Latest news with #Working4You
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Working4You: White County Central School District implements locker room audio recording devices
WHITE COUNTY, Ark. – A new law, known as Eli's Law, requires all public and charter schools in Arkansas to install audio recording devices in locker rooms in an effort to prevent bullying in unsupervised areas. Arkansas State Representative Keith Brooks shared a powerful statement about the legislation just weeks before it was signed into law. 'There has been a total failure in terms of leadership that allowed this to happen on their watch. Children's lives have been impacted forever, which is unacceptable in my view, and it should be unacceptable in all of our views,' Arkansas State Representative Keith Brooks said. Mothers allege mishandling of bullying in Quitman school locker room Brooks, who was the sponsor of this bill, made it very clear that the law was in direct response to allegations of bullying and harassment in the Quitman football locker room. Working 4 You first uncovered the alleged abuse in August of last year. At the time, parents say the faculty and staff did not do enough to protect their children. Through all the allegations, lawsuits, and changes the year brought for their boys, these parents stayed true to their goal that this story would spark change. Audio recording devices aren't required until the 2027-2028 school year, but one school in central Arkansas already has them up and running. Bill to place audio recording devices in Arkansas school locker rooms headed to governor's desk The locker room has been a private space for teammates to gear up, strategize and zone in. Some say its seclusion from coaches, teachers, and staff can also open the door for bad behavior. 'Other districts had some serious accusations of sexual assault, there had been bullying, hazing, kids skipping class going to locker rooms,' White County Central School District Superintendent Pharis Smith said. Smith said he's heard it all. Last year, his team started looking into ways to monitor the space without physically putting eyes on it. 'Right now, we have it recording all the time,' WCCSD technology employee Matt Jones said. You wouldn't notice it unless you knew what you were looking for. 'It's getting everything from back in the stalls to right as you come in the door and all the locker areas,' Jones said. DeWitt student alleges classmate made racist comments after painting face black The device doesn't record videos. It's in a place to detect all sounds of bullying, distress, or harassment. 'It's not a gotcha thing, but it's here to help [students], it's here to help us as well,' WCCSD Boy's Head Basketball Coach Zach Kersey said. The superintendent said the devices pick up everything from a scream to a whisper. 'It protects the coaches,' Smith said. 'If a parent says they berated them in the locker room at halftime or after a game, we've got the audio to go back and see if that happened.' Smith said the superintendent and principals are the only ones who have access to the recordings, and they can only be used when a serious allegation is presented by students, staff or parents. If it is determined there was a case of bullying, parents would be notified and allowed to listen, and the proper authorities would be contacted. 'To tell you the truth, we haven't even listened to one,' Smith said. Miss Greater Little Rock Jada Simpson creates non-profit to combat bullying in schools The recording devices were installed in October. Smith says he hasn't received one allegation of bullying in the locker room since. 'In this day in age, you don't know, it may save a life,' Smith said. Five minutes in the locker room can change the outcome of a game. It could be just what a team needs to pull off a win, but five minutes in the locker room could also be the worst part of a student's day, away from supervision. Far from a hand to help. 'If we can put a stop to some of that, then as a superintendent, it makes you feel you've not only done your job, but you've been preventative and you've put stuff in place that hopefully we don't ever have to those conversations,' Smith said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to place audio recording devices in Arkansas school locker rooms headed to governor's desk
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A bill to place audio recording devices in Arkansas school locker rooms is headed to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' desk. was first introduced by State Rep. Keith Brooks (R-District 78) on March 20 after learning of a bullying incident at Quitman Schools. Mothers allege mishandling of bullying in Quitman school locker room Under the bill, also known as Eli's Laws, all public and open-enrollment charter school districts would be required to install audio recording devices in all locker rooms by the 2027-2028 school year. The recordings would be held for a minimum of 90 days, but no longer than a year, and could be used in the event allegations are made about bullying or any sexual or physical harassment. 'Our primary objective in this committee and as a legislative body when it comes to educating our students is to ensure their safety number one and to ensure that the student's needs are put before everyone else's,' Brooks said. 'If leadership within a school district is not doing that, I want them to know and hear very clearly that we will ensure that that is done.' Working 4 You covered the allegations of bullying inside the Quitman locker room first in November of 2024. At the time, former Quitman School parents Angie Edwards and Stephanie White accused district staff of mishandling allegations of bullying in the football locker room. Edwards and White claim their 7th-grade boys were harassed for months, and nothing was done to stop it. 'Our kids went in day after day knowing what was waiting on them on the other side of the door,' White said during an interview in November. 'The abuse consisted of being bull-whipped, sometimes with the whip and sometimes with just the stick of the whip. They were shot at close range with BB guns and told to run from one side of the campus to the other.' DeWitt student alleges classmate made racist comments after painting face black In a House Committee meeting, State Rep. Brooks called the situation at Quitman 'Beyond Awful' and 'There really are no words to describe it.' Eli's law passed through the full House on April 8. It passed through the full Senate on April 9. Opponents of the bill say they have concerns with students' privacy and the cost of the devices. The bill states that school districts, 'May use available state funding to implement the requirements, including, without limitation, funds set aside by the General Assembly for school safety.' State Rep. Brooks says there are also several grants available to districts to help pay for the device. Texas family files $1.5M lawsuit after students put peanuts in allergic teen's locker Sanders is scheduled to sign HB1866 into law Thursday, April 17, at 10 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
Benton neighborhood drainage issue resolved after years of flooding
BENTON, Ark. – Water is finally draining in a Benton neighborhood that has been dealing with flooding issues for years. The issue was brought to Working 4 You last April after several homeowners in the Centennial Valley subdivision complained that homes were coming apart at the seams due to the excessive water. Benton homeowner concerned flood water is cracking foundation The neighborhood was built without a proper drainage system, which caused major flooding. Backyards were staying wet weeks after the rain, fences were falling and cracks were forming on the ceilings and walls inside homes. The original developer of the subdivision Aaron Jones was arrested in 2011 and is no longer in the business, which shifted the responsibility to the Property Owners Association. Saline County neighborhood pleads for help to fix flooding issues This past week, the neighborhood Property Owners Association put in French drains to help mitigate the flooding. Some drains are still waiting for instillation. Homeowners tell our Working 4 You team they can finally sleep peacefully knowing their investments are safe. One homeowner, Tiara Howlett, floors were also replaced. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Working 4 You: Equestrian, martial arts on list of approved vendors for Education Freedom Accounts
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – In just a few weeks, the application portal for the state's Education Freedom Accounts will open, giving all parents in Arkansas the option to choose where their kids go to school. Education Freedom Accounts or EFA's were a big portion of the Arkansas Learns Act, allowing parents to use state money to pay for private school tuition, home school curriculum, and any other educational activity or supplies needed. Lawmakers have debated the use of EFA's for well over two years now, but conversations came to a head just a few months ago when an equestrian company posted to social media that they were accepting EFA funds. Lawmakers against Arkansas LEARNS are now questioning what else parents can use EFA's for. Working 4 You: How are some recipients of Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts spending the money of Natural State taxpayers Working 4 You obtained a list of more than 500 approved EFA vendors in November. The list includes private schools, online schools, therapy organizations, tutors, and homeschool curriculum. There are also gymnastics, martial arts, batting cage facilities, baking box subscriptions, personal training, and horseback riding lessons on the list. 'I think a lot of people were surprised to see some of the things that they could be spent on,' Arkansas State Senator Greg Leding said. Leding said the extra curriculars on the list are questionable. 'To some extent, I suppose there is a defense in that home school children might not have access to physical education, but I don't think these are the kind of activities Arkansans thought they'd be supporting if they supported school vouchers,' Leding said. In its first year, the state spent more than $34,000 on EFA's or what some are calling 'school vouchers.' New lawsuit claims Arkansas LEARNS Act vouchers violate state constitution Next school year, the program goes universal, opening up applications to all school-age children in the state. 'Let's let parents decide what's best for their kids in education,' Arkansas State Senator Bart Hester said. School choice is becoming a widely popular idea across the nation, mostly led by the Republican Party. Hester has been a supporter of school choice and Arkansas LEARNS since the beginning. He said parents should have the option to choose where their children go to school and not be confined to a certain school district or type of school. 'I think if you ask parents, [the EFA program] is going very well,' Hester said. In past stories, Working 4 You talked to parents using EFA funds for private school, tutoring, and homeschool co-ops. 'For me, it was like this is it,' said Ginny Heisler, who has moved her daughter into a micro school this year. 'I don't worry about her learning anymore and I don't worry about her socially anymore.' Heisler said Arkansas Learns, and more specifically the EFA program is a blessing for her family. More than 20K school choice applications submitted in Arkansas in 2024 Its not necessarily stories like these though, that have lawmakers like Leding concerned. 'A lot of [approved vendors] are out of state, out of the country. Some places [listed] in the U.S. are as far away as San Francisco,' Leding said. Leding went on to say activities like horseback riding and martial arts seem excessive and should not be approved as vendors in the EFA program. Working 4 You took these concerns to State Senator Hester. 'Look, I hear those arguments all the time. I hear, 'Is it really necessary that we have big football stadiums for football on Friday night?' At the end of the day, everyone's not going to agree. That is why it's important to let parents choose what is best for their child's education,' Hester said. The application process to become an EFA-approved vendor is briefly outlined on the Arkansas Department of Education website. Below are the qualifications for vendor complete background checks for all student-facing employees Provide education in ELA, math, social studies, and science Administer assessments to participating students Must not discriminate on any basis prohibited by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Cannot employ anyone who may pose a risk to EFA funds Provide a list of all goods and services offered with corresponding prices or rates Provide proof of credentials to demonstrate that relevant staff meet at least one of the following: Hold an Arkansas Standard or Provisional Professional Training License or qualify through an ADE-recognized Alternative Route ProgramMeet the requirements set by a tutoring organization accredited/recognized by the State BoardAre employed in the teaching/tutoring role at an accredited high education institutionHold a baccalaureate or graduate-level degree in the subject they teachHave at least three years of prior teaching experience demonstrating special skills, knowledge, or expertise qualifying them to provide instruction Provide evidence of subject matter expertise in their fieldMust complete background checks and fingerprinting Meet additional requirements based on service type: Tutors: Provide proof of credentials meeting at least one of the following: Hold an Arkansas Standard or Provisional Professional Teaching License or qualify through ADE-recognized Alternative Route Program Meet the requirements set by a tutoring organization accredited by an accrediting association recognized by the State Board. Are employed in a teaching/tutoring capacity at an accredited institution of higher education Hold a baccalaureate or graduate-level degree in the subject area for which tutoring or instructional services are provided Have at least three years of prior teaching experience demonstrating special skills, knowledge, or expertise qualifying them to provide instruction Provide evidence of subject matter expertise in their field Therapists: must hold an active state license Transportation providers: Must hold an active state driver's license The Department of Education's website has little information about vendor qualifications so Working 4 You asked both state senators. 'I think they just have to prove to the Department of Education that they're a real business, that they're really functioning and that they are providing some service,' Hester said. 'There are some requirements and so you would go through the Arkansas Department of Education,' Leding said. Working 4 You: Are Education Freedom Accounts truly available to families of all backgrounds? State lawmakers say they are planning on adding $90 million to the cost for Arkansas LEARNS next school year. Opposers say now is the time to put in more regulations. 'The chief concern for most of us is the voucher program and its cost and so maybe making sure they are going to students who actually need them, not subsidizing families who are already able to send their students to private schools,' Leding said. We asked Hester if there is a concern with the cost of Arkansas LEARNS as it becomes universal next year. 'There certainly is a concern but we're committed to it,' Hester said. 'The more the cost goes up the more we have to say why are parents choosing this? Why are so many parents choosing to leave their public schools?' Hester said the state is expecting a $250 million to $300 million surplus this year, and they will likely pull the money from that to help fund Arkansas LEARNS. Democrats say at this point there is not enough support against the bill to make any changes right now but are expecting conversations to increase after Arkansas LEARNS is fully operational next school year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Yahoo
Working4You: Missing Evidence? Van Buren County says arrest video was deleted after glitch in system
VAN BUREN COUNTY, Ark – After a year of investigations on the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office, Working4You is finally putting eyes on a highly followed and controversial arrest in Van Buren County. In January of 2024, Ronnie Dollar was arrested outside the Sheriff's Office for disorderly conduct. Working 4 You: Man accusing Van Buren County deputy of excessive force makes claims of prosecutorial misconduct The initial report says Dollar was aggressive and chaotic, but others claimed the former Chief Deputy acted wrongly during the arrest. Working4You asked for video of the arrest but was told the incident was 'under investigation.' The video was eventually obtained in December of 2024, but a portion of it was missing. 'The only thing that the sheriff's office claims was preserved was the video footage outside, which is bad enough as it is, but it still leaves questions about how it got up to that point,' said former Van Buren County Sheriff's Office employee Casey Cresswell. Working4You obtained two videos, one taken from inside the lobby, and the other taken from outside the department. In the video recorded in the lobby, we see Ronnie Dollar pace around for about a minute and a half, and just a woman comes up to the window, the video cuts to black. We miss the entire conversation leading up to the arrest. 'What you miss is the aggressor is the one behind the badge, not the one getting jailed and accused of these false charges,' said Cresswell. Cresswell says she was working the day of the arrest and claims there is a different version of the video that was deliberately deleted in an attempt to protect Adams. In the months following the arrest, Dollar and his attorney Kent Tester filed a civil lawsuit against Van Buren County Sheriff Eric Koonce, his former Chief Deputy Derek Adams, and investigator Lt. Chasta Harrison. Working 4 You: Are Education Freedom Accounts truly available to families of all backgrounds? The lawsuit claims the three violated Dollar's due process and deliberately deleted evidence. A letter sent to Sheriff Eric Koonce in March 2024, shows Tester asking the department to preserve 'all audio and video evidence related to the incident.' A month later, Tester got word from the deputy prosecutor's office, the email reads as follows: 'The attachment is screenshots from Sheriff Koonce's cell phone; he took screenshots from the original video, but it was clipped. The original no longer exists.' – Phillip W. Ellis, T.A. The sheriff's office told Working 4 You the missing video was caused by a glitch in the system. 'When the footage was downloaded to the disk, the video in the lobby wasn't checked as we were unaware of any issues. After it was discovered, it was too late to redownload the footage as our cameras only hold footage for 25 days,' said Lt. Chasta Harrison. Cresswell worked at the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office for about a year, and says she never witnessed any recording issues with the security cameras. 'I have never seen a glitch happen to where the video footage wasn't recorded properly,' said Cresswell. 'In live time, the cameras they did have installed, they would lag bad in live time.' Ronnie Dollar's attorney claims Dollar was assaulted by law enforcement during the arrest and said had the entire video been recovered the answer would be easy. Working4You reached out to the sheriff and Lt. Harrison for additional comment. They said they could not speak on any ongoing or open investigations. KARK 4 News has not been able to get ahold of Derek Adams. 'They need to be completely cleaned out or retrained. I really don't think they belong in law enforcement at all. They probably just need to be decertified and find a different career path for all those that are involved,' Cresswell said. Working4You: Central Arkansas homeowners turn to AG's office with complaints about unlicensed roofer Ronnie Dollar and his attorney Kent Tester have requested a jury trial in the Eastern District of Arkansas. The trial is scheduled for May. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
