Tangipahoa Board To Offer Desegregation Plan

AMITE, La. (AP) — The Tangipahoa Parish School Board will seek public input on cost-saving alternatives to the district's current desegregation plan, including the addition of more magnet programs, redrawing attendance zones and clustering schools.

Attorney Bob Hammonds tells The Advocate the board met in executive session for more than five hours Monday to discuss ways to effectively desegregate the parish's schools without spending an estimated $54.5 million to build three new elementary schools as required under a court-ordered desegregation plan.

Attorneys will turn the options into a draft outline for a proposal that will then be subject to a public hearing.

Hammonds said there is no set timeline for drafting the outline, getting input from stakeholders and seeking approval from U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle, who oversees the district's desegregation case.