KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana |Monroe school board has date in federal court
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Associated Press - November 25, 2009 10:04 AM ET
MONROE, La. (AP) - The Monroe City School Board will appear before U.S. District Judge Robbie James on Dec. 2 to discuss taking steps toward unitary status, a move would loosen the federal government's oversight of the district.
Board members have expressed concern the district may not be ready for independence since only last year they were forced to sign a contract with the U.S. Justice Department that mandated equality among the district's three high schools.
Since the mid-1960s, the district has been under a federal desegregation order that governs student and teacher assignment as well as transportation within the district to prevent racially identifiable schools.
A visit by the Justice Department to the district in 2008 noted disparities among the district's schools. The report that followed mandated the district formulate a plan for equalizing programs.
Information from: The News-Star, http://www.thenewsstar.com
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