[Imc] Call to action: Fight racism in the Champaign School District.

[Mike Lehman]

News Tips:

Here's a link to contact info for the federal court in Peoria. Of course
courts are notoriously close-mouthed when it comes to dealing with the
press, even if you're not from the IMC;>)
<http://www.ilcd.uscourts.gov/judges_P.htm>

My guess is to try to find out which law firm is handling things and ask
for comment there. John Lee Johnson will know this.

You can also go to the link on the left of the webpage linked above that
says "Public Access" to gain access to fed court records. There may also
be a lag in them being posted, which would give you an excuse to press
whoever is answering the phone at the courthouse in Peoria for a little
more info, if you determine that the decision hasn't been posted yet.
You have to register for this "Public Access", although it's free to
use. This might actually be the best short term link to the decision
that put the Champaign schools under supevision of the court. 
You damn sure haven't seen it in the News-Gazette (surprised?) but I
seem to recall hearing about it on WILL-AM580; maybe someone in the
newsroom there can steer you in the right direction.

Just some tips. I can't work the story itself. I have too many other
irons in the fire.
Mike Lehman

Sascha Meinrath wrote:
> 
> Hi everyone,
> 
> I just found out this evening that on Wednesday, March 6, 2002, there is
> going to be a Board of Education meeting at 5:30 p.m. at 703 S. New Street
> in Champaign.  At this meeting the Board of Education is going to attempt
> to fire Deloris Henry from her job as Assistant Superintendent for Equity
> and Education.  I have been working with Deloris for years now and she has
> been one of the most vocal supporters for addressing racial equity issues
> in the Champaign School System.  Right now, the entire School Board is
> White; and, as far as I know, Deloris is the only African American in the
> School District's higher administration (this for a school district whose
> student body is roughly 40% minority).
> 
> I am stunned that the Board of Education would be so blunt in its
> disregard for equity issues and so blatant in singling out the lone
> African American left in a major position of power in the school district.
> If you have never come to a Board of Education meeting before, if you
> believe in racial justice, or if you are concerned about the quality of
> education students receive in our local school districts, then this is a
> meeting you should absolutely attend.
> 
> This is a logical progression of the entrenched, systemic, institutional
> racism that is so prevalent in the Champaign School District.  The School
> Climate Research Team found massive racial inequities when we conducted
> our survey last year; the School District's own auditors found racial
> inequities in 1998; and the United States Department of Education's Office
> of Civil Rights found racial inequities when they audited the Champaign
> School District.  The latest numbers from this last school year document
> that in many areas, the discrepancies have INCREASED over the last year.
> 
> Without a strong show of solidarity, it is likely that this status quo
> will be reinforced and progress in addressing racial inequities will be
> set back substantially at tomorrow night's meeting.  Please come to this
> meeting, forward this message to people who care about this issue, and let
> the Champaign School Board know of your concern over their plans to fire
> Deloris Henry from her position as Assistant Superintendent for Equity and
> Education.
> 
> --Sascha Meinrath
> Concerned Community Member
> 
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