Curious news release from the state Education Department I thought. In its entirety:

Joint Message from Arkansas Department of Education Commissioner Johnny Key and Little Rock School District Superintendent Baker Kurrus

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Education and Little Rock School District remain committed to providing student-focused learning opportunities and achieving academic excellence.

Today, the dedicated employees of the Little Rock School District opened schools, provided transportation, served lunch and taught students. Plans to open a new middle school in west Little Rock and build a new high school in southwest Little Rock continue to move forward. The new administration will continue building upon the foundation to ensure that students have rich and rewarding educational experiences and are prepared for college and career.

The district is dependent on hardworking staff, committed parents and steadfast community support. Support from these groups is needed to aid in a successful transition. By working together, we can develop and implement a thoughtful, forward-looking process that prepares the district for sustainability, growth and student success.

The Little Rock School District later issued an identical release on its own letterhead.

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No there was no hurricane, tornado, flood or terrorist attack in Little Rock today. I can tell you that a YOOOGE sector of the community remains unhappy that the Hutchinson administration unceremoniously dumped Kurrus as school superintendent effective June 30. But, following Kurrus’ own example, most of us have continued the important work as usual. That would come as a surprise only to someone who underestimated this community, this school district and this leader in the first place. They know who they are.

On their side, apologists from the Walton-funded school propaganda mill at Walton U. (the Office of Education Policy) have been trying to work up talking points in defense of Kurrus’ dumping, but they’re lame. They claim it is a “fact” Kurrus wasn’t fired. Terminated, dismissed, told not to return, told his pay would end, whatever. These are semantic distinctions without difference. He wanted to continue to lead the district. They booted him. For no demonstrable reason.

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The Walton crowd of alleged experts tout the incoming leader from Bentonville, Michael Poore, but overlook declining scores across that district, according to the latest school report card.  They defend  Poore, with no experience with black populations of any size, by saying he once worked at a district a tenth the size of Little Rock with a majority Latino population. Arriba!

They find significance that some people (not sure who they mean) were critical of Kurrus’ initial appointment and are now sorry to see him go. This is bad? It is a mark of fairness and intellect to evaluate changing circumstances and admit an error in judgment. Don’t look for such out of the charter school apologists at the Walton School of Education Propaganda at Walton University, just down the road from the new superintendent’s home in Waltonville. That crew defends one of the worst performing charter schools in town.

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Really. Is it too much to ask for Little Rock’s schools back?

(Note for casual readers: Some sarcasm is intended in this post.)

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