Stone County rural schools look to secede from Mountain View School District

Two rural schools in Stone County are planning to break away from the Mountain View School District, after it went public that the district was considering closing at least one of them.

Timbo and Rural Special, both K–through–12 schools, were blindsided when they discovered  that the Mountain View School District was considering closing Timbo.

Luckily, a new law by State Senator Missy Irvin may save them. Act 919 redresses the unintended effects of Public Education Reorganization Act Arkansas passed in 2003 that forced schools with fewer than 350 students—like Timbo and Rural Special—to be consolidated into larger school districts, ultimately leading to the closure of many small schools…likely due to the increased financial burden on their receiving school districts.

Armed with the new law, the Timbo and Rural Special communities are preparing to secede from the Mountain View School District to escape the same fate.

Many parents at both Timbo and Rural Special say they’re fighting for their children to continue to have the opportunities and nurturing environments that both small schools offer. Sutton’s son is in third grade at Timbo.

It was at the passionate urging of the Timbo and Rural Special school communities that compelled Irvin to file Act 919.

“It provides the opportunity for these communities and these schools just to self-govern, and to be on their own and to pour into their community,” Irvin told KATV earlier in April.

Both communities are preparing to petition to form isolated school districts as part of the process outlined in the law. After a successful petition, elections will be called on the issue of breaking away. If successful, the new school districts will elect their own boards and set a millage.

MVSD has postponed its vote on closing Timbo for another year. Timbo and Rural Special are using that critically important time to achieve independence.

If things go as expected the process of secession will likely be completed by the 2026–27 school year.