Officials with the Little Rock School District are moving forward with public meetings on proposed budget cuts as they look to cut $16 million from their budget.
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — The Little Rock School District (LRSD) is moving forward with public meetings this week on proposed budget cuts—some of which may call for hard decisions when it comes to staffing.
“The district cares. [There’s] just some hard decisions we have to make. We have to respect that. It’s no one’s fault. We can’t point the finger. We have to work together and make this work,” said a school district leader during last Thursday’s budget meeting.
LRSD leaders said those hard decisions are being driven by years of financial changes, not a sudden crisis.
The district has been working to avoid a deficit by trying to cut nearly $16 million from its budget. Some of those plans include cutting staff positions and closing schools.
LRSD Board President Joyce Wesley said hard decisions are being made.
“We need to be efficient in the way that we operate, or we won’t be in existence, so [Dr. Jermall Wright] is being solution-oriented and making sure we are optimizing our current capacity, so I feel like he’s also making sure, as he leads, he’s taking some initiative to change even in regard to his salary,” Wesley described.
Over the weekend, LRSD Superintendent Dr. Jermall Wright sent a memo to staff assuring them that he cares about the district and that making those kinds of decisions is difficult.
“We are facing challenges that require honest action. Declining enrollment, financial pressures, and the long-term health of our district mean that maintaining the status quo is not responsible leadership,” he explained.
He went on to assure staff that he hasn’t been taking any of this lightly.
“While these difficult decisions affect staff across the board, they undoubtedly touch individuals and feel personal,” he added.
Wesley said the district plans on evaluating staff before making cuts.
“We have enough individuals that we should be able to make the shifts necessary to make sure things are aligned as they should be, and that’s one thing that came up that we’re looking at other roles they can fill,” she said.
According to state data, enrollment at LRSD has dropped to just under 19,000 students, because state funding is tied to enrollment, fewer students means less money.
It’s important to note that the district is not in financial distress, but under the LEARNS Act, if it does fall in that threshold, they run the risk of charter school companies taking over.
To avoid that, district leaders said these hard decisions need to happen.
One of the schools under review already is Hall High School, as district and state leaders consider proposals on that school’s future.
There’s another public budget session that will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the Southwest Community Center.