidate 57 school districts and obligates spending next year of more than $400 million in addition to existing education spending. -April 2, 2004, special masters issue a 128-page report on the state's performance on the school reform issue. |
