In a historic step forward, the plaintiffs in the 60-year federal desegregation case involving the Tangipahoa Parish School System have signed a consent agreement with the district in the areas of Faculty and Staff Assignment, Teacher Assignment, and Student Assignment.
Following this agreement, attorneys for the school system have filed motions with U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle seeking final unitary status in all three of these key areas.
On April 23, an evidentiary hearing was held in federal court in New Orleans to consider the consent motions. The Federal Judge granted the joint motions submitted by the school system and the plaintiffs that provides FINAL unitary status in student assignment, teacher assignment, and hiring practices for administrative positions. This order ends judicial supervision in these three areas.
The only remaining area in which the district holds provisional unitary status is Facilities.
The Tangipahoa Parish School System is actively working to address this final “Green factor” in its effort to conclude the long-standing desegregation case that has placed the district under federal court supervision for six decades.
Superintendent Melissa Stilley emphasized the importance of this work, saying after becoming Superintendent in 2018, it was her top priority to bring this case to a close. She said the children, families, and community deserve a school system that is unified and focused fully on excellence for all.
