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Parkview senior tells Little Rock school board facilities are neglected and raises safety concerns
Summary
During public comment, R.J. Jones, a graduating senior at Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School, accused the district of long-standing facility neglect, underfunded arts and science programs, and said a teacher alleged to have had a sexual relationship with students was returned to duty despite a principal’s recommendation for termination.
R.J. Jones, a member of Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School’s 2026 graduating class, told the Little Rock School District board on June 25 that students at his school are being shortchanged by persistent facility failures, inadequate program funding and leadership decisions that, he said, compromised safety. "You neglect our facilities. You neglect our programs. You neglect our safety," Jones said during the public‑comment period, listing clogged toilets, leaky ceilings, moldy ceiling tiles, cockroaches and temporary classrooms that remain in place for years.
Jones described limited classroom materials for arts and science and said teachers often pay out of pocket to run programs. "My science class activities were severely limited by the materials we had because our teacher was paying for them out of her own pocket," he said, and added that coaches have similarly covered competition costs. He urged the board to "fix our facilities, fund our programs, and keep us safe."
He also made a serious allegation about an individual staff member’s conduct: Jones said a teacher "allegedly slept with two of her students," that the principal recommended termination, and that the district returned the teacher to proctor exams after a three‑day suspension. He framed the allegation as the core of his concern about students’ safety and trust in the district’s handling of misconduct claims.
Board procedure during public comment limits responses from trustees, and the transcript records no board reply or staff presentation addressing Jones’s allegations at the meeting. Several trustees later referenced facility concerns in their comments and asked staff about work orders and maintenance processes, and board members said they plan visits to review buildings in person.
What happens next: The board did not vote or take formal action in response to Jones’s remarks during the meeting. Staff and trustees repeatedly noted that schools should enter work orders for facility repairs and that maintenance follows those work orders; several trustees urged administrators to follow up on specific Parkview conditions. The district’s public materials and future board agendas will be the primary sources for any administrative updates or investigations that may follow.
