Survey Finds Skepticism About LEARNS

RISON - More than 95 percent of public school district superintendents in Arkansas who recently responded to a online survey indicated they were unsure or did not feel confident that the state would provide enough funding to maintain a competitive salary for certified and classified staff in the future. However, that same poll indicated that more than half of the respondents were either against or unsure of their support for 2024 ballot initiative that would overturn the state's new LEARNS education plan. Shelly Smith, a retired educator from Mountain View, sent out 255 surveys in May to gauge how public school district superintendents were feeling about Gov. Sarah Sanders' new LEARNS education plan that was approved by the legislature and signed into law earlier this year. Of the 255 surveys sent out, Smith said she got back 78 responses, which equates to response rate of 30.5 percent. She said response rates of 10 to 30 percent are average for most surveys, and 30 percent is considered to be a good, statistically acceptable sample. Cleveland County Superintendent Craig Dupuy discussed the survey results during the Cleveland County School Board meeting on June 12. He noted that most of those superintendents who responded were from school districts with 1,500 students or less. Both the Cleveland County and Woodlawn School Districts fall within that enrollment range. Of the 78 responses, Smith said 26.9 percent were from school districts with 500 students or less, and 50 percent were from districts with 500 to 1,500 students. The survey included six questions related to the LEARNS plan. In addition, she also al-lowed the superintendents to make their own comments. Most of the questions dealt with funding. While the LEARNS plan increases the minimum teacher salary from $36,000 to $50,000, it does not establish a salary schedule for any year-to-year pay increases nor any incentives for those with ...