A federal judge denied a request from nearly a dozen Blytheville residents to allow their children to transfer out of the Blytheville School District for the 2013-14 school year.
U.S. District Court Judge Kristine Baker denied a preliminary injunction that would have allowed the 11 Blytheville residents to send their children to schools outside of their residential district that stemmed from a lawsuit challenging Blytheville School's decision to file an exemption from the 2013 School Choice Act.
The act, which was signed into law on April 16, allows students in Arkansas to transfer out of their residential districts but also gives grounds for districts to exempt themselves from participating, including any desegregation mandates.
Baker said the parents were not able to prove their children would be "irreparably harmed" if they were denied transfers, a result they claimed would surely come from staying in the Blytheville School District.
But this denial does not dismiss the concerns the parents had, according to Baker.
"The court does not discount these concerns and in no way attempts to diminish these concerns," Baker wrote in her order.
"But the court observes that most, if not all, parents share these concerns for their children, their children's education and their children's future," Baker continued. "The types of concerns described are not unique to these plaintiffs nor are they unique to the Blytheville District. These types of concerns exist regardless of the educational environment and, more importantly, regardless of an individual's ability to participate in the 2013 Act."
Blytheville Superintendent Richard Atwill told the CN after the hearing in June that he appreciated the judge's discretion in the matter and would have to "wait and see" what would come of it. Tuesday morning, Atwill said the district was not up-in-arms over the judge's ruling and things were "business as usual" as the district continues to prepare the upcoming school term.
"We've not missed a step here. We're getting ready to for all of the students who are going to be here on Aug. 19," he said.
cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com