St. Landry Desegregation Suit Nears End

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — The decades-old school desegregation lawsuit in St. Landry Parish is expected to come to an end by Monday. The St. Landry Parish School Board and the U.S. Justice Department have already approved a settlement to end the case, but the agreement still needs the approval of U.S. District Judge Tucker Melancon. The Advocate reports the judge said at a court hearing Thursday that he expects to sign off on the settlement by Monday but still needs some time to do some "homework" on the details of the agreement. The proposed settlement requires the school board to continue policies that ensure a desegregated school system and to move forward with a science magnet program at the majority black Opelousas High School. The school desegregation case was filed in 1965.

(Information in the following story is from: The Advocate, http://www.2theadvocate.com)