Attorney Holmes Adams discusses the Unitary status with the LMSD Trustees.

The Winston County Journal

Unitary status and possible millions in upgrades for school facilities where two of the main topics at the Louisville Municipal School Board meeting on January 15.

In a 4 -1 vote, the LMSD Board of Trustees requested board attorney Holmes Adams seek to have the school district moved to unitary status.

With the passing of the motion, the board requested that Adams discuss with the U.S. Justice Department and a Federal Court how to gain unitary status for the school and end the 35-year-old desegregation lawsuit against the district.

"A number of districts have moved to gain the unitary status," said Adams.

Adams named off several districts that had gained the unitary status. "Unitary" is a term courts use to describe a school system that has made the transition from a segregated or "racially dual" system to a desegregated or "unitary" system

"The original injunction and court order was to end the dual school system which has been accomplished," said Adams. "Residents of the district should see no change in the district if the school is granted unitary status."

Adams added, "This is mostly an administrative change." Adams noted the district would no longer have to file certain paperwork with the justice department if or when the Justice Department and a Federal Court agree that the District meets all the criteria for unitary status.

If the district receives a declaration of unitary status the pending 35 year-old Federal injunction would be dissolved and affirm that the LMSD is a school system in which the segregative practices of the former dual system are no longer evident and no longer affect current operations. The process for some districts has been as long as eight years from the time of talking with the Justice Department to the final hearing in federal court.

Following the unitary discussions, the trustees reviewed cost estimates from architect Shelton Jones who gave some general cost estimates on future repairs to the schools.

Jones estimated repairs to Louisville High School that included a new science lab, two new classrooms, entrance doors, and cafeteria heating and cooling could cost about $363,000.

Shelton noted that repairs to the LHS Stadium that included correcting concrete problems, new women's restroom, new track, added lighting and new visitor bleachers could cost about $1 million dollars.

"The stadium needs to be addressed," said Shelton. "It is a shame to let a structure deteriorate."

Next, Shelton discussed the $542,915 in repairs that Eiland Middle School needs, which included new lockers, new gym roof, resurfaced parking lot, new cafeteria heating and cooling, and painting.

Shelton continued listing the dollar amounts and main areas of repair for each school with Louisville Elementary at $266,000; Fair Elementary at $551,000; Nanih Waiya at $114,000; Noxapater at $211,000' and the Vocational at $135,000.

Board member Dan Parkes asked about several other projects in need of repair not listed under the estimates.

Superintendent Harry Kemp noted that these were just a few of the needed repairs and he just wanted the board to have an idea of the cost to begin such projects. He added that priorities for repairs still had to be determined and that the list from Shelton did not include many priority items that need to be addressed such as the boilers at several schools.

"This will get us started and give an idea of cost," said Kemp.

Parkes requested the board set a day and time to discuss the strategic plans of the school so that the repairs can be prioritized.

"We need to sit down and get the ball rolling on this," said Parkes.

The trustees then scheduled a March 31 meeting for the strategic planning.

In other matters:

€ Held an executive session to discuss a personnel matter with a parent.

€ Amended 1994 athletic rings policy on state championship rings to allow gate receipts from the championship playoff games to purchase Championship rings.

€ Held an executive session on possible litigation.

€ Made six staff recommendations.

€ Approved a student transfer in district.

€ Discussed bidding out of the cutting on Sixteen Section lands for three tracts.

€ Approved the district's Dropout Prevention Plan. (See future edition of the Journal for a look at the plan.)

€ Set the next meeting for Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m.