WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |Judge urges Metro, parents to settle rezoning case
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A federal judge told attorneys in the rezoning lawsuit against Metro schools there is a possibility either side could lose.
Federal Judge John Nixon urged the two sides to try to settle the suit out of court, and instructed them to meet Monday morning.
The judge's comments came at the end of three weeks of testimony in the case.
Some Nashville families filed suit against the city and the school system after the new zoning plan went into place at the beginning of this school year.
They claim it re-segregates the schools and they want it thrown out.
Their attorney, Larry Woods, called the judge's statement on seeking a settlement the twist in the case.
Woods said, "We've all got the same ultimate goal, good educational, good academic achievement for every student in the city. I think both sides share that goal so clearly, that means there's some possibility."
Frances Spurlock and her husband were the first to file the lawsuit against Metro.
"Well they were talking about closing schools," said Spurlock. "In my opinion, why not close the ones that are failing and then spread the kids out in schools that are not failing. That's my whole thing. Don't clump kids in the schools that are failing."
The rezoning plan closed four schools, Brookmeade and Cora Howe elementary schools, plus Martha Vaught and Ewing Park middle schools.
The last witness to testify in the case was Metro Schools Director Dr. Jesse Register.
Register began his job with the district seven months after the school board had approved the student assignment plan, but in time to oversee it's implementation.
Register told the court the rezoning impacted 3,200 Metro students.
He said through extensive efforts by mail, phone, and door to door visits to explain the school options to the students and parents involved, the district was able to contact all but 17 of them.
He did not rule out the possibility of settling the case out of court.
Register told reporters, "There's room for conversation there. I really don't know what the other side specifically would ask for, but what we're interested in doing is improving the quality of education for all of our young people."
The attorneys for each side could meet again in court Monday to try to settle their dispute behind closed doors.
Without a settlement, it could be weeks before the judge issues a ruling in the case.
Once he does, the side that loses could then appeal.
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