District lawyer: Selection process was unbiased
Brevard County commissioners sent a strong message Tuesday to the Brevard School Board and school Superintendent Brian Binggeli: The County Commission wants a halt to the school district’s plan to close three local schools to save money, and it supports local residents who filed a lawsuit
Monday seeking an injunction to stop the closings.
Monday seeking an injunction to stop the closings.
The school board last month voted to close Clearlake Middle in Cocoa, Gardendale Elementary on Merritt Island and South Lake Elementary in Titusville at the end of the current school year as part of a cost-cutting effort.
The lawsuit, backed by the Florida Civil Rights Association, alleges that closing these schools would disproportionately affect low-income and minority students.
Association, alleges that closing these schools would disproportionately affect low-income and minority students.
In its letter to Binggeli and School Board Chairwoman Barbara Murray, the County Commission said it “will be considering otherlegal options” at its March 19 meeting, and asked the school board to “take a step back, and reconsider the school closures in view of these recent events.”
options” at its March 19 meeting, and asked the school board to “take a step back, and reconsider the school closures in view of these recent events.”
The school district issued a statement Tuesday, indicating that “Brevard Public Schools is reviewing the filing with the 18th Circuit Court, and will comply with all legal proceedings as presented to the School Board.”
School district attorney Harold Bistline said in a statement that “we believe we have fully complied with all legal requirements in the decision to close Clearlake Middle School, Gardendale Elementary and South Lake Elementary. The process utilized was unbiased and based on capacity as determined by an analysis conducted by our Facilities Department. Issues such as minority status and free or reduced lunch calculations were not a part of the formula utilized to make these recommendations.”
Harold Bistline said in a statement that “we believe we have fully complied with all legal requirements in the decision to close Clearlake Middle School, Gardendale Elementary and South Lake Elementary. The process utilized was unbiased and based on capacity as determined by an analysis conducted by our Facilities Department. Issues such as minority status and free or reduced lunch calculations were not a part of the formula utilized to make these recommendations.”
The Rev. Glenn Dames Jr. of Titusville, who helped spearhead the lawsuit, said: “We’re ecstatic that the County Commission has voted to endorse the lawsuit filed by private citizens. It’s a wonderful victory, and it brings closer to what we desire, which is for the school board to stop, look and listen, and we hope that they will take this seriously.”
. It’s a wonderful victory, and it brings closer to what we desire, which is for the school board to stop, look and listen, and we hope that they will take this seriously.”
Dames, senior pastor of St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church in Titusville, said the commission’s action will help make the public more aware that “our children deserve a voice. Today, the county commissioners sent a strong signal ... that they are serious about this. It’s not an issue that is going away. Today, I think, the county commissioners said all children matter in Brevard County.”
deserve a voice. Today, the county commissioners sent a strong signal ... that they are serious about this. It’s not an issue that is going away. Today, I think, the county commissioners said all children matter in Brevard County.”
The vote to send the letter was 3-1, with Commissioner Trudie Infantini opposed and Chairman Andy Anderson absent. While supporting the lawsuit in principle, it did not have the four votes needed to approve either joining the lawsuit or filing its own suit.
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