By Ray King

The Pine Bluff Branch of the NAACP is seeking support in an effort to promote the consolidation of the city’s school districts.

“Presently, the Pine Bluff Branch of the NAACP is at the beginning stage of pursuing the financial desegregation of the Dollarway, Pine Bluff and Watson Chapel school districts,” Wanda V. Neal, president of the Pine Bluff Branch said in a letter dated Aug. 19. “Financial desegregation is the product of consolidating the aforementioned districts.”

Last year, Go Forward Pine Bluff conducted a study looking at improving the educational offerings in Pine Bluff through consolidation and Neal said in the letter that the study “reveals the severe academic, financial and facility conditions of the local education system. Moreover, it highlights the inequalities in human resources, educational opportunities, extracurricular activities and facilities that exist because pf the three intercity boundaries.”

She said in the letter that depending on where a child lives determines whether that child has certain resources and whether that district has benefits from developments in the district.
Neal went on to say that the creation of one district could be accomplished by a vote of the people provided enough signatures can be obtained on a petition calling for an election.

A resolution is attached to the letter and Neal asked organizations who received the letter to poll their members and if they agree, sign the letter of support also attached and send the letter back.