NEW ORLEANS [AP] — No matter what plan is approved, U.S. District Judge Ivan R.L. Lemelle said the Tangipahoa Parish school system will never desegregate unless the school board and the community faithfully implement the plan.
Attorneys for both sides were in New Orleans federal court Tuesday to offer closing arguments over the school board’s proposed desegregation plan in the 46-year-old case.
Lemelle plans to visit schools in Tangipahoa Parish on Friday.
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Lemelle said 30 of the school system’s 36 schools are segregated.
The school board proposed a plan that aims to desegregate the schools with a combination of magnet programs, attendance zone changes and new schools. The plan seeks to have 17 of 36 schools desegregated.
