Opinion ID: 1756151
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Responsibility for Establishment and Operation of the Public Schools Lies Exclusively with the General Assembly

Text: Great confusion was engendered in this case when the majority chose to ignore longstanding precedent. This court has consistently held in the past that although the constitution uses the word State in referring to the responsibility to establish and operate a constitutional system of public schools, it is the General Assembly alone that bears the responsibility. However, despite all our prior holdings, the majority again disregards precedent and opines: We emphasize once more that it is the State that must provide a general, suitable, and efficient system of public education to the children of this state under the Arkansas Constitution. The roles of the executive and legislative branches are integral to assuring that this transpires. But it is also the duty of this court to assure constitutional compliance when compliance is challenged and to assure that the will of the people of our state as expressed in our constitution is fulfilled. We will perform that duty. (emphasis in original). Our constitution was adopted in 1874, and by 1934, this court held that it was beyond debate that the General Assembly is responsible in Arkansas for establishment, management and operation of the public schools and that it is for the General Assembly to declare policy with respect to the schools. Wheelis v. Franks, 189 Ark. 373, 377, 72 S.W.2d 231, 232 (1934). This is not the only case that so holds. [2] The majority concludes that responsibility for the public schools is born by state government as a whole in a blended fashion. This conclusion is impermissible because our constitution provides for distinct separation and does not permit blending of authority as the majority holds. Spradlin v. Arkansas Ethics Comm'n, 314 Ark. 108, 115-116, 858 S.W.2d 684, 686 (1993) (quoting Oates v. Rogers, 201 Ark. 335, 346, 144 S.W.2d 457, 462 (1940)). The error regarding which branch of government is responsible for establishing and operating a constitutional system of public schools leads to the next fundamental error by the majority.