Our Mission

 The Van Buren County Special School, now called the Lakeside Learning Center was established in 1974 by a group of concerned citizens who saw a need for special education services for the disabled citizens of Van Buren County. The Lakeside Learning Center has now been in operation for 50 years and serves over 150 consumers per year. 

The center was formed in Shirley, Arkansas by statewide legislation creating funding opportunities for counties to start non-profit organizations serving their disabled and developmentally delayed populations. The Lakeside Learning Center was moved to its current location at Choctaw in 1977 following a one year reconstruction of the old Choctaw school building which was built in 1926. 

Buck Kidd, Ralph Kidd and Dick Stephens were made trustees of the old Choctaw school through heirs of the property all the way back to Mr. Lynn Kidd. As trustees, they offered the grounds and facility to the Lakeside Learning Center for future use as long as it continued as a center serving the community. Mrs. Raye Jean Linn was the first Director hired and served from 1974 to 1977 in the Shirley location. Kathy Trent was hired to direct at the new center in Choctaw in 1977 and was succeeded by George Curran, Beverly Jharman, Glen Hackett and Dr. Isa Ludy who held different positions from 1978 to 1991.  Current director Neil Wilkins, Jr. took over in the spring of 1991.

The center’s first board of directors who developed the center were; Willard H. Stark, President, Glen Hackett, Vice President, Loreda Ellis, Secretary, Rev. E. A. Pipkins, Dr. Paul Read, Jim Burnett, Hazel Carrell, Opal Kidd and Denver Pickett.