By Ray King
The current superintendent of the Dollarway School District and soon to be superintendent of the Pine Bluff School District said Tuesday that while she can’t say that her selection to head both districts is the start of efforts to consolidate the districts, but the that has been the subject of a number of recent conversations within the community.
Barbara Warren, who took over the Dollarway School District in December 2015, and on July 1 will also serve as Superintendent of the Pine Bluff District appeared on the Oldies 101.3 morning show with Greg Horne and Will Jenkins.
Warren said when the State Department of Education selected her to run the Dollarway School District, which was and still is under state control, there were a lot of challenges with stability and in the five years she has been there, that has changed.
“In the 18 months before I got there, there had probably been five people signed their name in that superintendent line,” Warren said.
Warren, who worked as a special assistant to Former Pine Bluff School District Superintendent Frank Anthony, was asked what could be done to combat declining enrollment and financial problems both districts face.
She also weighed in on the possibility of the Watson Chapel School District, which unlike Dollarway and Pine Bluff is not under state control could also be taken over by the state.
Warren said she believed a key to improving the districts was getting the community involved now, instead of later.
“The opportunity to speak to what you would like your school district and waiting is not the thing to do,” Warren said.
You can listen to the entire interview with Barbara Warren in the audio player below:
