WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — Some parents said they are afraid their kids may not get the proper education they deserve now that students in the Hughes School District were forced to consolidate with students in the West Memphis School District.
Parents asked for the schools to stay open in Hughes in hopes that West Memphis would run the schools, but didn’t happen.
Monday was the first day of class for those students.
Parents said transportation is a major concern. Parents who live in Hughes said their kids had to wake up at 5 a.m. Monday in order to catch the bus to West Memphis.
They told WREG waking up that early is a problem.
Bernice Woods has six grandchildren who attended school in Hughes. Now they’re going to West Memphis schools.
She said she is afraid they’re not going to be able to concentrate in class because they have to wake up much earlier.
“5 is too early for the kids to be getting up, they still be sleeping when they get to school,” she said. “They ain’t going to learn nothing because they going to be sleeping in class.”
State law forced the Arkansas Board of Education to close schools in Hughes because enrollment was too low.
Parents who wanted them to stay open said their children’s commute is about 35 minutes, and that’s not including the number of stops bus drivers must make.
“It’s too far to be taking us away to West Memphis, and I’m trying to figure out now what if my child gets sick between now and then, how am I going to get there,” parent Victoria Powell said.
The assistant superintendent said district leaders are working with parents to make this transition as smooth as possible.
