5-2 vote extends school year 1 day
To prevent burnout, the North Little Rock School Board decided Thursday to add one day to the school year and grant students and teachers a day off in April.
The School Board, in a 5-2 vote, accepted the recommendation of the Licensed Personnel Policies Committee to move the last day of school from May 26 to May 27. The change will give students and teachers a day off April 30.
The school's Calendar Committee originally rejected the idea, but the decision was overturned by the School Board at Thursday's meeting after Staci Adams, co-chairman of the Licensed Personnel Policies Committee, presented it to the board.
Nominees sought for hall of fame
The North Little Rock Senior Citizens Commission is accepting nominations for the 2020 inductee to the city's Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame honor is bestowed biennially on an individual who has made significant contributions to senior citizens of North Little Rock in the areas of health, welfare or activities, said Bernadette Gunn Rhodes, director for the Hays Senior Citizens Center.
Any person 55 years old or older who is a resident or former resident of North Little Rock is eligible for consideration. Nominations may be made for people who have died, as well.
The nomination form is available online on the center's website or in person at the Hays Center at 401 W. Pershing Blvd.
Extending tax for roads on agenda
The North Little Rock City Council is scheduled to discuss a resolution Monday that would show support for a proposed constitutional amendment to make permanent the state's 0.5% sales tax to maintain roads and highways.
Voters approved the tax in 2012 for a 10-year period.
House Joint Resolution 1018 proposes that the tax levied under Amendment 91 be continued to provide special revenue for maintaining, repairing and improving the state's system of highways, county roads and city streets.
The tax is to expire June 30, 2023.
State officials project that extending the 0.5% tax will raise $205 million per year for highways and $44 million per year apiece for cities and counties.
"This investment will create jobs, aid in economic development, improve the quality of life, and provide additional transportation infrastructure, including specifically, a four-lane highway construction plan designed to connect all regions of the state," Mayor Joe Smith wrote in city agenda documents.
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