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Beebe appoints two to state board of education Tuesday, Jul 15, 2008 By Jason Wiest Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - A former state legislator who helped shape the public school funding formula and the co-founder of a South Arkansas education foundation were named Monday to the state Board of Education. Gov. Mike Beebe appointed former state Rep. Sam Ledbetter of Little Rock and Alice Mahony of El Dorado to seven-year terms on the Education Board, which oversees the state's public school system. Ledbetter, 52, a lawyer, served six years in the state House and in 2003 helped develop a new funding formula for Arkansas public schools in response to a 2002 state Supreme Court ruling that declared the funding system in place at the time unconstitutional. Ledbetter was co-chairman of the legislative Joint Budget Committee in 2005. Ledbetter said Monday he hoped to help continue the state's progress in public education as a member of the state board. "I don't really have an agenda going into this," he said. "My goals are to be attentive to the school children of Arkansas and put their interests at the forefront." Ledbetter replaces MaryJane Rebick of Little Rock on the board. He specializes in environmental law. As a state lawmaker, he proposed legislation to encourage the state to build "green" or sustainable buildings, including schools. The idea was not something Ledbetter considered in the context of applying for nomination to board, although it's worthy of consideration, he said. "There are certain additional upfront costs that have to be considered," he said. "There are also savings over time, and with energy costs increasing, the economics of it might be more favorable at this time." Mahony, 58, is co-founder of the El Dorado Education Foundation, a non-profit organization that recognizes and promotes excellence in public school education in the city. She also serves as chairman of the board for the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce and on the committee for the El Dorado Promise, a program that provides graduates of El Dorado High School with college tuition scholarships in amounts based on their time in the school district. She replaces Ted Knight on the state board. "I think of El Dorado as the city of education in Arkansas because our business community has had such a long-standing partnership with the El Dorado Public Schools and the El Dorado Education Foundation," Mahony said. "I'm honored that Gov. Beebe appointed me," she said. |
