Rivers v Roadway Express Petition for A Writ of Certiorari

    IN THE

Supreme Court of the United States
OCTOBER TERM, 1970

No.

JACKSON MUNICIPAL SEPARATE SCHOOL 
DISTRICT, et al.,

Petitioners,
versus

DEREK JEROME SINGLETON, et al.

PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE 
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS 

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

GEORGE P. HEWES, III 
Brunini, Everett, Grantham & Quin 
P. O. Box 119
1440 First National Bank Building 
Jackson, Mississippi 3S205
ROBERT C. CANNADA 
Butler, Snow, O'Mar a, Stevens 

& Cannada
700 Petroleum Building 
P. O Box 22567 
Jackson, Mississippi 39205



IN D E X

O PIN IO N S BELO W  .............................................................    1

JU R ISD IC T IO N  ...................................   2

Q U ESTIO N S P R E S E N T E D  ................................................ 2

CO NSTITUTION AL PR O V ISIO N  INVO LV ED  ..........  4

ST A T E M E N T  ............................................................................. 4

1. T he S ystem  ................................................................  4

2. S u m m a ry  of P ro ceed in g s  in  th e  C ourts
Below  ............................................................................  5

REA SO N S FO R  G RA N TIN G  TH E W R IT .................. 18

I. The D ecision  Below  Conflict W ith R u l­
ings of This C ourt In  T h a t T hey  R e jec t 
A dm itted ly  W orkab le A nd F eas ib le  
School P la n s  M axim izing  D eseg reg a tio n  
Solely B ecau se  of F a ilu re  to  A chieve
C erta in  S ta tis tic a l R e s u l t s .................................. 19

A. This C ourt H as R ecognized  The N eed
F o r  F e a s ib le  D eseg reg a tio n  P la n s  . . . .  18

B. The C ourt of A ppeals  D ecisions F a il
to R ecognize E d u ca tio n a l, A dm in is­
tra t iv e  and  E conom ic F a c t o r s ..................20

C. N u m eric a l R esu lts  A re  N ot th e  U ni­
v e rs a l A nsw er to the  C om plex P ro b ­
lem s of D eseg reg a tio n  and  Should 
N ot D e te rm in e  th e  C onstitu tionality
of D eseg reg a tio n  P la n s  ...............................23

D. The Issu es  In  This C ase D iffer F ro m
T hose In  C h arlo tte -M eck lenbu rg  and  
M obile ................................................................30



IN D E X  (C ontinued)
P a g e

II. The C ourt of A ppeals  H as O rd ered  th e  
School D is tr ic t to P ro v id e  T ra n s p o r ta ­
tion  S e rv ice  W hich is N e ith e r A u thorized  
by  S ta te  L aw  N or R eq u ired  by th e  E q u a l 
P ro te c tio n  C lause .....................................................32

CONCLUSION ................................................................  37

A P P E N D IX  ............................................................................. l a

O pinion and  O rd er of th e  D is tr ic t Court, filed
on J a n u a ry  22, 1970 ...........................................  1a.

O pinion of th e  C ourt of A ppeals, d a te d  M ay 5,
1970, u n r e p o r te d ...................................................... 22a

O rd er of th e  C ourt of A ppeals  on P e titio n  for 
R eh ea rin g , d a ted  Ju ly  13, 1970, u n re ­
p o rted  ...........................................................................45a

O pinion and  O rd er of the  D is tr ic t C ourt, filed
Ju n e  15, 1970 ............................................................  45a

O pinion of th e  C ourt of A ppeals, d a ted  A ugust
12, 1970, u n re p o rte d  ...........................................  72a

II



I l l
TA B LE O F A U T H O R IT IE S

Cases: P a g e

A lex an d e r v. H olm es County B o ard  of Educ.,
396 U.S. 19 (1969) ...................................................  5, 24

A llen  v. B o ard  of P u b lic  In s tru c tio n  of B ro w ard  
County, No. 30,032 (5th  Cir., Aug. 18,
1970) ........................................................................  24, 26, 28

B row n v. B o ard  of Educ., 349 U.S. 294, 299 (1955)
(B row n II) ........................................................................  18

C a rte r  v. W est F e lic ia n a  P a r is h  School Bd., 396
U.S. 290 (1970) ........................................................ 5, 6, 19

D avis v. B o ard  of School C om m issioners  of
M obile County, No. 436, O.T. 1970 ....................... 30, 31

G reen  v. C ounty School B o ard  of N ew  K en t Coun­
ty, 391 U.S. 430, 439 (1968) ...............................  19, 20, 23

N o rth c ro ss  v. B o ard  of E duc. of M em phis, 397
U.S. 232 (1970) ................................................................  20

P a te  v. D ade County School B oard , Nos. 29039 and
29179 i(5th Cir., Aug. 12, 1970) ............................... ... 25

R oss v. E ickels , No. 30080 (5th Cir., Aug. 25, 1970) . . . .  27

S p arro w  v. Gill, 304 F.Supp. 86 (M.D. N.C. 1969) . . . .  36

Sw ann v. C h arlo tte -M eck lenbu rg  B o ard  of Educ.,
No. 281, O.T. 1970 ................................... ................  30, 32

V alley  v. R ap id es  P a r is h  School B oard , No.
30099 (5th Cir., A ugust 25, 1970) ............................... 26

Statutes:

M iss. Code Ann. §6336-31 (Supp. 1969) ..................  9, 33



IN  TH E
S U P R E M E  COURT O F T H E  U N IT E D  STA TES

O CTO BER TE R M , 1970

No.

JACKSON M U N IC IPA L SE P A R A T E  
SCHOOL D ISTR IC T, e t al.,

P e titio n e rs ,
v e rsu s

D E R E K  JE R O M E  SIN G LETO N , e t al.

P E T IT IO N  F O R  A W R IT  OF C E R T IO R A R I TO T H E  
U N IT E D  STA TES COURT O F A P P E A L S  FO R  TH E 

F IF T H  CIRCU IT

P e titio n e rs  p ra y  th a t  a  w rit o f c e r t io ra r i  issu e  to  
rev iew  th e  tw o ju d g m en ts  of th e  U nited  S ta te s  C ourt 
of A ppeals  fo r th e  F if th  C ircu it e n te re d  in  th e  above 
en titled  ca se  on Miay 5, 1970, an d  on A ugust 12, 1970. 
P e titio n  fo r re h e a rin g  of th e  fo rm e r ju d g m e n t w as de­
n ied  on Ju ly  13, 1970.

OPINIONS BELOW

T he op in ions1 of th e  co u rts  below  d irec tly  p reced in g  
th e  p e titio n  a re  as follows:

’Earlier proceedings in the case are reported as Evers v. Jack- 
son Municipal Separate School Dist., 348 F. 2nd 729 (5th Cir. 
1965); Singleton v. Jackson Municipal Separate School Dist., 
355 F. 2nd 865 (5th Cir. 1966); and Singleton v. Jackson Munic­
ipal Separate School Dist., 419 F. 2nd 1211 (1969), rev’d in 
part sub nom., Carter v. West Feliciana Parish School Bd., 396 
U. S. 290 (1970).



2

1. O pinion and  o rd e r  of the  D is tr ic t C ourt,
filed  on J a n u a ry  22, 1970, u n re p o rte d  ( la ) .

2. O pinion of th e  C ourt of A ppeals, d a ted  M ay 
5, 1970, u n re p o rte d  (22a).

3. O rd er of th e  C ourt of A ppeals  on p e titio n  
fo r re h e a rin g  d a ted  Ju ly  13, 1970, u n re p o r t­
ed  (45a).

4. O pinion a n d  o rd e r  of th e  D is tr ic t C ourt, 
filed  Ju n e  15, 1970, u n re p o rte d  (47a).

5. O pinion of th e  C ourt of A ppeals, d a ted  A u­
g ust 12, 1970, u n re p o rte d  (72a).

JURISDICTION

The o rd e r  of th e  C ourt of A ppeals on p e titio n  fo r 
re h e a r in g  w as e n te re d  on Ju ly  13, 1970 (45a). The 
ju risd ic tio n  of th is  C ourt is invoked  u n d e r 28 U.S.C. 
§1254(1).

QUESTIONS PRESENTED

U pon re q u e s t from  th e  co u rts  below, th e  U n ited  
S ta te s  D e p a rtm e n t of H ealth , E d u ca tio n  and  W elfare  
developed  p lan s  to  d e se g re g a te  th e  pub lic  schools in  
Jack so n , M ississippi. T he H E W  p la n  fo r e le m e n ta ry  
schoo ls ad m itted ly  w as ed u ca tio n a lly  sound w hile 
ach iev ing  a  h igh  d eg ree  of deseg reg a tio n . T h a t p lan



3

Was adop ted  by th e  D is tr ic t C ourt a f te r  a  fu ll ev iden ­
t ia ry  h ea rin g , an d  n e ith e r  p a r ty  appea led . W hile con­
sid erin g  an  ap p e a l involv ing  seco n d ary  schools, th e  
U n ited  S ta te s  C ourt of A ppeals  fo r th e  F if th  C ircu it, 
on its  own m otion, su m m a rily  re je c te d  th e  e le m e n ta ry  
school p lan . The ca se  w as re m a n d e d  fo r fu r th e r  h e a r ­
in g  and  th e  fo rm u la tio n  of a n  ad d itio n a l p la n  or p lan s  
w ith  th e  a ss is ta n c e  of a  co u rt appo in ted  b i-ra c ia l com ­
m ittee . The b i-ra c ia l co m m ittee  developed  a  p la n  b ased  
upon  th e  o rig in a l H EW  plan . The b i- ra c ia l co m m ittee  
plan, w as ap p ro v ed  by th e  D is tr ic t Court, with, m od ifi­
ca tions . A gain , th e  C ourt o f A ppeals  re je c te d  th e  D is­
t r i c t  C ourt ap p ro v ed  p la n  b eca u se  it did, no t p ro d u ce  
“on p a p e r” c e r ta in  a rb it ra r i ly  fo rm u la te d  s ta t is t ic a l  
re su lts .

The f ir s t  question  p re se n te d  to  th is  C ourt is w h e th er 
th e  co n stitu tio n a l re q u ire m e n t of a  u n ita ry  school sy s­
te m  is to  be m e a su re d  by  a rb i t r a ry  n u m e ric a l re su lts , 
w ithou t re g a rd  to  ed u ca tio n a l soundness a n d  fea s ib ility  
as  d e te rm in e d  by  th e  D is tr ic t C ourt w ith  th e  co n cu r­
re n c e  of H EW  and  th e  p a rtie s .

The C ourt of A ppeals re q u ire d  th e  School D is tr ic t 
to  adop t a  m a jo r ity  to; m in o rity  t r a n s fe r  ru le  an d  to  
fu rn ish  tra n sp o r ta tio n  to  a ll t ra n s fe r r in g  s tu d en ts  
w here  th e  s a m e  w as  req u es ted . T he School D is tr ic t 
h a s  no au th o rity  to p rov ide  in tra -c ity  tra n sp o r ta tio n  
ex cep t in  v e ry  lim ited  c irc u m sta n c e s  on a te m p o ra ry  
b asis . T here  h as  been  no eq u a l p ro tec tio n  v io la tion  
in  th e  m a tte r  of p rov id ing  in fra -c ity  tra n sp o rta tio n . 
The School D is tr ic t h a s  n e v e r  p rov ided  in tra -c ity  t r a n s ­
portation, to an y  studen ts.



4

T he second question  p re se n te d  to  th is  C ourt is w heth- 
th e  School D is tr ic t can  be re q u ire d  to p rov ide  t r a n s ­
p o rta tio n  w hich  it  is  n o t au th o rized  to  do by  s ta tu te , 
w hen obviously  th e re  h a s  b een  no d isc rim in a tio n .

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION INVOLVED

This ca se  involves th e  E q u a l P ro te c tio n  C lause of 
th e  F o u rte e n th  A m en d m en t to th e  C onstitu tion  of th e  
U n ited  S ta tes .

STATEMENT

1. The System

The Ja c k so n  M unicipal S e p a ra te  School D is tr ic t is 
th e  la rg e s t school sy s te m  in  M ississippi. I t  se rv es  th e  
C ity of J a c k so n  and  c e r ta in  contiguous a re a s  ou tside 
th e  m u n ic ip a l lim its. T o ta l e le m e n ta ry  school en ro ll­
m en t a t th e  beg inn ing  of th e  1969-70 school y e a r  w as 
20,959 pupils, consisting  of 10,527 N egro  s tu d en ts  and  
10,432 w hite s tuden ts. R a c ia l p e rc e n ta g e s  w ere  50% 
N egro  an d  50% w hite  s tuden ts. The d is tr ic t o p e ra ted  
38 e le m e n ta ry  schools.

T o ta l e le m e n ta ry  school en ro llm en t fo r th e  1970-71 
(School y e a r  is 16,650. T h ere  a re  10,484 N eg ro  s tu d en ts  
o r 63% of th e  to ta l and  6,166 w hite s tu d en ts  or 37% 
of th e  to ta l. The d is tr ic t is o p e ra tin g  37 e le m e n ta ry  
schools.



5

2. Summary of Proceedings in the Courts Below

T his d e seg reg a tio n  ac tion  b eg an  in 1963. V arious p a r ­
tie s  h a v e  in te rv en ed  in  th e  succeed in g  y e a rs . The c u r ­
r e n t  p h ase  of th e  litig a tio n  b eg an  follow ing th is  C o u rt’s 
decisions in  A lexander v. H olm es County Board  
of E duc ., 396 U.S. 19 (1969), an d  Carter v. W est Felici­
ana Parish  School Bd., 396 U.S. 290 (1970).

On D ecem b er 1, 1969, th e  C ourt of A ppeals  issu ed  
a  m a n d a te  req u ir in g  adoption  of a  u n ita ry  d e se g re g a ­
tion  plan. P u rsu a n t to th e  m a n d a te , th e  D is tr ic t C ourt 
re q u e s te d  th e  a s s is ta n c e  of th e  O ffice of E d u ca tio n  
of th e  U n ited  S ta te s  D e p a rtm e n t of H ealth , E d u ca tio n  
and  W elfare  in  p re p a r in g  new  p lans. C ollection of d a ta  
by th e  school d is tr ic t b eg an  on D ecem b er 8, 1969 an d  
on  D ecem b er 15, 1969, a  te a m  of n ine  H EW  ed u ca to rs  
and  school a d m in is tra to rs  b eg an  w ork ing  on a l te rn a ­
tiv e  p la n s .2 A fte r 22 days of c o n c e n tra te d  s tu d y  m a rk e d  
by  close coopera tion  be tw een  th e  H EW  te a m  and  school 
d is tr ic t personnel, a  sing le  e le m e n ta ry  p lan  and  th re e  
a lte rn a tiv e  seco n d a ry  p lan s  w ere  devised. The H EW  
seco n d ary  p lans, d en o m in a ted  P la n  “A ”, P la n  “B ”, 
an d  P la n  “C”, w ere  b ased  on m odified  geo g rap h ic  zon­
in g  and  w ere  filed  in  th e  D is tr ic t C ourt on J a n u a ry  
6, 1970. The H EW  s ta ff  h ad  an tic ip a te d  th a t  th e  p lan  
w ould be a  f in a l p lan  effective  w ith  th e  school te rm  
beg inn ing  S ep tem b er, 1970, and  th a t  th e  school d is tr ic t 
s ta ff  would h av e  eigh t m o n th s  to p re p a re  fo r its  im ple-

2Four members of the team, including Dr. Herbert Larry Wine- 
coff, the leader, were from the School Desegregation Consult­
ing Center at the University of South Carolina, established un­
der Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Five members 
were from Mississippi State University.



6

m en ta tio n . H ow ever, th is  C ourt w ith in  a few  d a y s3 o r­
d e red  th e  im m ed ia te  im plem entation , of new  d e se g re ­
gation  p lans.

The D is tr ic t C ourt o rd e re d  a  h e a r in g  on J a n u a ry  
19, 1970 to  co nsider th e  v a rio u s  p lan s  and  on th a t  day  
th e  school d is tr ic t su b m itted  m od ifica tions to  bo th  th e  
H EW  e le m e n ta ry  p la n  and  th e  H EW  seco n d a ry  p lans. 
Follow ing  th e  tw o-day  h ea rin g , on J a n u a ry  22, 1970, 
th e  D is tr ic t C ourt e n te re d  its  O rd er P ro v id in g  fo r U ni­
ta ry  School S y stem  ( la ) .

The J a n u a ry  22,1970, o rd e r  adop ted  th e  H EW  e lem en ­
ta ry  p lan . I t  recogn ized  sev en  fa c to rs  con sid ered  by 
th e  H EW  te a m  a s  p rev en tin g  to ta l d eseg reg a tio n  of 
ev e ry  school in  th e  sy stem : (1) s ta te  law s re s tr ic tin g  
tra n s p o r ta tio n  o f s tu d e n ts  w ith in  th e  sy stem ; (2) size 
of d is tr ic t in  re la tio n  to loca tion  of schools; (3) n a tu ra l  
and  m a n m a d e  b a r r ie r s  re s tr ic tin g  s tu d en t m obility ; 
(4) d em o g rap h ic  p a tte rn ; (5) a tte m p ts  to an tic ip a te  
and  e lim in a te  re se g re g a tio n  p a tte rn s ; (6) la ck  of com ­
p u lso ry  a tte n d a n c e  lav/; and  (7) n e c e ss ity  of im m ed i­
a te  im p lem en ta tio n  of th e  p la n  (3a). The o rd e r  
sp ec ifica lly  no ted  th a t  th e  la ck  of to ta l d eseg reg a tio n  
in  th e  e le m e n ta ry  schools w as th e  re s u lt  of th e  lim ited  
m ob ility  of th e  y ounger pupils and  of th e  fa c t th a t  
th e  sm a lle r  e le m e n ta ry  geo g rap h ic  zones w ere  n ece s­
sa r ily  con tro lled  by  housing  p a tte rn s . B ecau se  th e  H EW  
pup il a ss ig n m en ts  exceeded  e le m e n ta ry  school c a p a c i­
tie s  in c e r ta in  cases , s e v e ra l m od ifica tions w ere  o rd e r­
ed. The o rd e r also  m odified  th e  H EW  seco n d a ry  school

3Carter v. West Feliciana Parish School Board, supra, which was de­
cided on January 14, 1970.



7

p lan . B oth  p lan s  w ere  re q u ire d  to he im p lem en ted  on 
o r  a f te r  F e b ru a ry  1, 1970, for th e  sp rin g  te rm .

P la in tiffs  appea led , and  th e  U n ited  S ta te s  filed  an  
am icus curiae  m e m o ran d u m  in  th e  C ourt of A ppeals. 
N either party  challenged the e lem entary  school plan. 
P la in tif fs ’ f ir s t  b rie f  ob jec ted  to th e  ju n io r-sen io r h igh  
school p la n  in  ligh t of th e  a lte rn a tiv e  H E W  proposa ls , 
a ll of w hich th e y  en d o rsed  as ed u ca tio n a lly  sound w hile 
ach iev in g  a  g re a te r  d eg ree  of deseg reg a tio n . The b rie f 
spec ifica lly  s ta ted , “N or does th e  in s ta n t ap p ea l ra is e  
an y  issu e  re g a rd in g  th e  5 a ll-N egro  an d  6 all-w hite  
e le m e n ta ry  schools re su ltin g  fro m  th e  H EW  p la n  of 
d eseg reg a tio n .”4 D efen d an t school d is tr ic t’s b rie f  
m e re ly  a rg u e d  in su p p o rt of th e  D is tr ic t C ourt’s sec ­
o n d a ry  school plan. In  th e ir  rep ly  b rief, p la in tiffs  ag a in  
did not question  th e  H EW  e le m e n ta ry  school p lan . In ­
deed, th e  conclud ing  p a ra g ra p h  s ta ted , “R a re ly  h as  
th is  C ourt b een  confron ted  w ith  H EW  p lans as  ca re fu lly  
p re p a re d  as  those  fo r Jack so n . . . . T hey  should  be 
e n te re d  in th is  school c a se .”8 A s im ila r  o b serv a tio n  
w as m a d e  in th e  m em orandum , of th e  U n ited  S ta tes, 
filed  on M arch  18,1970:

The D e p a rtm e n t of H ealth , E d u ca tio n  and  
W elfare  p re se n te d  a p lan , w ith  v a rio u s  a l te r ­
n a tiv e  options, w hich  b e a rs  th e  f irm  im p rin t

ABrief for Appellants in the Court of Appeals, p. 11, dated Febru­
ary 28, 1970. One of the plaintiffs’ objections to the junior- 
senior high plan involved the Isable-Hill complex, which had 
served grades 1-6 and 10-12. They desired implementation 
of HEW Plan “B,” which would change the complex to serve 
grades 1-5 and 9-10. This was their only complaint with re­
gard to the elementary plan.

sReply Brief in the Court of Appeals, p. 15-16, dated March 9, 1970.



8

of c a re fu l ed u ca tio n a l ju d g m en ts . The p la n  em ­
bodied th e  reco m m en d a tio n s  of H E W ’s ed u c a ­
tio n a l e x p e rts  on ho>w th e  c ity  o f J a c k so n  m ig h t 
m ax im ize  d eseg reg a tio n  in  w ays b o th  ed u ca ­
tionally  sound an d  a d m in is tra tiv e ly  feas ib le .6

On M arch  24, 1970, a f te r  th e  fo rego ing  b rie fs  h a d  
Deen sub m itted , th e  C lerk  o f th e  C ourt of A ppeals  di­
re c te d  counsel fo r th e  p a r tie s  to resp o n d  to c e r ta in  
questions p ropounded  by th e  C ourt. One of th e  questions 
sough t co m m en t on th e  e ffec t of n a tu ra l  an d  m a n -m a d e  
b a r r ie r s  as lim ita tio n s  on th e  d evelopm en t of p lans, 
and  counsel w ere  in s tru c te d  to a g re e  on th e  n u m b e r 
of such  b a r r ie r s  and  th e  ex ten t th e y  re su lte d  in  v a ry in g  
eq u a l d is tan ce  zone lines. In  addition , th e  school d is tr ic t 
w as d irec ted  to  fu rn ish  en ro llm en t f ig u res , “includ ing  
e le m e n ta ry  schools.”

The school d is tr ic t responded , in  su b stan ce , th a t  
s in ce  th e  b as ic  p lan s  su b m itted  a t th e  J a n u a ry  h e a r in g  
w ere  dev ised  by  HEW , it  h ad  no w ay  of know ing w h at 
b a r r ie r s  w ere  con sid ered  n o r th e ir  effect on zone lines. 
I t  a lso  s ta te d  th a t  th e  p lan s  adop ted  w ere  no t eq u a l 
d is tan ce  zoning p la n s .7 P la in tiffs  in te rp re te d  the  
C le rk ’s le tte r  to m e a n  th a t  th e  C ourt of A ppeals  in ­
ten d ed  to  rev iew  th e  e le m e n ta ry  p lan , and, fo r th e  
f ir s t  tim e, th e y  ex p re ssed  a  v ag u e  d issa tis fa c tio n  w ith

sMemorandum for the United States as Amicus Curiae in the Court 
of Appeals, p. 6, dated March 18, 1970.

7Memorandum Submitted Pursuant to Letter of Edward W. Wads­
worth, Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Dated 
March 24, 1970, in the Court of Appeals, p. 3, dated March 27, 
1970; Plaintiffs Response to Letter Directive of March 24, 1970, 
in the Court of Appeals, p. 2, dated March 27, 1970; see foot­
note 4 to Court of Appeals opinion of May 5, 1970 (25a).



9

th e  n u m b e r of n o n -in teg ra te d  e le m e n ta ry  schools. 
P la in tiffs  conceded, how ever, th a t in  o rd e r su b s ta n tia l­
ly  to  ch an g e  th e  p lan , “a m u ch  b ro a d e r  re c o rd  a t the  
t r i a l  c o u rt leve l should  be d ev e lo p ed ”.® T he in q u iry  
fro m  th e  C lerk  of th e  C ourt of A ppeals  also  in s tru c te d  
counsel to  fu rn ish  th e  C ourt copies o f s ta te  s ta tu te s  
re s tr ic tin g  tra n sp o r ta tio n  of s tu d en ts  w hich  w ere  r e ­
fe r re d  to in th e  H E W  p la n  as p re v e n tin g  to ta l d e se g re ­
g a tion  of th e  sy stem . C om m ent on th e  co n stitu tio n a lity  
of th e  s ta tu te s  w as req u es ted . B oth  p a r tie s  ag reed , 
an d  s ta te d  to th e  Court, th a t  th e  only  s ta tu te  co n ferrin g  
au th o rity  on  th e  d is tr ic t fo r in tra -c ity  tra n sp o r ta tio n  
w as M iss. Code Ann. §6336-31 (Supp. 1969). The school 
d is tr ic t’s  a sse rtio n  th a t  it h a d  n e v e r  fu rn ish ed  in t r a ­
c ity  tra n sp o r ta tio n  u n d e r th e  s ta tu te  w as no t con tro ­
v e rte d . P la in tiffs  and  d efen d an t d is tr ic t ag re e d  th a t 
th e re  w as no co n stitu tio n a l in firm ity  in  th e  t r a n s p o r ta ­
tion  s ta tu te s .* 9

On M ay 5, 1970, th e  C ourt of A ppeals re v e rse d  th e  
D is tr ic t C ourt o rd e r (22a). W ith re g a rd  to  th e  
e le m e n ta ry  school p lan , th e  C ourt f ir s t  no ted  th a t  p ro ­
je c te d  re su lts  u n d e r th e  H EW  p la n  h a d  no t been  a- 
chieved. R a th e r  th a n  re su ltin g  in  five all-w hite  and  
six  a ll-b lack  schools, th e  H EW  p la n  in  fa c t h a d  p ro ­
duced  six  all-w hite  and  seven  a ll-b lack  schools (27a). 
E n ro llm e n t on M arch  26, 1970, show ed 9,217 w hite

aPlaintiffs Response to Letter Directive of March 24, 1970, in the 
Court of Appeals, p. 13, dated March 27, 1970.

9Memorandum Submitted Pursuant to Letter of Edward W. Wads­
worth, Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Dated 
March 14, 1970, in the Court of Appeals, p. 3, dated March 27, 
1970; Plaintiffs Response to Letter Directive of March 24, 1970, 
in the Court of Appeals, p. 2, dated March 27, 1970; see footnote 
4 to Court of Appeals Opinion of May 5, 1970 (25a).



10

s tu d en ts  or 1,200 less th a n  th e  p ro je c te d  fig u re  on w hich  
the  H EW  e le m e n ta ry  p la n  w as b ased  (40a).

W hile recogn iz ing  th a t  p la in tiffs  did n o t ex p ress ly  
challen g e  th e  e le m e n ta ry  p lan , th e  C ourt fe lt its  r e ­
sponsib ility  ex ten d ed  to “th e  o v e ra ll w orkings of th e  
sy stem  — all a sp ec ts  of th e  e le m e n ta ry  and  seco n d a ry  
leve ls .” (27a) B ecau se  “a  su b s ta n tia l n u m b e r of 
N egro  s tu d en ts  will re ce iv e  th e ir  en tire  pub lic  school 
edu ca tio n  in  a se g re g a te d  school en v iro n m en t” w hen 
avo idab le  by “read ily  av a ilab le  m e a n s ,” th e  sy s tem  
w as no t u n ita ry  (30a). The C ourt o rd e red  im p le ­
m e n ta tio n  of one of th e  av a ilab le  H EW  p lan s for th e  
seco n d ary  level, and  th e  D is tr ic t C ourt w as in s tru c te d  
to in itia te  p roceed ings for a  u n ita ry  e le m e n ta ry  p la n  
and  to call for new  p ro p o sa ls  fro m  th e  p a rtie s , HEW , 
and  a  b i-ra c ia l co m m ittee  to be  e s tab lish ed  p u rsu a n t 
to th e  C ourt of A ppeals  m a n d a te  (33a). The sole 
guideline fu rn ish ed  fo r th e  p re p a ra tio n  of th e  new  e le ­
m e n ta ry  p lan s  w as th e  c ry p tic  s ta te m e n t: “I t  is ev i­
den t th a t  the  fa c to rs  d e lin ea ted  by th e  H EW  p lan s as 
re a so n s  for n o t m o re  fu lly  d e seg reg a tin g  th e  e lem en ­
ta ry  level can n o t ju s tify  th is  con tinued  seg reg a tio n .” 
(34a) The C ourt of A ppeals  acknow ledged  th a t 
th e  H EW  p la n n e rs  w ere  re s tr ic te d  by  s ta te  law  lim ita ­
tions on in tra -c ity  tra n sp o r ta tio n  b u t o th e rw ise  did no t 
d iscuss th e  tra n sp o r ta tio n  question . As noted , th e  C ourt 
of A ppeals  o rd e red  th e  e s ta b lish m e n t of a  b i-ra c ia l 
co m m ittee  and  also th e  adoption  of a  m a jo r ity  to  m i­
n o rity  t r a n s fe r  ru le  w ith  th e  p rov is io n  th a t  “a ll t r a n s ­
fe r r in g  s tu d en ts  m u s t be g iven  tra n s p o r ta tio n  if th e y  
d es ire  it.” (32a, 35a).



11

P u rsu a n t to th e  o rd e r of th e  C ourt of A ppeals, H E W  
and  th e  b i-ra c ia l c o m m ittee  filed  n ew  e le m e n ta ry  
school p lan s  w ith  th e  D is tr ic t Court. The b i-ra c ia l com ­
m itte e  p la n  w as u n an im o u sly  ad o p ted  by th e  s ix  N egro  
and  six  w hite m e m b e rs  o f th e  co m m ittee . The school 
d is tr ic t u rg ed  con tinuation  of th e  cou rt-im p o sed  J a n u ­
a r y  22, 1970 p lan , w ith  a  m in o r m odifica tion , an d  also  
su p p o rted  th e  b i-ra c ia l co m m ittee  p lan . P la in tiffs of­
fe re d  no p lan , b u t did p ropose  su b s ta n tia l m od ifica tions 
to  th e  J a n u a ry  H EW  plan . The b i-ra c ia l co m m ittee  
p la n  w as b a se d  on th e  J a n u a ry  H EW  p la n  and  con­
ta in e d  m odifica tions designed  to in c re a se  in te g ra tio n  
in  th e  e le m e n ta ry  schools.

A tw o-day  h e a r in g  b eg an  on Ju n e  8, 1970. D r. H e rb e rt 
L a r ry  W inecoff, who h ad  h ead e d  th e  H EW  te a m  in  
D ecem b er and  J a n u a ry , te s tif ie d  th a t  a  ten  m e m b e r 
te a m  sp en t th re e  days in  J a c k so n  d ev isin g  th e  new
H EW  e le m e n ta ry  p la n  [T ra n sc r ip t of Ju n e  8, 1970, 
h ea rin g , p. 34], H e ad m itte d  th a t lack  of tim e  p rev en ted  
th e  fo rm u la tio n  of a co m p reh en siv e  and  ed u ca tio n a lly  
sound plan.:

Q So th a t  your reco m m en d a tio n  h e re  is based  
e ssen tia lly  upon n u m b e rs  th a t  you [w ere] 
supp lied  fro m  th e  a d m in is tra tiv e  office an d  
th is  w as e ssen tia lly  w h at you a tte m p te d  to 
do w as ju s t  to g e t n u m b e rs  and  p u t th em  
in v a rio u s  school bu ild ings, isn ’t  th is  co r­
rec t?

A Y es, sir. [Tr. p. 92]

Q This is th e  point. B as ica lly  w hat I ’m  try in g  
to  say , Dr. W inecoff, is  th a t y o u r ex am in a-



12

tion  h e re  w as lim ited  to ju s t  th e  n u m b e rs  
and  you d idn’t, a s  you  said , you d idn’t  ta lk  
to  co m m u n ity  le a d e rs , you  d idn’t  ta lk  to  
school p rin c ip a ls , you  d idn ’t  ta lk  to  an y ­
body abou t th e  o p e ra tio n s  of th e  schools 
and  so fo r th  an d  you  only v is ited  th e  tw o 
schools.

A T h a t’s co rrec t.
Q A nd by  th e  sa m e  to k en  you  d idn’t  ch eck  

into th e  fin an c in g  of th e  city  o r th e  f in a n c ­
ing  of th e  school d is tr ic t o r as  to how  it 
w ould be fin an ced  or how  it w ould be h a n ­
dled, did you?

A  No, sir.
Q T hese w ere  p ro b lem s th a t  you  d idn’t  check  

in to  or look in  to a t all?
A T h a t’s c o rre c t, p a r tly  by th e  tim e  p re s ­

su re . [Tr. p.100]

Q Now, as I u n d e rs ta n d  b as ica lly , D r. W ine- 
coff, you  fe lt th a t  th e  p la n  you p rop o sed  fo r 
th e  e le m e n ta ry  schools b a c k  a t  th e  beg in ­
n ing  of th is  s e m e s te r  w as a  u n ita ry  school 
sy s tem  itse lf, isn ’t  th a t  c o rrec t?

A W ell, we m a d e  th e  s ta te m e n t th a t  th e  to ta l 
co m p reh en siv e  p lan  one th ro u g h  tw elve  we 
fe lt w as, yes sir.

Q A nd you s till do, don’t  you?
A Y es, sir.
Q Now, bu t th a t  u n d e r th is  C ourt o rd e r  

y ou ’ve been  o rd e red  to do som eth ing  m o re  
w ith  re fe ren c e  to  e lem en ta ry ?



13

A  T h a t’s co rrec t.
Q A nd th is  is th e  w ay th a t  you’ve ap p ro ac h ed  

it?
A Y es, sir. [Tr. p. 100-101]

D r. W inecoff unequ ivocally  te s tif ied  th a t  th e  new  H EW  
e le m e n ta ry  p la n  a ssu m e d  th e  a v a ilab ility  of in tra -c ity  
tra n sp o rta tio n :

Q So th a t  you r w hole p lan  re a lly  in so fa r as 
th is  p a r tic u la r  p la n  now  u n d e r co n s id e ra ­
tio n  is co n ce rn ed  is re a lly  b a sed  upon  th e  
av a ilab ility  of tra n sp o r ta tio n  in tra -c ity  a t 
pub lic  expense?

A Y es, sir.
Q A nd if th a t  tra n sp o r ta tio n  w ere  no t a v a il­

ab le th en  I p re su m e  th a t  th is  p la n  th a t  you 
a re  su g g estin g  would no t be y o u r re c o m ­
m e n d ed  p lan?

A  No, th e  im p lem en ta tio n  would be d ifficu lt 
w ithou t tra n sp o r ta tio n  p rovided .

Q So e ssen tia lly  if you  d idn’t  h av e  tra n s p o r ­
ta tio n  you don’t  th in k  th is  w ould be a  good 
p lan , do you?

A No, sir.
Q A nd you re a lly  w ouldn’t  reco m m en d  it?
A No, sir. [Tr. p. 101-102]

F in a lly , g iven th e  u n a v a ilab ility  of in tra -c ity  tra n s p o r­
ta tio n , Dr. W inecoff endo rsed  th e  b i-ra c ia l co m m ittee  
e le m e n ta ry  p lan :



14

Q So th a t  — assu m in g  th a t  to  th e  philosophy 
of th e  B i-ra c ia l C om m ittee , o r le t’s us a s ­
su m e as  a  h y p o th e tica l questio n  th a t  th a t  is 
th e  la w  and  th is  is  w h a t th e  C ourt w ill hold, 
w h a t is y o u r o b se rv a tio n  w ith  re fe re n c e  to 
th e  reco m m en d a tio n s  of th e  B i-R ac ia l 
C om m ittee?

A If  in tra -c ity  tra n sp o r ta tio n  w ere  no t to be 
p rov ided  th e n  th e  p ro p o sa l of th e  B i-rac ia l 
C om m ittee  w hich is m ax im iz in g  tr a n s p o r ­
ta tio n  b ased  on our o rig in a l J a n u a ry  p lan , 
is p ro b ab ly  abou t as  good a n  a p p ro a c h  as 
possib le.

Q A nd by m ax im iz in g  you m e a n  w hich m a x i­
m izes in teg ra tio n ?

A Y es, sir.
Q In  o th e r w ords, w h a t you’re  say in g  as  I 

u n d e rs ta n d  it is th a t  th e  B i-ra c ia l C om m it­
te e  h a s  ta k e n  th e  tra n sp o r ta tio n  th a t  is p e r ­
m itte d  by law  an d  h a s  u sed  th a t  to m a x i­
m ize  in te g ra tio n  in  th e  schools th ro u g h o u t 
th is  d is tr ic t?

A Y es, sir. [Tr. p. 103]

P la in tif fs ’ m od ifica tion  to  th e  H EW  e le m e n ta ry  p la n  
sough t to in te g ra te  all e le m e n ta ry  schools “by th e  p a ir ­
in g  of e le m e n ta ry  schools w hich  a r e  lo c a ted  not n e c e s ­
s a r i ly  in  th e  sa m e  tra d itio n a lly  d escrib ed  n e ig h b o r­
hoods bu t in re a so n a b ly  close p ro x im ity .”10

In  its  o rd e r  of Ju n e  15, 1970, th e  D is tr ic t C ourt found 
th a t  in  th e  ab sen ce  of in tra -c ity  tra n sp o rta tio n , th e

tQReply Brief in the Court of Appeals, p. 9, dated July 18, 1970.



15

H E W  p lan , as  conceded  by D r. W inecoff, w as unw ork ­
a b le  (55a). The C ourt also  found th a t  “th e  p ro p o sa ls  
of H EW  as  ad d ed  to  by p la in tiffs  a re  n o t educa tio n a lly , 
a d m in is tra tiv e ly , econom ica lly  o r p ra c tic a lly  fe a s i­
b le .” (60a) I n adop ting  th e  b i-ra c ia l c o m m itte e ’s p lan , 
th e  C ourt no ted :

T hese  p ro p o sa ls  e lim in a te  to ta l  seg reg a tio n  
fro m  all of th e  w hite  schools, im p ro v e  th e  de­
g ree  of m ix tu re  in  m ost, an d  le av e  five to ta lly  
b la c k  schools a ll in  th e  h eav ily  co n g ested  b lack  
com m unity . D esp ite  th is  la s t, th e se  p ro p o sa ls  
w ill re su lt in  m o re  in te g ra te d  schools th a n  an y  
p roposed  p la n  befo re  th is  Court. I t  is add ition ­
ally  no ted  th a t  w h ere  H EW  ass ig n m e n ts  w ould 
h av e  o v e rta x ed  th e  c a p a c ity  of 14 schools, w ith  
tw o add itio n a lly  o v e rta x e d  u n d e r p la in tiffs ’ 
p roposa ls , un d er th e  p re se n t p lan  as  m odified  
by th e  co m m ittee  and  th e  C ourt th e  o v e r-a s ­
s ig n m en ts  a re  red u ce d  considerab ly . W ith th e  
add ition  of th e  m a jo r ity  to  m in o rity  t r a n s fe r  
policy, an d  th e  follow ing a ss ig n m e n t changes 
o ffered  by  th e  C ourt, add itio n al u n ita ry  s te p s  
w ill h av e  b een  tak en . (62a).

P la in tiffs  ag a in  appea led . T hey  u rg e d  th e  C ourt of 
A ppeals  to re je c t th e  school d is tr ic t’s ob jections to in ­
tra -c ity  tra n sp o r ta tio n  and  th e re b y  to  im p le m e n t th e ir  
p lan . T hey  s tro n g ly  c ritic ized  th e  new  H E W  p ro p o sa l 
fo r p e rm ittin g  se v e ra l se g re g a te d  schools to  con tinue 
to  ex is t."

"Reply Brief in the Court of Appeals, dated July 18, 1970.



16

O n A ugust 12, 1970,, th e  C ourt of A ppeals  h e ld  th a t  
th e  e le m e n ta ry  p la n  w as “u n a c c e p ta b le ” b e c a u se  “a p ­
p ro x im a te ly  70% of the  N egro  e le m e n ta ry  s tu d en ts  w ill 
b e  in  a ll (o r su b s ta n tia lly  all) N egro  e le m e n ta ry  
schools.” (75a). T he C ourt, how ever, h a s te n e d  to 
s ta te , “We ex p re ss ly  d isc la im  any  in tim a tio n  th a t  r a ­
c ia l b a lan ce  is th e  s ta n d a rd  by w hich we d e te rm in e  
th e  a c c ep tab ility  of v a rio u s  d e seg reg a tio n  p la n s .” (75a). 
T he p la n  w as also  found w an tin g  in  th a t  “som e 
s tu d en ts  w ill likely  h av e  an  ed u ca tio n  in  p re d o m in a te ly  
N eg ro  schools th ro u g h o u t th e ir  school life .” (76a). 
B o th  th e  H EW  p lan  ( “a  su b s ta n tia l im p ro v e m e n t”) 
and  p la in tiffs ’ m od ifica tions of th e  H EW  p la n  (“an  even  
g r e a te r  im p ro v e m e n t”) w ere  endorsed , bu t th e  C ourt 
re fu sed  to  ad d re ss  itse lf  to th e  in tra -c ity  tra n sp o r ta tio n  
assu m p tio n  upon w hich eac h  re s ted :

T h ere  w as m u ch  d iscussion  in  th e  b rie fs  th a t  
u n d e r th is  ty p e  of “c lu s te r in g ” it w ill be n ece s­
s a ry  fo r th e  School D is tr ic t to p rov ide  in tra -c ity  
tra n s p o r ta tio n  fo r th e  p lan s  to be effective. B u t 
we do not re a c h  th is  since  th e  chan g es w e m a n ­
d a te  p e rsu a d e  us th a t  th e re  is a  v a r ie ty  of w ays 
to  im p ro v e  th e  resu lt. (79a).

B ecau se  “th e  re c o rd  is in a d e q u a te ,” th e  C ourt did no t 
u n d e rta k e  to  specify  “th e  fu ll fo rm ” of a  d e seg reg a tio n  
p la n . (79a). H ow ever, “ so m eth in g  m u s t be done 
now ,” since “over 70% of th e  N egro  e le m e n ta ry  s tu ­
den ts  a re  to  re m a in  in  su b s tan tia lly  a ll N egro  schools 
du ring  th e  tim e  th e  case  u n dergoes m o re  com plete  
ex p lo ra tio n ”. (79a). The Ju n e  15, 1970, D is tr ic t C ourt 
p la n  w as th e n  o rd e red  to be m odified  by th e  p a irin g



17

of tw elv e  schools an d  th e  g roup ing  o r c lu s te rin g  
of th re e  schools. The in ten d ed  “in te r im ” re su lt  w as 
th a t  “th e  p e rc e n ta g e  of N egroes in  su b s ta n tia lly  a ll 
N egro  schools w ill be red u ced  fro m  o ver 70% to abou t 
20%.” (80a). A D is tr ic t C ourt h e a r in g  w as o rd e red  
to  b eg in  n o t la te r  th a n  S ep te m b er 25, 1970, to  con­
s id e r  ch an g es and  m odifica tions to  th e  p la n  fo r im p le­
m e n ta tio n  a t  m id -y ear. The C ourt re lu c ta n tly  conclud­
ed:

Of course, th e  ch an g es th a t  w ill com e as  a  r e ­
su lt of th e  m od ifica tions we now  specify  and  
from, th e  N o vem ber [S ep tem ber?] o rd e r now  
ca lled  fo r w ill cau se  m id y e a r  d isrup tions, p u ­
p il re a s s ig n m e n ts  and  th e  like. B ut on b a lance , 
th is  is le ss  costly  th a n  a  con tinued  loss of r ig h ts  
of a  la rg e  n u m b e r of s tu d en ts  (81a).

In  an tic ip a tio n  of th e  S ep te m b er 25, 1970, hearing,, 
th e  D is tr ic t C ourt e n te re d  an  O rd er to C anvass Ja c k - 
son  M unicipal S e p a ra te  School D is tr ic t E n ro llm en t on 
S ep te m b er 11, 1970, d irec tin g  th e  school d is tric t, am ong 
o th e r th ings, to- fu rn ish  a re p o rt show ing “th e  c u rre n t 
ra c ia l  en ro llm en t a t  eac h  school in  th e  sy stem .” T he 
c a n v a ss  re v e a le d  th e  follow ing e le m e n ta ry  school en ­
ro llm en ts  and  ra c ia l  p e rc e n ta g e s  as  of S ep tem b er 18, 
1970:

T o ta l e le m e n ta ry  en ro llm en t ..........  16,650
N egro  e le m e n ta ry  en ro llm en t ..........  10,484 or 63%
W hite e le m e n ta ry  en ro llm en t ..........  6,166 or 37%
N u m b er of e le m e n ta ry  schoo ls  ..............  37



18

N u m b er of a ll or su b s ta n tia lly
a ll N egro  e le m e n ta ry  schools . . . .  9

N u m b er of N egro  e le m e n ta ry  
s tu d en ts  a tten d in g  all or
v ir tu a lly  all N egro  schools ..............  5,190

P e rc e n ta g e  of N egro  e le m e n ta ry  
s tu d en ts  a tten d in g  a ll or 
su b s ta n tia lly  a ll N egro  schools . . . .  49%

S ubsequen tly , on m otion  of th e  p a r tie s , th e  C ourt of 
A ppeals  ex tended  to  O ctober 15, 1970, th e  d a te  fo r th e  
h e a r in g  on a  new  e le m e n ta ry  school p lan .

REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT

I

The Decisions Below Conflict With Rulings of This 
Court In That They Reject Admittedly Workable 
And Feasible School Plans Maximizing Desegrega­
tion Solely Because Of Failure To Achieve Certain 
Statistical Results

A. This Court Has Recognized The N eed For 
Feasible D esegregation Plans.

This C ourt h a s  co n sis ten tly  reco g n ized  th a t  th e  d is­
position  of d e seg reg a tio n  ca se s  invo lves a  v a r ie ty  of 
lo ca l p ro b lem s an d  is no t su scep tib le  of any  fixed  ru le  
a p p ro p r ia te  in  ev e ry  case. In  Brow n v. Board of Educ., 
349 U.S. 294, 299 (1955) (Brown  I I) , th e  C ourt s ta te d  
th a t  “ [f]u ll im p lem en ta tio n  of th e se  co n stitu tio n a l p r in ­
cip les m a y  re q u ire  so lu tion  of v a r ie d  lo ca l school p rob-



19

Jem s.” L a te r  ca se s  h av e  co n tinually  em p h asized  th e  
m u ltip lic ity  of ind iv id u al considera tions:

T h ere  is no u n iv e rsa l an sw er to  com plex  p ro b ­
lem s of d eseg reg a tio n ; th e re  is obviously  no 
one p la n  th a t w ill do th e  job  in  ev e ry  case. The 
m a t te r  m u s t be a sse sse d  in lig h t of th e  c irc u m ­
s ta n c e s  p re se n t an d  th e  options av a ila b le  in  
eac h  in stan ce .

G reen v. County School Board of New K ent County, 
391 U.S. 430, 439 (1968). W hile im p le m e n ta tio n  of d e­
seg reg a tio n  p lan s  m a y  no longer be d e lay ed  o r g rad u a l, 
th e  w o rk ab ility  of th e  p la n  in ligh t of th e  v a ry in g  p ro b ­
lem s of ind iv idual school d is tr ic ts  n e v e rth e le ss  m u s t 
be considered . See Carter v. W est Feliciana Parish  
School Board, 396 U.S. 290 (1970) (H arlan , J., and  W hite, 
J., co n cu rrin g ).

E v a lu a tio n  of d e seg reg a tio n  p la n s  m u s t p r im a r ily  
be  th e  resp o n sib ility  of th e  d is tr ic t cou rts , th e  equ ity  
pow ers of w hich  a re  th e  in s tru m e n ts  to e s tab lish  un i­
ta ry  sy stem s. This C ourt h a s  so held:

T he ob ligation  of th e  d is tr ic t courts , a s  i t  a l­
w ays h a s  been, is to  a sse ss  th e  e ffec tiveness 
of a  p rop o sed  p lan  in  ach iev in g  d eseg regation .
. . I t  is in cu m b en t upon th e  d is tr ic t co u rt to 
w eigh  [the school b o a rd ’s] c la im  in ligh t of the  
fa c ts  a t  h an d  and  in  ligh t of an y  a lte rn a tiv e s  
w hich  m a y  be show n as  feasib le  and  m o re  
p ro m is in g  in  th e ir  e ffectiveness. ,



20

G reen v. County School Board of N ew  K en t County, 
supra  a t  439. M oreover, th e  C ourt h a s  re c e n tly  he ld  
th a t  find ings by  d is tr ic t co u rts  as  to  w h e th e r school 
sy s te m s  a re  u n ita ry , if su p p o rted  by su b s ta n tia l ev i­
dence, c a n  no t be d is tu rb ed  by c o u rts  of appea l. See 
N orthcross v. Board of Educ. of M em phis, 397 U.S. 
232 (1970).

The decision  below  no t only fa ils  to recogn ize  th a t  
convers ion  of each  d u a l sy s te m  to a  u n ita ry  one is 
a  u n iq u e  p rob lem , bu t a lso  effec tive ly  s tr ip s  th e  d is­
t r i c t  c o u rt of its  du ties  an d  re sp o n sib ilitie s  in  th e  con­
v e rs io n  p ro cess  and  d ep riv es  th e  p a r tie s  to th e  litig a ­
tio n  of th e ir  due p ro cess  rig h t to  an  e v id en tia ry  h ea rin g . 
T he  in ten d ed  re su lts  of th e  C ourt of A ppeals  p la n  a re  
n o t ach ieved , th e  school system , is fu r th e r  w eak en ed  
by a n o th e r  costly  d isrup tion , an d  both  p la in tiffs  an d  
d e fen d an ts  a re  fo rced  to  com ply  w ith  a  p lan  w ith  w hich  
n e ith e r  is sa tisfied .

B. The Court of Appeals Decisions Fail to 
Recognize Educational, A dm in istra tive  
and Econom ic Factors.

The e le m e n ta ry  school p lan s  o rd e red  im p lem en ted  
by  th e  D is tr ic t C ourt bo th  in  th e  J a n u a ry  22, 1970 ( la ) ,  
and  th e  Ju n e  15, 1970 (47a), o rd e rs  w ere  sligh tly  
m od ified  v e rs io n s of a  b as ic  H EW  plan . T h a t b as ic  
p la n  w as p re p a re d  over a  p erio d  of tw en ty -tw o  days 
in  D ecem b er and  J a n u a ry  by  a  te a m  of te n  ed u ca to rs  
an d  a d m in is tra to rs  w ork ing  in  “close co o p era tio n ”’2

i2This is plaintiffs’ term. Brief for Appellants in the Court of
Appeals, p. 5, dated March 2, 1970.



2 1

w ith  school d is tr ic t officials. I t  is u n d isp u ted  th a t  a ll 
fa c to rs  re la tiv e  to  th e  deve lo p m en t of a  sound  p la n  
w ere  th o rough ly  in v estig a ted , understood , an d  con­
sidered . T he D is tr ic t C ourt in th e  J a n u a ry  o rd e r a p ­
p ro v ed  m in o r m od ifica tions re q u e s te d  by  th e  school 
d is tr ic t to  th e  H EW  e le m e n ta ry  p la n  to c o r re c t s tu d en t 
a s s ig n m e n ts  to' c e r ta in  schools in  excess  of cap ac ity . 
F u r th e r  m od ifica tions to th e1 sa m e  b asic  H EW  e lem en ­
ta ry  p lan  w ere  m a d e  by  th e  b i-ra c ia l co m m ittee  in 
o rd e r  to  in c re a se  d e seg reg a tio n  of tra d itio n a lly  N egro  
schools and  w ere  ap p ro v ed  by th e  D is tr ic t C ourt in  
th e  Ju n e  o rder. T he o rig in a l ed u ca tio n a l soundness and  
a d m in is tra tiv e  an d  econom ic feas ib ility  of th e  p lan , 
how ever, w ere  no t com prom ised .

The second  H EW  plan , p re p a re d  a s  re q u ire d  by th e  
C ourt of A ppeals  opinion and  o rd e r  of M ay 5, 1970, 
w as, a t  best, m e re  fo rm a l com p lian ce  w ith  th e  o rder. 
D r. W inecoff te s tif ied  th a t  th e  te a m  sp en t only th re e  
days in  th e  school d is tr ic t — M ay 27, 28, and  29'3 
— and  th a t la ck  of tim e  lim ited  develo p m en t of th e  
new  p la n  to “n u m b e rs ” and  “schools”, i.e., a ss ig n in g  
th e  p ro je c te d  e le m e n ta ry  en ro llm en t to p a r tic u la r  ele­
m e n ta ry  schools. M ost im p o rtan tly , he fo rth rig h tly  a d ­
m itte d  th a t  th e  new  H EW  p lan  re q u ire d  in tra -c ity  t r a n s ­
p o rta tio n  fo r im p lem en ta tio n  and  would not be a  “good 
p la n ” w ithou t it. A bsen t in tra -c ity  tra n sp o rta tio n , Dr. 
W inecoff en d o rsed  th e  b i-ra c ia l co m m ittee  p la n  
as “p ro b ab ly  ab o u t as  good an  ap p ro ac h  as  possib le .”

,3Two days later, on June 1, 1970, the plan was filed in the District
Court. Transcript of June 8, 1970 hearing, p. 35.



22

D esp ite  th e  len g th y  an d  c o n c e n tra te d  e ffo rt of school 
d is tr ic t and  H EW  officials in  D ecem b er and  J a n u a ry  
to dev ise  a  w ork ab le  p lan , desp ite  th e  u n eq u iv o ca l en ­
d o rsem en t of th e  p la n  by th e  H E W  te a m  le a d e r  as  
be ing  “as good an  a p p ro a c h  as po ssib le” a b se n t in t r a ­
c ity  tra n sp o rta tio n , an d  desp ite  th e  good fa ith  e ffo rts  
of bo th  th e  school d is tr ic t and  th e  D is tr ic t C ourt to 
com ply  w ith  co n stitu tio n a l re q u ire m e n ts , th e  C ourt of 
A ppeals  h a s  tw ice  su m m a rily  re je c te d  th e  u n ita ry  
p la n s  ap p ro v ed  by th e  D is tr ic t Court. W hy? The m a jo r  
reaso n , no doubt, w as th a t  th e  p lan s  d id  not p a s s  th e  
C o u rt’s ob jective  an d  in flex ib le  “p e rc e n ta g e ” te st, 
w hich  w ill be t r e a te d  below. The m in o r reaso n s , n e v e r  
fu lly  exp lained , a p p e a r  to  be tw o: “th e  fa c to rs  deline­
a te d  by th e  H EW  p lan s as  re a so n s  fo r no t m o re  fu lly  
d e seg reg a tin g  th e  e le m e n ta ry  lev e l c an n o t ju s tify  th is  
con tinued  se g re g a tio n ” and  “a  su b s ta n tia l n u m b e r  of 
N egro  stu d en ts  w ill re ce iv e  th e i r  en tire  public school 
educa tio n  in  a  se g re g a te d  school en v iro n m en t.” (34a, 
30a) W hether th e  la t te r  ob jection  is v a lid  is questio n ­
a b le  in  lig h t of th e  fa c t th a t  th e  Ju n e  o rd e rs  of th e  D is­
t r ic t  C ourt p rov ided  fo r H EW  p lan s in  b o th  th e  e lem en ­
ta ry  and  th e  seco n d ary  schools spec ifica lly  dev ised  to 
p re v e n t th is v e ry  o ccu rren ce . M oreover, Dr. W inecoff, 
a n  e x p e rt in  th e  field, te rm e d  the  J a n u a ry  H EW  p lan  “a 
to ta l  co m p re h en siv e  p lan  one th ro u g h  tw elv e .”

T he c r it ic a l  e r ro r  c o m m itted  by th e  C ourt of A p­
p ea ls , how ever, w as its  su m m a ry  d ism issa l of “th e  
fa c to rs  d e lin ea ted  b y  th e  H E W  p la n s  a s  re a so n s  fo r 
no t m o re  fu lly  d e seg reg a tin g  th e  e le m e n ta ry  leve l.” 
(34a) F o r  th is s ta te m e n t is ta n ta m o u n t to say in g  
th a t  “th e  c irc u m sta n c e s  p re se n t and  th e  options a v a il­



23

ab le  in  e a c h  in s ta n c e ”, Green v. County School Board  
of N ew  K ent County, supra  a t 439, a re  s im p ly  n o t to 
be co n sid ered  or a re  of no! im p o rta n c e  w h e re  any  a- 
m o u n t of con tinued  seg reg a tio n  ex ists. This C ourt h as  
n e v e r  so b land ly  tr e a te d  “th e  com plex  p ro b lem s of 
d e seg reg a tio n .” Green v. County School Board of New  
K ent County, supra. Only rece n tly , th e  n e c e ss ity  fo r 
“w o rk ab le” d eseg reg a tio n  p lan s  h a s  b een  no ted  by th is  
Court. Carter v. W est Feliciana Parish School Board, 
396 U.S. 290 (1970) (H arlan , J., and  W hite, J., con­
c u rr in g )  .

T he H EW  p la n n e rs  and  school d is tr ic t s ta ff  who de­
v ised  th e  e le m e n ta ry  p la n  sough t to acc o m m o d a te  th e  
co n stitu tio n a l im p e ra tiv e  of th e  F o u r te e n th  A m end­
m e n t to  an  ex istin g  school sy stem . T he in g red ien ts  
of th e  p lan  w ere  rea l-life  studen ts, facu lty , a d m in is tra ­
tion, bu ild ings, tra n sp o rta tio n , and  m oney, a ll of w hich 
h a d  to  be u tilized  by th e  p la n n e rs  to ach ieve  a c e r ta in  
resu lt. Ju d g m e n ts  h ad  to- be m a d e  and  w ere  m ad e  
by th e se  e x p e rts  on th e  b as is  of th e ir  ex p erien ce  and  
of acc ep ted  p ra c tic e s  of th e ir  p rofession . L im ita tio n s  
on com ple te  d e seg reg a tio n  of th e  sy stem  recogn ized  
and  a g re e d  upon by th e m  should  no t be com plete ly  
d is re g a rd e d . This C ourt should  re a ff irm  its  c o m m it­
m e n t to  w orkab le  an d  feas ib le  d eseg regation .

C. N um erica l R esu lts  Are Not the U niversal 
A nsw er to the C om plex P roblem s of D eseg­
regation and Should Not D eterm ine the  
C onstitutionality of D esegregation Plans.

The M ay 5, 1970, opinion of th e  C ourt of A ppeals 
se t fo rth  n o  m e an in g fu l c r i te r ia  to  guide th e  p a r tie s



24

land the  D is tr ic t C ourt in  th e ir  second  a t te m p t to dev ise  
a  u n ita ry  p lan  fo r th e  e le m e n ta ry  schools in  th e  dis­
tr ic t.  Only tw o im p rec ise  re s tr ic tio n s  w ere  im posed : 
A  “su b s ta n tia l n u m b e r” of N egro  s tu d en ts  w ould n o t 
be allow ed to rece iv e  th e ir  en tire  pub lic  school ed u c a ­
tion  in a  s e g re g a te d  school en v iro n m en t and, secondly , 
th e  sev en  lim itin g  fa c to rs  acknow ledged  by  H EW  a t  
th e  J a n u a ry  D is tr ic t C ourt h e a rin g  could  no t be u sed  
to  ju s tify  continued  seg reg a tio n . The opinion co n ta in ed  
no s ta te m e n t, e ith e r  ex p re ss  or im plied , th a t  th e  p e r ­
cen tag e  of N egroes in  a ll or v ir tu a lly  a ll Negroi schools 
w ould d e te rm in e  w h eth er th e  second  p la n  w as u n ita ry .

By e a r ly  A ugust, 1970, how ever, th e  C ourt of A p p ea ls  
h a d  red u ced  to  a  s im p le  n u m e ric a l p roposition  th is  
C ourt’s defin ition  of a  u n ita ry  sy s tem  as  one “w ith in  
w hich  no p e rso n  is to be effec tive ly  excluded  fro m  
any  school b ecau se  of ra c e  or co lor.” A lexander v. 
H olm es County Board of Educ., 369 U.S, 191 (1969). This 
n u m e ric a l p roposition  is as  follows: If th e  p e rc e n ta g e  
of N egroes a tten d in g  all o r v ir tu a lly  a ll N eg ro  schools 
is 25% or less, th e  sy s tem  is u n ita ry , so long as th e  
se g re g a te d  25% rece iv e  an  u n sp ec ified  am o u n t of de­
se g re g a te d  edu ca tio n  in o th e r schools. V irtu a lly  all N e­
g ro  schools w ere  con sid ered  to  be schools in  w hich  
N egroes co n stitu ted  90% or m o re  of th e  en ro llm en t. 
See Allen v. Board of Public Instruction  of Brow ard  
County, No. 30,032 (5th Cir., Aug. 18, 1970).

The “p e rc e n ta g e ” te s t  w as c le a r ly  ap p lied  to  th e  
second D is tr ic t C ourt p lan  in th e  C ourt of A ppeals  opin­
ion of A ugust 12, 1970. Since th e  re su lt w as th a t  “ap ­
p ro x im a te ly  70% of th e  N egro  e le m e n ta ry  s tu d en ts  w ill



25

be in a ll (o r  su b s ta n tia lly  all) N egro  e le m e n ta ry  
schoo ls ,” th e  p la n  w as no t u n ita ry  (75a). By its  
s ix  p a irin g s  and  one c lu ste rin g , th e  C ourt of A ppeals 
p u rp o rted ly  red u ced  the  p e rc e n ta g e  of N egroes in  sub ­
s ta n tia lly  a ll N eg ro  schools “fro m  over 70% to abou t 
20%” an d  th e re b y  c re a te d  an  “in te r im ” u n ita ry  plan . 
(80a).

F o u r o th e r ca se s  dec ided  by th e  C ourt of A ppeals 
in  A ugust, 1970, re v e a l ev en  m o re  d ra m a tic a lly  th e  
“p e rc e n ta g e ” te s t  in  action . In  Pate v. Dade County 
School Board, Nos. 29039 an d  29179 (5th Cir., Aug. 12, 
1970), th e  D is tr ic t C o u rt’s p la n  le ft 22 schools, con­
ta in in g  44% of th e  N egro  s tu d en t popula tion , a ll or 
v ir tu a lly  a ll N egro. F in d in g  th a t  “m a n y  of th e  reaso n s  
g iven [tra ffic  h a z a rd s , school cap ac itie s , ind iv idual 
school p ro g ra m s , fo rm a t and  cu rric u la , w alk ing  d is­
ta n ces , n a tu ra l  b a r r ie rs ,  an d  g ra d e  leve ls] fo r no t a- 
ch iev ing  a  g r e a te r  d eg ree  of d e seg reg a tio n  . . .  a re  
u n a c c e p ta b le ,”14 th e  C ourt of A ppeals  se t abou t th e  
ta s k  of fo rc in g  th e  sy s tem  — con ta in ing  250,000 s tu ­
den ts  — to fit th e  “p e rc e n ta g e ” te s t  m odel. A fter p re ­
sc rib in g  c e r ta in  p a irin g s , g roupings, an d  rezonings, 
th e  C ourt announced  th a t  its  “m odifications' red u ce  
th e  n u m b e r of N egro  s tu d en ts  a tten d in g  a ll or v ir tu a lly  
all N egro  schools from. 44% to 24% of th e  en tire  N egro  
s tu d en t po p u la tio n ”, an d  th a t “ [ijm p le m e n ta tio n  of 
th e se  m od ifica tions effectively  d e seg reg a te s  th e  D ade 
County School S ystem .” 13 A ppendix  “C” to th e  opinion 
co n firm ed  th e  C o u rt’s n u m e ric a l obsession  by p re se n t­

,4 Slip opinion, p. 6.
,5Slip opinion, p. 7.



26

ing  in  ta b u la r  fo rm  th e  red u c tio n s  ach iev ed  by th e  
m od ifica tions in  th e  n u m b e r of a ll or v ir tu a lly  a ll N e­
gro  schools, th e  n u m b e r of N egro  s tu d en ts  a tten d in g  
a ll o r v ir tu a lly  a ll N egro  schools, and  th e  p e rc e n ta g e  
of N egroes a tten d in g  all or v ir tu a lly  a ll N egro  schools.

In  Allen v. Board of Public Instruction  of Brow ard  
County, No. 30032 (5th Cir,, Aug. 18, 1970), th e  D is tr ic t 
C ourt p la n  le ft 13 all or v ir tu a lly  all N egro  e lem en ­
ta ry  schools, co n ta in ing  68% of th e  N egro  e le m e n ta ry  
school population. T e rm in g  th e  p lan  “u n a c c e p ta b le ” 
b eca u se  “re a so n a b le  a lte rn a tiv e s  e x is t”,’6 th e  C ourt 
of A ppeals u tilized  th e  p a irin g  an d  c lu s te rin g  tech n iq u e  
to  e lim in a te  ev e ry  all or v ir tu a lly  a ll N egro  e le m e n ta ry  
school.

In  Valley v. Rapides Parish School Board, No. 30099 
(5th Cir., A ugust 25, 1970), th e  D is tr ic t C ourt ap p ro v ed  
p la n  le ft 7 of 24 schools a ll o r v ir tu a lly  a ll N egro , 
co n ta in ing  60% of all N egro  studen ts. A fte r ho lding 
th a t  th e  p lan  “does no t su b s ta n tia lly  abo lish  s e g re g a ­
tion,” ’7 th e  C ourt of A ppeals  c lu s te re d  n ine  e le m e n ta ry  
schools into th re e  n ew  a tte n d a n c e  zones h av in g  N eg ro  
s tu d en t p e rc e n ta g e s  of 73%, 65% and  67%. Zones de­
v ised  by H EW  w ere  o rd e red  im p lem en ted  fo r  th e  ju n io r 
h ig h  schools, a lth o u g h  th e  N egro  s tu d e n t p e rc e n ta g e s  
in  tw o schools re m a in e d  60% and  84%. A tab u la tio n , 
se t fo rth  in  A ppendix  “B ” to  th e  opinion, w as ag a in  
u sed  to su m m a riz e  th e  C o u rt’s e ffo rts  in sa tisfy in g  
th e  “p e rc e n ta g e ” te s t: th e  p e rc e n ta g e  of N egroes a t­

’6Slip opinion, p. 9-10.
’ 7Slip opinion, p. 4.



27

ten d in g  a ll o r v ir tu a lly  a ll N egro  schools w as red u ce d  
fro m  60% to 9%.

F in a lly , in  R oss v. E ckels, No. 30080 (5th Cir., Aug. 
25, 1970), th e  D is tr ic t C ourt adop ted  an  eq u id is tan t 
zoning p la n  fo r th e  en tire  system , w h ich  re su lte d  in  
38% of th e  N eg ro  s tu d en ts  a tten d in g  a ll o r v ir tu a lly  
all N eg ro  schools. B ecau se  a  geo g rap h ic  c a p a c ity  zon­
ing  p la n  p roposed  by th e  school d is tr ic t “w as m o re  
effective  a n d  did in fa c t e lim in a te  ev e ry  a ll N egro  
school and  ev e ry  school a tten d ed  by m o re  th a n  90% 
N eg ro es”18 a t th e  seco n d ary  level, th e  C ourt of A p­
p ea ls  o rd e re d  it to  be im p lem en ted . The eq u i-d is tan t 
p lan , how ever, w as te rm e d  “an  im p ro v e m e n t”19 over 
th e  g eo g rap h ic  p la n  a t  th e  e le m e n ta ry  level, bu t w as 
m od ified  by  th e  p a ir in g  of tw elve  schools. A ppendix  
“A ” to th e  opinion se t fo rth  th e  fa m ilia r  ta b u la tio n  
of re su lts  an d  re v e a le d  a  red u c tio n  in th e  p e rc e n ta g e  
of N egroes a tte n d in g  a ll or v ir tu a lly  all N egro  schools 
fro m  29% u n d er th e  D is tr ic t C ourt p la n  to 16% un d er 
th e  C ourt of A p p ea ls’ o rder.

A t no tim e , of course, h a s  th is  C ourt even h in ted  
th a t  th e  m e a su re  of th e  con stitu tio n a l r ig h t to eq u a l 
p ro tec tio n  of th e  law s is a  n u m e ric a l one. T h is C ourt’s 
defin ition  of a  u n ita ry  school sy stem  is one w ith in  
“w hich no p e rso n  is to  be effec tive ly  excluded  fro m  
any  school b e c a u se  of ra c e  o r co lo r.” S u re ly  th e  con­
s titu tio n a l g u a ra n te e  to  ind iv idual s tuden ts, in h e re n t 
in  th is  defin ition , is n o t fu lfilled  w hen 75% of th e  in-

»»Slip opinion, p. 17-18.
19Slip opinion, p. 18.



28

d iv id u a l N egro  s tu d en ts  a tte n d  schools in  w hich  N e­
g ro es  co n stitu te  90% or le ss  of th e  en ro llm en t. A N egro  
s tu d en t in  an  80% N egro  school is no m o re  effectively  
d e se g re g a te d  th a n  one in a  90% N egro  school. “E ffec ­
tiv e  exclusion” can n o t be tra n s la te d  into “p a r t ia l  in ­
clusion .”

M oreover, th e  “p e rc e n ta g e ” te s t  is a  h igh ly  s im p li­
fied  a b s tra c tio n  of th e  r e a l  w orld. E d u ca tio n a l, a d m in ­
is tra tiv e , and  econom ic fa c to rs  co n sid e red  by  school 
officials, H EW  p la n n e rs , and  D is tr ic t C ourts c a n  not 
be  q u an tified  and  a re  th e re fo re  w holly su b o rd in a ted  
to  n u m b e rs  and, p e rce n tag es . U se of th e  te ch n iq u e  of 
p a ir in g  an d  c lu ste rin g  schools to  “effec tive ly  d e se g re ­
g a te ” does not in  ev e ry  ca se  s tr ik e  a  b a la n c e  be tw een  
th e  n ece ss ity  of m o re  n u m e ric a l d e seg reg a tio n  and  
th e  n ece ss ity  fo r a  w orkab le  p lan , desp ite  th e  C ourt 
o f A p p ea ls’ in tim a tio n s  to  th e  c o n tra ry  in  Allen  
v. Board of Public Instruction  of Brow ard County, No. 
30032 (5th Cir., Aug. 18, 1970). F o r  p a irin g  and  c lu s te r ­
ing  am o u n t to no th ing  m o re  th a n  com bin ing  schools 
in  p rox im ity , as  show n on a  m ap , in  su ch  a  m a n n e r  
as  to ach ieve, “on p a p e r ,” an  a c c e p ta b le  p e rc e n ta g e  
re su lt. The com bination  m a y  o r m a y  no t be ed u ca tio n ­
ally , ad m in is tra tiv e ly , or econom ica lly  feasib le . I ts  on­
ly  ad v a n ta g e  is s im plicity .

T he u n re a lity  of th e  “p e rc e n ta g e ” te s t  is even  m o re  
p ro n o u n ced  w hen a c tu a l en ro llm en ts  a re  co m p ared  to 
th e  p ro je c te d  en ro llm en ts  to  w hich  th e  “p e rc e n ta g e ” 
te s t  is applied . C onsider th e  ex p erien ce  in  th e  Ja c k so n  
M unicipal S e p a ra te  School D is tric t. T he A ugust 12, 
1970, opinion of th e  C ourt of A ppeals  held  th e  b i-ra c ia l



29

co m m ittee  p la n  ad o p ted  by th e  D is tr ic t C ourt “u n a c ­
c e p ta b le ” b eca u se  “ap p ro x im a te ly  70% of th e  N egro  
e le m e n ta ry  s tu d en ts  w ill be in  a ll (o r su b s ta n tia lly  
a ll) N eg ro  e le m e n ta ry  schools.” 20 (75a). By its  
p a irin g s  an d  one grouping , th e  opinion an d  o rd e r  p u r ­
p o rted ly  red u ced  the 63% fig u re  to  abou t 20% and  th e re ­
by e s tab lish ed  a  u n ita ry  p lan . The p ro jec ted  en ro ll­
m e n t f ig u re s  u sed  by th e  C ourt of A ppeals, how ever, 
h a v e  p ro v ed  to  be g ro ssly  in a c c u ra te . T o ta l en ro llm en t 
of w h ite  e le m e n ta ry  s tuden ts, a s  of S ep te m b er 18, 1970, 
w as 6,166, r a th e r  th a n  th e  p ro jec ted  9,181 u tilized  in  
th e  C ourt of A p p ea ls’ p lan . T his 33% loss of w hite 
e le m e n ta ry  s tu d en ts  b e tw een  M ay and  S ep tem b er h a s  
re su lte d  in  49% of a ll N egro  e le m e n ta ry  s tu d en ts  a t ­
ten d in g  a ll or v ir tu a lly  all Negro- schools, as opposed  
to the  “ abou t 20%” p ro je c te d  by the  C ourt of A ppeals 
in  th e  A ugust 12, 1970, opinion.

If  th e  “p e rc e n ta g e ” te s t  con tinues to  co n tro l th e  a c ­
cep tab ility  of d e seg reg a tio n  p lans, sy stem s su ch  as 
J a c k so n  m a y  be y e a rs  aw ay  fro m  o p era tin g  a  s tab le  
u n ita ry  e le m e n ta ry  sy stem . F o r th is  p a t te rn  is e m e rg ­
ing: th e  C ourts w ill a t te m p t to  ach iev e  a  p e rce n tag e  
re su lt  on th e  b as is  of p ro jec ted  en ro llm en ts; th e se  en ­
ro llm en ts  w ill be re n d e re d  in a c c u ra te  by con tinued  
loss of w hite  s tu d en ts; th e  p e rc e n ta g e  re su lts  w ill no t 
be reac h ed , th e re b y  n e c e ss ita tin g  a  rep e titio n  of th e  
p rocess.

I t  is no t su g g es ted  th a t  th e  loss of w hite s tu d en ts  
fro m  the  e le m e n ta ry  schools is ju s tif ica tio n  for den ia l

'2orrhe actual percentage, computed on the basis that a 90% Negro
school is an all or virtually all Negro school, was 63%.



30

of r ig h ts  u n d e r th e  E q u a l P ro te c tio n  C lause. B u t th e  
“p e rc e n ta g e ” te s t  co n ta in s  'the seeds of its  own, d e s tru c ­
tion. I t  is an  u n den iab le  fa c t th a t  d e se g re g a tio n  can n o t 
b e  accom plished  w ithou t th e  p re se n c e  of w h ite  s tu ­
den ts  in  th e  pub lic  schools. S u re ly  i t  is no t ab so lu te ly  
n e c e s sa ry  fo r a  co m m u n ity  to w a tch  m o re  than, 40% 
of its  w hite s tu d en ts  le av e  th e  pub lic  schools in  th e  
sp ace  of a  y e a r .2’ C ontinued in s ta b ility  and  con tinued  
o p era tio n  of th e  schools u n d e r p lan s  designed  w ithou t 
co n sid era tio n  of educa tiona l, a d m in is tra tiv e , an d  eco­
nom ic fac to rs , a ll in  th e  n a m e  of sa tisfy in g  th e  e lusive  
“p e rc e n ta g e ” te s t  of th e  C ourt of A ppeals, can  only 
cau se  fu r th e r  d e te rio ra tio n  of w h ite  en ro llm en ts.

D. The Issues In this Case Differ F rom  Those
In Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Mobile

W hile c e r ta in  g e n e ra l questions of a p p ro p ria te  m e th ­
ods fo r d e seg reg a tin g  u rb a n  school sy s te m s  a r e  befo re  
th e  C ourt th is  T e rm  in Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklen­
burg Board of Educ.,  No. 281, O.T. 1970, an d  Davis  
v. Board of School Commissioners  of Mobile County, 
No. 436, O.T. 1970, the  questions ra is e d  h e re  a re  dif­
fe ren t. In  th e  Swann  case , th is  C ourt is  fa c e d  w ith  
th e  b ro a d  question  of ab u se  of re m e d ia l d iscre tion . 
T h e re  th e  D is tr ic t C ourt, a f te r  an  e v id e n tia ry  h e a r ­
ing  an d  in  fu ll possession  of a ll re le v a n t fac ts , o rd e re d  
im p lem en ta tio n  of a  d e seg reg a tio n  p lan  p re p a re d  by  
a  co n su ltan t w orking  in  co n ce rt w ith  th e  lo ca l school 
staff. A dopting “th e  te s t  of re a so n a b le n e ss”, th e  C ourt

2'Enrollment of white students in the system was 20,966 in Septem­
ber, 1969, and 12,095 in September, 1970.



31

of A ppeals re v e rs e d  th e  e le m e n ta ry  p lan , ho lding th a t  
th e  D is tr ic t C ourt h a d  c re a te d  an  u n reaso n ab le  re m e d y  
to d ise s ta b lish  th e  d u a l sy stem .

In  Davis,  th is  C ourt m u s t decide th e  b ro ad  question  
of w h e th e r th e  decision  of th e  C ourt of A ppeals fa lls  
sh o rt of m in im u m  co n stitu tio n a l req u ire m en ts . In  th a t  
case , th e  D is tr ic t C ourt, w ithout an  e v id en tia ry  h e a r ­
ing, o rd e re d  im p lem en ta tio n  of a  f in a l p la n  p re p a re d  
by th e  school d is tr ic t w hen w orkab le  a lte rn a tiv e  p lan s  
m ax im iz in g  in te g ra tio n  h ad  b een  p re p a re d  by HEW . 
The C ourt of A ppeals  a ssu m ed  th a t  its  ta sk  w as to  
m a in ta in  th e  “neighbo rhood  school concep t of th e  sys­
te m ”, an d  on th a t  b as is  o rd e re d  im p lem en ta tio n  of 
a  m odified  H EW  p la n  w hich did no t u tilize  a v a ilab le  
tra n sp o r ta tio n  and  fac ilitie s  to  m a x im ize  d e se g re g a ­
tion.

The in s ta n t case , how ever, ra is e s  th e  question  w heth ­
e r th e  C ourt of A ppeals  c a n  su m m a rily  re je c t an  edu­
ca tio n a lly  sound p lan  m ax im iz in g  in teg ra tio n , a  p la n  
p re p a re d  by HEW , co n cu rred  in  by th e  school d is tr ic t 
and  th e  p la in tiffs  and  adop ted  by  th e  D is tr ic t C ourt 
a f te r  a  fu ll e v id e n tia ry  h ea rin g . The b as is  of th a t  sum ­
m a ry  re je c tio n  w as fa ilu re  to m e e t c e r ta in  n u m e ric a l 
re su lts . I t  is d ifficu lt to- believe  th a t  eq u a l p ro tec tio n  
of th e  law s can  be m e a su re d  by  s ta t is t ic a l  a ch iev e ­
m ent.

In  Swann  th e  C ourt of A ppeals adop ted  a  v ag u e  s ta n d ­
a rd  of rea so n ab len ess , and  on th e  app lica tio n  of th a t  
te s t  re v e rs e d  th e  D is tr ic t C ourt fo r ab using  its  d isc re ­
tion. In  th e  p re se n t case  th e  C ourt of A ppeals adop ted  
a  rig id , in flex ib le  and  ab so lu te  s ta n d a rd  m e a su re d  by



32

s ta t is t ic a l  re su lts , th e re b y  e lim in a tin g  any  r e a l  n eed  
fo r th e  ju d g m en t and  d isc re tio n  of a  t r i a l  court.

Thus th e  tw o e a se s  s ta n d  a t  opposite  ends of th e  
spectrum ,; in one th e  s ta n d a rd  is v ag u e  and  u n c e rta in , 
an d  in  th e  o th e r th e  s ta n d a rd  is r ig id  and  abso lu te . 
If  th e  F if th  C ircu it h a s  app lied  a  p ro p e r te s t, th e n  
e v e ry  school d is tr ic t in th e  n a tio n  c a n  be d e se g re g a te d  
w ith  th e  sim p le  tools of a  m a p  an d  a tte n d a n c e  fig u res .

II

The Court of Appeals Has Ordered the School 
District to Provide Transportation Service Which 
is Neither Authorized by State Law Nor Required 
by the Equal Protection Clause

One of th e  d eseg reg a tio n  tech n iq u es  com m only  u sed  
b y  th e  C ourt of A ppeals is th e  “m a jo r ity  to m in o rity  
t r a n s fe r  ru le .” U nder th is  re q u ire m e n t, school d is tr ic ts  
m u s t allow  a  s tu d en t a tten d in g  a  school in w hich h is 
ra c e  is in  th e  m a jo r ity  to choose to  a tte n d  a n o th e r  
school w here  h is r a c e  is in  th e  m in o rity . T he t r a n s fe r ­
r in g  s tu d en t m u s t be g iven  an  abso lu te  p r io r ity  fo r 
sp ace , and  he  m a y  e lec t to a tte n d  any  school in  th e  
d is tr ic t, no t n e c e ssa r ily  th e  school n e a re s t  h is hom e. 
F u r th e r , th e  s tu d en ts  m u s t be g iven  tra n s p o r ta tio n  if 
th e y  d es ire  it.

T he tra n sp o r ta tio n  fe a tu re  of th e  ru le , as  ex p re ssed  
in  th e  M ay 5, 1970, opinion of th e  C ourt of A ppeals  
(22a), o b liga tes  th e  school d is tr ic t to p e rfo rm  a 
se rv ic e  w hich  is no t au th o rized  by s ta te  law  n o r r e ­
q u ired  by th e  eq u a l p ro tec tio n  c lau se  of th e  F o u rte e n th  
A m endm ent. F u r th e r , th e  tra n sp o r ta tio n  d irec tiv e  to



33

th is  school d is tr ic t conflic ts  w ith  o th e r decisions of 
th e  C ourt of A ppeals.

This C o u rt’s a tten tio n  is p a r tic u la r ly  d irec ted  to  th e  
fa c t th a t  no  in tra -c ity  bus tra n sp o r ta tio n  h a s  ev e r b een  
p ro v id ed  in  th is  school d is tric t. The only s tu d en ts  le g a l­
ly  en titled  to tra n sp o r ta tio n  a re  those  liv ing  w ith in  
th e  d is tr ic t bu t ou tside  th e  m u n ic ip a lity  who a tte n d  
school inside th e  m u n ic ip a lity , p rov ided  d is tan ce  r e ­
q u ire m e n ts  a re  m e t.

The only s ta tu te  d ea ling  w ith  th e  a u th o rity  to  p rov ide 
in tra -c ity  tra n s p o r ta tio n  is M iss. Code Ann. §6336-31 
(Supp. 1969) as  follows:

In  add ition  to pub lic  school s tu d en ts  or pupils ; 
au th o rized  to  be tra n s p o r te d  to th e  public 
schools by v ir tu e  of C h ap te r 15, L aw s of the  
E x tra o rd in a ry  Session  of 1953, as am ended , a p ­
p e a r in g  as Sections 6336-01 th ro u g h  6336-21, 
M ississipp i Code of 1942, th e  county  b o a rd  of 
ed u ca tio n  w ith  th e  co n cu rren ce  of th e  b o a rd  of 
su p e rv iso rs , th e  b o a rd  of tru s te e s  of m un ic i­
p a l s e p a ra te  school d is tr ic ts  w ith  th e  co n cu r­
re n c e  of th e  govern ing  a u th o ritie s  of th e  m u n ic ­
ipa lity , an d  th e  govern ing  b o a rd  of any  public 
school d is tr ic t w ith  th e  co n cu rren ce  of th e  ap ­
p ro p ria te  govern ing  au th o ritie s  of th e  county  
o r m u n ic ip a lity , in th e ir  d isc re tio n  and  w ith lo­
ca l ta x  funds o r o th e r loca l con tribu tions or 
su p p o rt exc lu siv e ly  and  w ithou t s ta te  ap p ro p ri­
ations, m a y  p rov ide  tra n sp o rta tio n  fo r s tu d en ts  
o r pup ils  to th e  pub lic  schools w h en ev er th e  
w ith in  d esc rib ed  b o ard s  or officers find th a t  ex ­
tra o rd in a ry  c irc u m s ta n c e s  and  conditions a re



34

p re v a le n t in  sa id  school d is tr ic t in  re g a rd  to 
such  m a tte r s  as  th e  pub lic  h e a lth  an d  safe ty , 
school fac ilitie s , location  of th e  school site , u n ­
u su a l econom ic g row th  an d  popu la tion  ex p an ­
sion, new ly  ex p anded  m u n ic ip a l c o rp o ra tio n  
lim its , th e  g e n e ra l w elfa re , an d  a ll o th e r  e m e r­
gency  fa c ts  and  conditions w hich  m a y  be 
d e e m e d  by sa id  au th o ritie s  to  be in th e  b es t in­
te re s t  of th e  p o litic a l subdivision.

I t  is  to  b e  no ted  th e  fo rego ing  s ta tu te  is a  lim ited  
g ra n t  of a u th o rity  d esigned  fo r  use  w here  “e x tra o rd i­
n a ry  c irc u m sta n c e s  a n d  conditions a r e  p re v a le n t in  
[the] school d is tr ic t.” In  tw o re c e n t decisions, th e  C ourt 
of A ppeals  h a s  re q u ire d  tra n sp o r ta tio n  to  be fu rn ish ed  
u n d e r  th e  m a jo r ity  to  m in o rity  t r a n s fe r  ru le  only if 
th e  s tu d en t is elig ib le fo r tra n sp o r ta tio n  u n d e r s ta te  
law . In  Allen v. Board of Public Instruction of Broward  
County,  No. 30032 (5th Cir., Aug. 18, 1970), th e  D is tr ic t 
C o u rt’s m a jo r ity  to m in o rity  t r a n s fe r  ru le  w as as fol­
low s:22

1. A ny pup il w ith  p a re n ta l  consent, sh a ll h av e  
th e  r ig h t to t r a n s fe r  fro m  a  school a t w hich  
his ra c e  is in  th e  m a jo r ity  to th e  n e x t n e a r ­
e s t school a t w hich  h is r a c e  is in  th e  m in o r­
ity  an d  th e  b o a rd  sh a ll fu rn ish  fre e  t r a n s ­
p o rta tio n  provided the distance involved  
m eets  state transportation statutes.  [E m ­
p h asis  added]

2. O th e r re a s s ig n m e n t re q u e s ts  w ill be con­
s id e red  p rov id ing  th e  re q u e s t does not in-

22Slip opinion, p. 5.



35

volve th e  t r a n s fe r  of a pup il [from  a  
school] in  w hich  h is ra c e  is in th e  m in o rity  
to  a  school in  w h ich  his ra c e  is in th e  m a jo r ­
ity.

The C ourt of A ppeals  no ted :23

On re m a n d  th e  d is tr ic t c o u rt’s o rd e r m u s t be  
m od ified  to m a k e  i t  c le a r  th a t  (1) any  pupil 
sh a ll h a v e  th e  r ig h t to tra n s fe r  fro m  a  school a t 
w hich  h is r a c e  is in  th e  m a jo r ity  to any  school 
(not ju s t  th e  n e x t n e a re s t  school) a t w hich h is 
r a c e  is in  th e  m in o rity  an d  (2) tra n s fe re e s  sha ll 
be g iven  p r io r ity  fo r space .

By no t req u ir in g  a  m od ifica tion  of th e  tra n sp o r ta tio n  
p rov is io n  in th e  D is tr ic t C ourt o rder, th e  C ourt of A p­
p ea ls  recogn ized  th e  lim ita tio n s  im posed  b y  s ta te  t r a n s ­
p o rta tio n  law s.

S im ila rly , in Hightower v. West,  No. 29933 (5th Cir., 
Ju ly  14, 1970), th e  C ourt of A ppeals  req u ire d  th e  fol­
low ing:24

The d is tr ic t c o u rt’s m a jo rity -to -m in o rity  t r a n s ­
fe r  p rov is io n  m u s t be m odified  to> prov ide  th a t 
(a ) a ll tr a n s fe r r in g  s tu d en ts  sh a ll b e  g iven  
tra n s p o r ta tio n  if th ey  d es ire  it. . .8

8E x c e p t u rb a n  and  su b u rb a n  a re a s  w here  p u b ­
lic tra n sp o r ta tio n  is av a ilab le  an d  it is th e  
policy  of th e  S ta te  or local School B o ard  not 
to  fu rn ish  tra n sp o rta tio n .

aaSlip opinion, p. 6.
24Slip opinion, p. 14.



36

This C o u rt’s decisions re q u ir in g  convers ion  of d u a l 
school sy s te m s  to  u n ita ry  ones h a v e  n e v e r  gone so 
f a r  as  to re q u ire  th e  creation  of a  tra n sp o r ta tio n  sy s­
te m  to a id  in, d ises tab lish in g  seg reg a tio n . Indeed , it  
h a s  b een  he ld  th a t  “ [n]o  one h a s  a  co n stitu tio n a l r ig h t 
to  r id e  a  school bus . . .  [but] m e re ly  th e  r ig h t no t 
to  be excluded  fro m  a  b enefit w hich  is c o n fe rred  by 
th e  s ta te  upon  fellow  citizens w hose c la im  to  i t  is no  
m o re  ‘re a so n a b le ’ th a n  h is .” Sparrow v. Gill, 304 F. 
Supp. 86, 90 (M.D. N.C. 1969). O ther cases , su ch  as  
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Educ.,  No. 
281, O.T. 1970, d ea l w ith  th e  u tiliza tio n  of a n  existing 
tra n s p o r ta tio n  sy s tem  to ach iev e  a  u n ita ry  p lan , w hich  
sy s te m  h a d  b een  u sed  to  p e rp e tu a te  a  d ual sy stem .

T he Ja c k so n  M unicipal S e p a ra te  School D is tr ic t h as  
n e v e r  p rov ided  in tra -c ity  tra n s p o r ta tio n  to  an y  s tuden t, 
w hite  or N egro. I ts  po licy  is n e u tra l  and  n on -d iscrim - 
in a to ry . M oreover, M ississipp i h a s  no so -called  “a n ti­
b u ssin g ” law .

The C ourt of A ppeals  should  no t be p e rm itte d  to  
o rd e r  school and  m u n ic ip a l offic ials to  p ro v id e  t r a n s ­
p o rta tio n  u n d er a  s ta tu te  w hich  is n o n -d isc rim in a to ry , 
bo th  on its  face  and  in  operation , and  w hich, u n d e r 
no  c irc u m stan c es , c a n  be co n s tru ed  as  e m b ra c in g  th e  
s tu d en t tr a n s fe rs  o rd e red  by th e  C ourt of A ppeals. S tu ­
d en ts  tr a n s fe r r in g  u n d e r th e  m a jo r ity  to m in o rity  ru le  
should  be fu rn ish ed  tra n sp o r ta tio n  only  if en titled  to 
i t  u n d e r s ta te  law .



37

CONCLUSION

F o r  th e  fo rego ing  re a so n s  it is su b m itted  th a t  th e  
P e titio n  fo r C e rtio ra r i should  be g ra n te d  to  rev iew  th e  
ju d g m e n ts  of th e  U nited  S ta te s  C ourt of A ppeals fo r 
th e  F if th  C ircuit.

R esp ec tfu lly  subm itted ,

G eorge P . H ew es, III  
B run in i, E v e re tt, G ra n th a m  & 
Q uin
P. O. Box 119
1440 F ir s t  N a tio n a l B ank
B uild ing
Jack so n , M ississipp i 39205

R o b e rt C. C an n ad a
B u tler, Snow, O’M ara , S tevens
& C an n ad a
P . O. Box 22567
700 P e tro le u m  B uilding
Jack so n , M ississipp i 39205
A tto rn ey s fo r P e titio n e rs



la

APPENDIX

U N IT E D  STA TES D IST R IC T CO URT 
SO U TH ER N  D IST R IC T O F M ISS IS S IP P I 

JACKSON D IVISIO N

D E R E K  JE R O M E  SIN G LETO N , E T  AL,
P la in tiffs ,

v e rsu s
CIV IL ACTION 

No. 3379

JACKSON M U N IC IPA L SE PA R A T E  
SCHOOL D ISTR IC T, E T  AL,

D efendan ts.

O R D E R  PR O V ID IN G  FO R  
U N ITA R Y  SCHOOL SYSTEM

On D ecem b er 1, 1969, in  S ingleton, e t a l v. Ja c k so n  
M unicipal S e p a ra te  School D is tric t, e t al., No. 28261 
on th e  docket of th e  U. S. C ourt of A ppeals  fo r th e  
F if th  C ircu it, th e  D is tr ic t C ourt w as d ire c te d  to  re q u ire  
th e  J a c k so n  M unicipal S e p a ra te  School D is tric t, h e re in ­
a f te r  re fe r re d  to  as  B oard , to  re q u e s t th e  O ffice of 
E d u ca tio n  of th e  D e p a rtm e n t of H ea lth , E d u ca tio n  and  
W elfa re  (H EW ) to p re p a re  p lan s  fo r th e  m e rg e r  of 
th e  s tu d en t bodies in to  u n ita ry  sy stem s , su ch  p la n s  
to b e  filed  w ith  th e  D is tr ic t C ourt n o t la te r  th a n  J a n u ­
a ry  6, 1970, to g e th e r  w ith  su ch  m od ifica tions as  th e  
School B o a rd  miay w ish  to  offer, and  fu r th e r  d ire c te d  
th e  D is tr ic t C ourt to e n te r  its  f in a l o rd e r  n o t la te r



2a

th a n  F e b ru a ry  1, 1970, se ttin g  out th e  d e ta ils  of a  p lan  
d es ig n ed  to acco m p lish  a  u n ita ry  sy stem  of pup il a t ­
te n d an ce  w ith  th e  s ta r t  of th e  fa ll 1970 school te rm . 
T he D is tr ic t C ourt w as fu r th e r  d ire c te d  to  re q u ire  sa id  
B oard , as  th e  f ir s t  step' in  th e  conversion  p rocess, and  
no la te r  th a n  F e b ru a ry  1, 1970,. to announce and  im p le­
m e n t c e r ta in  po licies govern ing  th e  d eseg reg a tio n  of 
facu lty  an d  staff.

T he D is tr ic t C ourt so d ire c te d  th e  B o ard  by o rd e r 
d a ted  D ecem b er 17, 1969, and  in com pliance  w ith  sa id  
o rd er, HEVv'' filed  its  P la n s  “A ”, “B ”, and  “C” w ith 
th is  C ourt on J a n u a ry  6, 1970. On th e  sam e  day  th e  
B o ard  filed  a  p rop o sed  p la n  w h ere in  it a g re e d  to the  
d e se g re g a tio n  of facu lty  and  s ta ff  po licies spelled  out 
in  th e  S ingleton  decision  of D ecem b er 1, 1969, and  as 
d irec ted  by th is  C ourt in its  o rd e r  of D ecem b er 17, 
1969. The B o ard  also  re q u e s te d  a  h e a r in g  on th e  p lans 
fo r s tu d e n t a ss ig n m en t, w hich  h earin g , by o rd e r of 
th is  C ourt d a ted  J a n u a ry  8, 1970, w as se t fo r J a n u a ry  
19, 1970 in Jack so n , M ississippi. O n J a n u a ry  14, 1970, 
th e  S u p rem e C ourt of th e  U n ited  S ta tes  g ra n te d  c e r ­
tio ra r i  in  th e  S ing le ton  case , re v e rs in g  th e  D ecem b er 
1, 1969 ru ling  of th e  F if th  C ircu it, and  rem a n d in g  th e  
case  fo r im m e d ia te  im p lem en ta tio n  of a  plan. Follow ­
ing  th is  decision, th e  F if th  C ircuit, by o rd er of J a n u ­
a ry  21, 1970, h a s  again, d irec ted  th is  C ourt to  adop t 
a  p lan  designed  to acco m p lish  a u n ita ry  sy stem , bu t 
fo r im m e d ia te  im p lem en ta tio n  r a th e r  th a n  a t th e  s ta r t  
of the  fa ll 1970 school te rm .

P u rsu a n t to  its  o rd e r  of J a n u a ry  8, 1970, th is  C ourt 
held  a  h e a r in g  on H EW  P la n s  “A”, “B ”, and  “C” and



on m od ifica tions th e re to  o ffered  by th e  B oard , filed  
h e re in  on J a n u a ry  19, 1970, an d  a f te r  due an d  c a re fu l 
co n sid e ra tio n  of th e  p la n s  an d  su g g es ted  m od ifica tions, 
an d  th e  te stim o n y  of w itnesses, finds th a t  th e  p la n  
h e re in a f te r  s e t fo r th  is d esigned  to acco m p lish  a  un i­
ta ry  sy stem , and  th e  B o ard  of T ru s te e s  of th e  J a c k so n  
M unicipal S e p a ra te  School D is tr ic t is h e re b y  d ire c te d  
to  adop t sa id  p la n  fo r im p le m e n ta tio n  w ith  th e  opening 
of school on o r a f te r  F e b ru a ry  1, 1970.

The C ourt no tes  th a t  th e  J a c k so n  M un ic ipa l S e p a ra te  
School D is tr ic t h a s  h is to rica lly  d iv ided  its  tw elve  
g ra d e s  in to  th re e  g roups, e le m e n ta ry  g ra d e s  1 to  6, 
ju n io r h igh  g rad es , 7, 8 and  9, and  h ig h  school g ra d e s  
10, 11 and  12, an d  th a t  th e  c u r re n t c u rr ic u la  is designed  
fo r th is  6-3-3 s tru c tu re . I t  goes w ithou t say in g  th a t  
a  p re c ip ita te  conversion  of th e se  schools in th e  m idd le  
of th e  y e a r  to a  u n ita ry  sy s tem  w ill occu r w ith  le ss  
d isru p tio n  if th e  c u r re n t s t ru c tu re  is  re ta in e d  as  long 
as  th e  re te n tio n  does no t le ssen  th e  u n ita ry  effect.

A lthough to ta l d e seg reg a tio n  of ev e ry  school in  th e  
sy s tem  does no t re su lt  fro m  th e  p lan s  o ffered  by H EW , 
it  is th e  opinion of th e  ev a lu a tio n  te a m  th a t  th e  b as ic  
s tru c tu re  of th e  d u a l sy s tem  w ill be e ra d ic a te d . The 
ev a lu a tio n  te a m  of n ine m e m b e rs  w as en g ag ed  fro m  
D ecem b er 15, 1969, to J a n u a ry  5, 1970, in  fo rm u la tin g  
th e se  p lans. L im itin g  fa c to rs  co n sid ered  by  th e  e v a lu a ­
tion  te a m  and  w hich  h av e  likew ise  b een  considered  
by th e  C ourt a re  as follows:

1. S ta te  law s which, r e s tr ic t  th e  tr a n s p o r ta ­
tio n  of s tu d en ts  w ith in  th e  d is tr ic t.



4a

2. T he  size of th e  d is tr ic t in  re la tio n  to  th e  
lo ca tio n  of th e  schools.

3. N a tu ra l and  m a n -m a d e  b a r r ie r s  w hich  
co n stitu te  sa fe ty  h a z a rd s  o r r e s tr ic t  m o ­
bility .

4. D em o g rap h ic  p a t te rn  of th e  d is tric t.

5. A tte m p ts  to an tic ip a te  and  e lim in a te  re- 
s e g re g a tio n  p a tte rn s .

6. L ack  of a  co m pu lso ry  a tte n d a n c e  law .

7. D evelopm en t of a  p lan  w hich  w ould re su lt 
in  th e  le a s t am o u n t of d isrup tion  and  w hich 
could be im p lem en ted  im m ed ia te ly . A m p­
lify ing  th is  fac to r, th e  n ece ss ity  of adding  
te m p o ra ry  or p o rtab le  c la ss ro o m s to fu r ­
n ish  su ffic ien t c ap a c ity  is avo ided  w h ere  
possib le , as  is a lso  th e  n ece ss ity  for add i­
tio n a l bus tra n sp o rta tio n .

E L E M E N T A R Y  SCHOOLS

As to e le m e n ta ry  schools, H EW  p lans “A ”, “B ” and  
“C” a re  th e  sam e. As th e  H EW  ev a lu a tio n  te a m  points 
out, no t a ll th e  38 e le m e n ta ry  schools w ill be d e seg re ­
gated . B ecau se  e le m e n ta ry  s tu d en ts  a re  not as m obile 
as o lder s tu d en ts , th e  geo g rap h ic  zones a re  n e c e ssa rily  
sm a lle r  th a n  fo r th e  h ig h e r  g rad es , a n d  a tten d an c e  
is n e c e ssa r ily  con tro lled  by housing  p a tte rn s  and s ta te - 
im posed  re s tr ic tio n s  of bussing.



T he p la n  fo r th e  38 e le m e n ta ry  schools p ro v id es  fo r 
th e  zoning of each , th e  b o u n d arie s  being re fle c te d  on 
th e  e le m e n ta ry  school m a p  a tta c h e d  to th e  p lan  and  
m a d e  a, p a r t  h e reo f as E x h ib it “A ”. W atk ins an d  G reen  
schools a re  p a ire d  in  one zone. The B o ard  h a s  re q u e s te d  
no  b o u n d ary  chan g es ex cep t a  m od ified  b o u n d ary  line  
be tw een  th e  D uling an d  W alton  schools to re liev e  th e  
overcrow ding  a t  D uling, and  w hich m odified  b o u n d ary  
line is re f le c te d  on E x h ib it “A ”. The B o ard  seek s to  
m odify  th e  en ro llm en t of e ig h t schools, K ey, L es te r, 
Isab le , D uling, W alton, M orrison , W atk ins a n d  G reen.

A s to K ey E le m e n ta ry  the  add ition  of 68 n eg ro  pup ils  
d raw n  fro m  the  Isab le  zone as p roposed  by H EW  w ould 
re q u ire  ad d itio n a l sp ace  a t  K ey, no t now  av a ilab le , 
an d  w ould re q u ire  th e se  s tu d en ts  of e le m e n ta ry  age 
to  t r a v e l  a  g re a te r  d is tan ce  th a n  to th e  school 'they 
now  a tten d , w h ere  th e re  is an  excess  of cap ac ity . T he 
B o ard  re q u e s ts  th a t  th is  group  re m a in  a t Isab le , w h ich  
m od ifica tio n  is g ran ted .

As to L e s te r  E le m e n ta ry , th e  B o ard  seek s to  e lim ­
in a te  th e  add ition  of 152 n eg ro  pupils to  be d raw n  fro m  
th e  Isab le  zone. As th e  c a p a c ity  of th is  school is su f­
fic ien t to include th e se  152 pupils, or a  m a jo r ity  of 
them , th is  m od ifica tion  is den ied  to  th e  e x te n t th a t  
L e s te r  is ab le  to  acco m m o d a te  them .

As to Isab le  E le m e n ta ry , H E W  proposes to  lim it th e  
g ra d e s  to 1 to  5 an d  m a k e  it a  p a r t  of an  Isab le-H ill 
com plex  w hich  w ill inc lude th e  a tte n d a n c e  of a 9th 
g rad e . As th is  9th g ra d e  is be in g  o th e rw ise  p ro v id ed  
fo r in  th e  p la n  fo r ju n io r  h ig h  schools, th e  B o a rd ’s



6a

re q u e s t th a t  Is a b le  rem ain , a  1 to  6 g ra d e  school is  
allow ed.

A s to  D uling, w h ich  h a s  a  p e rm a n e n t c a p a c ity  fo r  
384 s tu d en ts  r a th e r  th a n  448 as show n in  H E W ’s p lan , 
th e  B o a rd ’s re q u e s t to  red u ce  th e  n u m b e r of n eg ro  
pup ils  from , th e  n u m b e r se t by H EW  is g ra n te d  to the  
e x te n t of ass ig n in g  no m o re  th a n  190 neg ro  pupils, 
o r  th e  m a x im u m  w hich  th is  school ca n  accom m oda te , 
and  as  p e rm itte d  by the  m odified  boun d ary  line.

As to  W alton  E le m e n ta ry , th e  B o ard  m od ifica tion  
to  in c re a se  th e  n u m b e r of n eg ro  pup ils  fro m  527 to 
676 is au to m a tic  by th e  inclusion  of those  d iv e rted  fro m  
D uling.

The B o a rd ’s re q u e s te d  m od ifica tio n  as  to  M orrison  
to  in c re a se  th e  n u m b e r of n eg ro  s tu d en ts  fro m  338 
to 501 is g ra n te d  in  o rd e r  to  re liev e  th e  o v e rta x ed  c a ­
p ac ity  of W atk ins.

The B o a rd ’s re q u e s te d  m od ifica tion  fo r W atk ins E le ­
m e n ta ry  to red u ce  th e  n u m b e r of neg ro  pupils fro m  
291 to 180 is g ra n te d  in a sm u c h  as th e  en ro llm en t sug­
g es ted  by H E W  fa r  exceeds th is  school’s cap ac ity , r e ­
qu iring  e ith e r  double sessions o r 13 po rtab les . As m od i­
fied, few er p o rta b le s  w ill be req u ired .

As to  G reen  E le m e n ta ry , th e  B o a rd ’s req u es te d  m od­
ifica tion  is g ra n te d  to  the  ex ten t of red u c in g  th e  n u m ­
b e r of n eg ro  pup ils  to  th e  c a p a c ity  of th e  build ing, 
576.



7a

I t  is  to be  n o ted  th a t  in  th e  H E W  p u p il a s s ig n m e n ts  
to  a t  le a s t  13 of th e  e le m e n ta ry  schools, th e  p rop o sed  
a ss ig n m e n ts  ex ceed  th e  c a p a c itie s  of th e  re sp e c tiv e  
schools w hich  w ill n e c e ss ita te  th e  u tiliz a tio n  of te m ­
p o ra ry  or p o rtab le  c la ssro o m s, a fa c to r  H EW  fa iled  
to  m ention . In  th e se  a ss ig n m e n ts  se t fo r th  h e re in a f te r  
in  th e  p lan , th e  C ourt h a s  in d ica te d  w here  one or m o re  
p o rta b le s  w ill be n e c e ssa ry . As to  th e  schools w h ere  
B o ard  m odifica tions a re  g ran te d , th e  n ece ss ity  of p o r t­
ab les  h a s  been, fo r th e  m o st p a r t  e lim inated .

JU N IO R  H IG H  SCHOOLS

The H EW  P la n s  “A ” an d  “B ” fo r th e  n ine ju n io r 
h igh  schools co n tem p la te  five zones, w ith  sub-zones, 
an d  w ould  ch an g e  th e  3 -g rade s tru c tu re  in a ll bu t one 
zone, p lac ing  th e  7 and  8th g ra d e s  in one school and  
p a irin g  th e m  w ith  a 9th g ra d e  school in th e  sa m e  zone 
o r sub-zone, th e  one excep tion  being  in  Zone II  w here  
all th re e  g rad es  w ould be in  one building. T hese  p lans  
also  co n tem p la te  th e  a tte n d a n c e  of Zone I (one) 9th 
g ra d e rs  a t th e  Isab le-H ill com plex , a  fe a tu re  w hich 
h a s  b een  e lim in a ted  above. P la n  C re q u ire s  a  new  
o rg an iz a tio n a l p a t te rn  on a  2-2-2 s tru c tu re  fo r b o th  th e  
ju n io r h igh  and  h igh  school g rad es . The B o a rd  seeks 
to m odify  th e se  p lans so as to e s ta b lish  s e p a ra te  zones 
fo r th e  n ine  ju n io r h igh  schools com posed  of g ra d e s  
7, 8 and  9, as  show n by  th e  zone m a p  an d  m e te s  and  
bounds descrip tio n s  a tta c h e d  h e re to  as E x h ib it “B ”. 
The B o ard  m o d ifica tio n  w ould re ta in  th e  c u rre n t 3- 
g ra d e  s tru c tu re , obv ia ting  th e  n e c e ss ity  of fo rm u la tin g  
new  c u rr ic u la  fo r a  d iffe ren t s tru c tu re , as p roposed  
by HEW , and  w ould te n d  to le ssen  th e  ad d itio n a l bus



8a

tra n s p o r ta tio n  th e  H EW  p lan s  c a ll for, a ll of w hich  
th e  C ourt finds a re  p ra c tic a l co n sid era tio n s  in  v iew  
of th e  im m ed iacy  of the  conversion. The C ourt also  
no tes th a t  th e  h ead  of th e  H EW  ev a lu a tio n  te am , who 
fo rm u la te d  th e  H EW  p lan s an d  who te s tif ied  on beh a lf 
of th e  p la in tiffs , concedes th a t  th e  p roposed  m od ifica­
tion  by th e  B o a rd  w ill re su lt in a  u n ita ry  sy stem  for 
th e  ju n io r h igh  level. A ccordingly , th e  C ourt app ro v es 
and  allow s th e  B o a rd ’s re q u e s te d  m od ifica tion  fo r th e  
ju n io r h ig h  schools.

As P la n  “C” h a s  been  re je c te d  above, it is no t n ece s­
s a ry  to co nsider its  application, to th e  h igh  school level.

H IG H  SCHOOLS

W ith re sp e c t to th e  h ig h  schools, th e  H EW  P lan s , 
“A ”, “B ” an d  “C”, e a c h  ch an g e  th e  3 -grade s tru c tu re  
as it now  ex ists, and  fo r th e  sa m e  reaso n s  th a t app ly  
to  th e  ju n io r h igh  schools, a r e  re je c ted . Changes! as 
p roposed  by  th e  H EW  p lan s w ould re q u ire  an  ex tension  
of tim e, no t now  av a ilab le , in  reo rg an iz in g  p h y sica l 
fac ilitie s , re - re g is te r in g  pupils, re -ass ig n in g  m e m b e rs  
of th e  facu lty , re -a r ra n g in g  th e  p re se n t 3 -grade c u rr ic u ­
la , co n s tru c tin g  add itio n al c lass  room s or re -loca ting  
te m p o ra ry  or p o rtab le  c la ss  room s, an d  tra n s fe r r in g  
supplies and  eq u ip m en t, including  the  re -in s ta lla tio n  
of biology la b o ra to ry  equ ipm ent. Also th e  H EW  p ro ­
posed  use  of L a n ie r  and  C en tra l h igh  schools as ta rg e t  
schools w ith  spec ia lized  courses, if no t so used, could 
re su lt in  o ver ta x in g  th e  c a p a c ity  of the  rem a in in g  
schools by as m u ch  as  20%. By w ay of illu s tra tio n  
H EW  P la n  “A ” ass ig n s  1912 stu d en ts  to the  p roposed



9a

W ingfield-H ill com plex  w ith  a  to ta l c a p a c ity  of 1788; 
a  to ta l of 1406 s tu d en ts  to P ro v in e  w ith  a  c a p a c ity  
of 1180; a  to ta l of 1303 s tu d en ts  to  M u rra h  w hich  h as  
a  c a p a c ity  w ith  p o rtab le s  of 1232; a  to ta l of 1610 s tu ­
den ts  to C allaw ay , w ith  a  c a p a c ity  of 786 w ith p o r t­
ab les; and  a to ta l of 1637 s tu d en ts  to B rin k ley  w ith  
a  to ta l c a p a c ity  of 1154. On th e  o th e r h and , if u sed  
exclu sive ly  fo r spec ia lized  cou rses , th e se  two- schools, 
u n d e r  th e  H E W  p la n  w ould m o st likely  b ecom e r e ­
seg reg a ted .

In s tead , th e  B o ard  p roposes to  r e ta in  th e  3 -g rade 
s tru c tu re  of 10th, 11th and  12th g ra d e s  in  one school, 
an d  e s tab lish  s e p a ra te  zones fo r th e  e igh t sen io r h igh  
schools. U nd er th e  B o ard  p lan , s im ila r ly  to th a t  of 
H EW , L a n ie r  and  C en tra l w ould  se rv e  as  m a g n e t 
schools d raw ing  fro m  th e  en tire  d is tr ic t s tu d en ts  de­
s irin g  to  ta k e  th e ir  sp ec ia lized  v o ca tio n a l and  te ch n ica l 
p ro g ra m s  w hich  a re  no t o ffered  a t  th e  re m a in in g  h igh  
schools, a t  th e  sa m e  tim e  re ta in in g  s tu d en ts  of bo th  
ra c e s  attending ' th e se  schools by v ir tu e  of th e ir  r e s i­
dence. The B o a rd ’s p ro jec ted  a tte n d a n c e  a t  th e se  e igh t 
h igh  schools, a s  show n by th e ir  m od ifica tio n s  on file 
h e re in  am p ly  m e e t a ll u n ita ry  school c h a ra c te r is t ic s  
w ith  th e  possib le  excep tion  of W ingfield w h ere  only 
44 n e g ro  pupils would a tte n d  w ith  829 w h ite  pupils, 
an d  C allaw ay , w here  only 185 n eg ro es  w ould a tten d  
w ith  1104 w hite s tuden ts. A ccord ing ly , to in c re a se  th e  
neg ro  a tte n d a n c e  a t W ingfield, th is  C ourt h a s  redrawn  
zones I and  II, to  add  a  p o rtio n  of Zone II  to Zone 
I, th e re b y  in c re a s in g  th e  neg ro  a tte n d a n c e  a t W ingfield 
and  a t  th e  sam e  tim e  red u c in g  n eg ro  a tte n d a n c e  a t  
H ill, re su ltin g  in  a  m o re  p ro p o rtio n a te  ra tio  of b lack



s tu d en ts  to w hite. This m od ifica tio n  of th e  zone line  
be tw een  Zones I and  II  is re f le c te d  on th e  zone m a p  
an d  b o u n d ary  d escrip tio n s  fo r th e  h igh  schools, a t ­
ta c h e d  h e re to  as E x h ib it “C”.

T estim o n y  a t th e  h e a r in g  in d ica te d  th a t  neg ro  s tu ­
den ts re s id in g  in  th e  n o r th e a s te rn  p a r t  of th is  e n tire  
school sy stem , in  and  a ro u n d  Tougaloo, and  in  th e  
n o rth w e s te rn  p a r t  of th e  d is tr ic t, now  a tten d in g  schools 
o th e r th a n  C allaw ay , w ould, u n d e r th e  B o ard  p lan , 
beg in  a tte n d a n c e  a t C allaw ay  h igh  school, th e re b y  im ­
p rov ing  th e  ra c ia l  b a lan ce  of th is  school. A ccord ing ly  
th e  C ourt ap p ro v es th e  p roposed  B o ard  m odifica tions 
as th e y  in  tu rn  a re  m odified  by th e  Court.

In  acc o rd an ce  w ith  th e  above, th is  C ourt finds and  
ap p ro v es  th e  follow ing p la n  as a  u n ita ry  school p la n  
fo r th e  J a c k so n  M unicipal S e p a ra te  School D is tric t, 
and  d irec ts  th e  school b o a rd  to adop t sa id  p la n  an d  
pu t it into im m e d ia te  e ffec t w ith  th e  opening of school 
on or a f te r  F e b ru a ry  1, 1970.

U N I T A R Y  SCHOOL P L A N

D E SE G R E G A T IO N  OF F A C U L T Y  AND STAFF

The School B o ard  sh a ll announce an d  im p le­
m e n t th e  follow ing policies:

1. E ffec tiv e  no t la te r  th a n  F e b ru a ry  1, 1970, 
th e  p rin c ip a ls , te a c h e rs , te a c h e r-a id e s  and  oth­
e r  s ta ff  who w ork  d irec tly  w ith  ch ild ren  a t a  
school sh a ll be so ass ig n ed  th a t in  no c a se  w ill



1 1 a

th e  ra c ia l  com position  of a  s ta ff  in d ica te  th a t  a  
school is  in ten d ed  fo r n eg ro  s tu d en ts  o r w hite 
s tu d en ts . F o r  th e  re m a in d e r  of th e  1969-70 
school y e a r  th e  d is tr ic t sh a ll a s s ig n  th e  s ta ff  
d escrib ed  above so th a t  th e  ra tio  of n eg ro  to  
w hite te a c h e rs  in  e a c h  school, and  th e  ra tio  of 
o th e r s ta ff  in  each , a re  su b s ta n tia lly  th e  sa m e  
as eac h  such  ra tio  is to  th e  te a c h e rs  and  o th e r 
s ta ff, re sp ec tiv e ly , in  th e  e n tire  school sy stem .

The school d is tr ic t shall, to  th e  e x ten t n e c e s ­
s a ry  to c a r ry  out th is  d e seg reg a tio n  p lan , di­
r e c t  m e m b e rs  of its  s ta ff  as  a  condition of con­
tin u ed  em p lo y m en t to a c c e p t new  a ss ig n m e n ts .

2. S taff m e m b e rs  w ho w ork d irec tly  w ith  
ch ild ren , and  p ro fess io n a l s ta ff  w ho w ork  on 
th e  a d m in is tra tiv e  leve l w ill be h ired , assigned , 
p rom oted , paid , dem oted , d ism issed , an d  o th ­
erw ise  tr e a te d  w ith o u t re g a rd  to ra c e , color, o r 
n a tio n a l origin.

3. If  th e re  is to be a  red u c tio n  in  th e  n u m b e r 
of p rin c ip a ls , te a c h e rs , te a c h e r-a id e s , or o th e r 
p ro fess io n a l s ta ff  em ployed  by  th e  school d is­
t r ic t  w hich  w ill re su lt in a  d ism issa l or d em o ­
tio n  of any  such  s ta ff  m e m b e rs , th e  s ta ff  m e m ­
b e rs  to be d ism issed  or d em o ted  m u s t be se le c ­
te d  on th e  b as is  of o b jec tive  and  re a so n a b le  
n o n -d isc rim in a to ry  s ta n d a rd s  fro m  am ong all 
th e  s ta ff  of th e  school d is tr ic t. In  add ition  if 
th e re  is any  such  d ism issa l or dem otion, no 
s ta ff  v aca n cy  m a y  be filled  th ro u g h  re c ru it-



12 a

m e n ’t  of a  p e rso n  of a  ra c e , color, o r  n a tio n a l 
o rig in  d iffe ren t fro m  th a t  of th e  in d iv id u a l dis- 
m issied o r dem o ted , u n til e ac h  d isp laced  s ta ff  
m e m b e r who is qua lified  h a s  h ad  a n  oppo rtu n i­
ty  to fill th e  v aca n cy  and  h a s  fa iled  to a cc ep t a n  
o ffer to  do so.

P r io r  to  such  a  reduction , th e  school b o a rd  
w ill develop or re q u ire  the  d evelopm en t of non- 
ra c ia l  o b jec tive  c r ite r ia  to be u sed  in  se lec ting  
th e  s ta ff  m e m b e r who is to be d ism issed  or de­
m oted . T hese c r i te r ia  sh a ll be a v a ilab le  for 
pub lic  in spection  an d  sh a ll be re ta in e d  by the  
school d is tr ic t. The school d is tr ic t also  sh a ll r e ­
co rd  and  p re se rv e  th e  ev a lu a tio n  of s ta ff  m e m ­
b e rs  u n d e r th e  c r ite r ia . Such ev a lu a tio n  sha ll 
be m a d e  av a ila b le  upon  re q u e s t to  th e  d is­
m issed, o r  dem o ted  em ployee.

“D em otion” as u sed  above includes any  r e ­
a ss ig n m e n t (1) u n d er w hich  th e  s ta ff  m e m b er 
rece iv es  le ss  p ay  or h as  le ss  re sp o n sib ility  th a n  
u n d e r th e  a ss ig n m e n t he held  p rev iously , (2) 
w hich  re q u ire s  a  le sse r  d eg ree  of skill th a n  did 
th e  a ss ig n m e n t he he ld  p rev iously , or (3) u n d e r 
w hich th e  s ta ff  m e m b e r is asked, to teach, a  
su b jec t or g ra d e  o th e r th a n  one for w hich he  is 
certified, o r fo r w hich  he h as  h ad  su b s ta n tia l 
ex p erien ce  within, a re a so n a b ly  c u rre n t period. 
In  g e n e ra l and  depending  upon th e  su b jec t m a t­
te r  involved, five y e a rs  is such  a  rea so n ab le  p e­
riod.



TRAN SPO R TAT IO N

The tra n sp o r ta tio n  sy s te m  sh a ll be co m p le te ­
ly  re -e x a m in e d  re g u la r ly  by th e  su p e rin te n d ­
ent, h is staff, and  th e  school board . B us ro u tes  
an d  th e  a ss ig n m e n t of s tu d en ts  to bu ses  w ill be 
d esigned  to  in su re  th e  tra n s p o r ta tio n  of a ll e li­
g ib le  pup ils  on a  n o n -seg reg a ted  and  o therw ise  
n o n -d isc rim in a to ry  basis.

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND  
SIT E  SELECTION

All school construc tion , school consolidation , 
an d  site  se lec tio n  (includ ing  th e  loca tion  of any  
te m p o ra ry  c la ssro o m s) in  th e  sy s te m  sh a ll be 
done in a  m a n n e r  w h ich  w ill p re v e n t th e  r e ­
c u rre n c e  of th e  d u a l school s tru c tu re  once th is  
d eseg reg a tio n  p la n  is im p lem en ted .

A T T E N D A N C E  OUTSIDE S Y S T E M  OF 
R E S ID E N C E

If  th e  school d is tr ic t g ra n ts  t r a n s fe r s  to  s tu ­
den ts  liv ing  in th e  d is tr ic t fo r th e ir  a tte n d a n c e  
a t public schools ou tside  th e  d is tr ic t, or if it 
p e rm its  tr a n s fe r s  into th e  d is tr ic t of s tu d en ts  
w ho live ou tside  th e  d is tr ic t, it sh a ll do so on a  
n o n -d isc rim in a to ry  b asis , ex cep t th a t  it sh a ll 
no t co n sen t to  tr a n s fe rs  w here  th e  cu m u la tiv e  
e ffec t w ill red u ce  d e seg reg a tio n  in  e ith e r  d is­
t r i c t  o r re in fo rc e  th e  d u a l school sy stem .



14a

PUPIL ASSIG NM EN T

E L E M E N T A R Y  SCHOOLS 
(G rad es  1 to- 6)

T he geo g rap h ic  b o u n d arie s  to- a ll e le m e n ta ry  zones 
a re  show n on the- e le m e n ta ry  school m ap , a t ta c h e d  
h e re to  as  E x h ib it “A ”. E x a c t a tte n d a n c e s  w ill be d e ­
te rm in e d  fro m  b o u n d ary  d escrip tio n s  to confo rm  
to  zone lines as  th ey  a re  show n on sa id  m ap .

1. Sykes E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 w ith  
an  a p p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 544 w hite studen ts. A p­
p ro x im a te  c a p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 576.

2. L ee E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 w ith  
an  a p p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 370 w hite s tuden ts. A p­
p ro x im a te  c a p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 416.

3. M a rsh a ll E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g rad es  1-6 
w ith  an  a p p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 600 w hite pupils. 
A p p ro x im ate  c a p a c ity  of th is  bu ild ing  is 576. A portable- 
w ill be n ece ssa ry .

4. B a k e r  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g rad es  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 334, consisting  of 
310 w hite  and  24 n eg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a p a c ity  
of th is  bu ild ing  is 512.

5. W ilkins E le m e n ta ry  School includes g rad es  1-6 
w ith  an  a p p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 616, consisting  of 
600 w h ite  an d  16 n eg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a p a c ity  
fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 416. P o rta b le s  w ill be  n ecessa ry .



15a

6. K ey E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6, w ith  
a n  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 513 w hite  pupils. A pprox­
im a te  c a p a c ity  of th is  bu ild ing  is 576.

7. L e s te r  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 472, co n sis tin g  of 
320 w hite pup ils  an d  152 n e g ro  pup ils  o r as  m a n y  n e ­
gro  pup ils  up to 152 a s  th e  school w ill acco m m o d a te . 
A p p ro x im ate  cap a c ity  of th is  bu ild ing  is 480. The n eg ro  
pupils a re  to be d raw n  fro m  th e  Isab le  zone.

8. C lausell E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  a p p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 212, consisting  of 
47 w hite pupils and  165 n eg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a ­
p ac ity  for th is  bu ild ing  is 224.

9. Isab le  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  a n  ap p ro x im a te  e n ro llm en t of 860 n eg ro  pupils. 
A p p ro x im ate  c a p a c ity  of th is  bu ild ing  is 1120.

10. R eynolds E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  e n ro llm en t of 1009 n e g ro  pupils. 
A p p ro x im ate  c a p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 1088.

11. G eorge E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 206, co n sis tin g  of 
100 w hites and  106 neg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a p a c ity  
fo r  th is  bu ild ing  is 192. Should a tte n d a n c e  ex ceed  c a ­
pac ity , th e  overflow  m a y  be a ss ig n ed  to  M a rtin  E le ­
m e n ta ry . 12

12. M artin  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 296, consisting  of



76 w hite  pup ils  and  200 n eg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a ­
p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 384.

13. L ak e  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  a p p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 600 w hite  pupils. 
A p p ro x im a te  c a p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 576. A p o r t­
ab le  w ill be n e c e ssa ry .

14. W hitfield  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1- 
6 w ith  a n  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 448, consisting  
of 282 w hite pup ils  an d  166 n eg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  
c a p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 416. P o r ta b le s  w ill be n eed ­
ed.

15. B a r r  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  a n  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 213, consisting  of 
123 w hite pup ils  an d  90 n eg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a ­
p ac ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 192. P o rta b le s  w ill be needed .

16. P o in d e x te r  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g rad es  
1-6 w ith  an  a p p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 149, consisting  
of 47 w hite pup ils  and  102 n eg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  
c a p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 192.

17. R o b ertso n  E le m e n ta ry  School includes g ra d e s  
1-6 w ith  a n  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 581, consisting  
of 6 w h ite  pup ils  and  575 neg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  
c a p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 544. A p o rtab le  w ill be n e c ­
e ssa ry .

18. D av is E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  a p p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 228, consisting  of 
46 w hite  pup ils  and  182 neg ro  pupils. A p prox im ate  c a ­



17a

p a c ity  fo r  th is  build ing  is 224, A p o rta b le  w ill be n e c e s ­
sa ry .

19. Jo n es  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  a n  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 1241, consis ting  of 
70 w hite  pupils an d  1171 n eg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a ­
p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 1248.

20. G allow ay E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 447, consisting  of 
185 w h ite  pup ils  and  262 n eg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a ­
p a c ity  fo r th is  build ing  is 448.

21. B row n E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 575 neg ro  pupils. 
A p p ro x im ate  cap a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 832.

22. P o w er E le m e n ta ry  School in c ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 599, consisting  of 
383 w hite  pupils and  216 negro- pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a ­
p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 544. P o r ta b le s  w ill be n e c e s ­
sa ry .

23. R a in es  E le m e n ta ry  School in c ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 852, consisting  of 
780 w hite pup ils  and  72 n e g ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a ­
p a c ity  for th is  bu ild ing  is 736. P o r ta b le s  w ill be needed .

24. F re n c h  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 437, consisting  of 
354 w hite pupils and  83 n eg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a ­
p a c ity  for th is  bu ild ing  is 576.



18a

25. Jo h n so n  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 1094, consisting  of 
71 w hite pup ils  an d  1023 n eg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a ­
p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 1088. P o r ta b le s  w ill b e  needed .

26. D uling E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 384, consisting  of 
194 w hite pup ils  and  190 neg ro  pupils, or less, as th e  
schoo l ca n  acco m m o d a te . A p p ro x im ate  c a p a c ity  fo r 
th is  bu ild ing  is 384.

27. C asey  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1- 
6 w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 420 w hite pupils. 
A p p ro x im ate  c a p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 576.

28. B rad ley  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g rad es  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 326, consisting  of 
33 w hite  pupils and  293 neg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a ­
p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 384.

29. S m ith  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g rad es  1-6 
w ith  a n  a p p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 917 n e g ro  pupils. 
A p p ro x im ate  c a p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 928.

30. W alton  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  a p p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 676 neg ro  pupils. 
A p p ro x im a te  c a p a c ity  fo r th is  build ing  is 1120.

31. D aw son  E le m e n ta ry  School includes g rad es  1-6 
w ith  an  a p p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 452 consisting  of 65 
w h ite  pup ils  and  387 neg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a p a c i­
ty  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 608.



19a

32. M orrison  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 501 n eg ro  pupils. 
A p p ro x im ate  c a p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 616, T his zone 
also  inc ludes th e  developing a r e a  a ro u n d  L ak e  Hico. 
A new  school s ite  h a s  b een  se lec ted  an d  w ill be de­
veloped. The new  school w ill be p a ire d  w ith  M orrison  
or w ill rep la ce  M orrison.

33. W atk ins E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  3-6 
w ith  a n  ap p ro x im a te  e n ro llm en t of 953, consisting  of 
773 w hite pupils an d  180 n eg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a ­
p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 608. P o r ta b le s  w ill be n e c e s ­
sa ry .

34. B oyd E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 552, consisting  of 
395 w hite pupils an d  127 n eg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a ­
p ac ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 576.

35. G reen  E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-2 
w ith  an  a p p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 529 pupils, co n sis t­
ing  of 380 w hite  pupils an d  149 negro ' pupils. A pprox i­
m a te  c a p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 576.

36. M cW illie E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 698, consisting  of 
624 w hite  pupils and  74 neg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a ­
p ac ity  for th is  bu ild ing  is 620. P o r ta b le s  w ill be needed .

37. Spann  E le m e n ta ry  School in c ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith an  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 578, consisting  of 
539 w hite  pupils and  39 neg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a ­
p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 540. P o r ta b le s  w ill be needed .



20a

38. M cLeod E le m e n ta ry  School inc ludes g ra d e s  1-6 
w ith  a n  ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t of 566, consisting  of 
500 w hite pup ils  and  66 neg ro  pupils. A p p ro x im ate  c a ­
p a c ity  fo r th is  bu ild ing  is 608.

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS  
(G rad es  7, 8 and  9)

The ju n io r h igh  schools a re  zoned into n ine  zones 
as  re f le c te d  on th e  zoning m ap  a n d  b o u n d ary  d e sc rip ­
tions a tta c h e d  h e re to  as E x h ib it “B ”.

T he n a m e s  of th e  schools, ap p ro x im a te  en ro llm en t 
and  c a p a c itie s  of eac h  school a re  show n as  follows:

Approximate
Name of School Enrollment Total

White Negro Total Capacity

W hitten  Ju n io r  H igh 515 250 765 868
P e e p le s  Ju n io r  H igh 930 367 1290 1286
B lack b u rn  Ju n io r  H igh 268 656 924 1458
H a rd y  Ju n io r  H igh 734 442 1176 1278
E nochs Ju n io r  H igh 176 661 837 830
R ow an Ju n io r  H igh 140 478 618 996
B ailey  Ju n io r  H igh 843 586 1429 1310
Pow ell Ju n io r  H igh 901 649 1550 1574
C h asta in  Ju n io r  H igh 898 541 1439 1234

SEN IO R HIGH SCHOOLS 
(G rad es  10, 11 and  12)

The sen io r h igh  schools a re  zoned into e ig h t zones 
a s  re fle c ted  on th e  zoning m a p  and  b o u n d ary  d esc rip ­
tions a tta c h e d  h e re to  as E x h ib it “C”.



2 1 a

Tw o schools — L an ie r and  C e n tra l — w ill se rv e  a s  
m a g n e t schools d raw ing  fro m  th e  en tire  d is tr ic t. T hese  
schools w ill house  spec ia lized  v o ca tio n a l and  te c h n i­
c a l p ro g ra m s  w h ich  a re  no t p re se n tly  o ffered  a t  any  
school o th e r th a n  a t  one or bo th  of such  schools. All 
s tu d en ts  now  a tten d in g  L a n ie r  w ho! do no t re s id e  in  
th e  L an ie r zone, or those  now  a tten d in g  C en tra l w ho 
do no t re s id e  in  th e  C en tra l zone w ill con tinue to a tte n d  
th e  school th e y  a re  now  a tten d in g , p ro v id ed  th e y  a re  
en ro lled  in  a  spec ia lized  p ro g ra m  no t o ffered  a t  any  
school o th e r th a n  C en tra l or L an ier. A ny s tu d en t n o t 
p re sen tly  en ro lled  in e ith e r  L a n ie r  o r C en tra l and  w ho 
do no t re s id e  in  th e  L a n ie r  or C en tra l zone m a y  a tte n d  
one of th e se  schools only if he en ro lls  in  a  sp ec ia lized  
p ro g ra m  no t o ffered  in  th e  h igh  school to w hich  he 
is zoned.

The n a m e s  of th e  schools, a p p ro x im a te  e n ro llm en t 
and  c ap a c itie s  of each  school a re  show n as follows:

Approximate With
Name of School Enrollment Capacity Portables

White Negro Total

W ingfield H igh School 829 *44 873 894 1154
H ill H igh School 177 !356 533 894
C en tra l H igh School 473 168 641 1000
P ro v in e  H igh School 720 533 1253 1180
L a n ie r  H igh School 294 578 872 1200
M u rra h  H igh School 987 316 1303 1180 1232
B rink ley  H igh School 78 1108 1186 1154
C allaw ay  H igh School 1104 185 1289 998 1336

*To be increased in accordance with Court modification of Zone I.
!To be decreased in accordance with Court modification of Zone II.



22a

T he C lerk  of th is  C ourt is d ire c te d  to file  a  copy of 
th is  P la n  w ith  th e  C lerk  of th e  U nited  S ta te s  C ourt of 
A ppeals  fo r th e  F if th  C ircuit.

SO O R D E R E D  th is  th e  22nd day  of J a n u a ry , 1970.

(S igned) DAN M. R U SSELL, JR . 
U N IT E D  STA TES 
D IST R IC T  JU D G E

IN  TH E
U N IT E D  STA TES COURT O F A P P E A L S  

FO R  TH E F IF T H  C IR C U IT

No. 29228

D E R E K  JE R O M E  SIN G LETO N , E T  AL.,
P la in tiffs-A p p ellan ts ,

v e rsu s

JACKSON M U N IC IPA L SE PA R A T E  
SCHOOL D ISTRICT, E T  AL.,

D ef endan ts-A pp elle e s .

A ppeal fro m  th e  U nited  S ta te s  D is tr ic t C ourt fo r th e  
S ou thern  D is tr ic t of M ississipp i

(M ay 5, 1970)



B efo re  BROWN, Chief Ju d g e , M ORGAN and  
INGRAHAM , C ircu it Judges.

BROW N, Chief Judge: T his is a n  ap p e a l fro m  an
o rd e r  of th e  D is tr ic t C ourt e n te re d  p u rsu a n t to  th e  r e ­
m a n d  fro m  S ingleton v. J a c k so n  M unicipal S e p a ra te  
School D is tric t (S ingle ton  I I I ) ,1 5 Cir., 1969, —.—  F.2d
____ , (conso lida ted  ca se s  en  b an c) [No. 26285, D ec. 1,
1969], r e v ’d in  p a r t ,  sub  nom ., C a r te r  v. W est F e lic i­
a n a  P a r is h  School Bd., 1970, —.—  U.S. ------ , — —  S.Ct.

_____, 24 L.Ed.2d 477. P r io r  to  th is  re m a n d  th e  d is tr ic t
w as o p e ra tin g  u n d e r a  Jefferson1 A m odel freedom -of- 
choice plan . And a f te r  re m a n d  fo r th e  adoption  of a 
u n ita ry  p la n  th e  D is tr ic t C ourt ca lled  fo r th e  school 
b o a rd  to invoke th e  a ss is ta n c e  of th e  O ffice of E d u c a ­
tio n  of the  U nited  S ta te s  D e p a rtm e n t of H ealth , E d u c a ­
tion  an d  W elfare  in p re p a rin g  new  d eseg reg a tio n  p lans. 
H EW  filed  a p lan  w ith  th re e  a l te rn a tiv e  p ro p o sa ls  fo r 
seco n d ary  schools. The school b o a rd  p roposed  m odifi­
ca tions  (see  n o te  8, infra)  th a t red u ce d  th e  am o u n t 
of d e seg reg a tio n  th a t  would re su lt  and  th e se  m od ifica ­
tions w ere, a f te r  an  e v id e n tia ry  h e a r in g  on J a n u a ry  
19, 1970, fo r th e  m o s t p a r t  ap p ro v ed  by th e  D is tr ic t 
C ourt. A nd th is  n ew  p la n  w as o rd e red  im p lem en ted  
on F e b ru a ry  1, 1970.

iThis is one of a long series of cases involving the Jackson Mu­
nicipal School District’s operation of a dual school system. 
Evers v. Jackson Municipal Separate School Dist., 5 Cir., 
1964, 328 F.2d 408; Singleton v. Jackson Municipal Separate 
School Dist., 5 Cir., 1965, 348 F.2d 729 (Singleton I); Singleton 
v. Jackson Municipal Separate School Dist., 5 Cir., 1966, 355 
F.2d 865 (Singleton II).

lAUnited States v. Jefferson County Board of Education, 5 Cir., 
1966, 372 F.2d 836.



24a

O ur co ncern  is w h e th e r th e  sy s tem  ap p ro v ed  by  th e  
D is tr ic t C ourt is u n ita ry . We believe  th a t, a lthough  fa c ­
u lty ,2 staff, e x tra  c u r r ic u la r  ac tiv ities , etc., see  G reen  
v. County School Bd. of N ew  K en t County, 1968, 391 
U.S. 430, 88 S.Ct. 1689, 20 L .Ed.2d 716; E llis  v. B o ard
of P u b lic  Inst, of O range  Cty., 5 Cir., 1970, ------  F .2d
..____  [No. 29124, F eb . 17, 1970], a p p e a r  so f a r  to h av e
becom e u n ita ry , th e  ex isten ce  of a  su b s ta n tia l n u m b e r  
of schools w ith  se g re g a te d  s tu d en t bodies, th e  s tu d en ts  
of w hich  w ill fo r a  la rg e  p a r t  h av e  a  com p le te ly  seg ­
re g a te d  education , p re v e n ts  th e  sy s tem  fro m  being  a  
u n ita ry  one w hen th e re  is a  rea so n ab le  a lte rn a tiv e  p la n  
th a t  w ill re su lt in a  m o re  n e a r ly  u n ita ry  sy stem . We 
thus re m a n d  th is  case .3

2We note that the District Court’s order providing for the re­
assignment of faculty and staff obligated the school district 
to meet the Singleton III faculty-staff assignment ratio, which 
by its terms prescribed ratios for the 1969-70 school year, 
only for the 1969-70 school year. But it is plain that resegrega­
tion can occur as much from faculty assignments as from 
student assignments. And it is plain that any future substantial 
deviations from the Singleton III ratios will require a showing 
that there is a unitary system and that such deviations will 
not tend to reestablish a dual system. We emphasize this 
without any prejudgment of the merits because plaintiff s- 
appellants have suggested in the comments requested by the 
Court (see notes 3, 4, 5, and 6, infra) that there is a significant 
possibility that the school district will abandon these ratios 
for the 1970-71 school year.

sUnder the stringent requirements of Alexander v. Holmes County 
Board of Education, supra, which this court has carried out in
United States v. Hinds County School Board, 5 Cir., 1969,_____
F.2d __ ___ [Nos. 28030, 28042, Nov. 7, 1969], this court
has judicially determined that the ordinary procedures for 
appellate review in school segregation cases have to be suitably 
adapted to assure that each system, whose case is before us, 
“begin immediately to operate as unitary school systems.” Up­
on consideration of the record, the court has proceeded to dis-



25a

I .

The P ro p o sa ls  fo r U n ita ry  S ystem

A t th e  co m m en cem en t of th e  1969-70 school y e a r , 
Ja c k so n  h ad  10,527 N egro  and  10,432 w hite e le m e n ta ry  
school s tu d en ts  a tten d in g  38 e le m e n ta ry  schools. Of 
th o se  schools, 13 w ere  all- or v ir tu a lly  a ll-N egro  and  
20 w ere  all- or n e a r ly  all-w hite. Of th e  5 su b s ta n tia lly  
in te g ra te d  schools, 3 w ere  p red o m in an tly  N egro, 2 p re ­
dom inan tly  w hite. A nd Jiackson w as o p e ra tin g  9 jun io r 
h igh  schools (g ra d e s  7-9), 2 ju n io r-sen io r h igh  schools 
(g ra d e s  7-12), and  6 sen io r h igh  schools (g ra d e s  10-12). 
T h e re  w ere  7,700 N egro  and  10,380 w hite s tu d en ts  en ­
rolled. Of those  s tuden ts, 7,300 (93.5%) N egroes w ere  
en ro lled  in 6 a ll-N egro  schools. All of th e  w hite s tu ­
den ts a tten d ed  11 schools ran g in g  fro m  86.5 to 100 p e r ­
cen t w hite.

A. The B asics  of th e  H EW  P la n

The p lan  su g g es ted  by H EW  to  re m e d y  th is  is e ssen ­
tia lly  a zone p lan . I t  w as c o n s tru c te d  on th e  a ssu m p tio n  
th a t  o th e r a lte rn a tiv e s  w ere  fo rec lo sed  by s ta te  s ta tu ­
to ry  lim ita tio n s  on s ta te -g ra n te d  f in a n c ia l a s s is ta n c e  
to  loca l school d is tr ic ts  to  p rov ide  in 'trac ity  tr a n s p o r ­
ta tio n .4 In  addition , th e  H EW  p la n  in d ica te d  th a t  o th e r

pose of this case as an extraordinary matter. Rule 2, FRAP. 
The Court has, however, solicited supplemental briefs and 
data and has all necessary material for consideration on the 
merits. (See notes 4, 5, and 6 infra)

4At the Court’s request counsel for plaintiffs-appellants and the 
school board supplied the Court with copies of the state 
statutes that restrict financial assistance to local districts for 
intracity bussing. Miss. Stat. Ann. §§ 6336-et seq. They were



26 a

lim ita tio n s  “to developing  a  p la n  re su ltin g  in  to ta l de­
segregation , of a ll schools in  th e  sy s te m  w e re ” (1) th e  
size of th e  d is tric t, (2) n a tu ra l  a n d  m a n -m a d e  b a r r ie r s  
th a t  co n stitu te  sa fe ty  h a z a rd s  and  r e s tr ic t  m ob ility ,5 
(3) d em o g rap h ic  p a t te rn  of th e  d is tr ic t, (4) la ck  of a  
co m pu lso ry  a tten d an c e  law , (5) possib ility  of re s e g re ­
g a tio n  an d  (6) th e  n eed  to  develop a  “p la n  w hich  w ould 
re su lt in  th e  le a s t am o u n t of d is ru p tio n  and  w h ich  w ould 
be im p lem en ted  im m ed ia te ly .”

asked to comment on the constitutionality of the statutes 
and counsel agreed that the statutes of the state did not suffer 
from any constitutional defects since the school district has 
the power to provide transportation to pupils not eligible 
for state-aided bussing (Miss. Stat. Ann. § 6336-01). 

sCounsel were also asked to comment on the extent to which these 
barriers were a limitation on the development of a unitary 
school district. The following is part of the statement of Dr. 
H. Larry Winecoff, director of the team that prepared the 
HEW plan. The statement was submitted to the Court’s re­
quest:

“We did not consider that there were any natural or 
man-made barriers in Jackson to our Junior-Senior 
High School program. However, at the elementary 
level the following such barriers exist, and were con­
sidered:
1) Highway 80 located in South Jackson. This four 
lane highway prevented us from assigning black chil­
dren in grades 1-5 to Key and Lester and it prevented 
the assignment of white children to I sable. We con­
sidered 6th graders old enough to negotiate this bar­
rier.
2) There is an airport-industrial complex-golf course, 
located in the mid-western section of the Town. This 
area limited our alternatives to some extent.
3) There is a railroad freight yard in the inner- 
city which limited our alternatives to some extent.”



27a

B. T he R esu lts  a t th e  E le m e n ta ry  L ev e l6

T he H EW  p la n  w as a  zoning p la n  w ith in  th e  f r a m e ­
w ork  of th e  fo rm e r 1-6 g ra d e  s tru c tu re . T he zoning w as 
designed  to  m ax im ize  d eseg reg a tio n  and  w as supp le­
m e n te d  by p a irin g  of tw o schools an d  a  cross-zone a s ­
s ig n m en t of tw o  schools. I t w as p ro je c te d  th a t  th e  p lan  
w ould p roduce  5 all-w hite  schools an d  6 a ll-b lack  
schools w ith  15 p red o m in an tly  w hite  schools and  12 p re ­
dom in an tly  b lack  schools.7

This w as b as ica lly  th e  p la n  adop ted  by th e  D is tr ic t 
C ourt.8 B ut no t even  th e se  p ro je c te d  re su lts  h av e  b een

sPlaintiffs-appellant’s original complaint was that the dual system 
had not been eliminated at the secondary level. Their com­
plaints regarding the elementary level were concerned only 
with situations where there was a very close relationship 
between the elementary and secondary level as in the Isable- 
Hill complex, which under the HEW plan would serve both 
as an elementary and 9-10 grade school. As we did in Single- 
ton III, however, we look at the whole system. And plaintiffs- 
appellants have, after letter inquiry from this Court (see notes 
4 and 5, supra, challenged the modifications of the elementary 
plan approved by the District Court. But we do not limit our­
selves to these modifications. Instead, we concern ourselves 
with the overall workings of the system — all aspects of 
the elementary and secondary levels.

7The projected enrollment for each elementary school under this 
HEW plan is set out in Appendix A. 

sThe board’s proposed modifications at the elementary level focused 
on 8 schools. The board requested that the number of Negroes 
assigned to 4 predominantly white schools be reduced, that 
one school that was projected to be predominantly Negro be 
made predominantly white and that the enrollment of 3 all 
Negro schools be increased. The schools effected were Key, 
Lester, Watkins, Green, Duling, Isabelle, Walton and Morri­
son. See Appendix A. The District Court allowed the proposed 
modifications where it found that the capacity of the school 
would be exceeded under the HEW plan and where portable 
classrooms would have to be relocated.



ach ieved . As of M arch  26, 19709 th e re  w ere  seven  ele-, 
m e n ta ry  schools w ith  a ll b lack  s tu d en t bodies and  six  
m o re  in  w hich  th e  s tu d en t body is m a d e  up of a t le a s t  
n in e ty  p e rc e n t N egro  s tuden ts. In  add ition  th e re  are; 
6 e le m e n ta ry  schools out of a  to ta l of 38 th a t  h a v e  only 
w hite s tu d en ts  a tten d in g  th e m  and  tw o o th e r schools 
w ith  over n in e ty  p e rc e n t w hite  s tu d en t bodies.

C. R esu lts  a t  th e  S econdary  L evel

The d ire c t cha llenge  h e re  is not, how ever, to  th e  e le ­
m e n ta ry  sy stem , bu t is to th e  school b o a rd ’s m o d ifica ­
tions of th e  H EW  p la n  — or m o re  a p p ro p ria te ly  plans. 
A, B, an d  C — at th e  seco n d ary  level. (See note  6, 
supra).  The H E W  p lan s  w ere  b ased  on p rin c ip les  of 
p a ir in g  and  zoning. A ll th re e  p lan s  re su lte d  in  b re a k ­
dow n of th e  g ra d e  s tru c tu re  — 6-3-3 — u n d e r w hich 
th e  d is tr ic t h ad  p rev iously  b een  o pera ting . P la n  B, fo r 
w hich  p la in tiffs -ap p e llan ts  ex p re ssed  a  p re fe ren c e , 
p roposes g eo g rap h ic  zoning w ith  jun io r h igh  schools 
con tinu ing  to se rv e  one o r m o re  of g rad es  7- th ro u g h  
9. U nd er P la n  B, of th e  e leven  ju n io r h igh  schools, one 
would se rv e  g ra d e s  7-9, six  w ould se rv e  g ra d e s  7-8, 
and  fou r w ould se rv e  g ra d e  9 only. P la n  B ca lls  fo r 
th e  sa m e  type  of o rg an iza tio n  a t th e  h igh  school level 
— six  h igh  schools a re  to se rv e  g rad es  10-12, tw o a re  
to se rv e  g ra d e s  11-12, an d  one g rad e  10 only.

The m odifica tions p roposed  by th e  B o ard  and  ad o p t­
ed by th e  D is tr ic t C ourt w ere  not rea lly  m od ifica tions

9At the Court’s request the school board supplied the Court with 
the latest enrollment data available as of March 26, 1970. 
This information is set out in Appendix B.



29a

a t  all. T hey  w ere  in s te ad  a  com p le te ly  d iffe ren t p la n  
b a se d  on g eog raph ic  zoning. The zoning w as, how ever, 
b a sed  on th e  assu m p tio n  of re ta in in g  th e  D is tr ic t’s 6-3-3 
g ra d e  s tru c tu re .

A fte r  ap p ro x im a te ly  s ix  w eeks o p e ra tio n  u n d e r th is  
p la n  th e re  w ere  7537 w hite s tu d en ts  an d  8156 N egro  
s tu d en ts  in  the  D is tr ic t’s se co n d a ry  schools. T h ere  
w e re  no all-N egro  or all-w hite  seco n d ary  schools. (See 
A ppendix  B). T h ere  a re , how ever, a t  le a s t  fou r schools 
v /here the  s tu d en t body is o v erw helm ing ly  N eg ro .10 In  
c o n tra s t, th e  p ro jec ted  en ro llm en t u n d e r any  of the  
H EW  p lan s would no t h av e  p rod u ced  any  v ir tu a lly  all- 
N egro  schools. See A ppendices C-E.

II.
D eficiencies in  th e  P re s e n t  P la n

I t is not contended  th a t  th e  school b o a rd ’s zoning 
p la n  w as g e rry m a n d e re d  to p roduce  little  d e se g re g a ­
tion. B ut i t  is co n tended  th a t  th e  school b o a rd  p la n  
is no t the  b e s t av a ilab le  a lte rn a tiv e . A ndrew s v. City 
of M onroe, 5 Cir. 1970, _ . F .2d _  [No. 29358, A pril 

, 1970], A nd it is con tended  th a t  th e  b o a rd  h as  no t 
c a r r ie d  “its  . . . h eav y  b u rd en  . . .  to ex p la in  its  p re fe r ­
ence fo r an  a p p a re n tly  le ss  effec tive  m e th o d .” G reen  
v. County School B o ard  of N ew  K en t County, 1968, 391
U.S. 430, 439, 88 S.Ct. 1689,______ , 20 L.Ed.2d 716, 724.
I t  is also* c la im ed  th a t  th e  school b o a rd ’s se co n d a ry

JoBlackburn Junior High has 593 Negroes and 34 whites, Rowan 
Junior High has 609 Negroes and 31 whites, Brinkley High 
School has 1076 Negroes and 2 whites, Lanier High School 
has 713 Negroes and 7 whites. See Appendix B.



p la n  zone lines w ere  no t d raw n  to  p ro m o te  d e se g re g a ­
tion  as re q u ire d  by th is  Court. V alley  v. R ap id es  P a r ­
ish  School Bd., 5 Cir., 1970, __ F .2d ------  [No. 29237,
M arch  6, 1970]; U n ited  S ta te s  v. In d ian o la  M unicipal 
S e p a ra te  School Dist., 5 Cir., 1969, 410 F .2d 626; D av is 
v. B o ard  of School C om m issioners  of M obile County, 
5 Cir., 1968, 393 F.2d 690.

W e a re  of th e  c le a r  view  th a t  the  p la in tiffs ’-appel- 
la n ts ’ co m p la in ts  a re  valid . J a c k so n  S e p a ra te  School 
D is tr ic t is no t a  u n ita ry  sy stem . T he defic iencies  do 
no t lie in  th e  s im p le  ex isten ce  of som e schools th a t  
a re  a ll o r v ir tu a lly  a ll Negro- o r w hite. T hey lie in s te ad  
in  th e  fa c t th a t  a  su b s ta n tia l n u m b e r of N egro  s tu d en ts  
w ill re c e iv e  th e ir  en tire  public school edu ca tio n  in  a  
s e g re g a te d  school e n v iro n m en t,11 w hich  is p re su m ­
ab ly  la rg e ly  th e  re su lt  of th e  S ta te ’s o p e ra tio n  of a 
d ual school sy s tem  w ith  schools lo c a ted  to s e rv e  th a t  
sy stem . A nd th e se  defic iencies a re  c r it ic a l in  ligh t of 
th e  ex isten ce  of re a d ily  av a ila b le  m ean s, w hich  can  
b e  im p lem en ted  w ithou t s ig n ifican t a d m in is tra tiv e , ed ­
u ca tio n a l, econom ic, or tra n sp o r ta tio n  costs (see  no te  
14, infra),  to  avoid  fo r su b s ta n tia lly  a ll th e  s tu d en ts  
of th is  d is tr ic t th e  school life-long se g re g a te d  ed u ca ­
tion. See A ndrew s v. C ity of M onroe, supra.

This C ourt rea lize s  th a t  th e  tim e  fo r adoption  and  
e ffec tu a tio n  of a  p la n  in  th is  school d is tr ic t w as sh o rt

”  Although there is no formal feeder system up the ladder from 
grade 1 through 12 in the District, a comparison of attendance 
zone lines for elementary and secondary schools indicates that 
out of a total Negro student body of 10,558, about 3500 Ne­
gro elementary students attending all Negro elementary schools 
will attend virtually all Negro secondary schools.



31a

an d  th a t  th e  p h y sica l and  lo g istica l p ro b lem s involved  
w ere  g rea t. A nd it recogn izes th a t  s ig n ifican t p ro g re s s  
h a s  b een  ach iev ed  bo th  as  to th e  s tu d en t body and  th e  
o ther Green  fa c to rs  as a  re s u lt  of th e  p la n  p u t in to  
effect p u rsu a n t to  th e  D is tr ic t C o u rt’s o rder. A lthough 
u n d e r th e  s tr in g e n t m a n d a te  of A lex an d e r v. H om es
County B o ard  of E duca tion , 1969, 396 U.S. 1 9 ,____ S.Ct
-—-— , ------ L .E d .2 d --------; C a rte r  v. W est F e lic ia n a  P a r ­
ish  School B oard , 1970,_____U .S ._____ , ____ S .C t._____ ,
24 L.Ed.2d 477, th is  w as to  be a  f in a l p lan , tw o th in g s 
w a r ra n t  com m ent. F irs t,  th e  Ju d g e  ap p ro ac h ed  it in  
te rm s  of im m ed iacy  w ith  som e ex p ec ta tio n  of c o rre c t­
ing  d efic ien c ies12 re v e a le d  by  a c tu a l opera tion . Sec­

,2It is apparent from reading the District Court’s opinion that the 
practical problems faced by the school district took on great 
importance. It seems clear that this was the basic reason 
the Trial Judge adopted the school board’s secondary plan. 
It minimized the disruption resulting from a change in the 
grade structure and the need to relocate portable class­
rooms.

He said:
“The Board modification [as to junior high schools] 
would retain the current 3-grade structure, obviating 
the necessity of formulating new curricula for a dif­
ferent structure, as proposed by HEW, and would 
tend to lessen the additional bus transportation the 
HEW plans call for, all of which the Court finds are 
practical considerations in view of the immediacy of 
conversion. . ..

. . . Changes as proposed by the HEW plans would 
require an extension of time, not now available, in 
reorganizing physical facilities, re-registering pupils, 
re-assigning members of the faculty, re-arranging the 
present 3-grade curricula, constructing additional class­
rooms or relocating temporary or portable class­
rooms, and transferring supplies and equipment, in­
cluding the reinstallation of biology laboratory equip­
ment.”



32a

ond, we h a v e  to look on it in te rm s  of its  a c c e p ta b ility  
as  a  f in a l p la n  now.

F u r th e rm o re , w e1 a re  n o t now  confron ted  writh  th e  
p ro b lem s an d  d islocations th a t  a m id y e a r  ch an g e  in  
th e  tra d itio n a l g ra d e  s tru c tu re  — 6-3-3 — w ould 
involve. (See III  (2), infra).  A lthough th e  ch an g es  u n ­
d e r th e  H EW  p lan s  fo r th e  seco n d ary  schools m a y  r e ­
q u ire  fu tu re  ad ju s tm en t, th ey  a re  not ed u ca tiona lly , 
ad m in is tra tiv e ly , or econom ica lly  u n reaso n ab le . A nd 
i t  a p p e a rs  th a t  u n d er th e se  c irc u m s ta n c e s  and  in  th is  
case , sub jec t, of course, to th e  ex p erien ce  of a c tu a l 
o p era tio n , th e re  is a  good p ossib ility  th a t  th e se  p lan s  
w ill e s tab lish  a u n ita ry  school sy s tem  a t th e  seco n d a ry  
level.

III.
S teps to be T ak en  to C o rrec t D eficiencies

In  o rd e r  to  ach ieve  a  u n ita ry  sy s tem  it is n e c e s sa ry  
th a t  s tep s  be ta k e n  im m ed ia te ly  :

1. A m a jo r ity  to  m in o rity  tr a n s fe r  ru le 13 m u s t be 
adop ted  and  a ll tra n s fe r r in g  s tu d en ts  m u s t be g iven  
tra n s p o r ta tio n  if th e y  d e s ire  it. As ap p ro v ed  hi E llis
v. B o ard  of P u b lic  Inst, of O range  Cty., 1970,__*__F.2d
-------  [No. 29124, F eb . 17, 1970, slip op. p. 6], th e  t r a n s ­
fe re e  is to be g iven  p rio rity  fo r sp ace  an d  th u s  th e  
t r a n s fe r  is no t to- be dependen t on sp ace  being  avail- 13

13Counsel have indicated it was intended that a majority to mi­
nority transfer provision be included in the District Court’s 
order and that its omission was inadvertent.



33a

able. See also  T ay lo r v. O u ach ita  P a r is h  School Bel, 
5 Cir., 1970,____ F .2 d _____  [No. 29215, A pril 13, 1970],

2. Second, th e  d is tr ic t is to  adop t one of th e  p re se n t­
ly  av a ilab le  H EW  p lan s  fo r th e  seco n d ary  leve l fo r u se  
in  th e  1970-71 school y ea r. T hese  a re  th e  only c u rre n tly  
av a ilab le  p lan s  th a t  give any  p ro m ise  of p re sen tly  end ­
ing  the  dual sy s te m .14 U n ited  S ta te s  v. B o ard  of E d u ­
ca tio n  of B aldw in Cty., 5 Cir., 1970,____ F .2 d _____ [No.
28880, M arch  9, 1970]; B anks v. C la iborne P a r is h  School
B oard , 5 Cir., 1970,____ F .2 d _____ [No. 29192, A p ril 15,
1970], The p lan  adop ted  sh a ll r e m a in  in  e ffec t until, 
a f te r  su b s ta n tia l o p e ra tio n  u n d e r th e  p lan  d u ring  th e  
1970-71 school y e a r , it can  be show n th a t  m od ifi­
c a tio n s15 a re  n eed ed  and  th e re  is a  find ing  th a t  such

14As illustrated by the following chart the HEW plans will result 
in no major changes in the number of students transported by 
the system.

Plan Students Transported
Freedom of Choice

(Prior to Remand) 2379
HEW A 3567
HEW B 2234
HEW C (same as plan B)
(figures for the present plan are unavailable)
In fact, HEW Plan B would reduce the transportation burden 
below that under the freedom of choice plan. Moreover, 
nearly all problems of building capacity can be solved by 
the shifting of presently available portable buildings. And 
there are no major problems of either economics or adminis­
tration presented by the plan.

15In connection with both the mandatory revision at the ele­
mentary level and the likelihood of some modifications being 
proposed for the secondary level, it bears emphasizing that 
Ellis does not stand for the universal proposition that equi­
distant or capacity zoning establishes unitary schools in all 
cases. This is the clear holding of our recent case of Andrews



34a

m o d ifica tio n s  w ill no t te n d  to  re e s ta b lish  a  d u a l school 
sy s te m  o r th a t  o p e ra tio n  u n d er th e  p lan  h a s  no t in  fa c t 
p ro d u ced  a  u n ita ry  sy stem . W e specify  Ju ly  1, 1970’6 
as  th e  d a te  to be fixed  by th e  D is tr ic t C ourt fo r m a k in g  
p u p il a s s ig n m e n ts  fo r th e  1970-71 school y e a r  and  n o ti­
fy ing  p a re n ts  of those  a ss ig n m en ts .

3. The D is tr ic t C ourt sh a ll w ithou t de lay  in itia te  p ro ­
ceed ings to! e lim in a te  th e  d u a l sy s tem  w hich s till r e ­
m a in s  in  th e  e le m e n ta ry  level. The D is tr ic t C ourt sh a ll 
ca ll fo r n ew  p ro p o sa ls  fro m  th e  p a rtie s , H EW , and  th e  
b i-ra c ia l com m ittee .

I t  is ev iden t th a t  th e  fa c to rs  d e lin ea ted  by th e  H EW  
p la n s  as rea so n s  fo r no t m o re  fu lly  d e seg reg a tin g  th e  
e le m e n ta ry  level canno t ju s tify  th is  con tinued  se g re ­
gation. A nd it  is  also  ev iden t th a t  th e  b u rd en  w ill be 
h e a v y  on th e  school d is tr ic t to  find a lte rn a tiv e s  th a t  *

v. City of Monroe, 5 Cir., 1970,____ . F .2 d ____ [No. 29358
April , 1970] which quotes the following from Ellis:

“ ‘Under the facts of this case, it happens that the 
school board’s choice of a neighborhood assignment 
system is adequate to convert the Orange County 
school system from a dual to a unitary system. This 
decision does not preclude the employment of differ­
ing assignment methods in other school districts to 
bring about unitary systems. There are many variables 
in the student assignment approach necessary to bring 
about unitary school systems. The answer in each 
case turns, in the final analysis, as here, on all of 
the facts including those which are peculiar to the 
particular system.’ ”

Andrews, supra, _____ F.2d at __ ___, quoting Ellis, supra,
_____ F.2d a t___.__. [slip op. p. 11-12, n.7],

’sPursuant to letter request by the Court, see notes 4, 5 and 6, 
supra, counsel inform us that the present school year ends 
on June 4, 1970, and that classes begin for the 1970-71 school 
year on September 8, 1970.



35a

hold p ro m ise  of d ises tab lish in g  th e  d u a l sy s te m  now. 
A nd th e  D is tr ic t C ourt sh a ll m a k e  find ings of fa c t th a t  
spec ifica lly  e v a lu a te  th e  a lte rn a tiv e s  in  te rm s  of co s t 
as  w ell as ad m in is tra tiv e , educa tiona l, o r  econom ic 
fa c to rs  b e a rin g  on th e  e lim in a tio n  of th e  d u a l sy stem . 
T he findings; sh a ll spec ifica lly  include th e  reaso n s , if 
any, fo r th e  con tinuation  of an y  a ll N egro  o r a ll w hite  
schools.17 The D is tr ic t C ourt sh a ll exped ite  th is  p ro ­
ceed ing  and  sh a ll h av e  com ple ted  a ll find ings and  en ­
te re d  all o rd e rs  by Ju n e  15, 1970. The tim e  fo r a ss ig n ­
m e n ts  and  no tifica tion  p u rsu a n t to th is  o rd e r  is, a s  in  
p a ra g ra p h  2 above, to be on Ju ly  1, 1970. F u r th e r  p ro ­
ceed ings in  th e  D is tric t C ourt a re  to  confo rm  to  p a r t  
I I I  of S ingle ton  v. Ja c k so n  M unicipal S e p a ra te  School
D istric t, 5 Cir., 1969,------ F .2 d _____  (conso lida ted  cases
en  b an c) [No. 26285, Dec. 1, 1969],

4. Follow ing  th e  p a t te rn  of Ellis, supra,  an d  U n ited
S ta te s  v. H inds County School Bd., 5 Cir., 1970, ____
F .2 d ------ [No. 28030, M arch  31, 1970], a  b i-ra c ia l com ­
m itte e  is to  be co n stitu ted  by  th e  D is tr ic t C ourt from, 
n a m e s  su b m itted  by th e  p a r tie s  to th is  suit. The n u m ­
b er of m e m b e rs  is to  be le ft to th e  D is tr ic t C ourt, b u t 
th e re  sh a ll be no m o re  th a n  40 no r less  'than 10 m e m ­
bers . The m e m b e rsh ip  is to  be d iv ided  eq u a lly  b e tw een  
w hites and  N egroes. T he c h a irm a n sh ip  is to  a l te rn a te  
an n u a lly  be tw een  a  w hite c h a irm a n  and  a N egro  c h a ir ­
m an . This co m m ittee  is to  reco m m en d  to th e  school 
b o a rd  w ays to a t ta in  an d  m a in ta in  a  u n ita ry  sy stem .

17On this record in this posture we do not prejudge whether, 
to what extent, or under what circumstances such conditions 
may exist and satisfy the requirements of a unitary system.



36a

5. F in a lly , th e  D is tr ic t C ourt is to re ta in  ju r isd ic ­
tio n  of th is  .case and  th e  school b o a rd  and  th e  b i-ra c ia l 
co m m ittee  a re  to m a k e  b i-an n u a l re p o rts  — on D ecem ­
b e r  1 an d  A pril 1 — to it on th e  m a in te n a n c e  of a  un i­
ta r y  school sy s te m .!S Such re p o r ts  a re  to be m a d e  u n til

isThe reports should include the following information:
I.

(a) The number of students by race enrolled in
the school district;

(b) The number of students by race enrolled in 
each school of the district;

(c) The number of students by race enrolled in 
each classroom in each of the schools in the dis­
trict.

II.
(a) The number of full time teachers by race in

the district;
(b) The number of full time teachers by race in 

each school in the district;
(c) The number of part time teachers by race in 

the district;
(d) The number of part time teachers by race in 

each school in the district.
III.

Describe the requests and the results which have 
accrued, by race, under the majority to the minority 
transfer provision which was a part of this court’s 
order of November 7, 1969.

IV.
State the number of inter-district transfers grant­

ed since this court’s order of November 7, 1969, the 
race of the students who were granted such trans­
fers, and the school district to which the transfers 
were allowed.

V.
State whether the transportations system, if any, 

in the district is desegregated to the extent that 
Negro and white students are transported daily on 
the same buses.

VI.
State whether all facilities such as gymnasiums, 

auditoriums, and cafeterias are being operated on a 
desegregated basis.



th e  D is tr ic t C ourt finds th a t  th e  d u a l sy s te m  w ill n o t 
be or ten d  to be rees tab lish ed .

R E V E R S E D  an d  R E M A N D E D .

A ppendix  A

Projected Enrollment under H E W  Plan  
for E lem en tary  Schools

Building
School White Negro Capacity

Sykes 544 0 576
Lee 370 0 416
M arsh a ll 600 0 576
B ak e r 310 24 512
W ilkins 600 16 416
K ey 513 68 576
L e s te r 320 152 480
C lausell 47 165 224

VII.
Give brief description of any present or proposed 

construction or expansion of facilities.
VIII.

(a) State whether the school board has sold or 
abandoned any school facility, equipment, or supplies 
having a total value of more than $500.00 since 
this court’s order of November 7, 1969.

IX.
(a) Give a brief description of the work of the 
bi-racial committee since the last report.
(b) Copies of all recommendations made by the bi- 
racial committee.

See United States v. Hinds County, 5 Cir., 1970, 
------- F .2d______ [No. 28030 March 31, 1970].



38a

School White Negro
Building

Capacity
Isab le* 0 640 1120
R eynolds 0 1009 1088
G eorge 100 106 192
M artin 76 220 384
L ake 600 0 576
W hitfield 282 166 416
B a r r 123 90 192
P o in d ex te r 47 102 192
R o b ertso n 6 575 544
D av is 46 182 224
J  ones 70 1171 1248
G allow ay 185 262 448
B row n 0 575 832
P o w er 383 216 544
R ain es 780 72 736
F re n c h 354 83 576
Johnson 71 1023 1088
D uling 194 227 448
C asey 420 0 576
B rad ley 33 293 384
S m ith 0 917 928
W alton 0 527 1120
D aw son 65 387 608
M orrison 0 338 616
W atk ins 773 291 608
Boyd 395 127 576
G reen 380 149 576

* N ot considered  an  a ll b lack  school u n d er 
th e  H EW  p la n  b eca u se  it w as to  be p a r t  of an  
in te g ra te d  e le m e n ta ry -se c o n d a ry  com plex.



School White Negro
Building

Capacity
M e W illie 624 74 620
Spann 539 39 540
M cLeod 500 66 608

10350

A ppendix  B

JACKSON PU B L IC  SCHOOLS 
Jack so n , M ississipp i

Student Enrollment as of March 26,1970

SCHOOL
E L E M E N T A R Y NEG RO O TH ER TOTAL
Baker 4 321 325
B a r r 41 83 124
Boyd 168 420 588
B rad ley 339 14 353
B row n 658 0 658
C asey 0 451 451
C laus ell 201 5 206
D avis 309 55 364
D aw son 421 10 431
D uling 126 115 241
F re n c h 138 313 451
G allow ay 388 170 558
G eorge 67 111 178
G reen 123 480 603
Is  able 760 0 760



40a

E L E M E N T A R Y NEG RO OTHER TOTAL
Jo h n so n 857 54 911
Jo n es 1248 10 1258
K ey 0 487 487
L ak e 0 609 609
L ee 0 365 365
L e s te r 99 236 335
M arsh a ll 0 569 569
M artin 207 20 227
M cLeod 50 669 719
M cW illie 64 502 566
M orrison 481 0 481
P o in d ex te r 91 85 176
P o w e r 37 368 405
R ain es 131 502 633
R eynolds 999 0 999
R o b ertso n 317 0 317
S m ith 1024 0 1024
Spann 47 491 538
Sykes 0 457 457
W alton 852 0 852
W atk in s 132 517 649
W hitfield 163 238 401
W ilkins 16 490 506

TOTAL 10558 9217 19775



41a

S E C O N D A R Y NEG RO O TH ER TOTAL
B ailey 514 408 922
B la ck b u rn 593 34 627
C h asta in 523 660 1183
E nochs 562 101 663
H a rd y 424 758 1182
P eep les 218 864 1082
P ow ell 796 673 1469
R ow an 609 31 640
W hitten 346 579 925
B rink ley 1076 2 1078
C allaw ay 86 1027 1113
C en tra l 192 564 756
H ill 376 50 426
L an ie r 713 7 720
M u rra h 180 864 1044
P ro v in e 278 637 915
W ingfield 51 897 948

TOTAL 7537 8156 15693

TOTAL E L E M E N T A R Y  19775
TOTAL SECO ND A RY  15693

GRAND TOTAL 35468



42a

A ppendix  C

Projected Secondary Enrollment
Under H E W  Plan A

Junior High Building
School Grades White Negro Cavacitv

W hitten 7-8 370 165 868
P eep les 7-8 801 282 1286
Isab le-H ill 9 501 190 H ill 200

Isab e ll 500
B lack b u rn 7-8-9 268 756 1458
H a rd y 7-8 572 697 1278
E nochs 9 248 293 830
B ailey 7-8 692* 632* 1310
R ow an 9 285 281 996
C hasta in 7-8 823 482 1234
Pow ell 9 509 379 1574
C allaw ay 7-8 456** 402** 550

*(W)942, (N)682, option  fro m  C allow ay overflow
8th to R ow an.

**(W)2Q6, (N)350, option.

Senior High
H ill 10 532 167 894
W ingfield 11-12 924 289 894
P ro v in e 10-12 873 533 1180
M u rra h 11-12 772 531 1180
B rink ley 10 875 762 1154
C allaw ay 11-12 851 759 448



43a

A ppend ix  D

Projected Secondary Enrollment  
Under H E W  Plan C

School
P eep les-W h itten
E nochs
H a rd y
B ailey -R ow an
C hasta in
H ill-Isab le
B la ck b u rn
B rink ley
P ow ell
W ingfield
P ro  v ine
M u rra h
C allaw ay

Grades White
7-8 1382
7-8 128
7-8 549
7-8 1243
7-8 884

9-10 1022
9-10 691
9-10 645
9-10 1085

11-12 825
11-12 507
11-12 707
11-12 779

Negro
Building

Capacity
438 2154
408 830
587 1286
983 2306
546 1434
401 1374
869 1458
531 1154
708 1574
338 894
581 1180
502 1180
584 998

A ppend ix  E

RACIAL COMPOSITION OF S T U D E N T  BODIES  
JACKSON MUNICIPAL S E P A R A T E  SCHOOL 

DISTRICT

SCHOOLS Under H E W  Plan B

JUNIOR HIGH: 
W hitten  
P eep le s  
Isaible-Hill

W H IT E NEG RO
370 165
801 282
501 190



44a

JUNIOR HIGH: W H IT E N E G R O
B lack b u rn 268 756
H a rd y 572 697
E n o ch s 248 293
B ailey 942 682
R ow an 285 281
C h asta in 823 482
P ow ell 509 379
C allaw ay 206 350
L an ie r 0 0

SEN IO R HIGH:
B rin k ley 627 629
C allaw ay 853 441
M u rra h 707 625
P r  ovine 741 521
H ill 456 169
W ingfield 730 276

M A G N E T  HIGH SCHOOLS:
C en tra l 823 532
L an ie r 734 339



45a

IN  T H E
U N IT E D  STA TES COURT O F A P P E A L S  

FO R  T H E  F IF T H  CIRCU IT

No, 29226

D E R E K  JE R O M E  SIN G LETO N , E T  AL.,
P la in tiffs-A p p ellan ts ,

v e rsu s

JACKSON M U N IC IPA L S E P A R A T E  SCHOOL 
D ISTR IC T, E T  AL.,

D efendan ts-A ppellees.

A ppeal fro m  th e  U n ited  S ta te s  D is tr ic t C ourt fo r th e  
S ou th ern  D is tr ic t of M ississipp i

ON PETIT IO N  FOR R E H E A R I N G  AND PETIT IO N  
FOR R E H E A R IN G  E N  BANC

(Ju ly  13, 1970)

B efore BROW N, Chief Ju d g e , M ORGAN an d  
INGRAHAM , C ircu it Judges.

P E R  CURIAM : T he P e titio n  fo r R e h e a rin g  is D E ­
N IE D  and  th e  C ourt h av in g  b een  po lled  a t  th e  re q u e s t 
of one of th e  m e m b e rs  of th e  C ourt an d  a  m a jo r ity  
of th e  C ircu it Ju d g es  who a re  in  re g u la r  ac tiv e  se rv ice



no t h a v in g  vo ted  in  fav o r of it, (R u le  35 F e d e ra l  R u le s  
of A p p e lla te  P ro c e d u re ; L o ca l F if th  C ircu it R u le  12) 
th e  P e titio n  fo r R e h e a rin g  E n  B an c  is  also  D E N IE D .

COLEM AN, C ircu it Ju d g e , vo ted  in  fav o r of a n  en  
b an c  reh ea rin g .



47a

O PIN IO N  AND O R D E R  PR O V ID IN G  FO R  
U N ITA RY  SCHOOL SY STEM

F iled : Jun . 15, 1970

U N IT E D  STA TES D IST R IC T COURT 
SO U TH ER N  D IST R IC T O F M ISS IS S IP P I 

JACKSON D IVISIO N

D E R E K  JE R O M E  SIN G LETO N , E T  AL,
P la in tiffs , 

CIVIL ACTION 
v e rsu s  No. 3379

JACKSON M U N IC IPA L SE PA R A T E  
SCHOOL D ISTRICT, E T  AL,

D efendan ts.

By decision  of M ay 15, 1970, a  p an e l of th e  F if th  C ir­
cu it C ourt of A ppeals  re m a n d e d  th e  above s ty le d  c a se  
to  th e  D is tr ic t C ourt w ith  d irec tio n s  to  fo rm u la te  a  new  
s tu d en t a ss ig n m e n t p lan . The c u r re n t p lan , now  re je c t­
ed, w as adop ted  by th is  C ourt on J a n u a ry  22, 1970, p u r ­
su a n t to  a  p rev io u s o rd e r  of th e  A p p e lla te  C ourt d ire c t­
ing  th e  Ja c k so n  M unicipal S e p a ra te  School D is tr ic t to  
invoke th e  a s s is ta n c e  of th e  O ffice of E d u c a tio n  of th e  
U n ited  S ta te s  D e p a rtm e n t of H ea lth , E d u c a tio n  and  
W elfare , in  p re p a rin g  d e se g re g a tio n  p lan s. As re fle c te d  
in  th is  C ourt’s o rd e r  of J a n u a ry  22, 1970, th e  school 
b o a rd  a g re e d  to  th e  d eseg reg a tio n  of fa c u lty  an d  staff, 
e x tra -c u rr ic u la  ac tiv itie s  an d  o th e r po licies spe lled  ou t 
in  a n  e a r l ie r  S ingle ton  decision  of D ecem b er 1, 1969. 
As req u es ted , H E W  filed  a  p ro p o sa l fo r th e  d e seg reg a -



tioix of s tu d en t bodies co n sis tin g  of th re e  a lte rn a tiv e  
p lan s, A, B a n d  C. The p rop o sed  a ss ig n m e n t of e lem en ­
ta ry  s tu d en ts , g ra d e s  1-6, w as th e  sa m e  in  a ll  th re e  
p lans, th e  a ss ig n m e n ts  of seco n d a ry  lev e l s tu d en ts  b e­
ing  a lte rn a tiv e ly  t r e a te d  in  th e  v a rio u s  p roposa ls . T he 
school b o a rd  o ffered  m od ifica tions to  th e  p rop o sed  
H EW  p lans. A fte r a h ea rin g , th is  C ourt, a s  to  th e  e le ­
m e n ta ry  level, adopted  th e  H EW  plan , essen tia lly  a  zon­
ing  p lan , w ith  m in o r m od ifica tions re q u e s te d  by  th e  
school board , n o t a ll of w hose sugg estio n s  w e re  ap ­
proved , and  adop ted  th e  school b o a rd ’s p ro p o sa ls  as 
to  th e  seco n d a ry  level, also' a  zoning p lan . By su cces­
s ive  m a n d a te s  fro m  th e  S up rem e C ourt of th e  U nited  
S ta te s  and  th e  A ppella te  C ourt, th is  C ourt w as d irec ted  
to  o rd e r  the  im m ed ia te  im p lem en ta tio n  of th is  p la n  
by  F e b ru a ry  1, 1970. I t w as so im p lem en ted  and  is c u r ­
re n tly  in  effect. N onetheless, fou r m on ths a f te r  its  im ­
p lem en ta tio n , th e  A ppella te  C ourt h a s  re je c te d  th e  
p lan , find ing  in essence  th a t  th e  ex is ten ce  of a  n u m ­
b e r of schools w ith  se g re g a te d  s tu d en t bodies p re v e n ts  
th e  sy stem  fro m  being a  u n ita ry  one w hen  th e re  is 
a re a so n a b le  a l te rn a tiv e  p lan  th a t  w ill re su lt  in  a  m o re  
n e a r ly  u n ita ry  sy stem . W ith re sp e c t to th e  e le m e n ta ry  
level, th is  C ourt h ad  befo re  it no a lte rn a tiv e  p ro p o sa l 
— only th e  H E W  p lan s  to  w hich  it m a d e  m in o r m od ifi­
cations, as n o ted  above. N onetheless, in  re sp o n se  to  
th e  re c e n t d irec tio n s  fro m  th e  A p p ella te  C ourt, w h e re ­
by  th is  C ourt w as d irec ted  to ca ll fo r new  p ro p o sa ls  
fo r th e  e le m e n ta ry  leve l fro m  (1) p la in tiffs , (2) th e  
d e fen d a n t school board , (3) H EW , and  (4) a b i-ra c ia l 
co m m ittee , appo in ted  in acc o rd an ce  w ith  th e  m a n d a te , 
sa id  p lan s  to  be filed  by Ju n e  1, 1970, in  o rd e r th a t



th is  C ourt m a k e  its  find ings by Ju n e  15, 1970, only one 
p la n  w as  subm itted .

E L E M E N T A R Y  SCHOOLS

H E W  filed  a  new  P la n  A. The school b o a rd  a v e r re d  
th a t  it w as u n ab le  to  p ropose  a p lan , e ith e r  ed u ca tio n ­
ally  or p ra c tic a lly  feasib le , w hich w ould a t ta in  m o re  
ra c ia l  m ix tu re  th a n  th e  p re se n t C ourt im p o sed  p lan , 
a  p la n  th e  B o ard  m a in ta in s  “is w orking ,” an d  offered  
only one m in o r m odification , to-w it, to  p a i r  B a r r  and  
P o in d ex te r, w hich p a irin g  would no t p re ju d ice  th e  r a ­
c ia l b a lan ce  a t e ith e r  school. The b i-ra c ia l co m m ittee  
o ffered  p roposa ls  w hich  w ould e lim in a te  to ta l s e g re ­
ga tion  in  th e  six  now  a ll w hite schools, and  w ould  a s ­
sign  w hite s tu d en ts  to w h at a re  now  th re e  p re d o m in a te ­
ly  neg ro  schools. P la in tiff-ap p e llan ts  d e layed  m a k in g  
any  p roposa ls  u n til a f te r  ex am in in g  th e  H EW  plan , to  
w hich it th e n  o ffered  m od ifica tions for th e  sole pu rp o se  
of e ffec tu a tin g  m o re  ra c ia l  m ix tu re . D e p a rtm e n t 
of Ju s tic e  a tto rn ey s  a p p e a re d  n e ith e r  on b eh a lf  of H EW  
n o r as  am icu s  cu riae .

D r. L a r ry  W inecoff, h e a d  of a  n in e -m an  H E W  te a m  
w hich  fo rm u la te d  th e  p lan s  of J a n u a ry  an d  Ju n e  1970, 
ag a in  te s tif ied  as p la in tiffs ’ w itness on b eh a lf  of th e  
Ju n e  p lan . The c u rre n tly  p rop o sed  p lan , like its  p re d e ­
cesso r, is  a  zone plan. W h ereas  th e  fo rm e r  p la n  e s ta b ­
lished  37 zones fo r th e  38 e le m e n ta ry  schools, eac h  hous­
ing  g rad es  1-6, ex cep t fo r th e  p a ir in g  of W atk ins and  
G reen, and  th e  cross-zon ing  of b lack  s tu d en ts  fro m  Is- 
ab le  to  K ey and  L e s te r  (a  p ro p o sa l now  sough t by th e  
b i-ra c ia l co m m ittee ), th e  p re se n t p la n  p roposes to  close



th re e  schools, R obertson , M a rtin  and  B a rr , o th e rw ise  
re ta in in g  b as ica lly  th e  sa m e  zone lines of th e  J a n u a ry  
p lan , bu t g roup ing  35 schools into ten  c lu s te rs  o r  a re a s , 
in  som e in s ta n ces  assign ing  non-con tiguous a re a s  to 
th e  p a re n t  c lu ste r. The schools in  e a c h  a re a  w ould e ith ­
e r  re ta in  g ra d e s  1-6, or, w hen p a ire d , se rv e  e ith e r  
g ra d e s  1-3 or g ra d e s  4-6, g ra d e s  1-2 or 3-6, o r g ra d e s  
1-4 or 5-6, th e re b y  each  a re a  se rv in g  1-6 g ra d e s  w ith in  
its  b oundaries.

A c h a r t  of th e  a ss ig n m e n ts  follows:

Capacity
School with Port. Grades White Negro Total

A R E A  I
1. Sykes 576 1-6 400 179 579
2. Lee 416 1-6 296 128 424
3. B ak e r 512 1-6 307 153 460

A R E A  II
4. M a rsh a ll 576 1-4 432 0 432
5. K ey 576 1-4 368 0 368
6. L e s te r 448 1-4 156 68 224
7. Isab le 1120 5-6 467 607 1074
8. R eynolds 1056 1-4 0 1056 1056

A R E A  III
9. W ilkins 576 1-4 373 116 489

10. C lause ll 192 5-6 166 57 223

A R E A  IV
11. L ak e 615 1-3 307 329 636
12. W hitfield 480 1-3 127 369 496
13. Jo n es 1248 4-6 434 676 1110



51a

Capacity
School with Port. Grades White Negro Total

A R E A  V  
14. G eorge 192 1-6 108 83 191
15. D avis 352 1-6 52 303 355
16. P o in d e x te r 192 1-6 82 118 200
17. G allow ay 500 1-6 162 385 547
18. B row n 800 3-6 224 530 774
19. P o w e r 416 1-2 122 267 389

A R E A  VI
20. F re n c h 576 1-2 154 404 558
21. Johnson 1008 3-6 310 790 1110

A R E A  VII
22. R a in es 608 1-6 360 261 621
23. B rad ley 384 1-6 203 174 377
24. D aw son 608 1-6 174 420 594

A R E A  VIII
25. M orrison 544 1-4 0 549 549
26. W atk ins 576 5-6 259 317 576
27. G reen 608 1-4 518 95 613

A R E A  I X
28. S m ith 960 1-4 0 488 488
29. W alton 1120 1-4 0 638 638
30. D uling 384 5-6 171 244 415
31. Boyd 608 5-6 269 360 629
32. M cW illie 640 1-4 517 42 559
33. C asey 480 1-4 362 10 372

A R E A  X
34. Spann 576 1-6 497 47 544
35. M cLeod 768 1-6 665 51 716



Area  I. C onta ins Sykes, L ee an d  B ak e r Zones. A ll 
th re e  schools w ill se rv e  g ra d e s  1-6 in  e a c h  zone, w ith  
170 b lack s  to be tra n sp o r te d  fro m  th e  M a rtin  School 
Zone (closed) to Sykes; 128 b lacks f ro m  R o b e rtso n  an d  
M artin  Zones (closed) to Lee; and  153 b lack s fro m  R ob­
e rtso n  (closed) to B aker.

Area  II. C onta ins M arsh a ll, K ey, L es te r, I sab le , and  
R eynolds schools. G rad es  1-4 to  be p a ire d  into M a r­
shall, K ey, L e s te r  or R eynolds Zones. A rea  g ra d e s  5-6 
to  a tte n d  Isab le .

Area  III. C lausell p a ire d  w ith  W ilkins, W ilkins to 
se rv e  a re a  g ra d e s  1-4, and  C lause ll a r e a  g ra d e s  5-6.

Area IV. L ake, W hitfie ld  and  Jo n es  a re  p a ire d  to 
se rv e  th is  a re a : L ake, g rad es  1-3; W hitfield , g ra d e s  
1-3 and  Jones, g ra d e s  4-6.

Area  V. C onta ins G eorge, D avis, P o in d ex te r, G al­
low ay , B row n an d  P o w er schools. G rad es  1-6 a re  zoned 
to  G eorge, D avis, P o in d ex te r  and  G allow ay, and  
B row n, g ra d e s  3-6, is p a ire d  w ith  P ow er, g ra d e  1-2. 
The B row n-P ow er Zone con ta ins a  non-contiguous a re a  
n o r th e a s t of th e  B row n-P ow er schools.

Area VI. F re n c h  to be p a ire d  w ith  Johnson , F re n c h  
to  se rv e  g ra d e s  1-2 in  th e  a re a , an d  Johnson  g ra d e s  
3-6 in th e  a rea .

Area VII.  C ontains R aines, B rad ley  an d  D aw son. 
G rad es  1-6 a re  zoned to ea c h  school, w ith th e  B rad ley  
Zone con ta in ing  non-contiguous a re a  n o r th e a s t of th e



D aw son Zone, som e 8 to 10 m ile s  from , th e  B ra d le y  
school, an d  th e  R a in es  Zone co n ta in ing  a  non-contigu- 
ous a re a  se v e ra l m iles  n o r th  of th e  R a in es  school.

Area VIII.  C ontains M orrison , W atk ins an d  G reen  
Schools, w ith  M orrison, G rad es  1-4 and G reen , g ra d e s  
1-4, p a ire d  w ith  W atkins, g ra d e s  5-6.

Area IX.  C ontains Sm ith, W alton, D uling, Boyd, Mc- 
W illie an d  C asey. G rad es  1-4 a re  sub-zoned, to Sm ith , 
W alton, M cW illie and  C asey. The M cW illie sub-zone 
inc ludes a non-contiguous a re a  to th e  no rth . D uling and  
Boyd a r e  to  se rv e  g ra d e s  5-6 each , bu t w ith  no boun­
d a ry  lines show n as to  how  th e y  a re  to be p a ire d  w ith  
th e  1-4 schools.

Area X.  C ontains tw o schools, S p ann  and  M cLeod, 
each  zoned fo r 1-6 g rad es , an d  w ith  M cLeod con ta in ing  
a non-contiguous a re a  to th e  n o rthw est.

E v en  un d er th is  e la b o ra te  p lan , two- schools, M a r­
sh a ll and  K ey, re m a in  to ta lly  w hite , two, M cW illie and  
C asey, re m a in  w ith  tok en  b la ck  a tten d an c e , and  fo u r 
schools, R eynolds, M orrison, S m ith  and  W alton  re m a in  
to ta lly  b lack. P la in tif fs ’ p ro p o sa ls  a re  g e a re d  to  a l te r ­
ing the  ra c ia l  m ix tu re  of th e  above schools by a ss ig n ­
ing 480 b lacks fro m  R eynolds, 200 to M arsh a ll, 200 to  
K ey and  80 to L e s te r  in  A rea  II; in A rea  V III, a ss ig n ­
ing 200 w hites fro m  G reen  to M orrison , and  200 b lack s 
fro m  M orrison  to G reen ; and  in A rea  IX  assig n in g  100 
w hites fro m  C asey  to  Sm ith, 200 w hites fro m  M cW illie 
to W alton, 100 b lack s fro m  S m ith  to  C asey, and  200 
b lacks fro m  W alton  to McW illie.



54a

D r. W inecoff te s tif ied  th a t th e  J a n u a ry  H EW  p la n  
w as p re p a re d  on th e  p rem ise  th a t  tra n s p o r ta tio n  of s tu ­
den ts is lim ited  by s ta te  law . The p lan  itse lf  s ta ted : 
“P u p ils  liv ing  ou tside  th e  city  lim its  m a y  be tr a n s p o r t­
ed to a n  a tten d an c e  cen te r  w ith in  th e  c ity  or w ithou t 
th e  city . Those re s id in g  w ith in  th e  city  lim its  m a y  be  
tra n sp o r te d  to  an  a tten d an c e  c e n te r  ou tside  th e  city  
lim its. S p ec ia l le g is la tio n  p rov ides fo r tra n sp o r ta tio n  
of sp ec ia l ed u ca tio n  pupils a t pub lic  (s ta te )  ex pense .” 
U nd er s ta te  law s, Section  6336.01, e t seq., M ississipp i 
Code of 1942, th e  J a c k so n  schoo l b o a rd  h a s  fu rn ish ed  
tra n sp o r ta tio n  to  s tu d en ts  res id in g  ou tside th e  m u n ic i­
p a l co rp o ra te  lim its, b u t w ith in  th e  school d is tr ic t, who 
a tte n d  schools w ith in  th e  d is tric t, r e fe r re d  to h e re in ­
a f te r  as in te r-c ity  busing. H is to rica lly , no  tr a n s p o r ta ­
tion  h a s  been  fu rn ish ed  to s tu d e n ts  liv ing  w ith in  th e  
Ja c k so n  sy stem , re fe r re d  to as in tra -c ity  busing, excep t 
sp e c ia l educa tio n  s tuden ts. P r io r  to J a n u a ry  1970, a  
to ta l  of 2379 s tu d en ts  w ere  elig ib le fo r in te r-c ity  t r a n s ­
p o rta tio n . U nd er th e  J a n u a ry  H EW  P la n  A, if w as con­
te m p la te d  th a t 1224 e le m e n ta ry  studen ts, and  2343 ju n ­
io r h igh  and  h igh  school s tuden ts, fo r a to ta l of 3567 
w ould be eligible. No fig u res  w ere  show n as  to th e  n u m ­
b e r of ch ild ren  now  being  tra n sp o rte d . U n d er th e  p ro ­
posed  p la n  for e le m e n ta ry  s tu d en ts , H EW  e s tim a te s  
th a t  1055 s tu d en ts  w ill be elig ib le fo r in te r-c ity  t r a n s ­
p o rta tio n , in  add ition  to  those  now  eligible, a t  a cost 
of $43.00 p e r  s tu d en t fo r a  to ta l cost of $45,365.00, and  
w hich w ill re q u ire  14 busses. I t  is  p re su m e d  th a t  th is  
am o u n t w ould be re im b u rse d  to  th e  school sy stem  fro m  
s ta te  funds. F o r  in tra -c ity  tra n sp o rta tio n , a t th e  e le ­
m e n ta ry  leve l only, and  fo r s tu d en ts  liv ing  one m ile  
or m o re  fro m  th e  school to  w hich th ey  a re  assigned ,



55a

H EW  estim ates, th a t  a  to ta l of 3,2,32 s tu d en ts  w ould r e ­
q u ire  tra n sp o rta tio n . A t $30.00 p e r  s tuden t, th e  cost 
w ould be $96,960.00 and  28 b u sses  w ould be needed . F o r  
s tu d en ts  liv ing  1 1 / 2 - 2  m iles  fro m  school, th e  cost 
a t  $30.00 p e r s tu d en t w ould be $47,730.00, .and 13 b u sses  
w ould be req u ired . N one of th e se  fig u re s  include th e  
p u rc h a se  p rice  of busses. H EW  notes th a t  th e se  costs 
fo r in tra -c ity  tra n sp o r ta tio n  a re  in  add ition  to  th e  cost 
of p re se n t in te r-c ity  tra n sp o rta tio n . As an  offset a g a in s t 
th e  m a x im u m  cost of in tra -c ity  tra n sp o rta tio n , H EW  
e s tim a te s  a  sav in g s of $79,890.00, th e1 p erso n n e l and  o p ­
e ra tio n s  cost of th e  th re e  schools H E W  p lan s  to close.

D r. W inecoff te s tif ied  th a t  th e  Ju n e  p lan , un like  the  
J a n u a ry  plan, is b a se d  on th e  assum ption, th a t  th e  
school b o a rd  h as  a u th o rity  to tra n s p o r t  s tu d en ts  w ith in  
th e  m u n ic ip a l lim its  of Jack so n . H e conceded  th a t  if 
th e  b o a rd  h a s  no such  au th o rity  th e n  he w ould no t r e c ­
om m en d  th e  new  p ro p o sa l as it w ould be u se le ss  and  
add  no th ing  to  th e  p la n  now  in  o p e ra tio n  w hich he un- 
equ ivocab ly  fu r th e r  s ta te d  is a u n ita ry  p la n  in th e  a b ­
sence  of in tra -c ity  tra n sp o rta tio n .

The School B o ard  a g re e s  th a t  th e  s ta tu to ry  co n stitu ­
tio n a lity  of bussing  s tu d en ts  is no t u n d e r a tta ck . I t  h as  
s te a d fa s tly  con tended  th a t, as a n  ag en cy  of th e  s ta te , 
i t  h as  no in h e re n t o r leg is la tiv e  au th o rity  to  expend  
funds fo r in tra -c ity  tra n sp o rta tio n . In  th is  th e  b o a rd  
is  upheld  by a  re c e n t opinion of th e  a tto rn e y  g e n e ra l 
of th e  S ta te  of M ississippi, a  copy be in g  on file here in .

The school b o a rd  does no t su p p o rt th e  p rop o sed  H EW  
plan . A ssum ing  the  b o a rd  acq u ired  a u th o rity  to e n te r  
into a  m a ss iv e  in tra -c ity  tra n s p o r ta tio n  sy stem , th e



56a

H EW  p la n  does no t e ra d ic a te  th e  ex isten ce  of som e 
to ta lly  o r  n e a r  to ta lly  s e g re g a te d  schools to  w hich  th e  
A p p ella te  C ourt m a d e  objection . T he school b o a rd  
th ro u g h  its  w itnesses, inc lud ing  M r. Jo h n  M artin , su ­
p e rin te n d e n t of schoo ls and  m e m b e rs  of h is  s ta ff  in  
c h a rg e  of s ta t is t ic s  an d  tra n sp o rta tio n , con tend  th a t 
th e  H EW  p ro p o sa l fa ils  in  its  p u rp o se  and  is a d m in ­
is tra tiv e ly , ed u ca tio n a lly  and  econom ica lly  unsound. 
By w ay of illu s tra tio n , out of 35 schools, 11 w ould con­
ta in  g ra d e s  1 th ro u g h  4; 5 schools w ould co n ta in  g ra d e s  
5-6; 2 schools w ould h av e  g ra d e s  1-3; one school w ould 
con ta in  g ra d e s  4-6, 2 schools w ould h av e  g ra d e s  1-2; 
2 schools w ould h av e  g ra d e s  3-6; and  12 schools w hich 
w ould con ta in  g ra d e s  1-6, w h ereas  th e  n o rm a l p a t te rn  
is for g ra d e s  1-8. The sc a tte r in g  of g rad es , and  p a ir in g  
of g ra d e s  th ro u g h o u t th e  a re a s  w ould th u s  p re se n t ex­
te n s iv e  cu rr ic u lu m  and  s ta ffin g  p rob lem s, w ould d e ­
s tro y  th e  concep t of neighborhood  schools, im p a ir  s tu ­
d en t m o ra le , and  a lien a te  p a re n ts  and  th e  com m unity . 
A d m in istra tiv e ly , th e  b o a rd  contends' th e  p roposed  
tra n sp o r ta tio n  is a r tif ic ia lly  con triv ed  an d  poses in su r­
m o u n tab le  a d m in is tra tiv e  p ro b lem s exclusive  of costs. 
The p la n  p roposes th a t  ch ild ren  a re  to  be p icked  up 
a t  u n su p erv ised  g a th e r in g  p laces , in  w h a tev e r th e  
w ea th e r, w ith  p re c ise  bus schedules, im possib le  to  keep  
u n d e r  n o rm a l city  tra ffic , and  th a t  th e  vo lum e of ro u tes  
an d  b u sses re q u ire d  u n d er m in im u m  conditions w ould 
n e c e ss ita te  th e  s tag g e rin g  o f school hours.

In  c o n tra s t to th e  n u m b e r of ad d itio n a l b u sses  r e ­
q u ired  a n d  costs p ro je c te d  by  HEW , th e  b o a rd  o ffered  
a co m p reh en siv e  an a ly sis  of th e  n u m b e r, len g th  an d  
tim e  schedu ling  of ro u tes  and  costs re q u ire d  u n d e r the  
H EW  p ro p o sa l and  as added  to by p la in tiffs ’ p roposa ls .



57a

T hese an a ly se s  a r e  exh ib its  here to . O ther th a n  th e  su r ­
m ise  of D r. W ineeoff, a d m itted ly  no t a tra n sp o r ta tio n  
ex p ert, th a t  som e ro u tes  could be conso lidated , or th a t  
fu tu re  en ro llm en t m a y  no t re q u ire  as  m a n y  b u sses as 
p re se n t en ro llm en t req u ire s , th e  Count finds th e se  an ­
a ly ses  a re  rea lis tic . On cro ss-exam ination . D r. W ine- 
coff ad m itte d  th a t  he did no t questio n  th e  a c c u ra c y  
of th e  b o a rd ’s an a ly sis . A ccord ing  to th is  ev idence in ­
te r-c ity  tra n sp o r ta tio n  fo r 1055 s tu d en ts  u n d e r th e  Ju n e  
H EW  p lan  a t th e  e le m e n ta ry  lev e l w ould re q u ire  16 
new  b u sses a t a  cost of $6,600.00 each , and  an  o p e ra ­
tio n a l expense  of $43.00 p e r  s tu d en t fo r a  to ta l  of $150,- 
965.00. In tra -c ity  tra n sp o rta tio n , w ith  eac h  new  ro u te  
analyzed , tim ed  and  m e a su re d  by m e m b e rs  of th e  
school staff, show s in  A re a  I th a t  a  m in im u m  of five 
b u sses w ould be n eed ed  to tr a n s p o r t  460 s tu d en ts  o ver 
rou tes  ra n g in g  fro m  6.4 to  7.5 m iles. In  A rea  II, n ine  
b u sses w ould  be re q u ire d  to  m ove 552 s tu d en ts  o v e r 
ro u tes  v a ry in g  fro m  3 to 5 m iles. In  A rea  III, th re e  
b u sses a re  n e c e ssa ry  to  m ove 200 s tu d en ts  over ro u tes  
fro m  1.5 to  1.8 m iles. In  A rea  IV, six  b u sses  a re  re q u ire d  
to  m ove 600 s tu d en ts  over ro u tes  fro m  3.6 m iles  to 3.9 
m iles. In  A rea  V, con ta in ing  six schools, fou r busses, 
m ak in g  double tr ip s , w ould be re q u ire d  to m ove 520 
s tu d en ts  in c riss -c ro ss  fash io n  th ro u g h o u t th e  a re a . In  
A re a  VI, six  b u sses  a re  re q u ire d  to  m ove 540 s tu d en ts  
over ro u tes  from  3.6 m iles  to 4.2.. As to  A reas  V II an d
V III, m o st of th e  s tu d en ts  involved  live ou tside th e  city  
and  a re  a lre ad y  rece iv in g  in te r-c ity  tra n sp o rta tio n . 
D estina tions only w ould h av e  to  be changed . In  A rea
IX, using  only tw o busses, as a ssu m ed  by  H EW  to  t r a n s ­
p o rt 220 S m ith  s tu d en ts  to  D uling, a  d is tan ce  of 2.9 
m iles, w ould leav e  110 s tu d en ts  u n su p e rv ised  w hile 
w aiting  fo r b u sses un load ing  a t D uling to  re tu rn  fo r



58a

th em . In  th is  sa m e  a re a  th re e  b u sse s  w ould be re q u ire d  
to  t r a n s fe r  300 pupils  fro m  W alton  to Boyd, 2.4 m iles , 
and  tw o busses, eac h  m a k in g  tw o trip s , to  c a r ry  240 
pup ils  fro m  D uling to C asey  and  C asey  to  D uling, a  
d is ta n c e  of 3.2 m ile s  one w ay  and  2.9 m ile s  th e  o th e r 
w ay. A lso in  th is  sam e  a re a , tw o b u sse s  a re  re q u ire d  
to  in te rc h a n g e  120 s tu d en ts  be tw een  M cW illie an d  B oyd 
fo r a d is ta n ce  of 1.3 m iles  one w ay  and  1.5 m iles  th e  
o th e r w ay. In  A rea  X, as in  A reas  V II an d  V III, th e se  
s tu d en ts  a re  inc luded  in in te r-c ity  tra n sp o r ta tio n . F ro m  
its  an a ly ses, th e  school b o a rd  h as  d e te rm in e d  th a t  49 
new  b u sses w ill be  re q u ire d  a t a  cost of $6,600.00 eac h  
fo r $323,400.00 Costs of opera tion , inc lud ing  d riv e rs  s a l­
a rie s , for 1969-1970 th ro u g h  A pril 30, on its  p re se n tly  
ow ned b u sses  (44) tra n sp o r tin g  2139 stu d en ts , to ta ls  
$81,617.15. U sing  th e se  costs to ca lc u la te  th e  cost p e r  
pup il ($39.80 in 1989-70) ($43.24 in 1968-69), th e  cost of 
tra n sp o r tin g  4,012 ad d itio n a l e le m e n ta ry  s tu d en ts  in  in ­
tra -c ity  m o v em en t, as p roposed  by H EW , w ould be  
$164,492.00. This added  to th e  p u rc h a se  p rice  of b u sses  
c a lls  fo r an  ou tlay  of $487,892.00. A dding to th is  th e  
$150,965.00 fo r in te r-c ity  tra n sp o rta tio n , th e  H EW  p ro ­
p o sa ls  w ould re q u ire  a  to ta l cost to th e  d is tr ic t’s b u dget 
of $638,857.00. U sing  a  s im ila r  an a ly sis  fo r  p la in tiffs ' 
p roposa ls , th e  b o a rd  com pu tes th a t  tra n sp o r tin g  an  ad ­
d itional 780 s tu d en ts  w ould re q u ire  a  m in im u m  of 17 
new  b u sses  a t a cost of $112,200.00, and  o p e ra tio n a l 
costs, on th e  b as is  of $43.24 p e r  pupil, w ould add  $76,- 
967.00, for a  to ta l of $189,167.00, or a  g ra n d  to ta l u n d e r 
H EW  and  p la in tiffs ’ p roposa ls  of $828,024.00. The a n a ly ­
s is  no tes  th a t  th is  fig u re  does n o t re f le c t such  ad d itio n a l 
costs as m a y  be in c u rre d  fro m  a m a jo r ity  to m in o rity  
tr a n s fe r  policy.



A ccord ing  to  th e  school d is tr ic t’s 1969-70 budget, i t  
h a s  an  opera tions  incom e b u d g e t of $18,610,210.00. The 
c u r re n t budgeted  expense  of tra n s p o r ta tio n  is th e  sum  
of $114,730.00 w hich inc ludes s tu d en t tra n sp o r ta tio n  by  
b u sses  as w ell as  by c o n tra c te d  se rv ice s  an d  pub lic  
c a r r ie rs ;  it also inc ludes costs a llo ca ted  to  th e  t r a n s ­
p o rta tio n  of sp ec ia l ed u ca tio n  pupils. The to ta l  am o u n t 
budgeted  fo r s tu d en t tra n s p o r ta tio n  co n stitu te s  0.62% 
of th e  to ta l budget. The to ta l  of add itional tr a n s p o r ta ­
tion  re q u ire d  by th e  H EW  p la n  an d  p la in tiffs ’ p ro p o sa ls  
w ould in c re a se  costs of tra n sp o r ta tio n  to over 5% of 
th e  en tire  budget, a n  am o u n t n o t h e re to fo re  a llo ca ted  
in  th e  b u dget n o r au thorized . P la in tiffs , how ever, po in t 
out th a t  th e  budget incom e is d eriv ed  from, so u rces  
w hich inc lude  ta x  lev ies  to ta lin g  23.55 m ills, w h e reas  
th e  s ta tu to ry  ceiling  is 25 m ills, le av in g  av a ilab le  a 
lev y  of 1.55 m ills, and  th a t  th is  levy  on th e  v a lu e  of 
p ro p e r ty  a sse ssm e n ts  in  th e  m u n ic ip a lity  w ould re su lt  
in  ap p ro x im a te ly  $800,000.00 m o re  incom e. P la in tiffs  
also  po in t to  an  i te m  in th e  1969-70 b u dget show ing a 
su rp lu s  of funds in  th e  sum  of $799,039.00, a  sum  th e  
b o a rd  n o rm a lly  keeps on h an d  fo r u n fo rseen  e m e rg e n ­
cies. A ssum ing  th a t  such  funds fro m  e ith e r  of th e  above 
so u rc e s  m a y  be av a ila b le  in  fu tu re  bu d g e ts  fo r t r a n s ­
p o rta tio n , th e y  a re  no t a v a ila b le  n o r au th o rized  fo r a  
p la n  w hich  is to  be adop ted  now. A dded to all of th e  
above is th e  re p o r t by  th e  school b oard , a f te r  c o n ta c t­
ing  bus d ea lers , ad d itio n a l new  b u sses in  th e  am o u n t 
re q u ire d  a re  no t a v a ilab le  u n til a f te r  O ctober, 1970. 
This ev idence is u n co n trad ic ted . This C ourt is no t a- 
w a re  of any  au th o rity  ap p ro v in g  ex ten siv e  bussing  of 
s tu d en ts  to ach ieve  a  u n ita ry  sy stem . K em p v. Beasley, 
8 Cir., 1970, (No. 19,782, M arch  17, 1970.)



60a

In  su m m a riz in g  a ll th e  ev idence befo re  it, th e  C ourt 
finds th a t  th e  p ro p o sa ls  of H EW  as added  to by p la in tiffs  
a re  no t ed u ca tiona lly , ad m in is tra tiv e ly , econom ically  
o r p ra c tic a lly  feasib le . C erta in ly , th e  add itio n al costs 
n e c e s s a ry  to p u t th e  p lan  in to  effect w ould be w holly 
ex cessiv e  and  to ta lly  u n reaso n ab le . See S w ann v. C har- 
lo tte -M eck len b u rg  B o ard  of E d u ca tio n , e t al, 4th Circ. 
1970, (Nos. 14517 and  14518, M ay 26, 1970.) Should th is  
C ourt e n te r ta in  th e  adop tion  of th e se  p rop o sa ls , th e y  
a re  not im p lem en t ab le u n d er th e  c u rre n t deadline.

The b i-ra e ia l co m m ittee  appo in ted  by  th is  C ourt m e t 
as  often  a s  tim e  p e rm itte d , k eep in g  m in u tes  of its  de­
lib e ra tio n s , sea led  by  th is  C ourt and  m a d e  a p a r t  of 
th e  reco rd . The c o m m ittee ’s p ro p o sa ls  s ta te  on th e  fa c e  
th e re o f th a t  its  p lan  does no t p rov ide  fo r th e  com ple te  
d e seg reg a tio n  of all of th e  schools bu t re p re se n ts  th e  
m a x im u m  am o u n t of d e seg reg a tio n  upon  w hich th e  
co m m ittee  could  ag ree . This co m m ittee  a c c e p te d  th e  
challenge  of d e seg reg a tin g  th e  to ta lly  or a lm o st w holly 
s e g re g a te d  schools th e  A ppella te  C ourt found  o b jec tion ­
able, and  u n e rrin g ly  d irec ted  its  e ffo rts  to w ard  th a t  
en d  w ith in  th e  fra m e w o rk  of a v a ilab le  tra n sp o r ta tio n . 
T he c o m m ittee  p rop o ses  to a ss ig n  b lack  s tu d en ts  in  
th e  p re se n t M cW illie, Spann, M cLeod, P o w er and  Dul- 
ing  Zones and  divide th e m  m o re  or less eq u a lly  am ong  
M cW illie, M cLeod, Spann  and  C asey; to a ss ig n  b lack  
s tu d en ts  in  th e  p re se n t F re n c h  and  R a in es  zones an d  
d iv ide  th e m  m o re  o r le ss  equally  am ong  F re n c h , 
R a in es  and  L ake; to c re a te  five m o re  o r  le ss  eq u a l 
sub-zones in  th e  Isab le  zone and  ass ig n  g ra d e s  5-6 in  
th e se  sub-zones to  L es te r, K ey, M arsh a ll, Sykes an d  
Lee; to  a ss ig n  enough w hites ( th a t a re  p re se n tly  elig i­
b le fo r tra n sp o rta tio n )  o u t of G reen-W atk ins a re a  to



61a

fill to  c a p a c ity  B rad ley , D aw son, and  M orrison ; and, 
finally , add  to th e  W alton  zone th a t  p a r t  of th e  Boyd 
zone w hich is w est of th e  ra ilro a d , so u th  of N orth sid e  
D rive  and  n o rth  of creek .

On th e  b as is  of th e  la te s t  en ro llm en t f ig u res , M ay 
8, 1970, c o rre c te d  as of M ay  21, 1970, and  in c o rp o ra tin g  
th e  c o m m ittee ’s p roposed  a ss ig n m en t, th e  p ro jec ted  
en ro llm en t in  th e  Ja c k so n  E le m e n ta ry  Schools is as  
follow s:

Grades Special Sub-
1-6 Education Total Total

Ne­ Oth­ Ne­ Oth­- Ne­ Oth­ Com­
gro er gro er gro er bined,

B ak e r 3 293 1 30 4 323 327
B a r r 43 65 0 10 43 75 118
B oyd 171 340 0 0 171 340 511
B rad ley 341 92 0 0 341 92 433
B row n 658 0 0 0 658 0 658
C asey 30 451 0 0 30 451 481
C lausel 157 6 44 0 201 6 207
D av is 293 46 10 6 303 52 355
D aw son 420 109 0 0 420 109 529
D uling 122 118 0 0 122 118 240
F re n c h 142 318 0 0 142 318 460
G allow ay 367 133 18 29 385 162 547
G eorge 83 91 0 0 83 91 174
G reen 123 484 0 0 123 484 607
Isab le 517 0 0 0 517 0 517
J  ohnson 832 50 30 0 862 50 912
Jo n es 1205 10 29 0 1234 10 1244
K ey 50 480 0 0 50 480 530
L ak e 50 615 0 0 50 615 665
L ee 51 371 0 0 51 371 422



Grades Special Sub- Total
1-6 Education Total

Ne­ Oth­ Ne­ Oth­ Ne­ Oth­ Com­
gro er gro er gro er bined

L e s te r 138 228 0 0 138 228 366
M arsh a ll 55 573 0 0 55 573 628
M artin 206 17 0 0 206 17 223
M cLeod 51 665 0 0 51 665 716
M cW illie 38 495 0 0 38 495 533
M orrison 461 78 11 0 472 78 550
P o in d ex te r 81 40 10 52 91 92 183
P o w er 39 366 0 0 39 366 405
R ain es 81 494 0 0 81 494 575
R eynolds 982 0 0 0 982 0 982
R o b ertso n 320 0 0 0 320 0 320
S m ith 1008 0 14 0 1022 0 1022
Spann 47 497 0 0 47 497 544
Sykes 51 452 0 0 51 452 503
W alton 798 80 47 0 845 80 925
W atk in s 125 244 4 26 129 270 399
W hitfield 159 230 0 0 159 230 389
W ilkins 16 497 0 0 16 497 513
E le m e n ta ry
T o ta l 10,314 9028 218 153 10,532 9181 19,713

T hese  p ro p o sa ls  e lim in a te  to ta l  seg reg a tio n  fro m  a ll 
of th e  w hite  schools, im p ro v e  th e  deg ree  of m ix tu re  
in  m ost, a n d  le av e  five to ta lly  b lack  schools a ll in  th e  
h eav ily  congested  b la ck  co m m u n ity .’ D esp ite  th is  la s t, 
th e se  p ro p o sa ls  w ill re su lt in  m o re  in te g ra te d  schools 
th a n  an y  p roposed  p la n  befo re  th is  Court. I t  is ad d i­
tio n a lly  no ted  th a t  w here  H EW  a ss ig n m e n ts  w ould h a v e  
o v e rta x ed  th e  cap a c ity  of 14 schools, w ith  tw o addition-

>See Ellis v. Board of Public Instruction of Orange County, Fla., 
5th Cir. 1970 (No. 29,124, Feb. 17, 1970)



63a

ally  o v e r-tax ed  u n d e r p la in tiffs ’ p roposa ls , u n d er th e  
p re se n t p la n  as m odified  by  th e  co m m ittee  and  th e  
Court, th e  o v e r-ass ig n m e n ts  a r e  red u ced  considerab ly . 
W ith th e  add ition  of th e  m a jo r ity  to m in o rity  t r a n s fe r  
policy, and  th e  follow ing a ss ig n m e n t ch an g es  o ffered  
by th e  Court, add itio n a l u n ita ry  s tep s  w ill h a v e  been  
taken .

U nder th e  p re se n t p lan  an d  u n ch an g ed  by  th e  b i-ra - 
c ia l co m m ittee  p roposa ls , only six  w hite  s tu d en ts  a re  
a ss ig n ed  to  C lausell w ith  157 b lack  s tuden ts. This r e ­
su lted  fro m  th e  use  by H EW  in  J a n u a ry  of th e  g eo g rap h ­
ic a l h a z a rd  of H ighw ay 80. A s th e  A ppella te  C ourt r e ­
je c te d  con sid era tio n  of th is  fac to r, H E W  in  its  Ju n e  
p la n  p roposed  th e  p a irin g  of C lause ll a n d  W ilkins w hich  
co m p rise  th e  a re a  d es ig n a ted  by  H EW  as  A re a  III. U n­
d e r  th e  A ppella te  C ourt’s ru ling , th e re  is no re a so n a b le  
ob jec tion  now  w hy th e se  tw o schools shou ld  no t 
be p a ire d  in to  one zone, W ilkins se rv in g  g ra d e s  1-4, 
a n d  C lausell se rv in g  g ra d e s  5-6. U nder th e  school 
b o a rd ’s tra n sp o r ta tio n  an a ly sis , m in im u m  tra n s p o r ta ­
tion  would be req u ired , 1.5 m iles  one w ay  and  1.8 m iles  
th e  o ther. The ra c ia l  m ix tu re  w ould be im p ro v ed  to 
th e  ex ten t of 373 w hites and  116 b lack s a t W ilkins, and  
166 w hites and  57 b lack s a t  C lausell. F o r  th e  above 
re a so n s  th is  C ourt is of th e  opinion, an d  finds th a t  th is  
m od ifica tion  should  be m ad e . W ith th e  above  m o d ifica ­
tions in  m ind , only  tw o schools, M a rtin  and  Jo n es , r e ­
m a in  w here  w hite a tte n d a n c e  is of a  to k en  n a tu re . This 
is  no t d ue  to any  n a tu ra l  o r m a n  m a d e  b a r r ie rs ,  fa c to rs  
d isca rd e d  by th e  A ppella te  C ourt, n o r  to g e rry m a n d e r­
ing  w hich  th e  A p p ella te  C ourt found  did no t ex ist, n o r 
th e  fa ilu re  of th is  C ourt to a ss ig n  m o re  w hites to  th e se  
schools.



64a

The school b o a rd  h as  re q u e s te d  th e  conso lidation  of 
B a rr , th e  sm a lle s t school a t th e  e le m e n ta ry  level, p re s ­
en tly  w ith  a  to ta l a tte n d a n c e  of 118, w ith  P o in d ex te r, 
ais an  a d m in is tra tiv e  accom m odation . H EW  h ad  lik e ­
w ise p rop o sed  th e  closing  of th is  school. As th e  d eg ree  
of in te g ra tio n  a t  P o in d ex te r w ill re m a in  a p p ro x im a te ­
ly  th e  sam e, th e  C ourt co n cu rs  w ith  th is  p roposal.

A ccord ing ly , th e  C ourt, as to  th e  e le m e n ta ry  leve l 
of th e  J a c k so n  M unicipal schools, d ire c ts  th e  adoption  
o f th e  c u rre n tly  co u rt im p o sed  s tu d e n t a s s ig n m e n t 
p lan , as m odified  by  th e  b i-ra c ia l co m m ittee , and  w ith  
th e  follow ing tw o add itio n al m od ifica tions:

1. C lausell and  W ilkins a re  to be p a ired , W ilkins 
to  se rv e  g ra d e s  1-4 w ith in  th e  b o u n d a ry  lim its  of th e  
conso lid a ted  zones of C lausell and  W ilkins, and  C lause ll 
to  se rv e  g ra d e s  5-6 w ith in  th e  sa m e  b o u n d ary  lim its.

2. B a r r  is to be closed, w ith  a ll s tu d en ts  fro m  th is  
zone to  be a ss ig n ed  to P o index ter.

JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOLS

As to th e  ju n io r h igh  and sen io r h igh  schools a t the  
seco n d a ry  level, th e  A p p ella te  C ourt d irec ted  th is  C ourt 
to  adop t one of th e  p re se n tly  av a ilab le  H EW  p lan s  w hich  
w ere  p roposed  a t  th e  J a n u a ry  1970 h e a r in g  of th is  
Court. The school b o a rd  endo rses  none, ex p re ss in g  th e  
v iew  th a t  th e  p re se n t p lan , a lthough  p ro b lem s do con­
tin u e  to  ex ist, h a s  th e  g en e ra l s u p p o r t of th e  co m m u n ity  
and  is w ork ing  as a  re su lt of a  to ta l com m un ity  effo rt.



P la n s  “A ” and  “B ” a re  th e  sa m e  fo r th e  ju n io r h igh  
level, and  re ta in  g en era lly  th e  p re se n t g ra d e  s tru c tu re  
of g rad es  7-9 fo r ju n io r h igh  and  g rad es  9-12 fo r h ig h  
school. T hey  a re  e ssen tia lly  zoning p lans. All th re e  
p la n s  'con tem p la te  th e  sa m e  use  of tw o schools as m a g ­
n e t schools fo r co m p reh en siv e  v o c a tio n a l- tech n ica l 
p ro g ram s. P la n  “C” com p le te ly  re s tru c tu re s  th e  sec ­
o n d a ry  leve l into a 2-2-2 sy stem . The h o a rd  p a r tic u la r ly  
ob jec ts  to P la n  “C” b eca u se  of th e  a d m in is tra tiv e  
p ro b lem s it w ould p rovoke, i.e., th e  re -o rg an iza tio n  of 
p h y s ica l fac ilitie s  a n d  cu rric u la , re -a ss ig n m e n ts  of fa c ­
u lty  an d  re -loca tion  of la rg e  n u m b e rs  of p o rtab les , in ­
c lud ing  som e of those  re c e n tly  re - lo c a ted  to m e e t th e  
dem an d s of th e  J a n u a ry  a ss ig n m en ts  by  th is  Court. 
The re -lo ca tio n  of p o rtab le s  invo lves a m in im u m  ex­
pen se  of $750.00 each.

D r. W inecoff ex p re ssed  a  p re fe re n c e  fo r  P la n  “C”, 
solely  b ecau se  he  p re fe rs  th e  g ra d e  2-2-2 s tru c tu re . 
H ow ever, h e  recogn ized  th a t  th e  J a c k so n  schools h ad  
h is to ric a lly  used  a 3-g rad e  s tru c tu re  on  th e  seco n d ary  
level, and  th a t  th e  p ro b lem s re fe r re d  to above w ould 
be a tte n d a n t if “C” w ere  adopted . He s ta te d  th a t  a ll 
th re e  p lans  a r e  u n ita ry ; th a t  due to chan g es in  en ­
ro llm e n t and  re lo c a tio n  of p o rtab le s  s ince  th e  p lan s  
w ere  w orked  out th a t  a ll th re e  w ould h av e  to  be m od i­
fied  to som e ex ten t, P la n  “A ” re q u ir in g  th e  le a s t m od i­
fica tions; and  th a t  u n d er p re se n t en ro llm en t, L an ie r, 
o ne  of th e  ta rg e t  schools co n tem p la ted  in  all th re e  
p lans, w ould h av e  to be u sed  as a re g u la r  school. H e 
ad m itte d  th a t  in P la n  “A”, th e  p roposed  a ss ig n m e n t 
of 691 n in th  g rad e  s tu d en ts  to th e  Isab le-H ill com plex, 
to g e th e r  w ith  H E W ’s p roposed  c u r re n t a ss ig n m e n t of 
1074 e le m e n ta ry  s tu d en ts  to  Isab le  w ould g re a tly  o v e r­



66a

ta x  Isaible w hose to ta l c a p a c ity  is 1120. The C ourt r e c ­
ognized  th is  p ro b lem  a t th e  J a n u a ry  h e a r in g  in, g ra n t­
in g  th e  school b o a rd ’s re q u e s t to  a l te r  th is  im possib le  
a ss ig n m en t. P re se n t a tte n d a n c e  of e le m e n ta ry  s tu ­
den ts  a t Isa b le  is 763. U n d er th e  b i- ra c ia l  c o m m itte e ’s 
p roposa l, ap p ro v ed  above, to  red u ce  th e  n u m b e r of e le ­
m e n ta ry  s tu d en ts  a t  Isab le  to  517, th is  p ro b lem  is r e ­
duced  to  one of a  m in im a l b o u n d ary  ch an g e  o r  re lo c a ­
tion  of p o rtab les . The C ourt th e re fo re  finds P la n  “A ” 
th e  m o st feas ib le  of th e  th ree , re q u ir in g  th e  le a s t  m od i­
fica tions, due to  chan g es w hich h av e  o c c u rre d  since  
J a n u a ry  1970, and  w hich does no t le ssen  th e  deg ree  
of ra c ia l  m ix tu re  from  e ith e r  P la n  “B ” or “C”.

As po in ted  out e a r l ie r  here in , th e  school b o a rd  h a s  
h e re to fo re  adop ted  a ll of th e  d e seg reg a tio n  of facu lty  
an d  staff, tra n sp o rta tio n , new  construc tion , and  m a ­
jo r ity  to1 m in o rity  t r a n s fe r  po licies re q u ire d  b y  Single- 
ton  decision  of D ecem b er 1, 1969. The B o ard  is d irec ted  
to  do so ag a in  fo r a l l  succeed ing  school te rm s , p a r t ic u ­
la r ly  as  to  th e  t r a n s fe r  po licy  w hich w as o m itted  fro m  
th is  C o u rt’s o rd e r  of J a n u a ry  22,1970.

ORD ER

It is th e re fo re  o rd e red  th a t  th e  defen d an t J a c k so n  
M unicipal S e p a ra te  School D is tr ic t adop t th e  d e se g re ­
g a tion  of fa c u lty  and  staff, e x tra -c u rr ic u la  ac tiv itie s  
an d  o th e r po licies d e ta ile d  in  th e  e a r l ie r  S ingle ton  de­
c ision  of D ecem b er 1, 1969, Singleton v. Jackson  M uni­
cipal Separate School District, 419 F. 2d 1211, sp ec if ica l­
ly  inc lud ing  th e  m a jo r ity  to  m in o rity  tra n s fe r  policy.



67a

A s to  th e  s tu d en t a ss ig n m e n t p la n  fox e le m e n ta ry  
schools, sa id  school d is tr ic t is  h e re b y  d ire c te d  to  adop t 
th e  p re se n t C ourt p la n  ap p ro v ed  in  th e  J a n u a ry  22, 
1970 o rd e r of th is  C ourt, as m odified  by  th e  b i-ra c ia l 
co m m ittee  p roposa ls , and  as re f le c te d  in  p ro je c te d  en ­
ro llm en t a p p e a rin g  on p ag e  13 h e re in  to g e th e r  w ith  
th ese  ad d ed  m odifications:

1. C lausell and  W ilkins a re  p a ire d , W ilkins to  se rv e  
g ra d e s  1-4 w ith in  th e  b o u n d ary  lim its  of bo th  C lause ll 
and  W ilkins zones, and  C lau sed  to  se rv e  g ra d e s  5-6 in  
sa id  zones.

2. B a r r  is closed, w ith  a d  s tu d en ts  fro m  B a r r  a s ­
signed  to P o index ter.

As to th e  s tu d en t a ss ig n m e n t p la n  fo r  th e  ju n io r h igh  
and  h igh  schools a t  th e  se co n d a ry  level, sa id  school 
b o a rd  is d irec ted  to adop t P la n  “A ” of th e  p re se n tly  
a v a ilab le  H EW  p lans, consisting  of th e  zones show n 
th e re in , d escrib ed  by m e te s  an d  bounds an d  as re f le c t­
ed  on m ap s, and  th e  a ss ig n m e n t of s tu d en ts  w hich  is  
as follows:

JU NIO R HIGH
Name STUDENTS

Zone Of School Grades W N T
I W hitten 7-8 370 165 535
I P eep les 7-8 801 282 1083
I Isab le-H ill 9 501 190 691

II B lack b u rn 7-8-9 268 756 1024
II I H ard y 7-8 572 697 1269
III E nochs 9 248 293 541
IV B ailey 7-8 942 682 *



68a

Name STUDENTS
Zone Of School Grades W N T

692 632 1324
TV R ow an 9 285 281 566

V C hasta in 7-8 823 482 1305
V P ow ell 9 509 379 888
V C allaw ay 7-8 206 350 556-option

456 402 858

* O ption fro m  C allow ay overflow 8th to R ow an
TOTALS 5525 4559 10084

HIGH SCHOOLS
Name STUDENTS

Zone Of School Grades W N T
I H ill 10 532 167 699*
I W ingfield 11-12 924 289 1213*

I I  P ro  vine 10-12 873 533 1406*
III  M u rra h 11-12 772 531 1303*
III
IV B rink ley 10 875 762 1637*
IV C allaw ay 11-12 851 759 1610*

TOTALS 4827 3041 7868*

*Tw enty p e r  cen t of th e se  s tu d en ts  w ill go to th e  com ­
p reh en s iv e  school (L a n ie r  and  C en tra l) as d escrib ed  
u n d er Magnet Schools for Comprehensive Vocational- 
Technical Programs.

M A G N E T SCHOOLS

Two schools — L an ie r  and  C en tra l — a re  to s e rv e  
as  m a g n e t schools drawing* fro m  th e  e n tire  d is tr ic t. 
T hey w ill house spec ia lized  v o ca tio n a l and  te c h n ic a l 
p ro g ra m s . A ny studen t, w h e rev e r re s id in g  in  th e  dis-



69a

t r ic t  m a y  a tte n d  e ith e r  school fo r th e  pu rp o se  of en ­
ro lling  in a sp ec ia lized  p ro g ram .

It is recogn ized  th a t  th e  school b o a rd  should  h a v e  
flex ib ility  in th e  lo ca tin g  and  re -lo c a tin g  of p o rta b le  
c la ssro o m s and  in fix ing  zone b o u n d a rie s  in  o rd e r  to 
ad eq u a te ly  house s tu d en ts  as a ss ig n ed  above. H ow ever, 
in  no in stance , sh a ll zone o r  sub-zone lines be e s ta b ­
lished  or changed  ex cep t to  th e  ex ten t such  changes 
w ill no t ten d  to re e s ta b lish  a  d ual school sy stem .

The p re se n tly  co n stitu ted  b i-ra c la l c o m m ittee  sh a ll 
con tinue to function, w ith  th e  c h a irm a n  a lte rn a tin g  b e ­
tw een  ra c e s  an n u a lly  fro m  th e  d a te  of th e  o rig in a l a p ­
po in tm ent, M ay 12, 1970, and  th is  co m m ittee  sh a ll h av e  
th e  duty  of reco m m en d in g  to  th e  school b o a rd  w ays 
to a tta in  and  m a in ta in  a u n ita ry  sy stem .

The school b o a rd  and  th e  b i-ra c ia l co m m ittee  a re  
to  m a k e  b i-an n u a l re p o rts  — on D ecem b er 1 and  A pril 
1 — to th is  C ourt o n  th e  m a in te n a n c e  of a  u n ita ry  sy s­
tem , such  re p o rts  to inc lude th e  follow ing in fo rm ation :

I.

(a) The n u m b e r of s tu d en ts  by ra c e  en ro lled  in  th e  
school d is tric t;

(b) The n u m b e r of s tu d en ts  by ra c e  en ro lled  in  eac h  
school of th e  d is tric t;

(c) The n u m b e r of s tu d en ts  by ra c e  en ro lled  in each, 
c lassro o m  in each  of th e  schools in  th e  d is tr ic t.



70ia

II.

(a ) The n u m b e r of fu ll tim e  te a c h e rs  by  r a c e  in 
th e  d is tr ic t;

(b) T he n u m b e r of fu ll tim e  te a c h e rs  by  r a c e  in  
eac h  school in th e  d is tr ic t;

(c) The n u m b e r of p a r t  tim e  te a c h e rs  by  ra c e  in  
th e  d is tr ic t;

(d) The n u m b e r  of p a r t  tim e  te a c h e rs  by  r a c e  in  
eac h  school in  th e  d is tric t.

III.

D escrib e  th e  re q u e s t an d  th e  re su lts  w hich  h a v e  a c ­
crued , by race , u n d e r th e  m a jo r ity  to th e  m in o rity  
t r a n s fe r  p rov ision  w hich  w as a  p a r t  of th is  c o u rt’s o rd e r  
of N o vem ber 7,1969.

IV.

S ta te  th e  n u m b e r of in te r -d is tr ic t t r a n s fe r s  g ra n te d  
since  th is  c o u rt’s o rd e r  of N o v em b er 7, 1969, th e  ra c e  
of th e  s tu d en ts  who w ere  g ra n te d  such  tra n s fe rs , a n d  
th e  school d is tr ic t to w hich  th e  tr a n s fe r s  w ere  allow ed.

V.

S ta te  w h e th e r th e  tra n sp o r ta tio n  sy stem , if any, in  
th e  d is tr ic t is d e se g re g a te d  to  th e  e x ten t th a t  n eg ro  
an d  w hite  s tu d en ts  a re  tra n s p o r te d  d a ily  on th e  sam e  
buses.

VI.

S ta te  w h eth er a ll fa c ilitie s  su ch  as g y m n asiu m s, au ­
d ito rium s, a n d  c a fe te r ia s  a re  be ing  o p e ra te d  on a  de­
se g re g a te d  basis.



71a

VII.

G ive b rie f  d esc rip tio n  of any  p re s e n t or p ro p o sed  con­
s tru c tio n  or exp an sio n  of fac ilities .

V III.

(a) S ta te  w h e th e r th e  school b o a rd  h a s  sold o r a- 
bandoned  an y  school fac ility , equp im en t, o r supp lies  
h av in g  a  to ta l v a lu e  of m o re  th a n  $500.00 since  th is  
c o u rt’s o rd e r of N o vem ber 7,1969.

IX.

(a ) G ive a  b rie f  d esc rip tio n  of th e  w ork  of th e  bi- 
ra c ia l  co m m ittee  since th e  la s t  rep o rt.

(b) Copies of all reco m m en d a tio n s  m a d e  by  th e  bi- 
ra c ia l  com m ittee .

The school b o a rd  is h e re b y  d ire c te d  to  m a k e  th e  a- 
bove s tu d en t a ss ig n m en ts  fo r th e  1970-71 school y e a r  
on o r befo re  J u ly  1, 1970, no tify ing  p a re n ts  of th e se  
a ss ig n m en ts .

The C lerk  of th is  C ourt is  d irec ted  to m a il a  copy 
of th is  p la n  and  o rd e r  to  a ll p a r tie s  of reco rd .

SO O R D E R E D  th is  th e  15th day  of Ju n e , 1970.

(S igned) DAN M. R U SSELL, JR . 
U N IT E D  STA TES 
D IST R IC T JU D G E



72a

IN  T H E
U N IT E D  STA TES COURT O F A P P E A L S  

FO R  T H E  F IF T H  C IRCU IT

No. 29226

D E R E K  JE R O M E  SIN G LETO N , E T  AL.,
P la in tiff  s-A ppellan ts, 

v e rsu s

JACKSON M U N IC IPA L S E P A R A T E  SCHOOL 
D ISTR IC T, E T  AL.,

D efendan ts-A ppellees.

A ppeal fro m  th e  U nited  S ta te s  D is tr ic t C ourt fo r th e  
S ou thern  D is tr ic t of M ississipp i

(A ugust 12, 1970)

B efore BROW N, Chief Ju d g e , M ORGAN and  
INGRAHAM , C ircu it Judges.

P E R  CURIAM : H ere  we rev iew  th e  D is tric t C ourt’s 
o rd e r  im posing  a p la n  fo r a  u n ita ry  school sy s tem  fo r 
th e  e le m e n ta ry  g ra d e s  in th e  Jack so n  M unicipal Sep­
a r a te  School System . This p la n  w as adop ted  p u rsu a n t 
to  our m a n d a te  in  Singleton IV, Singleton v. Jackson



Municipal Separate School Dist., 5 Cir., 1970,____ F.2d
____ [No. 29228, M ay 5, 1970].’

T h a t m a n d a te  re q u ire d  th e  D is tr ic t C ourt to reco n sid ­
e r  th e  p la n  (ado p ted  in J a n u a ry  1970) fo r th e  sy s te m  
a t  th e  e le m e n ta ry  level. The D is tr ic t C ourt app o in ted  
a  B i-R ac ia l C om m ittee  also  p u rsu a n t to  th a t  m a n d a te . 
A nd th a t C o m m ittee2 and  H EW  prop o sed  new  p lans. 
The School B oard  o ffered  no new  p lan , bu t did su p p o rt 
th e  B i-R ac ia l C o m m ittee ’s p roposal. P la in tiffs  did no t 
p ropose  a  new  plan , bu t did su g g es t su b s ta n tia l m od i­
fica tio n s  to th e  J a n u a ry  1970 p la n  p u t fo rw ard  by  
H EW .3

U nd er th e  s tr in g e n t tim e  lim ita tio n s  im posed  by
Alexander v. Holmes County School System ,  1989,____
U.S----------------- S.Ct______ , 24 L .Ed.2d 19; Singleton II I ,
Singleton v. Jackson Municipal Separate School Sys-

'With the intervening order for the secondary level of July , 
1970, Singleton v. Jackson Municipal School District, 5 Cir.,
1970, ____  F .2 d____ [No. 29226, July , 1970, as Singleton
V, the current one becomes Singleton VI].

&The Bi-Racial Committee is composed of 12 persons, 6 white, 
who were suggested by the School Board, and 6 Negro, who 
were suggested by Plaintiffs. Its proposal was a result of 
extensive effort by people with little expertise in this field, 
practically no assistance for staff, and no funds. Its work did, 
however, represent a very commendable effort and a contribu­
tion to this community problem.

This experience suggests that for the problems posed by 
out reversal and remand the District Court should enlist the 
cooperation of both HEW and the School Board in supplying 
one or more liaison representatives to the Committee. With 
this professional staff-like assistance this will enable it to be 
directly involved in the essential exploratory activities lead­
ing to recommendations to the District Court. 

sHereafter all references to the “HEW Plan” will be to the June 
HEW unless otherwise specifically stated.



74a

tern, 5 Cir., 1970, 419 F.2d 1211, and  Singleton IV, th e  
D is tr ic t C ourt held  a n  ev id en tia ry  h e a r in g 4 on Ju n e  
8, 1970, and  on Ju n e  15, 1970 it o rd e re d  th e  p la n  p ro -

4° n the hearing the District Court did not allow the Plaintiffs 
to make any testimonial inquiry into the considerations taken 
into account in the preparation of the Bi-Racial Committee’s 
plan. It is not necessary for us to categorize this as “error” 
especially since under our mandated time schedules the hear­
ings themselves often must be compressed. But in the full 
factual development of justifications required on remand, we 
thing the proposals and any modifications should be explored 
as fully as needed to determine strengths and weaknesses, 
etc.

5The results under this plan are:
Under District Court 

Approved Plan

1.
Schools
Baker

Negro
4

White
323

Percentage
99%

2. Boyd 171 340 67%
3. Bradley 341 92*** 79%
4. Brown 658 0 100%
5. Casey 30 451 94%
6. Clausell 57 166 75%
7. Davis 303 52 85%
8. Dawson 420 109*** 79%
9. Duling 122 118 51%

10. French 142 318 69%
11. Galloway 385 162 70%
12. George 83 91 52%
13. Green 123 484 80%
14. Isable 1-4** 517 0 100%
15. Johnson 862 50 94%
16. Jones 1,234 10 99%
17. Key 50** 480 90%
18. Lake 50 615 92%
19. Lee 51** 371 88%
20. Lester 138** 228 62%
21. McLeod 51 665 93%
22. Me Willie 38 495 93%
23. Marshall 55** 573 91%
23a. Martin 206 17 92%
24. Morrison 472 78 86%



posed  by  th e  B i-R ac ia l C o m m ittee3 to be im p le m e n t­
ed .6

We find  the  re su lts  to be u n acc ep tab le . U nder th is  
p la n  ap p ro x im a te ly  70% of th e  N egro  e le m e n ta ry  s tu ­
den ts  w ill be in  a ll (o r su b s ta n tia lly  all) N egro  e le ­
m e n ta ry  schools. In  fa c t th e  70i% fig u re  is an  u n d e r­
s ta te m e n t fo r B rad ley  and  D aw son a re  no t inc luded  
in  th e  schools th a t  a re  su b s ta n tia lly  a ll N egro. The in ­
te g ra tio n  in th o se  schools is confined  to  only tw o 
g rad es . See n o te  5, supra, ite m s  3 and  8. W e h a v e  to

75a

25. Poindexter 134 167 55%
26. Power 39 366 90%
27. Raines 81 494 86%
28. Reynolds 982 0 100%
28a. Robertson 320 0 100%
29. Smith 1,022 0 100%
30. Spann 47 497 91%
31. Sykes 51* ** *** 452 90%
32. Walton 845 80 91%
33. Watkins 129 270 68%
34. Whitfield 159 230 59%
35. Wilkins 116 373 76%

TOTAL 10,488 9,217
*The percentage figures here and elsewhere reflect the [propor­

tion that the] children of the majority race bear to the total 
student enrollment. Percentages are listed here strictly as 
informational aids. We expressly disclaim any intimation that 
racial balance is the standard by which we determine the 
acceptability of various desegregation plans.

**This plan provides for the reassignment of blacks attending 
Isable 5 and 6, “more or less” equally among the formerly 
white Lester, Key, Marshall, Sykes and Lee Schools. There­
fore the desegregation reflected in those formerly white 
schools is limited to grades 5 and 6 only.

*** Whites assigned to these schools were assigned to Watkins 
under previous court order; and since Watkins serves grades 
5-6 only, these grades are integrated in grades 5-6 only.

6The District did modify the Bi-Racial Committee’s plan slightly 
by pairing Clausell and Wilkins Schools and closing Barr 
School and assigned those students to Poindexter.



76a

be p a r tic u la r ly  sen sitiv e  to th is  b eca u se  th e  zones fro m  
som e su b s ta n tia lly  s e g re g a te d  seco n d a ry  schools cov­
e r  th e  sa m e  a re a s  a s  a re  co v ered  by  a ll  N eg ro  ele­
m e n ta ry  school zones. A nd som e s tu d en ts  w ill like ly  
h a v e  an  edu ca tio n  in  p re d o m in a te ly  N egro  schools 
th ro u g h o u t th e ir  school life. T his is esp ec ia lly  t r u e  fo r 
th o se  s tu d en ts  a tten d in g  B la ck b u rn  Ju n io r  H igh  an d  
L an ie r  H igh  School. See c h a r ts  in  Singleton V. Single- 
ton IV: Davis v. Board of School Commissioners of Mo­
bile County, 5 Cir., 1 9 7 0 ,____ F.2d _____  [No. 29332,
Ju n e  8, 1970]; Mannings v. Hillsborough County, 5 Cir.,
1970,____ F .2 d _____ [No. 28643, M ay 11, 1970]; Bradley
v. Pinellas County, 5 Cir., 1970, ____  F .2d ____  [No.
28639, Ju ly  ,1970],

T he H EW  p la n 7 w as a  su b s ta n tia l im p ro v em en t o v e r

<7The results under the HEW Plan are:*
Under HEW Plan

Schools Grades Negro White Percentage
1. Baker 1-6 153 307 67%
2. Boyd 5-6 360 269 57%
3. Bradley 1-6 174 203 54%
4. Brown 3-6 530 244 68%
5. Casey 1-4 10 362 97%
6. Clausell 5-6 57 166 75%
7. Davis 1-6 303 52 85%
8. Dawson 1-6 420 174 75%
9. Duling 5-6 244 171 59%

10. French 1-2 404 154 72%
11. Galloway 1-6 385 162 70%
12. George 1-6 83 103 57%
13. Green 1-4 95 518 84%
14. Isable 5-6 607 467 57%
15. Johnson 3-6 790 310 72%
16. Jones 4-6 676 434 61%
17. Key 1-4 0 368 100%
18. Lake 1-3 329 307 52 %
19. Lee 1-6 128 296 70%



77a

th e  p la n  app ro v ed  by th e  D is tr ic t C ourt. I t  reduced, th e  
n u m b e r  of all N eg ro  schools fro m  9 to  4 and  th e  n u m b e r
of N egroes in  w hich  th ey  co n stitu ted  95% or m o re  of 
th e  s tu d en t body to  2,731. P la in tif fs ’ m o d ifica tio n s8 of
th e  H EW  p la n  w ere  an  even  g re a te r  im p ro v em en t

20. Lester 1-4 68 156 70%
21. McLeod 1-6 51 665 93%
22. Me Willie 1-4 42 517 92%
23. Marshall 1-4 0 432 100%
24. Morrison 1-4 549 0 100%
25. Poindexter 1-6 118 82 59%
26. Power 1-2 267 122 68%
27. Raines 1-6 261 360 58%
28. Reynolds 1-4 1,056 0 100%
29. Smith 1-4 488 0 100%
30. Spann 1-6 47 497 91%
31. Sykes 1-6 179 400 69%
32. Walton 1-4 638 0 100%
33. Watkins 5-6 317 259 55%
34. Whitfield 1-3 369 127 74%
35. Wilkins 1-4 116 373 76%

10,314 9,028
Special Ed. 218 153

TOTAL 10,532 9,181
■"Under this plan Barr, Robertson, and Martin would be closed. 

**For use of percentages see note 5* supra. 
s HEW Plan With Modifications

as Proposed by Plaintiffs*
NAME OF SCHOOL NEGRO WHITE % **
I - All-Negro 

as of
May 8, 1970

1 . Brown 530 244 68%
2. Isable 607 467 57%
3. Morrison 349 200 64%
4. Reynolds 576 300 66%
5. Robertson CLOSED
6. Smith 388 100 80%
7. Walton 438 200 69%



NAME OF SCHOOL NEGRO WHITE % *;
II - All-white 

as of
May 8, 1970

1 . Casey 110 262 70%
2. Key 200 218 52%
3. Lake 329 307 52%
4. Lee 128 296 70%
5. Marshall 200 282 59%
6. Sykes 179 400 69%

Ill - Overwhelmingly 
white or Negro 
as of May 8,
1970

1 . Baker 153 307 67%
2. Bradley 174 203 54%
3. Clausell 57 166 75%
4. Dawson 420 174 75%
5. Johnson 790 310 72%
6. Jones 676 434 61%
7. Martin CLOSED
8. McLeod 51 665 93%
9. Power 267 122 68%

10. Spann 47 497 . 91%
11. Wilkins 116 373 76%

IV - Integrated 
as of
May 8, 1970

1 . Barr CLOSED
2. Boyd 360 269 57%
3. Davis 303 52 85%
4. Duling 244 171 59%
5. French 404 154 72%
6. Galloway 385 162 70%
7. George 83 103 57%
8. Green 295 318 52%
9. Lester 148 156 51%

10. Poindexter 118 82 59%
11. Raines 261 360 58%
12. Watkins 317 259 55%
13. Whitfield 369 127 74%
14. McWillie 242 317 58%
*Only the italicized schools are affected by Plaintiffs’ modi­
fications. And all grade structures and zone boundaries are 
identical to those of the HEW plan.

**For use of percentages see note 5* supra.



79a

T h e re  w ere  to  be no a ll N egro  schools u n d e r th a t  p lan .

B oth  of th e se  p lan s  a re  b a se d  on a  ty p e  of zoning 
th a t  d iv ides th e  D is tr ic t into la rg e  A reas , 10 in  bo th  
p lans, an d  th e n  es tab lish es  a  s e p a ra te  g ra d e  s tru c tu re  
in  th e  A rea . F o r  ex am p le , u n d e r th e  H EW  plan , A re a  
II, w hich  is abou t 4 m iles  ac ro ss , con ta in s fou r schools 
in  w hich g ra d e s  1-4 a re  p re se n te d  an d  one la rg e  school 
in  w h ich  g ra d e s  5-6 a re  p resen ted . (See n o te  5, lines 
14, 17, 18, 20, 23, supra). T h ere  w as m u c h  d iscussion  
in  th e  b rie fs  th a t  u n d er th is  ty p e  of “c lu s te r in g ” it w ill 
be n e c e s sa ry  fo r th e  School D is tr ic t to p rov ide  in tra -  
c ity  tra n s p o r ta tio n  fo r th e  p lan s  to be effective. B u t 
w e do no t re a c h  th is  since  th e  ch an g es w e m a n d a te  
p e rsu a d e  us th a t  th e re  is a  v a r ie ty  of w ay s to im p ro v e  
th e  resu lt.

W e re p e a t  th a t  th e  re su lt below  is no t accep tab le . 
W hen m a k in g  th is  d e te rm in a tio n  in  m a n y  re c e n t 
cases, we h a v e  often  specified  th e  fu ll fo rm  th a t  th e  
d e seg reg a tio n  p lan  is to take . H ow ever w e do not b e­
lieve th is  is the  w ise cou rse  h e re  since  th e  re c o rd  is 
in ad eq u a te . C onsequently , a  re m a n d  w ill be req u ired . 
B u t m e a n tim e  som eth ing  m u s t be done now. W e can ­
no t a cc ep t th e  p roposition  th a t  over 70% of the  N egro  
e le m e n ta ry  s tu d en ts  a re  to re m a in  in  su b s ta n tia lly  a ll 
N eg ro  schools du ring  th e  tim e  th e  ca se  u n d erg o es  
m o re  com ple te  exp lora tion . C onsequently , pend ing  th e  
re m a n d  h e a r in g  and  o rd e r  of th e  D is tr ic t C ourt, d is­
cussed  nex t, th e  School D is tr ic t is to o p e ra te  u n d e r th e  
p la n  app ro v ed  below  by  th e  o rd e r  of Ju n e  15, 1970, bu t 
w ith  th e  follow ing m odifica tions:



80a

(i) B row n is to  be p a ire d  w ith  P ow er.
(ii) Boyd is to be p a ire d  w ith  W alton.

(iii) G eorge is to  be p a ire d  w ith  M artin .
(iv) R o b ertso n  is to be p a ire d  w ith  P o in d ex te r.
(v) L e s te r  is to be p a ire d  w ith  Isab le .

(v i) W atk ins, M orrison , an d  S m ith  a re  to be 
g rouped .9

(vii) T he School D is tr ic t sh a ll h a v e  th e  option of 
p a irin g :
(a )  Jo n es  w ith  L ak e  or
(b) Jo h n so n  w ith  L ake.

B y th e se  p a irin g s  and  c lu s te rin g s  th e  p e rc e n ta g e  of 
N egroes in  su b s ta n tia lly  a ll N egro  schools w ill be r e ­
duced  fro m  over 70% to abou t 20%.’° We m u s t reem -

s Schools N W
(i) (Power 39 366

(Brown 658 0
(ii) (Boyd 171 340

(Walton 845 80
(iii) (George 83 91

(Martin 206 17
(iv) (Robertson 320 0

(Poindexter 134 167
(v) (Lester 138 228

(Isable 517 0
(vi) (Watkins 129 270

(Morrison 472 78
(Smith 1022 0

vii(a) (Jones 1234 10
(Lake 50 615

vii(b) (Johnson 862 50
(Lake 50 615

loThe final number in the paired schools will vary depending
the option under (vii) (a) or (b), supra:

Jones-Lake Johnson-Lake
N W N W

(i) - (vi) 4754 1637 4754 1637
vii(a) 1284 625 vii(b) 912 665

TOTAL 6038 2262 5666 2302



81a

p h asize  th a t  th e se  m a n d a te d  m od ifica tions  a re  an  in ­
te r im  re q u ire m e n t an d  a re  not “fro zen ”. The D is tr ic t 
C ourt is to beg in  a  h e a r in g  no t la te r  th a n  S ep te m b er 
25, 1970. T he h e a r in g  and  o rd e r  w ill c a n v a ss  th e  w hole 
e le m e n ta ry  sy s tem  w ith  w h a te v e r  ch an g es a r e  n eed ed  
such  as a p p ro p ria te  o r  re q u ire d  p a irin g , grouping, 
c lu ste rin g , g ra d e  re s tru c tu r in g , an d  a ll o th e r fa c to rs  
ca lled  fo r by our decisions an d  'those of th e  S up rem e 
Court. I t  will, of course , p re sc r ib e  th e  tim e  th e  chan g es 
a re  to  becom e effec tive  w h ich  m u s t be a t  a  tim e  not 
la te r  th a n  J a n u a ry  1971 re p re se n tin g  a  m id y e a r  d a te  
re g a rd le s s  of fo rm a l te rm s  or se m e s te rs . L ikew ise, 
all of th e  p rov isions of P a r t  III, S ingle ton  w ill app ly  
as  to  appea ls , reco rd , b rie fs , etc.

Of course, th e  ch an g es  th a t  w ill com e as  a  re su lt 
of th e  m od ifica tio n s  w e now  specify  and  fro m  th e  No­
v e m b e r o rd e r  now  ca lled  fo r w ill cau se  m id y e a r d is­
ru p tions, pup il re a s s ig n m e n ts  an d  th e  like. B u t on b a l­
ance , th is  is le ss  costly  th a n  a co n tin u ed  loss of r ig h ts  
of a  la rg e  n u m b e r of studen ts.

M O D IFIE D  AND R EM A N D ED .



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