Page:DuPree v. Alma School District No. 30, 279 Ark. 340 (1983).pdf/2

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Ark.]
DuPree v. Alma School Dist. No. 30
Cite as 279 Ark. 340 (1983)
341


falls upon the state; whether the state acts directly or imposes the role upon the local government, the end product must be what the constitution commands, and when a district falls short of the constitutional requirements, whatever the reason for the violation, it is the state's obligation to rectify it by compelling the local government to act or by meeting its continuing obligation itself.

  1. APPEAL & ERROR—DECISION NOT OVERTURNED UNLESS CLEARLY ERRONEOUS.—The decision below will not be overturned unless it is found to be clearly erroneous.

Appeal from Pulaski Chancery Court, First Division; Harrell Simpson, Chancellor by Assignment; affirmed.

Friday, Eldredge & Clark, by: George Pike, Jr., for appellants Little Rock School District and North Little Rock School District.

Seay & Bristow, by: Bill W. Bristow, for appellants Clover Bend School District et al.

Dailey, West, Core, Coffman & Canfield, by: Ben Core; Stephen L. Spitz; and Long & Silverstein, by: David Long, for appellees.

Pryor, Robinson & Barry, by: H. Clay Robinson, for amicus curiae, the Fort Smith School District.

Cearley, Mitchell & Roachell, for amicus curiae, the Arkansas Education Association.

STEELE HAYS, Justice. The issue presented on appeal is the constitutionality of the current statutory method of financing public schools in Arkansas under Act 1100 of 1979, the Minimum Foundation Program and vocational funding under § 7 of Act 1004 of 1975 (authorized under Act 363 of 1967). Appellees, eleven school districts[1], brought this class action suit against appellants, Jim DuPree and other members of the Arkansas State Board of Education (also


  1. Alma, Mulberry, Van Buren, Conway, Lake Hamilton, Sheridan, Paris, Cabot, Bryant, Greenwood, Mansfield.