Letter from Higgins to All Counsel RE: Copy of Court’s Opinion and Judgment
Public Court Documents
June 12, 1973

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Case Files, Alexander v. Holmes Hardbacks. Desegregation Plan and Report for South Pike Consolidated School System, 1969. 2af9bc4f-cf67-f011-bec2-6045bdd81421. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/6af86464-356c-4c9c-8d04-455f38754f05/desegregation-plan-and-report-for-south-pike-consolidated-school-system. Accessed August 19, 2025.
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fPPEND IX / » A DESEGREGATION PLAN FOR THE SOUTH PIKE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL SYSTEM A REPORT TO: THE SUPERINTENDENT BY THE DIVISION OF EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES UNITED STATES OFFICE OF EDUCATION ATLANTA GEORGIA 30323 . : : [] - ) | . » ! ’ ) DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE , REGIONAL OFFICE g Room 404, 50 Seventh Street, N.E. OFFICE OF EDUCATION Atlanta, Georgia 30323 AJ Mr. Thomas N. Spright ° | Superintendent £2 i Ye South Pike Consolidated Fea : gh School District : £3 : Magnolia, Mississippi 39652 - Dear Mr. Spright: In accordance with the July 5, 1969 order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, the following desegrega- tion plan for ending the dual school system in the South Pike Consolida- ted School District is submitted for your consideration. We wish tc express our appreciation for the cooperation received from you and your staff. . : Sincerely yours, - ht ™ ng : Af TA Kr Jesse“J. Jordan Senior Program Officer Equal Educational Opportunities \ TABLE OF CONTENTS Enrollment and Building Information Recommended Plan for Student Destirezarion Faculty Deresracation Transportation School Construction and Site Selection Majority to Minority Transfer Policy Attendance Cutside System of Residence Suggestions for Plan Implementation Resources for Assistance Building Information Forms DAE: |.F X - G 7 i DY O51 1TE BU] ee INFORMATION FOKM be ane, (Pr ¢ Loin 7 Cs, Dela oA ye aL RP Dui? Capacity Perm. ¥. Ports. Students z Comments Name of School 57/7 9; ’ or Lh folk STO S60 L330 re ei 240 ao 59094 150h Y Zire o-Se AHO (Q Ler (Ao [$0 2 ed pl Llib 360 4 ® 4 SOUTH PIKE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT 3 - RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SCHOOL DESEGREGATION Recommendations, 1969-70 In order to bring about a unitary school system in which schools are not identifiable by race, the following recommendations to be effective for the 1969-70 school year are submitted: Student assignment recommendations are approximate, since the pupil locator map used was made up for the 1967-68 school year, and numbers were adjusted to fit 1968-69 enrollment figures. Building capacities are based on data furnished by the school system, and checked by multi- plying the number of standard classrooms by 30. 1. That South Pike be used as the senior high school for grades 10-12 for the entire district.” Five (5) portables may be moved from Eva Gordon to accommodate the overflow, That Eva Gordon be used as a middle school, serving rss 5-9 for the district. That Progress serve all students residing in blocks 1N-9E, 2N-9E, 3N-9E, and IN-9E on the pupil locator map 7 That Lula Woods - Osyka be paired and serve all students, grades 1-4, residing in blocks 2N-8E and IN-7E on the pupil locator map. Grade placements in the buildings will be left to the local school board. That Magnolia - Fernwood will be paired to serve all students grades 1-4, residing in blocks 3N-7E, 3N-8E, and 2N- 7E on the pupil locator map. | ; | ® : | : : TRANSPORTATION: ag it 0ols are already receiving The lowest Percentage reported The district average is 76%, COMPOSITE BUILD: « INFORMATION FORM A J RE R 1. A. pe. AL d ¢ NIE 7 Rory (247-70 Jo wld Co i Grint Gd Skee 20 bod” Capacity | Students | : Name of School Grades Perm. W. Ports. W N Comments eloest] (Do - S70 RA | Woroese 5 porlibloss iter os So 566 530| FE 4) 149: HL i dn er — 4 J ou0 Li 7 0 Ne 4 wm 420 | J07 Jifcta il od /— | 21 2 bo = A SINE EE FTE UNITY Iti wab i ar ICTAR ‘this district at the beginning of the 1969-70 school year, Because of the number of children and schools in this district, and because of the Proximity of the scheduled opening of the school year, implementation district beyond the Opening of the coming . school term, the following steps could in our judgment be taken this fall to accomplish partial desegregation of the school System without delay, or with very minimal delay, in the scheduled opening of the school year, Student Deseore ation: —————=-==388regation l. That Eva Gordon School continue to serve Students in grades 2-4 d 2. That Progress Scho In addition, aij} Negro Students in grades 1 and 5 who 1jve in 3. That Magnolia Schoo] continue to serve students in grades 1-4, In addition, alj Negro Students in the first grade who live in 4. That Lyia Woods be paired with Osyka so that students in grades 1-4 will attend Osyka, and Students in grades 5-8 will attend Lula Woods, All Negro Students in grades 1 and 5 who 1ive in this attendance Zone will attend Osyka and Lula Woods respectively, Desegregation of Faculty and Other Staff: gat} . i Ta INFORMATION FORM anal :, : 3 ger 0 Count Ehisalidmy WERE ‘DALE: (oso iy Sofonisms, Slaps, Students N IT Comments Capacity Grades Perm. W. Ports. | $70 os JOO S57) /5col 7830) .87|/¢mtr72d fas re 240 1381 §9227 | | [80 17 240 | [2.5] Name of School i or v " TL ni » fe 4 a 6 20 i 1360 A90| 16/134 § ition adh ih cu Sunn NESS en pa | 1/9502 DESEGREGATI ON OF FACULTY AND OTHER STAFF 1. The Principals, teachers, teacher-ajdes and other staff who work directly with children at @ school shajj be so assigned for the School Year 1969.70 and subsequent years that in no case will the racial com- or white Students. For the 1969-70 school year the district shall assign the staff described above SO that the ratio of Negro to white Ceachers ijn each school, ang the ratio of other staff in each, are Substantially the Same as each Such ratio is to the teachers ang other staff, Fespectively, in the entire school system, : | The school district shall, to the extent Necessary to carry out this desegre- gation Plan, direct members of its staff as a condition of continued employ - ts. y 2. Staff members who work directly with children, ang Professional staff who work on the administratjve level will be hired, assigned, Promoted, paid, demoted, dismissed, and Otherwise treated without regarg Lo race, color, or nationa] origin, €Xcept to the extent Necessary to Correct discrimination, no staff vacancy may be filled through recruitment of a berson of ga race, color, or nationaj origin different frop that of the individuaj dismissed or . Prior to such gq reduction, the School board will develop or require the develop- ment of nNon-racial Objective Criteria to be used in Selecting. the staff member who is to be dismissed or. demoted, These Criteria shall be available for public inspection and shall pe retained by the schoo] district, The schoo] which he has had Substantial €Xperience within ga reasonably current period. In general ang depending upon the Subject matter involved, five years is such & reasonable Period, | | J A R © t o p o s e s * r e Iv. TRANSPORTATION The transportation system shall be completely re-examined regularly by the superintendent, his staff, and the school board. Bus routes and the assignment of students to buses will be designed to insure the transpor- tation of all eligible pupils on a non-segregated and otherwise non- discriminatory basis. Vv. SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND SITE SELECTION » “ The size and location of new school buildings and additions to existing buildings ¢an significantly affect desegregation now and in the future. All school construction, school consolidation, and site selection (including the location of any temporary classrooms) in this system shall be done in a manner which will prevent the recurrence of the dual school structure once this desegregation plan is implemented. | Yl. MAJORITY TO MINORITY TRANSFER POLICY Whenever there shall exist schools containing a majority of Negro students, this school district shall permit a student (Negro or white) attending a school in which his race is in the majority to choose to attend another school where space is available, and where his race is in a minority. |W) ATTENDANCE OUTSIDE SYSTEM OF RESIDENCE If the School District grants transfers to students living in the district for their attendance at public schools outside the district, or if it permits transfers into the district of students who live outside the district, it shall! do so on a non-discriminatory basis, except that it shall not consent to transfers where the cumulative effect will reduce desegregation in either district or reinforce the dual school system, i VIII. SUGGESTIONS FOR PLAN IMPLEMENTATION Successful implementation of desegregation plans largely depends upon local: leadership and good faith in complying with mandates of the Courts and the laws upon which the Courts act. The following suggestions are offered to assist local officials in planning for implementation of desegregation orders. Community 1. The Superintendent and Board of Education should frankly and fully inform all citizens of the community about the legal requirements for school desegregation and their plans for complying with these legal requirements. Phe? 9. The Board of Education should issue a public statement clearly setting forth its intention to abide by the law and comply with orders of the Court in an effective and educationally responsible manner, 3. School officials should seek and encourage support and understanding of the press and community organizations representing both races. 4. The Board of Education, or some other appropriate governmental unit, should establish a bi-racial advisory committee to advise the Board of Education and its staff throughout the implementation of the desegregation plan. Such committee should seek to open up community understanding and communication, to assist the Board in interpreting legal and educational requirements to the public. 5. The Superintendent should actively seck greater involvement of parents of both races through school meetings, newsletters, an active and bi- racial P.T.A., class meetings, parent conferences, and through home visits by school personnel. 6. The Superintendent and Board of Education should regularly report to the community on progress in implementing the desegregation plan. School Perscnnel 1. The Superintendent should provide all personnel copies of the desegregation plan and arrange for meetings where the personnel will have an opportunity to hear it explained. 2. The Board of Education should issue a policy statement setting forth in clear terms the procedures it will follow in reassignment of the personnel (see section on Desegregation of Scaffl. 7 2 Assignments of staff for the school year should be made as quickly as possible with appropriate followings by school principals to assure both welcome and Support for personnel new to each school, Invitations to visit school before the new school year begins should be offered. The Superintendent should see that a spe<¢ial orientation program is Planned and carried out for both the professional and non-professional staffs (including bus drivers, cafeteria workers, secretaries and custodians) Preparatory to the new school year. He should make every effort to familiarize new and reassigned staff with facilities, services, and building policies, and prepare them to carry out their important role in a constructive manner. The Superintendent should direct each principal to see that each teacher new to a school is assigned for help and guidance to a teacher previously assigned to that school. Each such pair of teachers should have an oppor- tunity to meet before the school year actually begins. The Superintendent should arrange an in-service training program during the school year to assist personnel in resolving difficulties and improving instruction throughout the implementation period. Help in doing this is available from the South Mississippi In- Service Consulting Center at Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It is important that, through personal Observations, Students see that nonprofessional service positions in their schools are not for members of one race and that harmonious working relationships can exist between members Of both races. The Superintendent and Board of Education should therefore take all necessary steps to assure that all staffs are bi-racial, ~ ® 0 1. Each principal should be required to appoint biracial faculty committees to study and, as necessary, revise each area of the curriculum to assure better learning opportunities for all stu- dents. This should become a continuous activity in each school and throughout the district. : Student evaluation policies and procedures should be reviewed continuously for areas in need of improvement and adjustment to encourage the educational growth and motivation of students, Remedial programs in reading and mathematics skills, as appro- priate, should be introduced and/or expanded for all students in need of special help. Such a program should supplement reg- ular course offerings and assignments of students. Grouping procedures should be reviewed and revised as necessary to assure they support the spirit as well as letter of desegre- gation plan the district has accepted responsibility for imple- menting in good faith. Participation in extracurricular activities by students of both races should be actively encouraged by administrators and teachers as a means for developing school spirit and a feeling of belonging. ; School organizations - student government, cheerleaders, musi- cal organizations, athletic teams must be operated on a nondis- crimindtory basis and should include students of both races. Guidance counselors should be oriented and urged to plan a leading role in successful implementation’ of the desegregation plan. The curriculum should be reviewed and, as necessary, revised to provide recognition of Negro history, culture and contri- butions to our society. Library books which deal with such subjects should be added to school book collections. Vocational education offerings should be reviewed and improved as a means of providing students of both races with education relevant to vocational interests and as a means of reducing dropouts. j Headstart or similar preschool programs for. children of both races should be implemented. € Use of Federal and Statisn education funds should be planned comprehensively for maximum educational benefit to all eligible children, : STUDENTS 1. 3. The Superintendent should direct each principal to hold special orientation programs welcoming students who will be new to a school, before the regular school year begins. The Superintendent should require each principal to see that students are frankly and fully informed about the desegregation plan and their responsibilities to help carry it out. Each principal should seek to establish rapport and communication links with new students to encourage mutual understanding and confidence. The. Superintendent should direct each principal to establish a student-faculty human relations committee representing both races to aid in the successful implementation of desegregation. All school staff and members of the student body should exert extra effort to assure. the full participation of all students of both races in extra-curricular programs, including when appropriate the provision of a "late bus" for those staying “after school to participate "in such programs. Each principal should request teachers to make themselves available to students outside of regular class for counseling and extra instructional help. in Piste te the regu or eH il § RESOURCE FOR AS SSISTANCE lar rescurcey for assistance to gcheol officials, districts developi out plans of deseg L upon tha following agencies for help: South Mississippi In-Service Consulting Center University of Southern M Southern Station Hattiesburg, Missi i Phone: 601) 268.7y50 et e mn » fl ssigeippi or rg p r Divisior of Equal Educuvionsal Opportunities 3, 8, Office of Education : ~~ ~~ 50 Seventh Street, N, E., Koom 404 -~ / \ Name of School =H BAA en ENNIS, ILS B53 + ATE Address Name of Principal SA ny I wan % ’ ov £4 SE a 0 OnE es State Rated Capacity S5¢ Maximum B WY ware BE (with out Portable and Temporary Current Student Envollment 5 £99 ne Negro Total Student Envollment Number o i Negro ’ PETE £1 BACT SE STII Enrollment by Grades | 6th an tL pan i en ¥ or Wl IN H W | N 13 winiwinluin 4 iN 7 WT I mia a TE SE SRE EE, Pr ro Neber Age of Number of Portable Classrooms I EAL BD TIC A CUD WAS Number of Temporary Classrooms Numbery Number VON Pap NY ~ 2 . . -~ EE - Ao ry » "3 ££ Attach EL : ge SL jel nrg 01% TNEODAYT PY § i 02 SERA £0; A] Name of 9 ”.) x qe iy nen MEINE ATA Pinoaen of You #9 $464 $1 ; : 30 15,2 State Rated Capaclty : ov B 5 Capaci; aD area (withot ut ut portables . Por table ond Tempo Current Student i aA 5 SWEAR FOU OSSD ty LRA E GTR CLR J a 1% 37rd 3 z 3 Humoer of ACN L.. < ’ Waite Other vofegstonal Personnel £) J a a ad Anite Tor ¥ all 17 a | 7. EE at Tad 2 a] - . - 3 Number dents Trananorla: = a = ; SOUR, A, ot IAL ABTNIOE. or P20 IRA , Sih lt = ¥ wy, 78 ‘ype of Construction 7 - es aay 53 - -— Le EN LG EI RE IC TAG J 1 = LEaBET00WMS i o - a > yw RAL Or L0G Be es ol SE BL R27 ea EY TE BA SC ITA Si DAN NNT IS BIEL UT AGT STEW Crd CRATES J Ge 80 gy 1 3 AL Ladi badd £ on or 100 L Sy La on S Lil >» i¢ tS 2 Teach [) 1d yn 1/ AC CA ILL SNE RAC: Pd 2A” bo 4 11% 2 ia) a EEE (APTN. 5. APE AP AIP 2 i % 4 NG, ne 7 Nn Ar 3 2 PASE CI AT . Cn OF YY 3 £0 C1 ey ESTO B ¢ A RA Waltce a « < SATE - h - y €) 4 A Be LE] La LG n J ET re - Bo Lo Nawe of School Current Total Studen | | San a x Fe 7 77 | | ’ 2 C 7 Edy RRSP i ~ £7 SO EA a ae 4 25" 7 Es hadi Ct EER LAE 20 | 22 OE 3 S A mi ath So NERC BR a Sy > non ER hd LGC lala ace Classroom: a TY an £2 [] “ ~ C [4 bh) yunbey o tac Y, 1 A 4 Number of Tempo Nunber of 0, ge Number of } BUILDING LiTfOEMALION Name of Scheol btddress Name of Principe a. PHOT, fo 2, Y. P Tt £ © NUL AST OQ Pe STING nent on State Rated Capac ae Mawimuxn Building Capsc a {id Lthout portables) Portable and Temporary Classrooms —d Current St : Envollment 5 White tal Student Eurollment ER I A AD YAS PN APU 3 ra an White en Negio Total Othex Professional Personnel ; ou | — iS : tal Enrcll lueni by Grades Ea ae <7 Bet oy ue 3 p /39 £3 Pr El) Kz 7 3 LL Il LB HAS [J I TR AN Ny ST > ae ad IME diumber of Students Age of Number of Portable Classrooms EGIL INS EI ECDC 6 AIT. Termes LIne” ION Gr 2 2ST ai Number of Temporary Classrooms Fumber of Square Feet in Building Number of Acres in Attach i gr FC arts ae > [} Be te cn ¥ without portables) | \ Be DO IY I EA SAT ~ = 3 io a ns } rid Ld 1503 LC [1 3) § by G ou De aml ants a= NE A I Lo . ot a) po pe hh hi be x JEL - 1men Cr BAT FF TN TT TL ~Envol o fw J | hy PA KN PA Pe ” BALL Gr OE TILED [2 N LEEBT OCH! ot ot. ET, - ory Fol p SAA OP— Sin y [FG arn meters Lain, or oS Tr ora? / AL - ment om wn 1 hool #4 1 } an 1 dn 1 po x ~ 4 wer Grades in Se Age of Building Number of h Nama of School Num? Total Stu Attach a Ja fe »- TLDING Name of School Prony (ra Address ‘Name of Principal. Grades State Rated Capacity Portable and Temporary Classrooms Current Student Enrollment Total Student Enrollment | Number of Teachers Other Professional Personnel ’ TWFORMATTON tly! Zl zit Zz, 2% Fa in. NurSor of Poruntiont ending Stations in School /-+ Maximum Building Capacity FEO ot, (without portables) £09 White 2/6 pe White PA fr 2 White Enrollment by Grades 5th] 6th] 7th| 8 oth | 10th Nl wlN|w[N[W ARIE Number Age of of Students Transported L7G Lar Building /f27- 34X35 Type of Construction JAL/CA 7 Number Number Number Number "Attach of Portable Classrooms of Temporary Classrooms of Square Feet in Building Z of Acres in School Site a list of the subjects or courses offered. ene TRE 8 TE i Ss Se a 4 OB a ® LiNcOLD CooL CP SAE EIA. AEN ANAL. MST I HA A EEE. apy CF MAP OF DTH PIKE SCOC- 15STRCT MAG POLI, / Mi1s5! SSL PP) TowooHiP¥ 1 ROVE CE NEc emotion) YPPRIED BY SCHook SUPE (TEN DELT Al a%s t IMLES — opny f Pf ROX | PIKE SCHOOL DisST2CT SOUTH ~ J 55 Lott 1E CE “HAL. A BE dd 1] 3-6 CRADLES I= 3-wWilTE -I§ MOE GLAPES [-3- WH TE 4 MAG GRADES H-L-WHE hh GRADES -/}- 4 be HITE = 5 GRALES [~L - PESLA- 53 FE GENGES j-fo- NEGRO~ & PHE GERDES 12-1» WMITE~ 2% 5 CRARDES 1-12- LttiTE- Bb 5p I 910, REGRO-2T EG | | te {~~ BEGCRC- LEG 1-6 - PECED~ 31 £6 | ‘" 7-2 -VELLL- | EG a | em s Ca va n ya m n es Te Se opm ery w 28 I if E GRADES [-3-LiIE - 3d ppg GRAPES H-LWNTE~2¢ F {GRADES T2-WINTE - 51, SP $ }-&- PEGRE - QC EC # 7} {2 --MELR20- A EG F E R » S — [} Sr Ym A Ree, \ 3 go - 7 wr A i GE a ™ : : ; di { Ju GE soot pee, 2) 3 a . ; 2 . i a N- nE { GRADES J-F ivi 3 2 v be pete GENDES (-3-leHiTE - YPIAG GRADES I-32 ~WHAE- WL hRG, § GRAPES CLADES 4. - Lire ~ 4 F Horaves 4-6 -WHITE=3 FERNLLD ERAOES 2 GRALES MLA pin eens ”- os “WHE |Q] SR GRADES (-L-UHNE - 37-F Ek GRAVES 1-¢- PECKD~30 Pr A GO BE XN CRADLES g-13=Lul MO dor EP GRADES Sop: - 35 SP Geno: 4 i-L ~-NLG2OD) - 3% ES it CLADED 1-12 oUiTE v » fs; a Be it = ~.. NEGR 20% £6 J GRADES |-l- REGEC- P09 -ELY 6£A OES: {-L- LREGRO- HG EC J ZL -_— —y :. ; 3 2-12 — 1 7 13 PEE -ag 3- cc) it )- 12+ PLGRD- SSE tl erases RE rm saa } lp PEC LO -30-PUE = 2 WHOE~ J5- mic ; a Erie —— RE I I vt ie RT LE Sst 5 VELL mam st A mn J N 3 oz vw’ \ ; Y AL TH O L 1 § x, ¥ A N T E l S PS S. Hd-l-PHTE- 3 F : -3-WHTE~L-MA >, Soon § QB - bTE 62 £ : [~6~ DEGLD - 54 A | PINADES ~b ~NEGRO- 12 IN} Graves 1-12 -WHTE~2Y sp }=F~ UME {ty o5r TIPAHLES = NHOE~ 1] 03) Sa {~{ - NEGRO- VTEC . $2300 5 Tope YP OA02S 1) Gatiind- $8 P| Campus SR ANDES T-a-bHE~ 33 SP} - PEL LD Salle LILAC }-G- NEGRO - Gi C6 25 Spring F pe NG cess (l- ot J 1 _vu.pr henmes Hi2- V. -85 Be D4A-tHTE~ £55. SP iL P42 ~ yo WY / A 7] - : Trt 3 . i] N o QI= Co FROM AE E Con 4. TY TANG! . pp ¥ BE A ye 4 0s 78 2 5 i] GRADES Fei 1SRE00 yi fr 1 CULES 714 \ Lo oa CANDLS I-b- WHITE - - Stir I- ir pte EL ed ASE FS re