There will be at least one more meeting of the Legislature's Joint Performance Review Committee regarding allegations raised against the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts and a subsequent external review performed, according to state Rep. Mark Lowery of Pulaski County.
"We feel that we are developing other information that would undercut his testimony," Lowery said in an interview last week, referring to statements made by Corey Alderdice, the school's director, during a committee hearing on Nov. 12 in Little Rock.
"I did my best to listen to all the questions from the committee members and answer them truthfully. I take the concerns of legislators and parents very seriously," Alderdice said Tuesday.
A specific area of concern was the school's past drug disposal and reporting policies.
During the hearing, Alderdice said the school had previously "had an understanding" with the Hot Springs Police Department that "low-level materials," such as marijuana, could be disposed of by the school's own licensed, contracted security employees. However, following a meeting with the police department this summer, he said it was decided it would be "more appropriate" for the school to call police and have them dispose of drugs.
"I am not aware of the ASMSA policy or practice before we met with Mr. Alderdice and his staff this summer but after the meeting with them it was decided they would contact us if any illicit drugs were found," Hot Springs Police Chief Jason Stachey said in an email to The Sentinel-Record on Nov. 15.
"We also offered to assist his staff if they have any questions about drugs in general that they could contact our narcotics unit for assistance. I do not know the U of A policy as it pertains to students who are found to be in possession of drugs or just finding an illicit drug in general that is not in someone's possession. I do know that it is the common practice of school districts in Hot Springs to report the discovery of any illicit substances to their school resource officers," Stachey said.
"My testimony regarding our practice related to drug incidents stemmed from my conversations with our former private security supervisor. The former supervisor told me that when he was hired in 2011, he had a discussion with an HSPD lieutenant and determined that any incidents involving low-level substances would be handled and disposed of by on-site security," Alderdice said.
"Saying this, I want to stress that there have been very few incidents in which any drugs have been found on-campus in my tenure here. While this is not something that has happened often, we felt it best to involve the police moving forward."
The next JPR Committee meeting will likely not take place until early 2020, Lowery said, and that meeting would likely consist of parents, past and present employees, students and alumni being invited to provide testimony.
"Sometimes these things are organic, and you don't really know what to anticipate. Sometimes it takes an issue being brought to light that encourages other people to come forward," Lowery said.
"I happen to believe that there are a number of current faculty members that are intimidated and in fear of retaliation if they come forward with information. So you never know what might happen when people are emboldened. That's really already happening. I know I am receiving communications from people who have firsthand knowledge of information that contradicts the testimony of the director."
Lowery said University of Arkansas System President Donald Bobbitt and Alderdice would continue to have the option to provide testimony.
"The director and President Bobbitt certainly have an open invitation if they want to be present and called back to the table, if after they hear certain testimony they want to rebut."
As for possible future action to be taken, Lowery said there would be none beyond additional hearings.
"The questions of whether there are more hearings is going to depend on that testimony during the next meeting, and if it comes into conflict with what we were told in the latest meeting," he said.
"ASMSA continues to reach new heights academically, but this does not mean there isn't room for continuous improvement in our operations. We want the very best for our students academically and socially and will continue to answer questions and make improvements toward that end," Alderdice said.
Local on 11/20/2019