For Immediate Release      Contact: Bud Jackson:  501-912-1126
August 21, 2006       or Michael Cook: 501-256-3032

It’s summertime and the living’s easy…
It’s time to break out Jim Holt’s flip-flops!
Holt Supported School Consolidation in 2002

“Why couldn’t we have 100 school districts based upon school enrollment?”
– Jim Holt [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 9/16/02]

Little Rock – Republican candidate for lieutenant governor Jim Holt -- who last week voiced his adamant opposition to school consolidation -- supported it as recently as 2002 and even suggested that Arkansas could be reduced to as few as 100 districts to save money.

“The issue of school consolidation has gained political acceptance because those who support it think they are saving money and not realizing the true cost,”  Holt said just last week in a news release.  “The cost is sacrificing good schools … “

But in 2002 Holt supported consolidation for the very same reasons he now opposes it.
“Why couldn’t we have 100 school districts based upon school enrollment?” asked Jim Holt in 2002. [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 9/16/02]

The Democrat-Gazette  reported that “State Rep Jim Holt, vying to switch state legislative bodies, would cut the number of school districts by two-thirds, which he said would save on administrative salaries and provide more money for teachers." … On the issue of school consolidation Holt said that rather than 310 the state should have something closer to 100 school districts.”  [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 9/16/02]

“Jim Holt’s blatant flip-flop definitively demonstrates that he can’t be trusted to be on the side of rural schools,” remarked Bud Jackson.  “On the one hand, he said he’s supports school consolidation to save money.  Then on the other hand, he says consolidation won’t save money.”

“I am opposed to further school consolidation based on arbitrary minimum size limits for schools or school districts.  We should provide rural schools the tools and resources they need to provide a world-class education.  I’ve consistently stressed in this campaign that we should provide an excellent and not just adequate education for Arkansas children,” said Bill Halter.  “I also believe we should more aggressively pursue distance learning so that students can gain the knowledge of teachers from across that state and nation.  Students in rural areas should have the same opportunities as students in urban areas.  Using current technology, we can bring teachers and knowledge to any classroom in the state.  As Lt. Governor, I’ll work to better utilize existing and emerging technologies to achieve excellence in our schools.”

“The more Arkansans get past Jim Holt’s misleading and inconsistent rhetoric, the more they learn about him and his actual record,” said Bud Jackson.  “The more Arkansans learn about him, the more they realize that Jim Holt is not on their side.”