WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — Many Hughes parents said they had a lot of unanswered questions just a couple of weeks before school starts.
The Arkansas Board of Education forced the Hughes School District to consolidate with West Memphis, against the wishes of most Hughes parents.
Some told WREG they have not been getting important information about classes and transportation.
Hughes parent Emerson Murray was not happy his autistic son was being forced to attend a new school this year.
“He’s used to a small environment, and he’s used to his teachers that are there with him,” Murray said. “A change of environment could be very dangerous for him.”
Many Hughes parents were still bitter over forced consolidation, but said they were even more upset about what they felt was a lack of communication with their new school district.
“I’ve called, and I have not yet received a phone call back from the West Memphis School District,” Murray said.
Registration has already started at West Memphis High School.
While some Hughes parents were still very unhappy about the merger, officials with the West Memphis School District told WREG they have tried to make the transition as easy as possible.
“We had registration set up with the Hughes School District before they got out of school, but they were still fighting the consolidation. So, they stopped us,” Assistant Superintendent Bill Cook explained.
Cook said they worked hard this summer to iron out important details, such as bus routes.
“They’ve run down all those gravel roads and all that stuff right there. They go up to the house and say, ‘Have you all still got kids in school? If you do, we’ll be here.'”
He said WMSD even sent Hughes parents a letter in May explaining the changes, although some in Hughes claimed they never received it.
Regardless, Cook said he was confident parents would appreciate the merger once their kids experienced what West Memphis has to offer.
“They didn’t have marching band. They’re going to have a big choir here. They didn’t have football, didn’t have soccer, didn’t have volleyball,” Cook listed off.
Elementary children from Hughes were automatically transferred and enrolled in their new schools.
Registration will continue for high school classes at West Memphis High School next week.
Parents can come Monday between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Tuesday between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Wednesday between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Parents are asked to bring their children with them if possible and to bring their child’s most resent report card.