Monroe schools must file updates by Tuesday
Monroe City Schools must provide verified teachers rosters for each school by Tuesday.
Representatives from the the U.S. Department of Justice have held that the district has provided inaccurate information regarding the racial makeup of teachers and administrators in prior months. A hearing to determine whether the district should be held in contempt in complying with the consent decree was held earlier this month, and U.S. District Judge Robbie James said he would rule on the matter at a later date. A telephone status conference among Department of Justice attorneys and legal counsel for the school district and the superintendent was held Tuesday afternoon.
Read more: DOJ says information was inaccurate
After an Oct. 12 hearing, Scott Wolleson said his client, Superintendent Brent Vidrine, verified with either the principal or assistant principal of 19 schools that the teacher rosters are correct using an Oct. 14 validation date. According to minutes of the call, the rosters list "the self-reported race of each teacher except for those teachers whose self-reported race differed from the race listed on their birth certificates." Long-term substitutes were listed if the teacher has been gone for 10 or more days.
The district used the method that human resources directory Phedra Brantley testified to Oct. 12. The Department of Justice requested that Vidrine attest to the accuracy of the rosters.
"After some discussion, the court ordered that either Dr. Vidrine or the principals provide a declaration affirming under penalty of perjury that the rosters are accurate. Additionally, the District is expected to provide a threshold or summary report showing its calculations for each school," minutes from the telephone status conference read.
The district must provide the following information under seal: employee rosters, summary pages/threshold reports, declarations of Vidrine or the principals (or assistant principals) and any birth certificates.
Rosters must include:
- each employee’s name, race, title, teaching credential(s),
- the expiration date of any teaching credential, highest degree obtained, years of teaching experience (for teachers),
- years of experience as a school administrator (for administrators),
- whether the individual is rated as highly qualified,
- whether the individual is a long-term substitute and
- the last performance rating received.
Read more: MCSB contempt matter to be ruled on
Michaele Turnage-Young, a Department of Justice attorney, brought up issues with the Carroll High School medical magnet program, the effect of delayed compliance with the decree and the possibility of appointing a special master. James, after discussion, asked the district and the justice department to confer. If they cannot agree, the Department of Justice can file a motion to modify the consent decree.
The Department of Justice will reply no later than Nov. 14. James asked that only the information discussed in the conference be worked on rather than any other information requests from the Department of Justice or other consultants.
Another telephone status conference for attorneys is set for 1:30 p.m. Nov. 17.
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