At Thursday’s meeting, without any discussion, the JMC School Board voted 6-3 to seek full unitary status of the 2008 revised consent agreement. Board members Carol Carter-Estes, Anne Henning-Rowan, and Linda Pride voted against the motion.
In 2008 a motion for partial unitary status, in all areas except for student assignment, was submitted by the school board, the NAACP and the Department of Justice based on a revised agreement. Later the County was granted standing in the case and filed a motion requesting Full Unitary Status based on the original 2000 Agreement
In the News Room first reported after Monday's meeting board members had an attorney-client meeting regarding unitary status just prior to their monthly work session. At Monday’s work session board members decided to put the issue on the agenda for their regular meeting.
If a Judge grants full unitary status to the school system they would be out from under federal court oversight regarding student assignment, busing, buildings, faculty and staff assignment.
Board members did not state what was talked about in the private meeting. All parties have been waiting since January for a ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays Jr. If Unitary Status is granted it would end the 40 plus year desegregation lawsuit.
