Correction: J.T. Zakrzewski filed Tuesday to run for a second term in Zone 6 on the North Little Rock School Board. Zakrzewski’s name was incorrect in this article. The article also misidentified the high school of Jody Carreiro, who filed for re-election Tuesday to his Zone 5 seat on the Little Rock School Board. Carreiro graduated from Cave City High School.
Three incumbents and one newcomer tossed their hats in the ring Tuesday to run for four open seats on two school boards in Pulaski County.
At the close of the first day of filing for those who want to run for board seats in September, two incumbent candidates -- John Zakrzewski, Zone 6 and Scott Teague, Zone 5 -- for the North Little Rock School Board and one incumbent -- Jody Carreiro, Zone 5 -- with the Little Rock School Board had filed.
The newcomer to the race, as of Tuesday, was Joy Springer, who filed for the Zone 1 spot on the Little Rock School Board. The spot is currently held by Norma Jean Johnson, who had not filed for a re-election bid as of Tuesday.
The filing period closes at noon next Tuesday. Election day for school boards is Sept. 16. Each position is for three years and is unpaid.
Springer currently works as an assistant to John Walker, a civil-rights lawyer who has led the charge in the 31-year-old Pulaski County school desegregation lawsuit. Walker is a state representative.
Springer, who filled the role for several years as a paralegal and monitor of desegregation efforts in the three school districts, is among those suing for a state award of fees totaling more than $3.3 million.
When contacted Tuesday, Springer said she had been approached for "about 20 years" to run for the Little Rock School Board, but never felt the time was right.
"I finally made up my mind to do so," she said. "I just got tired of people making excuses for not educating kids. They say, 'it takes time.' After 20 years, how much more time do you need?"
Carreiro, who holds the Zone 5 seat in Little Rock, filed for his third term. A graduate of Central High, Carreiro is a pension actuary and partner in an employee benefits consulting firm.
In North Little Rock, Teague filed to run for election to his fourth term on the board from Zone 5. He was appointed to the board in 2005 to serve an unfilled term and has been elected to three full terms since then.
Teague, originally from Mena, is a banker.
Zakrzewski, the North Little Rock School Board president, will run for the his second term in Zone 6. An electrical engineer, Zakrzewski grew up in North Little Rock.
Metro on 07/02/2014