Page:Lake View School District No. 25 v. Huckabee, 351 Ark. 31 (2002).pdf/46

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Lake View Sch. Dist. No. 25 v. Huckabee
Cite as 351 Ark. 31 (2002)
[351


DR. SIMON: Yes.

MR. LEWELLEN: And do you agree that based on that fairness that the State of Arkansas still has not passed a formula where it is responsible for constructing a cure for those situations in the poor districts?

DR. SIMON: Outside the parameters that have been set.

MR. LEWELLEN: Do you agree with me, they have not established a system to correct the problem?

DR. SIMON: Not to the — not to the extent you're talking about, that's correct.

MR. LEWELLEN: Okay. Now, is it your opinion that all children have — well, you've said that you believe facilities has something to do with the education of a child, right?

DR. SIMON: Yes.

MR. LEWELLEN: And I think you would agree that you think materials and other resources has something to do with the ability of a child to learn.

DR. SIMON: Yes.

MR. LEWELLEN: Okay. Then that being the case, do you think that all children in this State have equal physical facilities?

DR. SIMON: No.

MR. LEWELLEN: Do you think all children in this State have equal materials and resources in every district?

DR. SIMON: No.

The discrepancies in teacher salaries among Arkansas school districts have already been noted in this opinion. Well-paid and well-motivated teachers are what make the education engine run. Dr. Simon candidly admitted this in his testimony and also testified:

MR. LEWELLEN: But you're not paying your teachers equally across the State?

DR. SIMON: No.