Avoyelles Desegregation Nears End Of Oversight

ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) — A federal judge agrees that Avoyelles Parish's school district doesn't discriminate in the way it assigns staff and faculty, approving two of the "Green factors" the district needs to shed federal oversight of public education.

U.S. District Judge Dee Drell was to approve on Friday a third desegregation benchmark -- student extracurricular activities -- but was caught off guard by last-minute objections over how baton twirlers and cheerleaders are selected for high school teams.

The Town Talk reports Drell postponed approving student activities because of the sudden opposition.

He gave the school system 30 days to compose, introduce and get school board passage of a parish-wide policy governing how cheerleaders and majorettes are chosen.