The Greenwood School Board has decided not to pursue getting out from under a desegregation court order that dates back at least 35 years.
The board voted unanimously Tuesday not to seek determination of unitary status for the school system - a decision it had been considering since November.
There was no discussion.
"Unitary status" means a school district has removed all signs of a segregated school system.
After receiving a letter from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, the board asked its attorneys to weigh the impact of being out from under the court order that regulates school district lines and other matters that could affect the racial composition of the schools.
According to fall 2006 figures, the Greenwood Public School District's enrollment is 92 percent black. Only one of its six campuses has a significant non-black enrollment - Bankston Elementary School at almost 50 percent.
The court order resulted from the federal government's lawsuits against Mississippi school districts forcing them to comply with a 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision finding segregated schools unconstitutional.
Tuesday's decision is the second time in the past four years that the school board has voted not to pursue removal of the court order.
The school district is moving forward in reinstating its General Education Development (GED) program, its curriculum and instruction director told the board.
If on target, the program should begin Monday, said Jennifer Wilson.
Experienced teachers have been hired, classroom materials have been purchased and plans for a computer lab are being formulated, she said.
The program has plans to bring in previous students who have completed the GED program as motivational speakers.
Twelve students from Greenwood Middle School have been chosen to participate. Remaining spots will be given to Greenwood High School. There will be 20 students in all, Wilson said.
In other business:
The school board unanimously voted in executive session to offer Superintendent Dr. Leslie Daniels a contract renewal. His current salary is $128,495. Any raises will be contingent upon the bill for teacher salary increases being enacted by the Legislature, said Board Chairwoman Margaret Clark.
Clark said Greenwood High School is still interviewing candidates for the position of head football coach. The high school is seeking a replacement for Sheldon Hodge, who resigned after the 2006 season.
Daniels said he is optimistic that the Legislature will fully fund the state's formula for public schools. A bill providing for full funding of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program has been passed by the House and now awaits action in the Senate.
"The superintendents in the state believe we're going to get full funding. We know we'll get the 3 percent teacher salary increase, and we'll get the $1,000 increase for assistant teachers," Daniels said. "We feel pretty good about MAEP funding."
Willie Young, district personnel director, said all but one district vacancy had been filled. A custodian is needed at Threadgill Elementary School.
