LRSD board approves short-term plan to share Central field after Title IX concerns; parents press for long-term facility

The Little Rock School District board on May 28 approved a short-term operational plan (Option B) to let Central High School softball share and temporarily convert the district's recently completed baseball field while officials pursue longer-term options to remedy alleged Title IX inequities.

The board voted to adopt Option B after lengthy public comment from softball parents, alumni and students, legal briefings and a detailed presentation from athletics staff. Superintendent Dr. Wright framed the approved measure as a compromise chosen to address immediate equity and legal risks while a task force works on long-term siting and funding.

"We are committed to ensuring and making sure that Central softball has its own facility," Dr. Wright said, and added that the administration recommended Option B because it best addresses Title IX concerns in the near term while the district develops a sustainable long-term plan.

Why the short-term plan

The Central site drew sustained public scrutiny after the school's $80 million renovation left softball with a single, undersized locker room and limited on-site practice and competition space, speakers said. Families and student-athletes told the board the absence of equivalent facilities effectively disadvantaged female teams.

Administration officials said Option B combines on-site access at Central with physical conversion measures — such as a removable outfield fence, a convertable backstop and a plan to disassemble and reassemble the pitching mound — to give softball comparable facilities while the district evaluates permanent solutions.

Coach Turner, who has been working with contractors and facilities staff, described the conversion work as tedious but achievable. "Putting the fence out…it's not a hard task," he said, adding that the primary technical challenge is the removable pitching mound, which comes in several heavy pieces and requires training and manpower to break down and set up reliably.

Board debate and vote

Board members expressed regret that the district's prior decisions had left girls' programs behind and debated whether the Option B plan strikes the right balance between expedience and equity. Several members said they would have preferred a faster, permanent fix but recognized funding and timing constraints.

After discussion, the board approved Option B as the district's primary short-term operational plan and authorized administration to implement Option C as a contingency if conversion proved infeasible. The motion carried with one recorded nay.

What the plan includes and next steps

Administration described immediate steps: contracting field-construction vendors to advise on removable backstops and mounds, using remaining contingency funds from recent projects for conversion expenses where feasible, and standing up a Central Softball Task Force with parents, students and staff to identify and evaluate long-term sites and funding options over the next six months.

Legal context and district position

District counsel summarized the Title IX facility-factors test (locker rooms, practice/competition scheduling, travel, coaching and training facilities). Counsel indicated that Option B is preferable to off-site relocation because it preserves on-site locker rooms, training access and consistent scheduling — all factors weighed under Title IX.

Parental reaction

Parents who addressed the board reacted with mixed feelings. Some said they were relieved the board acted quickly to prevent further legal exposure and to expand immediate access for softball. Others urged the district to commit to an expedited, funded long-term solution and to include softball stakeholders at every planning table to avoid past oversights.

The board directed staff to deliver regular updates on conversion costs, contractor findings and the task force's progress until a final long-term plan is produced.

Ending

The approved short-term measure is explicitly framed by the board as interim: the district will proceed with conversion actions to ensure equitable access for the upcoming school year while a cross-stakeholder task force studies permanent sites and funding options.