LITTLE ROCK – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced a plan for the Arkansas School for the Deaf (ASD) and Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ASB). She was joined by Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva, Speaker Matthew Shepherd, bipartisan partners from the legislature, Robert Fagan, Chairman of the Board at ASD and ASB, and staff members and parents of the schools.
“These two schools were built as a promise to deaf, blind, and visually impaired Arkansans – a promise that they deserve a quality education just as much as any other student. Sadly, for far too long, our state has failed to keep its word,” said Governor Sanders. “Today, we announced a plan to change that. Arkansas is going to keep its promise. We’re going to fix these schools. And we’re going to prioritize students’ safety and happiness so that ASD and ASB will thrive, as they were intended to, right here in the heart of our capital city.”
After touring the school with legislators and staff late last year, Governor Sanders assembled a group of lawmakers and advocates to craft a plan to improve ASD and ASB. They surveyed more than 200 school community members to compile three main priorities: keeping the campus at its current location, providing more resources for deaf and blind students beyond the Little Rock campus, and addressing the critical safety concerns students are seeing right now.
The group then consulted with school architects and planners for a comprehensive vision for the future of the two schools that will deliver high-quality instruction in high-quality facilities, while also ensuring that the campus’ historic nature is protected and that deaf and vision-impaired students learn in separate classrooms tailored to their specific needs. The legislature has already allocated $30 million to begin moving forward with this plan.
"We want to keep our kids safe. We want to give them the best education that we possibly can," said Robert Fagan, Chairman of the Board of the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. "I truly believe that our legislators and the Department of Ed and the Governor are committed to seeing this thing through and it's just an awesome day for the students who are blind and visually impaired in the state of Arkansas."
"They have found a way to provide an excellent state-of-the-art facility for our students, while also preserving the historical and cultural home," said Representative Charlene Fite. "I'm so thankful for this. I have prayed for this day, hoped for this day, and worked for this day for many, many years. And now it's happening and I'm over the moon."
"We are so grateful that the attention has been given to the schools because we believe in the education of blind and visually impaired and deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals,” said Cary Smith, an Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired parent. "We are so grateful for the opportunity for the school to improve. We know it can be better. And we have the people and the educators in place now.”
“Our family is so excited for this next phase of these two important schools. As parents of a visually impaired son, we are grateful for the Governor’s commitment to educational excellence and safety for all Arkansas students,” said Tiffany Henry, an Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired parent.
“We are pleased to move forward with next steps for improving the learning environment at the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Arkansas School for the Deaf. The failed status quo has resulted in low student achievement, limited outcomes, and dilapidated buildings. The commitment from the Governor, legislators, school faculty and staff, and the local board empower us to move closer to ensuring students have access to state-of-the-art, high-quality facilities that promote safety and learning. We look forward to continuing the conversation with all stakeholders, as we seek the establishment of a facility where students can thrive,” said Secretary Oliva.
