U-46 Class Action Lawsuit

Here’s an article about a class action lawsuit against school district U-46 in which plaintiffs argue that minorities receive an inferior education, are bussed more, and more likely to be in overcrowded schools. Here is a letter to the editor from residents who helped redraw the school boundaries and call the suit “idiotic.” They talk about how careful they were trying to not discriminate when redrawing the boundaries by balancing the overcrowding/busing issues. Basically, if students are bussed it is to avoid overcrowding of the nearest school. If they are in an overcrowded school, it’s a result of trying avoid busing kids to another neighborhood.

This is a very interesting suit. I can see how the people who redraw the lines would be frustrated. At the same time, it doesn’t matter how pure their intent was. If the system-wide situation is that minorities have lower quality education, the intentions and efforts of the people who drew the boundaries is largely irrelevant. Even though the boundaries are being focused on, it’s more of a money issue than a boundary issue. If neighborhood schools had the money to expand, there wouldn’t be the busing vs. overcrowding issue.

If the policy research I’ve read is correct, minorities receiving the shaft in public education is a nationwide problem in almost every urban area. This could really end up being a landmark case. I’m trying to envision what the best result would be. If the problems are with poorer neighborhood schools, the answer would be putting more money into those schools–making them larger, hiring more staff, etc.–so they are no longer overcrowded and can handle all students living nearby which eliminates the need for busing.

Anything involving money is easier said than done. There is a limited amount of money, so money going to poorer neighborhood schools is money not going to other schools, which would probably receive quite the objection from more affluent (and influential) parents.

I’m sure the district isn’t excited about having to deal with the costs and hassle of a lawsuit, as well as the negative publicity. At the same time, maybe this will end up making history. This suit could push U-46 to develop more equitable policies that end up becoming a blueprint for public school districts everywhere. It will be interesting to watch this unfold and see if national education reform starts right in our own backyard.

Tags: busing, class action, discrimination, education, Elgin, IL, Illinois, law suit, minorities, neighborhood schools, overcrowding, public schools, schools, U-46
Filed under Elgin, education |