| Updated: 9/30/2009 7:09 pm |
Published: 9/30/2009 4:20 pm |
Two of central Arkansas' largest school districts are fighting to get their districts declared desegregated and released from court supervision. Wednesday a federal judge heard the arguments but made no decision. Both districts say they are ready but now it is up to the judge's decision.
"We've been under court supervision for 40 years," says Stephen Jones, attorney for the North Little Rock School District.
Jones says the district is ready to once and for all be declared unitary or desegregated. "The reason we think we are in compliance is we've complied with our plan in good faith."
Lawyers with the PCSSD agree and say their schools no longer need to be monitored by the federal courts and the state wants to stop payments of 60 million dollars per year to the districts.
"Where we are today is we are ready to demonstrate to Judge Miller that we've complied with our plans. Those are narrow issues, we're racially balanced in the schools," says Sam Jones, lawyer for PCSSD.
The big question is if these schools are desegregated, how will it affect your child in the school?
"The reality is that the goal of desegregation is that all kids will be treated the same and that's where North Little Rock is. If Bobby Smith is in the first grade, he's going to have all the same opportunities as any other child," says Jones.
