LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Since the beginning of the academic year, the Little Rock School District has had some rocky news.
It started with Superintendent Jermall Wright submitting his resignation, which he withdrew several weeks later. Now, the board has voted to censure fellow member Vicki Hatter.
Hatter's censure included multiple violations, such as visiting schools without approval, returning a cash advance for a professional trip late, and disrespecting the superintendent.
Hatter said there's much more going on behind the scenes, including an accusation of assault during an executive session.
"This is about me asking real questions around management, physical accountability, ESSER funds," Hatter said.
Hatter has been an elected board member for the Little Rock School District since 2020 and served as board president during her first term.
She has a reputation for speaking up during board meetings but said the environment has shifted.
"For me, it goes back to last year when I was questioning the cost of one of the network systems," Hatter said. "What is the budget? What are the initial plans?"
The school district was millions of dollars over budget and trying to find ways to cut costs, especially with declining enrollment.
Hatter said no when we asked if she got the answers she sought.
"I got gaslighting," Hatter said. "I got targeted to the point where I believe our board has gone into a defense mode of a superintendent where it had become violent."
Hatter said an altercation between her and Board President Michael Mason during an executive session this year stunned her.
"I thought he was going to hit me," Hatter said. "I didn't know what was going on."
In a police report, documents said Hatter and Mason got into a disagreement.
Hatter asked why Mason was pointing at her, to which Mason, according to the report, replied, "I can point. I can do what I want."
The report said Mason spoke aggressively to Hatter and lunged at her. It adds that a board member stood between them while another member yelled for Mason to stop.
"It was triggering, especially as someone who is a domestic violence survivor," Hatter said. "If we are against threats of any kind psychologically or physically, that should mean that the board should be against that... I gave them time to address it, and they chose not to."
Mason told us he had no comment about anything that happened during the executive session. However, he said the board "is here to make sure students have the best learning outcome."
Hatter said she plans to continue serving on the LRSD board.
No charges have been filed against Mason. In Arkansas, a third-degree assault charge doesn't have to include physical harm to someone but could include creating an environment or tone to hurt someone.
Last week, LRSD Board Member Sandrekkia Morning announced she is stepping down from the board next month.