The teachers and students at Arkansas Children’s University had some good ideas they wanted to discuss with Mayor Jackson. So a time was set for the Mayor to visit. The students were a very excited group with a big “WELCOME” sign as he drove into the parking lot.

After a tour of the facilities and a look at the classrooms, the Mayor spent time with the students who personally invited him. Their invitation was specifically written on the back of a clean Chick-Fil-A sack. The letter spelled out the two items they requested for discussion, and each older student signed their name.

Mayor Jackson read each student’s signed name, and the students were thrilled to meet him. 

He addressed the crosswalk issue first. The school's owner and administrator, Tammy Griggs, said, “Even with the police having a presence, there are many times when people cut through the school’s parking lot to avoid the signal light, as parents and students are walking to their cars in the afternoon.”

The staff has made arrangements to park at the Taekwondo facility across the street. The school has recently opened an area for infants and toddlers. Parents have to park and walk across Cottonwood Road with their young children and find it’s not very safe at all.

Mayor Jackson is willing to see what is possible for the future and will speak to the City’s engineer to see what is available in the budget.

Griggs was grateful for the police presence and appreciated the Mayor’s willingness to listen to their concerns.

Then, he held up the side of the sack with the Chick-fil-A logo and explained they were already coming to Harrison one day a week. They were thankful, but the students were adamant about having a permanent location built closer to their school.

The Mayor also told the students that several businesses are looking to open in Harrison once they find the right location. 

Before leaving, the Mayor and students enjoyed some delicious brownies. As he shook hands with the students, unbeknownst to him, several students jumped up and down quietly, announcing to their friends, “I shook hands with the Mayor.” 

It was a great day to be the Mayor of Harrison, Arkansas.