School closings in Jefferson Parish (La.) district may face legal challenge

From The New Orleans Times-Picayune: Recent decisions by the Jefferson Parish (La.) district to close campuses and forgo construction of an arts wing at one location violate a desegregation settlement agreement, the plaintiffs contend. Relatives of the original filers and the chairwoman of the system's desegregation task force argue the moves disproportionately affect black students.

MAY 2012...from The New Orleans Times-Picayune: The Jefferson Parish (La.) School Board has voted to close seven campuses. The campuses closing: Kate Middleton Elementary in Gretna, Homedale Elementary in Harvey, Rillieux Elementary in Waggaman, Maggiore Elementary in Metairie, Bunche Academy in Metairie, St. Ville Academy in Harvey and Waggaman School. In addition to the closures, many students will be assigned to different campuses to relieve crowding. Earlier.... MARCH 2012...from The New Orleans Times-Picayune: The Jefferson Parish (La.) school superintendent has proposed closing two additional schools, adding to an existing plan that darkens five campuses. The two new sites he tagged for decommissioning are Joseph Maggiore Elementary in Metairie and Homedale Elementary in Harvey. he first schools listed for closure were Kate Middleton Elementary in Gretna, Norbert Rillieux Elementary in Waggaman, Ralph Bunche Academy in Metairie, St. Ville Academy in Harvey and Waggaman School. After a first set of hearings on the first five school closures, school system officials learned about new costs that could burden their budget and decided that more schools would have to join the cut list.