Arkansas Ups Funding to School Libraries

In a unique twist on the tradition of siphoning library funds from school budgets, the Arkansas State Board of Education recently voted to reallocate $1 million from the school transportation aid fund to benefit public libraries.

The Board's November action, as reported in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, stems from a $54.4-million cut to education following a dramatic reduction in the state's revenue forecast. "In view of the amount of money we had to cut," said Arkansas Education Department Director Ray Simon, after the vote, "I believe this is the best we could do to impact the fewest number of students."

The state Education Board has no statutory obligation to public libraries, says board member Luke Gordy. Nevertheless, he voted with his peers to reallocate $1 million to libraries from the transportation aid/safety training fund, which benefits mainly rural school districts with inordinately high transportation costs.

Charlotte Wright, superintendent of the Weiner School District in Pointsett County, says her 250-square-mile district depends heavily on aid—about $25,000 in 2000—to help with the cost of busing students. A former librarian, Wright does not begrudge libraries the extra monies. "We can't get there to read the books," she told the Democrat-Gazette . "But it's great that they'll be there if we can."