The dispute over two opposing school zone plans in the city of Huntsville, Alabama is headed for mediation.

The dispute stems from accusations that the city of Huntsville’s school districts are de facto segregated, with white students overwhelmingly attending some schools while blacks overwhelmingly attend others.  The city has protested that it officially desegregated in the early 1970s as per Federal law.  The Department of Justice did not agree and demanded a redistricting to comply with the law.  When the DOJ did not like the city’s proposal, it came up with its own, and the city sued.

U.S. District Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala has reviewed both plans, and found both to be unsatisfactory.  She then ordered both parties into mediation to work together for a zoning solution.  Judge Haikala noted that despite official desegregation, ‘...  approximately 40% of the district’s student population is African-American, but few of the district’s schools reflect the overall racial composition of the district.’  She also noted that demographic shifts in population have transformed previously integrated schools into mono-ethnic enclaves.

Judge Haikala did not like the DOJ’s plan either, stating the ‘...  plans pose risks to public school enrollment.’

Unable to endorse either plan, Judge Haikala chose to order mediation in hopes of creating a unified plan for the school districts.  She expressed optimism that the school district was not acting in bad faith and that it had the resources, once this issue was settled, to chart a very successful course going forward.