By: Patricia Morris
Armed with the knowledge and reports from many constituients across Tangipahoa Parish and surrounding areas across this country, people are asking questions ranging from, "did the school system really win in this, or did the NAACP?" The response is neither side actually won. Judge Lemelle did as he said he would do last summer in court - set precedence in this case. That process started last Thursday, and is only the beginning of much more to come. The school system knows this as well.
When put into the perspective of who has to comply with what, the answer is the TPSS had to put together a plan in how it would address a case that was won in 1979, and reopened in 2007 by efforts made from the local Chapter of the GTPB NAACP. The plaintiffs was under no obligation to do so. The school system was under a federal court order dating back to 1979 that they did not comply with.
As we traverse the pages of the school board's plan, we see many things the NAACP complained about to plaintiff's attorneys who addressed those complaints in court, and we now see as Judge Lemelle has put pen to paper, those issues will finally be addressed. Many things that are now happening, and would have not otherwise have been done, is now made possible because of the efforts of the local NAACP forcing the issues in saying to the TPSS, you will comply with the orders of the court.
As with any victory or partial victory, some people will come forward to take the credit for doing the impossible, when in fact, they sat in the shadows for nearly 50 years and did nothing. However, the records speak for themselves, as they always do.
The real winners in all that is happening now in this Deseg Case will be the children, provided this school system does what it says it will do in their Deseg Plan presented to Federal Judge Ivan Lemelle and to the Plaintiffs. Is it believed this school system will do all as they say in their plan? It is believed under the current board and administration, they will not.
One year from now, will we see a Federal Judge enforce again, using his authority as he did for O.W. Dillon to impose the monies to pay for this plan with the existing $214 million bonding capacity this school system already has, which will probably increase to nearly $250 million by 2011 without a tax increase come to full fruition? We believe so.
From the stance of this NAACP President, I want to see every child, black, white, red, yellow, brown, whatever ethnicity, obtain a fair and equitable education, and that child is given the best that can be given to them in a public school system to prepare them for a rapidly globalizing society. Many things are being said now, but for anyone who knows me, they know I support the children, and always will work to do so.
While I cannot control the heart of man/woman, and know the heart of man/woman is controlled by God, I will continue to fight to see that equity is given to all, regardless of race, creed, color or national origin. It is the American Dream and should be the American Way. This right being guaranteed by the Constitution of these United States; and it can be no other way.