Arkansas governor candidates address educators

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — The four announced candidates for Arkansas governor split along party lines Tuesday on whether the state Supreme Court ruled correctly when it said local school districts shouldn’t have to give the state any leftover money after meeting the state’s per-pupil spending targets.

Former U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, the only Democratic candidate in the race, said he believes the ruling could undermine funding plans legislators put in place to address a lawsuit brought by the now-defunct Lake View School District. Justices ended that case after 15 years — determining that the Legislature had established ways to fund evenly and adequately.