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On February 25, the Arkansas Department of Education received a Petition for Voluntary Administrative Annexation of the Delight School District into the Murfreesboro School District. The Delight School District is on the 2010 “Act 60” Consolidation List, meaning that the district must be consolidated with or annexed into one (1) or more districts as the district has fallen below 350 average daily student membership for both the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years.
The current student population of the Murfreesboro School District is 545 students (482 White, 26 Hispanic, 24 African-American). Any annexation or consolidation involving the Delight School District must be approved by the State Board of Education by May 1, 2010, to become effective as of July 1, 2010. The Delight and Murfreesboro School Districts are contiguous to each other.
The Department has attached a copy of the Petition with attachments. Academic, demographic, standards for accreditation and fiscal information for the two (2) districts will be forwarded to the State Board members separately when the information is available. An opinion has been requested from the Attorney General’s Office as to the segregative effect, if any, that would be caused to any school districts as a result of the proposed consolidation. The opinion will be forwarded to the State Board members separately when it is received.
