Special Board Meeting - Oct 15, 2026

The Little Rock School District Board of Education’s special meeting on October 15, 2026, focused on LRSD Forward, including school closures and enrollment planning amid declining enrollment and a reported $15 million budget gap. After public comment and board discussion, the board approved the closure recommendation and the 7D zoning option for McDermott’s transition; members also discussed capacity, student transportation, support for special-education students and families, and future use of vacant school buildings. The board separately approved J.A. Fair’s Sports Science program, middle-school Accelerated and Advanced Learning Pathways, and reinstatement of International Studies at Dunbar Middle School. The Sports Science materials were described as a limited first-year expense for two courses serving 28 students, with funding details still to be finalized.

On procurement and funding, the board approved engaging Gabe Gentry Films for district videography and marketing services, with a scope not to exceed $78,697. The superintendent also reported that a $480,000 state-related allocation for social-emotional learning and student-support work had been approved for use by December; proposed vendor contracts are still being prepared and will return to the board with contract details. Board members also identified potential future revenue measures, administrative efficiencies, and community partnerships, but no additional spending approvals for those ideas were recorded.