Open Letter – Getting It Right for Conway Schools: A Community Conversation on the Charter Conversion Proposal
Dear Conway Community, Parents, Teachers, and School Board Members,
First, let me say this: I love our schools. I’m deeply invested in their success—not just as a community member, but as a parent, an active volunteer, and someone who has spent countless hours digging into the details of how they operate. Like you, I want strong, well-funded, and innovative schools that serve every student well.
That’s why I believe any major change—like converting Conway High School and Junior High into charter schools—deserves an open, informed, and collaborative conversation. This is about more than just a new status for our schools; it’s about making sure our students, teachers, and families get the best possible outcomes without unintended consequences.
The goal of this letter is simple: to clarify the facts, raise the right questions, and make sure that as a community, we have a real say in what happens next.
1. Transparency Matters – Where Do We Stand?
Let’s start with the basics. Before a district can apply for a conversion charter, Arkansas law requires a public hearing. That means a real conversation—not just a formality—where the community has a chance to learn, ask questions, and voice concerns before decisions are made.
Yet, one big question remains: Did the Board hold a properly announced public hearing before approving the letter of intent for charter conversion? The law (Arkansas Code § 6-23-201) states that a charter application must include the results of a public hearing before submission. If that hearing didn’t happen—or wasn’t widely known—it raises concerns about the process.
This isn’t about stopping progress. It’s about ensuring the community is fully informed before decisions are locked in. Good governance means engaging families first, not after the fact.
Moving Forward:
If a hearing hasn’t been clearly scheduled and publicly announced, that needs to happen immediately—with enough notice for parents and teachers to participate.
Future major decisions should always be on the agenda well in advance and supported by clear, easy-to-find information for the public.
If the district is confident in this plan, full transparency will only strengthen support.
2. How Will This Affect Our Teachers?
Our teachers are the heart of our schools, and their job security, pay, and working conditions matter. With any conversion charter, there are real questions to answer:
Will teachers keep their existing contract protections?
Could a charter mean changes to teacher dismissal policies?
Will this impact future pay scales or benefits?
In Arkansas, conversion charters can request waivers from the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act (TFDA), which sets due-process rights for educators. While most conversion charters have chosen to keep those protections in place, Conway’s application must make this crystal clear.
Let’s be direct: If this charter is meant to improve education, it should uplift—not destabilize—our teachers. That means no surprise contract changes, no loss of fair dismissal rights, and no policies that would make it harder to recruit and retain great educators.
Moving Forward:
The Board should explicitly state whether it intends to waive any teacher rights under the charter.
Any potential changes to teacher pay, contracts, or job security should be publicly discussed with educators before approval.
Teachers deserve a seat at the table. Arkansas law requires them to be involved in developing a conversion charter plan—let’s make sure their voices actually shape the final decisions.
3. What Will This Mean for Students?
Above all, we need to ask: How will this actually benefit students?
A few key points to know:
Conversion charter schools remain open to all students zoned for them. No applications, no selective admissions.
Special education services and 504 plans cannot be waived. Students with disabilities will continue receiving all legally required supports.
Core academic standards and state testing still apply. There is no opting out of state accountability requirements.
The main difference with a conversion charter is that schools can apply for flexibility—for example, in curriculum, scheduling, or class sizes. That flexibility could be used for good, but only if it’s done in a way that serves all students, not just a select few.
Parents deserve clear answers on what changes—if any—will affect their child’s education. Will we see:
New specialized academic tracks (STEM, arts, or career pathways)?
A shift in how courses are structured?
Changes in graduation requirements or grading policies?
These are exciting possibilities, but they need to be communicated upfront, not after the fact.
Moving Forward:
The district should clearly outline what specific educational changes are planned under this charter—not just vague promises of “flexibility.”
If new programs or curriculum changes are coming, they should be shared with parents early so families can make informed decisions.
All students must have access to quality classes, AP courses, and extracurriculars.
4. Financial & Governance Considerations
Funding is always a major concern. Let’s clear up a few things:
The School Board will remain in control of the charter. Unlike open-enrollment charters, which are independently run, a conversion charter remains under district leadership.
Funding for the school stays within the district. It won’t drain money from other schools—but how funds are allocated needs close oversight.
The school will be accountable for meeting its charter goals. If those goals aren’t met, the Board has the power to revoke or modify the charter in future years.
That’s good news. But one key issue remains: How will this affect budgeting across the district? If new programs or administrative changes require extra funding, will that impact resources available for our other schools? The numbers need to be clear.
Moving Forward:
The Board should provide a detailed budget outline showing how this conversion will be funded.
Regular financial reports should be shared publicly to ensure every dollar is used wisely.
No school in Conway should lose resources because of this conversion.
5. Keeping This a True Public School
Finally, I know many in the community have concerns about privatization. So let’s set the record straight:
❌ This is NOT a private charter. Conway High and Junior High will remain public schools, operated by the district.
❌ There will be no corporate takeover. Some charters are managed by private companies, but that is NOT happening here.
✅ Teachers and staff will still be district employees.
That said, oversight matters. If outside consultants or charter advisors are involved, the public should know who they are, how they were chosen, and what role they will play.
Moving Forward:
Any consultants or external partners should be fully transparent and subject to public board review.
If this conversion is truly about improving public schools—not outsourcing them—then the district should commit to keeping all management local.
Final Thoughts: Let’s Do This Right, Together
I believe Conway has the potential to get this right. We can innovate, we can improve, and we can make sure our schools serve students better without sacrificing transparency, teacher stability, or community trust.
Let’s move forward with clarity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to strong public schools. I will continue working to ensure that every family, teacher, and taxpayer in Conway is fully informed and actively involved in this process.
I’m here. I’m listening. And I’ll keep fighting for the schools our kids deserve.
Sincerely,
Tyler Moses
Candidate for Conway School Board, At-Large (Position 1)
Advocate for Transparency, Strong Schools, Community Accountability, and Students First…Always.
