Letter from Parker to Baez RE: Sheff Planning Meeting

    A A National Office 

99 Hudson Street, Suite 1600 
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND New York. NY 10013-2897 : 

EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. 212-965-2200 Fax: 212-226-7592 

October 20, 1999 

Dr. Leonard Stevens 

39 Kneeland Avenue 

Lenox, MA 02162 

Dr. Tony Baez 

Milwaukee Area Technical College 

700 West State Street 

Milwaukee, WI 53233 

Re: Sheff Planning Meeting 
  

Dear Len and Tony: 

This letter will confirm that the meeting to discuss the further development of the plan will 

be held at the CCLU office on November 11, 1999 at 1:30 p.m. Thank you both for agreeing to make 

yourselves available (either live or by phone) for the meeting. As we discussed previously, the legal 

team has had the opportunity to take a look at what has happened since the hearing before Judge 

Aurigemma and to think about the role that we want to take in the immediate future with regard to 

putting forward a plan. That discussion raised a number of questions. We hoped that you might be 

able to help us think these through. In order to facilitate our discussion on November 11, 1 thought 

it might be useful to let you know some of the areas we have discussed so that you can consider them 

prior to the meeting. 

. Because of changes in the composition of the Supreme Court, as well as the fact that 

the same trial court would hear any new challenges, very careful consideration would 

have to be given before returning to Court to seek a remedy. Given this climate, do 

you think that there are aspects of the state’s current efforts which we should be 

examining with an eye toward more active involvement in the current legislative 

© process? : 

. In light of the “tipping” phenomena, is a projected enrollment of 70% minority in the 

Hartford schools likely to undermine long-term efforts to provide stable 

desegregation there? 

. Would permitting the state to allow other entities to operate the lighthouse schools 

be a feasible way of facilitating the desegregation of those schools while addressing 

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDP is not a part of the National ~~ Regional Offices 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) although LDF was founded ~~ 1444 Eye Street, N.W., 10th Floor 315 West 9th Street, Suite 208 
by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF has had, since 1957, a separate ~~ Washington, D.C. 20005 Los Angeles, CA 90015 
board, program, staff, office and budget. Contributions are deductible for US. income tax purposes. ~~ 202-682-1300 202-682-1312 Fax 213-624-2405 213-624-0075 Fax 

 



  

Tony Baez 

October 20, 1999 

Page: 2 

concerns about the state’s capacity to run them? If so, what types of entities would 

be appropriate? 

. What sort of programmatic offerings would be most likely to attract students from the 

suburbs into Hartford and assure quality of education for the children remaining in 

Hartford? 

. Would it make sense to consider phasing in requirements so as not to penalize 

districts who are trying in good faith to meet goals but are not able to do so 

immediately? 

Although these specific issues will be a part of the discussion, ultimately we have to decide 
as a legal and tactical matter the broader question of what is the best way to proceed. I understand 

that that decision will have to be made by the attorneys and the plaintiffs but your input will be useful 

and greatly appreciated. 

Thanks for your continuing assistance and I look forward to the meeting. 

Very truly yours, 

pi 

Dennis D. Parker 

cc: sheff legal team 

ddp 

 



  

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HF 

JOB STATUS REPORT *x AS OF OCT 20 1999 1:14 PM PAGE. 01 

NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE 

JOB #281 

DATE TIME TO/FROM MODE MIN/SEC PGS STATUS 

10-20: 12.:57P 4314276 EC—S gorZ8” 003 OK 

12: 53P 2125492651 EC——5 Q4012° 003 OK 

1:03P 8607280401 EC——S 33-532 £003 OK 

1:04P NY LAWYERS PUB. INT UF~——3 00 41% « 003 OK 

1:03P 203 541-3050 EC——S 01 447 S003 OK 

1: 03P 360527 3305 BEL——F5 ofr 417 «003 OK 

1:09P 860 728 0287 EC——=S 01-23 003 OK 

1:12P 360. 370 3256 BC—5 00° 52 003 OK 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

COV ER®R 

S HE ET 

To: Company: 

Deborah Archer NAACP Legal Defense Fund 

Sandra DelValle Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund 

Derek Douglas NAACP Legal Defense Fund 

Chris Hanson American Civil Liberties Union 

Wesley Horton Horton, Shields & Cormer, P.C 

Marianne Engelman Lado NY Lawyers for the Public Interest 

Wilfred Rodriquez Greater Hartford Legal Assistance 

Elizabeth Sheff Community Renewality 

Martha Stone Center for Children Advocacy 

Philip Tegeler Connecticut Civil Liberties Union 

From: Dennis Parker 

Subject: Sheff Planning Meeting 

Date: October 20, 1999 

Pages: 3, including this cover sheet. 

Original: Will WillNot _ X 

Message: 

NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC 
99 Hudson Street 

Suite 1600 
New York, NY 10013-2897 

(212) 965-2200 

FAX 
Fax #: 

212/226-7592 

212/431-4276 

212/226-7592 

212/549-2651 

860/728-0401 

212/244-4570 

860/541-5050 

860/527-3305 

860/570-5256 

860/728-0287 

Follow this transmission 

Confidentiality Note: The information transmitted in this facsimile message is intended to be confidential and for the user of 
only the individual or entity named above. If the recipient is a client, this message may also be for the purpose of rendering 
legal advice and thereby privileged. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that 
any retention, distribution or copy of this telecopy is strictly prohibited. If you receive this facsimile in error, please immediately 
notify us by telephone and return the original message to use at the address above via the mail service (we wil reimburse 
postage). Thank you. 

 



NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC 

99 Hudson Street 
DF 

COVER 
  

  

  

  

  

  

SH E ET 

To: 

Deborah Archer 

Sandra Del Valle 

Derek Douglas 

Chris Hanson 

Wesley Horton 

Marianne Engelman Lado 

Wilfred Rodriquez 

Elizabeth Sheff 

Martha Stone 

Philip Tegeler 

From: 

Subject: 

Date: 

Pages: 

Original: Will 

Message: 

Suite 1600 
New York, NY 10013-2897 

(212) 965-2200 

Company: 

NAACP Legal Defense Fund 

Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund 

NAACP Legal Defense Fund 

American Civil Liberties Union 

Horton, Shields & Cormer, P.C 

NY Lawyers for the Public Interest 

Greater Hartford Legal Assistance 

Community Renewality 

Center for Children Advocacy 

Connecticut Civil Liberties Union 

Dennis Parker 

Sheff Planning Meeting 

October 20, 1999 

3, including this cover sheet. 

WillNot  X 

FAX 
Fax #: 

212/226-7592 

212/431-4276 

212/226-7592 

212/549-2651 

860/728-0401 

212/244-4570 

860/541-5050 

860/527-3305 

860/570-5256 

860/728-0287 

Follow this transmission 

Confidentiality Note: The information transmitted in this facsimile message is intended to be confidential and for the user of 

only the individual or entity named above. If the recipient is a client, this message may also be for the purpose of rendering 

legal advice and thereby privileged. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that 

any retention, distribution or copy of this telecopy is strictly prohibited. If you receive this facsimile in error, please immediately 

notify us by telephone and return the original message to use at the address above via the mail service (we will reimburse 

postage). Thank you.