Friday, August 13, 2010

Judge throws out JCPS lawsuit over Kentucky school attendance law

This from C-J:

A Jefferson circuit judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by parents seeking to nullify the Jefferson County Public Schools' student-assignment plan by claiming that state law guarantees their children the right to attend their neighborhood school.

In his 12-page ruling Thursday, Circuit Judge Irv Maze rejected the plaintiffs', claim saying that state law allows parents to register their children with the school closest to their home — but it doesn't guarantee their children a spot at that school.

Maze said state law clearly reserves to school boards the right to “determine what schools the students within the district attend.”

“After considering both the plain meaning and the legislative intent, this court concludes that the Plaintiffs' interpretation is incorrect,” Maze wrote.

Jefferson County Superintendent Sheldon Berman praised the ruling in the latest challenge to a student-assignment plan he said “works for the vast majority of people.”

But that was little solace to the parents who had sued the district, at least one of whom sobbed in frustration in the courthouse after the ruling was handed out. They vowed to appeal the decision...

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