LRSD to close three elementary schools

White flight from the Little Rock School District, already a drain on enrollment numbers before Arkansas LEARNS vouchers kicked in to siphon more students to private schools, has come home to roost.

Under intense financial pressure, the Little Rock School Board voted Thursday night to close three elementary schools: Western Hills, Mabelvale and McDermott.

Here’s an open letter from Superintendent Jermall Wright explaining the decision.

This is a breaking (and heartbreaking) news story; longtime LRSD watchdog and advocate Jim Ross will have more on the closures tomorrow.