Madison County School District Desegregation Plan

    IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT 

OF MISSISSIPPI 

CIVil,. ACTION NO: .. 3700 (1) 

JOAN ANDERSON ET AL 

; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA : PLAINTIFFS 

VS. 

THE CANTON MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, 

ET AL AND THE MADISON COUNTY SCHOOL, 

DISTRICT, ET AL DEFENDANTS 

DESEGREGATION PLAN OF THE 

MADISON COUNTY SCHOOL 

DISTRICT 
  

COMES NOW the Madison County School District, defendant 

herein, and pursuant to an order entered by the United States Court 

of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on July 3, 1969, as implemented by 

an order of this Court entered on July 31, 1969, files this, its plan 

for the desegregation of schools, as follows, to-wit: 

After a full, and complete examination into this matter, and 

giving careful consideration to the requirements of the United States 

Constitution and the applicable case law and the best interest of the 

school district and all of its educable children, the defendants find 

that the zoning of the several attendance centers throughout the 
\] 

  
  

  

 



    

District will best promote a unitary school system and will eliminate 

the "last vestige'' of the dual system. It is the sense of the defendants 

that this general plan can best be implemented over a period of three 

years, beginning with the school year 1969-70, in order to continue 

an orderly and efficient school program for all children within the 

District. The defendants propose to implement this plan as follows: 

A. STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS FOR 1969-70: 

1. That part of Supervisors District 4 and 5, lying within 

the School District in which the Velma Jackson, Luther Branson and 

Farmhaven Attendance Centers are located, is hereby designated as 

Zone I, and students are hereby assigned as follows: 

(a) The Velma Jackson Attendance Center shall serve 

and be attended by all students regardless of race, in 

grades 1 through 12 living within the present attendance 

area of the school, as recommended in the HEW plan. 

(b) Luther Branson will serve and be attended by all 

students, regardless of race, in grades 1 through 8 

in the attendance area which it is currently serving : 

(c) Farmhaven will serve the same grades and area 

as in the 1968-69 school year. 

2. That part of Supervisor's District No. 3, in which the 

Ridgeland Elementary, Madisen-Ridgeland, and Rosa Scott Attend- 

ance Centers are located is hereby designated as Zone II, and students 

are hereby assigned for the 1969-70 school year as follows: 

(a) Ridgeland Elementary will serve and be attended 

 



  

by all students in grades 1 through 6, regardless of 

race, living within the area now served by the school. 

(b) Madison-Ridgeland will serve and be attended by 

the same students, and shall serve the same grades 

as in the 1968-69 school year, as recommended in 

the "Possible Interim Steps'' of the HEW plan. (See 

Para. 71, Page 7). 

(c) Rosa Scott shall serve the same grades and areas 

as in the 1968-69 school year, as recommended in the 

"Possible Interim Steps!! of the HEW plan. (See Para. 

7; Page 7). 

| (d) PROVIDED HOWEVER that the defendants shall 

allow and take all possible and appropriate steps to 

encourage transfers between the Rosa Scott and Madison- 

Ridgeland Attendance Centers to achieve a racial com- 

position of each school which will include at least 

twenty per cent (20%) of the race in the minority 

attending such school. 

3. That part of Supervisor's District No. 3 lying within the 

County School District, in which the Flora and East Flora Attendance 

Centers are located is hereby designated as Zone III, and students 

are hereby assigned for the 1969-70 school year as follows: 

(a) Flora Attendance Center shall serve the same 

grades and areas as in 1968-69, 

(b) East Flora Attendance Center shall serve the same 

grades and areas as in 1968-69, 

xy i 

 



  

(c) PROVIDED HOWEVER that the defendants shall 

allow and take all possible and appropriate steps to 

encourage transfers between the Flora Attendance 

Center and East Flora Attendance Center, to achieve 

a racial composition of each school which will include 

at least twenty per centum (20%) of the race in the 

minority attending such school. 

NOTE: This is substantially the same plan recom- 

mended by HEW under "Possible Interim Steps'' (Para. 

7, Page 7) for the Madison-Ridgeland and Rosa Scott 

Attendance Centers. 

B. STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS FOR 1970-71: 

l. ZONE I; The respective Attendance Centers in this Zone 

will serve the same grades and areas as in 1969-70, except that the 

Farmhaven Attendance Center will be closed and all students formerly 

attending or who would otherwise attend will be assigned to the Luther 

Branson Attendance Center. 

2 ZONE II: 

(a) Ridgeland Elementary Attendance Center, will 

serve the same grades and areas as in 1969-70. 

(b) Madison-Ridgeland Attendance Center will serve 

grades 1 through 6 and will be attended by all students 

regardless of race living East of the Illinois Central 

Railroad right of way, and will serve grades 7 through 

12 and will be attended by all students in these grades, 

 



  

3 

regardless of race, in attendance during the 1969-70 

school year, or residing within the area served by this 

center during said year. 

(c) The Rosa Scott Attendance Center will serve grades 

1 through 6 and will be attended by all students, regard- 

less of race, in these grades who reside west of the 

Illinois Central Railroad right of way. In addition, this 

center will serve grades 7 through 12 and will be attended 

by all students in these grades in attendance during the 

1969-70 school year, or residing with the area served 

by this center during said year. 

(d) Provided that transfers of students between the 

Madison-Ridgeland and Rosa Scott Attendance Centers 

of students in grades 7 through 12 shall be allowed and _ 

encouraged by all possible and appropriate means in an 

effort to achieve a racial composition of at least twenty 

per centum (20%) of the minority race in these grades. 

ZONE 111: 

(2) The Flora Attendance Center shall serve grades 

1 through 6 and shall be attended by all students in these 

grades, regardless of race, who reside West and South 

of the Kearney Park Road. In addition it shall serve 

Srades 7 through 12 and shall be attended by all, stus 

dents in these grades, regardless of race, who attended 

the center during the 1969-70 school year, or reside within 

the area served by this center during said year. 

  

 



  

(b) The East Flora Attendance Center shall serve 

grades 1 through 6 and shall be attended by all stu- 

dents in these grades, regardless of race, who live 

East and North of the Kearney Park Road. In addition, 

this center shall serve grades 7 through 12, and shall 

be attended by all students, regardless of race, who 

attended this center in the 1969-70 school year, or 

who reside in the area served by the center during 

that year. 

(c) PROVIDED HOWEVER that the defendants shall 

allow and take all possible and appropriate steps to 

encourage transfers between the Flora and East Flora 

Attendance Centers to achieve a racial composition of 

each school of at least twenty per centum (20%) of the 

race in the minority at such school. 

C. STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS FOR 1971-72: 

ZONE I: The Velma Jackson and Luther Branson 

Attendance Centers in this Zone will continue to serve the same 

grades and areas as in 1970-71. 

  

ZONE II: 

(a) The Ridgeland Elementary Attendance Center will 

serve the same grades and areas as in 1970-71. 

(b) The Madison-Ridgeland Attendance Center 

will serve grades 1 through 12 and will be attended by 

all students in these grades, regardless of race, living



  

East of the Illinois Central right of way. 

(c) The Rosa Scott Attendance Center will serve 

grades 1 through 12 and will be attended by all 

students in these grades, regardless of race, living 

West of the Illinois Central Railroad right of way. 

3. ZONE 111: 

(a) The Flora Attendance Center will serve grades 

1 through 12 and will be attended by all students in 

these grades, regardless of race, living West and 

South of the Kearney Park Road. 

(b) The East Flora Attendance Center will serve 

grades 1 through 12 and will be attended by all stu- 

dents in these grades, regardless of race, living 

East and North of the Kearney Park Road. 

11. 

FACULTY AND STAFF ASSIGNMENTS 
  

Staff and faculty assignments shall be based strictly on the 

qualifications of the applicant to’ dis charge the duties of the position 

involved and shall in no way be discriminatory or related to race. 

Assignments will be made, in so far as practical so that the faculty 

and staff will I be identifiable as tailored for a student body the 

racial composition of which is all Negro or all white. Faculty and 

staff assignments for the year 1969-70 shall be made, in so far as 

practical, to achieve a ratio of at least one staff or faculty member 

 



  

of the minority race to eight staff or faculty members of the 

majority race in each attendance center. 

That in order to insure full and complete faculty and staff 

desegregation in compliance with constitutional standards and 

Federal Court decisions, for the school year 1970-71, the de- 

fendants will obtain the advice, counsel and recommendations of 

the South Mississippi In-Service Consulting Center as suggested 

by the HEW plan (See Page 16). 

The defendants will not deviate from this plan except when 

it is necessary to do so in order to insure that all staff and faculty 

positions in each attendance genter, and in the school district are 

filled by qualified personnel, In determining the qualifications of 

staff and faculty members or applicants therefor, race shall not 

be a factor. 

In the event that the implementation of this results in the 

dismissal, reduction, demotion or reassignment of any staff or 

faculty member, the same shall be made on non-racial, non-dis- 

criminatory basis. 

 



  

a 

po 

pe 
Bi 
ge 

¥ 
fon | 

de 
¥ 

IL, 

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES 
  

All school activities shall be conducted on a non-racial, non- 

discriminatory basis and all eligible students shall be encouraged to 

participate. 

lV. 

TRANSPORTATION 
  

The transportation system shall be completely re-examined 

regularly by the superintendent, his staff, and the school board. Bus 

routes and the assignment of students to buses will be designed to insure 

the transportation of all eligible pupils on a non-s egregated and other - 

wise non-discriminatory basis. 

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND SITE SELECTION 
  

All school construction, school consolidation, and site selection’ 

(including the location of any temporary classrooms) in this system shall be 

done in a manner which will prevent the recurrence of the dual school structure 

once this desegregation plan is implemented. 

VI. 

MAJORITY TO MINORITY TRANSFER POLICY 
  

Whenever there shall exist schools containing a majority of Negro 

 



  

students, this school district shall permit a student (Negro or white) 

attending a school in which his race is in the majority to choose to attend 

another school where space is available, and where his race in in minority. 

Vil. 

PLAN IMPLEMENTATIONS 
  

1. Community Relations 
  

(a) The Superintendent amd Board of Education shall frankly and 

fully inform all citizens of the community about the legal requirements for 

school desegregation and their plans for complying with these legal require - 

ments. 

(b) The Board of Education shall issue a public statement 

clearly setting forth its intention to abide by thé law and comply with 

orders of the Court in an effective and educationally responsible manner. 

(c) School officials shall seek and encourage support and 

understanding of the press and community organizations representing 

both races. 

(d) The Board of Education shall establish a bi-racial advisory 

committee to advise the Board of Education and its staff throughout the im- 

plementation of the desegregation plan. Such committee should seek to open 

up community understanding and communication, to assist the Board in 

interpreting legal and education requirements to the public. 

(e) The Superintendent shall actively seek greater involvement 

of parents of both races through school meetings, newsletters, an active 

and bi-racial P.T.A., class meetings, parent conferences and through 

| 
Saw 

 



  

home visits by school personnel, 

(f) The Superintendent and Board of Education shall regularly 

“report to the community on progress in implementing the desegregation plan. 

2. School Personnel 
  

(a) The Superintendent shall provide all personnel copies of the 

desegregation plan and arrange for meetings where the personnel will have 

an opportunity to hear it explained. 

(b) The Board of Education shall issue a policy statement setting 

forth in clear terms the procedures it will follow in reassignment of the 

personnel. 

(c) Assignments of staff for the school year should be made as 

quickly as possible with appropriate followings by school principals to 

assure both welcome and support for personnel new to each school. In- 

vitations to visit school before the new school year begins should be offered. 

(d) The Superintendent shall see that a special orientation pro- 

gram is planned and carried out for both the professional and non-professional 

staffs (including bus drivers, cafeteria workers, secretaries and custodians) 

preparatory to the new school year. He should make every effort to familiar - 

ize new and reassigned staff with facilities, services, and building policies, 

and prepare them to carry out their important role in a constructive manner. 

The Superintendent should direct each principal to see that each teacher new 

to a school is assigned for help and guidance to a teacher previously assigned 

to that school. Each such pair of teachers should have an opportunity to meet 

before the school year actually begins. 

 



  

(e) The Superintendent shall arrange an in-service training 

program during the school year to assist personnel in resolving difficulties 

and improving instruction throughout the implementation period. Help in 

doing this is available from the South Mississippi In-Service Consulting 

Center at Hattiesburg, Mississippi. 

(f) It is important that, through personal ovservations, students 

see that nonprofessional service positions in their schools are not for 

members of one race and that harmonious working relationships can exist 

between members of both races. The Superintendent and Board of Education 

shall therefore take all necessary steps to assure that all staffs are bi-racial. 

3. Instructional Program 
  

(a) Each principal shall be required to appoint bi-racial faculty 

committees to study and, as necessary, revise each area of the curriculum 

to assure better learning opportunities for all students. This shall become 

a continuous activity in each school and throughout the district. 

(b) Student evaluation policies and procedures shall be reviewed 

continuously for areas in need of improvement and adjustment to encourage 

the educational growth and motivation of students. 

(c) Remedial programs in reading and mathematics skills, as 

appropriate, shall be introduced and/or expanded for all students in need of 

special help. Such a program shall supplement regular course offerings and 

assignments of students. 

(d) Grouping procedures shall be reviewed and revised as 

necessary to assure they support the spirit as well as letter of desegregation 

 



  

(e) Participation in extracurricular activities by students of 

both races shall be actively encouraged by administrators and teachers 

as a means for developing school spirit and a feeling of belonging. 

(f) School organizations - student government, cheerleaders, 

musical organizations, athletic teams must be operated on a nondiscriminatory 

basis. 

(g) Guidance counselors shall be oriented and urged to plan a 

‘leading role in successful implementation of the desegregation plan. 

(h) The Curriculum shall be reviewed and, as necessary, 

revised to provide recognition of Negro history, culture and contributions 

to our society. Library books which deal with such subjects should be 

added to school book collections. 

(i) Vocational education offerings shall be reviewed and improved 

as a means of providing students of both races with education relevant to 

vocational interests and as a means of reducing dropouts. 

(j) Headstart of similar preschool programs for children of 

both races shall be implemented. 

(k) Use of Federal and State education funds shall be planned 

comprehensively for maximum educational benefit to all eligible children. 

4, Students 
  

(a) The Superintendent shall direct each principal to hold 

special orientation programs welcoming students who will be new to a 

school, before the regular school year begins. 

 



  

(b) The Superintendent shall require each principal to see that 

students are frankly and fully informed about the desegregation plan and 

their responsibilities to help carry it out. Each principal shall seek to 

establish rapport and communication links with new students to encourage 

mutual understanding and confidence. 

(c) The Superintendent shall direct each principal to establish 

a student-faculty human relations committee representing both races to aid 

in the successful implementation of desegregation. 

(d) All school staff and members of the student body should 

exert extra effort to assure the full participation of all students of both 

races in extra-curricular programs. 

(e) Each principal should request teachers to make themselves 
{ 

available to students outside of regular class for counseling and extra in- 

structional help. 

Vii. 

NOTICE OF PLAN 
  

The plan shall be conspicuously published for three consecutive weeks 

in a newspaper having general circulation in the school district during the 

month of August, 1969, and in the month of July in each subsequent year, and 

shall be announced over the local radio and television stations. In addition, 

copies of the plan shall be conspicuously posted at each attendance center 

and copies shall be available at the of fice of the principal at each attendance 

 



  

center and at the office of the Superintendent of Schools : 

Respectfully submitted, 

MADISON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 

we han 
  

BR. l.. Goza, lis Stosasy 

Goza, Case & Montgomery 

Attorneys at Law 

114 West Center Street 

Canton, Mississippi