By Ray King
A study sponsored by the Pine Bluff branch of the NAACP and paid for by Go Forward Pine Bluff made the case for consolidation of the three school districts in Pine Bluff.
The results of that study were released during a community meeting Tuesday night that was attended by, among others, the superintendents of the districts involved.
Jerry Guess, the Superintendent of the Watson Chapel District and Barbara Warren, who is Superintendent of both the Dollarway and Pine Bluff Districts were guests on the Oldies 101.3 morning show Thursday and asked their thoughts on the study, beginning with Guess, and then Warren.
Guess said that unlike the Dollarway and Pine Bluff Districts, the Watson Chapel District is not in fiscal distress, or academic distress, a point he made several times.
During the presentation of the survey results, Tuesday, the average ACT scores for students in the three districts was said to be lower than the state average. Guess was asked about that.
Warren agreed that poverty is a contributing factor to low academic performances.
The Dollarway District has been under state control for five years and the State Board of Education must make a decision by December on its future. Warren said the options include returning the district to state control, reconstituting the district, annexation, or consolidation.
