County, OCPS Say Goodbye to Fed Oversight

After nearly half-a-century of fighting for the desegregation of Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), on Tuesday night, the School Board unanimously approved and signed off on a Settlement Agreement that does not rely on oversight by the federal courts or the retention of outside monitors to accomplish the goal of unitary status that is “fair, reasonable, adequate and equitable to all parties”.

The agreement, made between the plaintiffs, (styled Evelyn R. Ellis, et al) and the Orange County School Board and to which the NAACP is a party, sets out:

• Standards for the construction of schools which “provide facilities that are fully  adequate to support and provide a complete range of educational opportunities”

• Underscores the need for replacement projects to be completed on a timely basis, including Evans High, Oak Ridge High, Lee Middle and Orange Center Elementary School

• Identifies the schools slated for renovation, including Eccleston Elementary, Grand Avenue Primary Center, Pinelock Elementary, Wheatley Elementary, Carver Middle and Tangelo Park, among others

• Emphasizes diversity which is reflective of Orange County and Florida, in relation to recruitment of faculty and administrative staff

• Makes provision for reporting on progress as regards increased staff diversity, including in institutional, professional and administrative personnel at the school level

• Articulates guidelines for an extra-curricular activities policy

On August 2, earlier this year, Orange County Judge Conway issued a Final Order dismissing the case of Evelyn R. Ellis et al. vs. Board of Public Instruction of Orange County, Florida, indicating that the Orange County School District had achieved unitary status.  Conway went further to reject the proposed Settlement Agreement reached by the Parties and which had been approved by the Board on January 26, 2010.

The plaintiffs filed an appeal seeking to have overturned Judge Conway’s rejection of the Settlement Agreement and her Order declaring the District had obtained unitary status.  After the appeal was filed, both parties entered into settlement negotiations, the outcomes of which led to the Settlement Agreement signed off on Tuesday night.

See the Settlement Agreement HERE.