LAFAYETTE, La. — A federal judge has ended the federal desegregation lawsuit against the Evangeline Parish School Board, ending years of federal oversight of the public school system in the parish.
The desegregation case spurred major changes over the past decade, including a 2004 school consolidation plan that closed high schools in the rural communities of Vidrine, Chataignier and Bayou Chicot.
U.S. District Judge Tucker Melancon told board members Wednesday that the turnaround at the school has been "remarkable."
The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/LSQGWH ) the main sticking point in recent years had been the poor condition of Ville Platte High School, which has a predominantly black student population. The board has spent about $6.2 million in upgrades since 2004 and launched several academic initiatives there, including a magnet program and Advanced Placement classes.
U.S. District Judge Tucker Melancon told board members Wednesday that the turnaround at the school has been "remarkable."
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Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com