After 44 years of failure, a declaration of war by the Arizona Legislature, and impending additional lawsuits and a taxpayer revolt, it is time for the parties to the TUSD desegregation lawsuit to sit down together, make reasonable compromises, and completely end the lawsuit. The plaintiffs must agree to end the lawsuit, in return for TUSD guarantees to achieve the best of what is possible.
What is not possible: 1) Racial balance of students and teachers in every school precisely matching the district population. 2) The magnet school program ever achieving racial balance. 3) Average academic performance of low income students matching that of high income students (because of family resources, not the schools).
What is possible: 1) Achieving a racially diverse student body in every school (if it takes busing to achieve this — do it). 2) Providing equal, high quality education to all students, not just those in magnet schools. 3) Providing continuing, effective outreach to increase the number of qualified minority teachers.
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Brooks Keenan
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.