Dr. Jermall Wright, Superintendent of the Little Rock School District, will speak on "The State of the Little Rock School District" on Thursday, Oct. 31, at the Copper Grill as part of the Arkansas Times lunch lecture series. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., and Dr. Wright will speak at noon.

One of his topics will be how the LRSD is responding to the Arkansas LEARNS Act and its effect on Little Rock public education. Dr. Wright says he is focused on education programming that will resonate with students and parents as a way to combat reduced enrollment, partially as a result of LEARNS.

The district is also nearing the introduction of a new cell phone policy for students and is beginning a conversation about reshaping the school calendar to allow for more breaks during the fall and spring, with a shorter summer break.

Earlier this fall, Dr. Wright offered his resignation in an episode widely seen as a result of school board dysfunction. Ultimately, his resignation was rejected, and one board member was censured.

Dr. Wright will be available for questions following his remarks.

When: October 31, 2024, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Where: Copper Grill in Little Rock

Lunch will be served at 11:30. The lecture will begin at 12:00. 

About this Series

Our monthly speaker series brings newsmakers, writers, and politicians together for a behind-the-scenes look at important current events and trends in Arkansas. These lectures are raising money for the Arkansas Times Investigative Journalism Project.

Thousands of reporters are being laid off nationwide, along with many in Arkansas, as Facebook and Google soak up 70% of local ad dollars. But the Times is growing, thanks to reader support from you and other Arkansans. With Sarah Sanders in the governor’s mansion and MAGA Republicans running the legislature, there has never been a greater need for journalistic scrutiny.

In-person tickets are $100 and include lunch in the private dining room at the Copper Grill in Little Rock. Seating is limited to 75. Our previous luncheons have sold out, so please don’t wait to buy your tickets.

Doors open at 11:30, and the Copper Grill buffet opens immediately after. Dr. Wright will start shortly before noon, and questions will follow. We will wrap up by 1 p.m. We also offer virtual tickets at $50, and virtual ticket holders will access the event via Zoom.