Source: https://fr.scribd.com/document/371455365/Gardendale-Ruling
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 06:28:55+00:00

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And the United States intervened as a plaintiff.” Singleton v. 1969) (en banc).g.2d 836.. of Educ. See.. athletics and other extracurricular activities” as well as the merger of “student bodies. our predecessor circuit consolidated this case with twelve other desegregation cases and directed the district courts to require the immediate merger of “faculties and staff. 419 F.g. 1966) (Wisdom. Dilatory tactics and half-hearted efforts slowed the pace of desegregation. Vestavia Hills. Separate Sch. ..S. Jackson Mun..2d 385 (5th Cir.. Jefferson Cty.) (explaining that school-board plans had “little prospect of . Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 4 of 61 begin desegregating its schools in the 1965–66 academic year. 380 F. 372 F. e. Bd. Spurred by the mandate to “terminate dual school systems at once.” Alexander v. the district court entered a comprehensive desegregation order. Swann v. see also. of Educ. Homewood. 1. of Educ. black children in Jefferson County had yet to realize the full promise of Brown I.S. aff’d en banc. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Bd. transportation. After four predominantly white cities—Pleasant Grove. Dist.. 396 U. United States v. 402 U. e. 20 (1969).2d 1211. 19. 1217 (5th Cir. J. services. Holmes Cty. . 13 (1971) (discussing the “[d]eliberate resistance of some to the [Supreme] Court’s mandates”). 1967). 878 (5th Cir. ever undoing past discrimination or of coming close to the goal of equal educational opportunities”). By 1969. and Midfield—withdrew from the Jefferson County school system 4 . Bd. In 1970.
Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 5 of 61 and formed municipal school districts. . Bd. The order also established several requirements for municipal systems 5 . It declared that “where the formulation of splinter school districts. Jefferson Cty. school construction. our predecessor circuit directed the district court to “require the school board forthwith to implement a student assignment plan” that “encompasses the entire Jefferson County School District as it stood at the time of the original filing of this desegregation suit. And it provided that Jefferson County must pay municipal school systems that educate students from unincorporated areas of the County the ad valorem school taxes collected from those areas. of Educ. Id. have the effect of thwarting the implementation of a unitary school system. recognize their creation. And it directed the district court to “implement fully” its desegregation order. 404 (5th Cir. the district court issued the desegregation order that still governs the operations of the Jefferson County school system. (Stout I). In 1971. 1971) (footnote omitted). albeit validly created under state law. the district court may not .2d 403. including the Gardendale attendance zone.” Id.” Stout v. The order included a provision that permits some students to transfer from schools in which their race is in the majority to schools in which their race is in the minority. . and the transfer of students between attendance zones. and comprehensive policies for student assignments. The 1971 order established school attendance zones. 448 F. (footnote and citation omitted).
the Supreme Court ruled in Wright v. 1978). Only if they satisfy that “heavy burden” may a district court permit secession. (Stout II). The Court explained that the inquiry into whether a splinter district should be permitted to secede depends on its effect. In 1972. Bd. Id. Council of the City of Emporia that “a new school district may not be created where its effect would be to impede the process of dismantling a dual system. 714 (5th Cir.” 583 F. And in Ross v.” Stout v. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 6 of 61 to secede.2d 712. When the Pleasant Grove Board of Education refused to comply with the 1971 order and “accept its role” in the desegregation of the Jefferson County school system. 466 F. 451. at 462. our predecessor circuit made clear that “the proponents of the new district must bear a heavy burden to show the lack of deleterious effects on desegregation. Houston Independent School District (Ross II).2d 1213. 1214 (5th Cir. 1972). 470 (1972). including a requirement that a municipal system “make sufficient space available for black students from the county system” so that black student enrollment in a municipal system equals at least one-third of the white student enrollment in the new system.S. even if the splinter district has a benign motive: “The existence of a permissible purpose cannot sustain an action that has an impermissible effect.” 407 U.” Id. Jefferson Cty. The 6 . our predecessor circuit affirmed an order that the Jefferson County Board “take up the operation of the Pleasant Grove district schools. of Educ.
537 F. Jefferson Cty. (Stout III). at 1215. And it stated that “the former dual school system has been effectively dismantled and a unitary system substituted. our predecessor circuit acknowledged that Jefferson County had made “great progress” toward desegregation. at 803.2d 800. Predominantly white municipalities continued to secede and slowly. but the circuit court cautioned that federal supervision was still required. of Educ. three other 7 . . 801 (5th Cir.” Id. Even so. To this day. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 7 of 61 Fifth Circuit stressed that “[s]overeignty should be returned” to the Pleasant Grove Board only after it “demonstrates to the district court’s satisfaction by clear and convincing evidence that it is able and intends to comply with the court’s orders concerning its role in the desegregation of the Jefferson County School District. at 802. the Pleasant Grove Board has never satisfied that burden. Since the dissolution of the Pleasant Grove school system. . strengthening the curriculum to magnet levels in [two] facilities. it determined that the school system still “must continue under the scrutiny and surveillance of the district court.” and it directed that the district court consider “broadening and making more attractive its existing majority-to-minority transfer procedures and .” Id. but significantly. The circuit court affirmed a refusal to require busing between two predominantly white and black school zones as dangerous and infeasible. Bd. Id. 1976). In 1976. Stout v.” Id. change the demographic makeup of the Jefferson County schools.
The Evolution of the Gardendale Secession Movement The Gardendale secession movement started when the schools in that City were becoming racially diverse while the population of the City remained overwhelmingly white. more than 88 percent of the population was white and less than 9 percent was black. The cumulative impact of these municipal secessions and suburban growth has been dramatic. But by 2010. But by 2015. and Leeds—seceded from the Jefferson County school system. In 1996. the student population in Gardendale was 92 percent white and 8 percent black. only one of the four public 8 . As of 2010. the population of which was about 95 percent white as of 2010. And some municipalities later annexed predominantly white communities in the County. Trussville. The current population of the City has a similar demographic makeup. In 2000. B. And the secession of Trussville and Leeds alone led to about a 3 percentage point decrease in the white population and a 3 percentage point increase in the black population in the Jefferson County school system. the City of Vestavia Hills annexed the Cahaba Heights community. for example. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 8 of 61 predominantly white municipalities—Hoover. In 2003. the student population of the school system was approximately 43 percent white and 47 percent black. the student population in the Jefferson County school system was about 75 percent white and 23 percent black.
Snow Rogers Elementary School. Snow Rogers Elementary had a student population that was about 85 percent white and 5 percent black during the 2015–16 academic year. Gardendale Elementary was about 71 percent white and 24 percent black. Bragg Middle was about 67 percent white and 29 percent black. Snow Rogers Elementary was about 94 percent white and 4 percent black. Gardendale Elementary was about 75 percent white and 20 percent black. And in later years. In 2010. The racial diversity of the schools in Gardendale stems from the attendance of students who reside outside its municipal limits. and Gardendale High was about 75 percent white and 23 percent black. Bragg Middle was about 77 percent white and 21 percent black. And Gardendale High was about 71 percent white and 27 percent black. came close to mirroring the racial demographics of the City. and Gardendale High School— were less than 80 percent white and 20 or more percent black. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 9 of 61 schools in Gardendale. Students from the predominantly black community of North Smithfield/Greenleaf Heights constitute nearly 30 percent of the black student population at Bragg Middle and more than 25 percent of the black student population at Gardendale High. the schools continued to become more racially diverse in even starker contrast with the demographics of the City. Students from the unincorporated and predominantly white community of Mount Olive as well as 9 . The other three schools in Gardendale— Gardendale Elementary. Bragg Middle School.
§ 6316 (repealed 2015). the district court permitted only 12 students to transfer to Bragg Middle for each of the relevant years. Against this backdrop. In sum.S. from 2009 to 2016. Lucas became a member of the Board.C. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 10 of 61 students from the more integrated Town of Brookside and City of Graysville also attend the middle and high schools in Gardendale. After the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Gardendale schools are racially diverse institutions in an otherwise white enclave in large part because zoning and desegregation transfer opportunities permit other Jefferson County students to attend the schools. §§ 6301 et seq. For example.S. 20 U. and Chris Segroves. Segroves later became the president of the Gardendale Board. anywhere from 12 to 22 black students attended Gardendale High annually as transfer students. Tim Bagwell. required public school boards to permit students attending schools “identified for school improvement” to transfer to schools not so identified.. the district court also amended the 1971 order to permit some black students from less successful schools to transfer to Snow Rogers Elementary and Bragg Middle. Because of capacity issues. four individuals. Dozens of black students have taken advantage of the majority-to-minority transfer provision in the 1971 order to attend schools in Gardendale. David Salters. 10 . Chris Lucas. launched a campaign to create a municipal school system for Gardendale.C. And Bagwell and Salters served on an advisory board. 20 U.
and change the privacy settings. improve the academic quality of the schools. and you’ll see something totally different.” The page was publicly accessible. and they struggled to identify specific deficiencies in the County schools. the secession leaders expressed concern about the changing demographics of the Gardendale schools.” Bagwell alluded to those demographic differences when he listed among the benefits of a municipal system. and Salters created and maintained a Facebook page titled “Gardendale City Schools. but the secession leaders served as page administrators with the ability to approve new members.” But the secession leaders never met with representatives of the Jefferson County Board to discuss their grievances. Salters explained in one post that the population of the predominantly white City of Gardendale looked different from the more diverse student population at the Gardendale schools: “A look around at our community sporting events. Lucas.” The secession leaders argued that a separate school system would give the residents of Gardendale greater control over their children’s education. From the start. our churches are great snapshots of our community. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 11 of 61 As part of their campaign. “better control over the geographic composition of the student body [and] protection against the actions of other jurisdictions that might not be in our best interests. Bagwell. A look into our schools. Segroves testified that he “had no 11 . and permit Gardendale “to control [its] own revenue stream. delete posts.
our teachers and our resident students. .” One online participant put it more bluntly: “[D]id you know we are sending school buses to Center point [sic] and busing kids to OUR schools in Gardendale. a smaller system with individual local control.” When asked to identify “specific changes that [he] would make if [Gardendale] were allowed to separate.” And Bagwell stated that “at least historically in many areas. as well as from Smithville!” That 12 .” “They consume the resources of our schools.” particularly students from the predominantly black community of North Smithfield. Salters stated in a Facebook post that “non-resident students are increasing at a [sic] alarming rate in our schools.” The secession leaders and others frequently blamed “non-residents. In response to a suggestion that racial concerns were animating the movement. historically they tend to perform better academically than larger systems.” Salters replied. . for allegedly draining resources from the Gardendale schools.” He stated that he would “welcome those students. “Just overall improvements.” He added that a municipal school system “seems to be a component for a vital community with higher-than-average growth and desirability. general improvements of education which are reflected in the size of the school system. including Alabama. serving on the [Gardendale] [B]oard. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 12 of 61 involvement in the schools in Jefferson County prior to .” but only if they “move to Gardendale or pay a transfer fee. then go home” without “contribut[ing] financially.
For example. about 33 percent of Center Point was white and 63 percent was black. “We are busting at the seams and can’t continue on this path!” Salters expressed similar concerns: “We are using buses to transport non-residents into our schools (without additional funding) from as far away as Center Point (there’s your redistribution of wealth). but by 2010. “This is about a community wanting to progress. secession leaders warned residents that if they failed to act. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 13 of 61 participant stated that some of the transfer students “have been bused here for years due to the desegregation from decades ago and that should have already been changed because we have a very diverse population now in our area. And an online participant asked. We don’t want to become what” Center Point has become. maybe even Pinson or Huffman and think about how quickly an area’s demographics change. a predominantly black community that used to be a predominantly white community and has no municipal school system. at a public meeting. not regress. In 1970. Center Point was over 99 percent white.” Secession supporters frequently derided the City of Center Point.” 13 . Salters stated. Gardendale would follow a similar trajectory.” The participant said. When comparing Gardendale to Center Point.” She added. “It likely will not turn out well for Gardendale if we don’t do this. “[W]ould you like to live in Center Point or Adamsville?” She “encourage[d] [another online participant] to ride around those areas.
2) Would Gardendale be required to bring in minorities from outside of the municipal boundaries to achieve some sort of quota? No. the secession leaders touted the predominantly white community of Mount Olive as a desirable area to be included in the new school system. The idea is that it might include an expansion to include an annexation of certain parts of Mount Olive. Eventually. . but that Gardendale might annex Mount Olive: 1) Will kids in North Gardendale (who may currently be zoned for county schools in Morris) be zoned for a city school system? Yes.” Lucas explained that “[a]t the end of the day. Indeed. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 14 of 61 In contrast with their comments about Center Point. . the secession leaders and others regularly discussed the status of Mount Olive. [city officials have] got 14 . . and the council . and [they] got their backing because any kind of official actions would obviously have to occur through the city. The school system is for residents of Gardendale (whatever those boundaries end up being and whatever that racial make-up is). Lucas contrasted the intended treatment of Mount Olive with that of “minorities. . All kids within the municipal boundaries of Gardendale would go to schools within the new system. he explained that minorities not residing in Gardendale would not be students in the new system. the secession leaders “began having conversations with the mayor . In a post on Facebook..” In response to a question about the impact of “[f]ederal desegregation laws” on the proposed secession. though practical obstacles related to the local fire district ultimately thwarted their intended plans. and then the city commission.
the Gardendale City Council commissioned Dr. Ira Harvey to study the feasibility of a Gardendale school system. Harvey’s conclusion stemmed. the high school currently serves students who reside in about five different high school zones. which though located in the City of Gardendale was financed and constructed by Jefferson County. Warren Pouncey. from his determination that the municipal school system would acquire debt-free the $51 million Gardendale high-school facility. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 15 of 61 to drive the official efforts.” According to Lucas. and the parties agreed that the high school would serve as a regional educational facility with a career technical program to foster voluntary desegregation by encouraging high-school students to enroll in programs outside of their zoned schools. but it really became a ground swell of a movement and that was how the whole idea was born. he and Salters “put the mayor and the council in a head lock until they came to their own conclusions that the school system had to happen. 15 . Harvey concluded that the secession was possible based on estimates that included students from predominantly white Mount Olive but did not include students from predominantly black North Smithfield. Dr. in large part.” In October 2012. According to the Jefferson County superintendent. The siting of the school was proposed by the Jefferson County Board to the plaintiffs and the United States.
FOCUS Gardendale circulated a flyer that depicted a white elementary-school student and asked. In September 2013. “Which path will Gardendale choose?” It then listed several well-integrated or predominantly black cities that had not formed municipal systems followed by a list of predominantly white cities that had. FOCUS Gardendale existed to raise funds and to lobby for higher property taxes to support the proposed school system.” The campaign by the secession leaders succeeded. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 16 of 61 While Harvey was performing the feasibility study. and the citizens of Gardendale 16 . The flyer described the predominantly white communities as “some of the best places to live in the country. the secession leaders formed a nonprofit entity called Future of Our Community Utilizing Schools (FOCUS) Gardendale. the City Council approved a five-mill ad valorem tax.
” Id. or hired a black administrator. the Council adopted an ordinance that “established a public school system for the City of Gardendale. the Council appointed the first members of the Gardendale Board. In 2014. authority and dut[y]” to. § 14-4. See Ala. the five members selected were all white. He stated that about the same 17 . could include only Gardendale residents. Code § 16-11-2(b).” Gardendale. none of the school districts where he has previously worked was more than 15 percent black. Patrick Martin to serve as superintendent. When he sent the Gardendale Board an email update to help it “understand the lens through which the Plaintiff Parties may view [the] [s]eparation. Code § 14-1 (2014). among other things. Martin had no prior experience operating under a desegregation order. The ordinance also created a Board of Education and vested it with the “power. and over his 17-year career as an administrator and educator. Ala. under state law. which. worked with a black teacher. “maintain and do all things necessary and proper for the management of the Gardendale City School System. he has never hired a black teacher. That same year.” he quoted a book he was reading that compared the income distribution of black people in 1970 and today. to be known as the Gardendale City School System.. Although the Council received applications from black residents of Gardendale. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 17 of 61 later voted on a referendum to impose an additional five-mill tax to fund the school system. Alabama. The Gardendale Board immediately hired Dr.
according to the book. it submitted a plan to the district court in December 2015 in support of its motion to secede. including students from North Smithfield and other surrounding areas. Segroves. and a stipulation that the Gardendale Board would not provide transportation to transfer students. Like the earlier one.” Superintendent Martin drafted a secession plan in the fall of 2014. annual reapplications for transfer. as president of the Gardendale Board. Afterward. Superintendent Martin’s plan permitted racial desegregation transfer students to attend the Gardendale schools. On a redline version of the plan. “Legal team to review and confirm its applicability/appropriateness for GBOE [Gardendale Board of Education]” next to the racial desegregation provision. questioned the need for racial desegregation transfers. but it conditioned transfer opportunities on space availability. would be phased out of the Gardendale municipal system over a period of 13 years. he wrote. Although the Gardendale Board never formally approved any plan. “[m]uch of the progress that was the source of such optimism a generation ago has been lost in the current generation. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 18 of 61 percentage of black people live in poverty today and that. the plan submitted to the district court proposed redrawing the school attendance lines at the municipal boundaries of Gardendale 18 . An early plan provided that all of the non-resident students who currently attend the four schools in Gardendale. tuition payments by means other than personal check.
Bagwell defended on 19 . But the plan eliminated entirely the racial desegregation transfer provision. In fact. The Gardendale Board vaguely alleged in its motion to secede that “North Smithfield Manor and Greenleaf Heights students will be able to attend Gardendale Schools for the indefinite future. many of the non- resident students from the Gardendale schools. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 19 of 61 and eliminating. provided that the County Board or the tax collector for Jefferson County shall pay to the City Board the ad valorem school taxes collected from the North Smithfield Manor and Greenleaf Heights communities. The plan provided that North Smithfield students in kindergarten through twelfth grade “shall attend the Gardendale Schools on the same basis as Gardendale Students. Superintendent Martin declined an invitation to attend North Smithfield Community Civic League meetings to discuss the proposed secession. in part. And although Martin testified that he added the provision.” he also testified that the change was motivated by a desire to “honor the [desegregation] order.” But the Gardendale Board did not consult with the parents of North Smithfield students before adding this provision. because of “the importance of educational continuity. over the course of a 13-year transition period.” Some supporters of secession expressed their displeasure at the prospect of allowing any non-residents to attend the municipal schools.” The plan provided no transition period for these students.
The extent to which fair has anything to do with it depends on how you weigh your priorities in deciding whether it is too bitter a pill to swallow or if the ultimate treatment goal.” the Gardendale Board also filed a complaint in state court requesting that the state court direct the Jefferson County Board to relinquish control of the Gardendale schools. separation. pill” as something that weighed against the “ultimate . 2015. the Gardendale Board filed a motion to operate a municipal school system and attached the 2015 proposed secession plan. On December 11. . and two parents from Mount Olive moved for limited intervention to oppose the secession. technical. Although counsel for the Gardendale Board represented that he understood that “every aspect of [the] operation [of the proposed school system] would have to be submitted to the [district] [c]ourt for review. 2015. 20 . tactical decision aimed at addressing a recognized road block to breaking away. i. C. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 20 of 61 Facebook permitting the attendance of North Smithfield students as “a specific. . The district court later enjoined the state lawsuit. . The Proceedings in the District Court On March 13. goal” of secession: You and I may not think that it is particularly fair to accept an out-of- district area not subject to our control or taxation as a price to pay to gain approval for separation. and we would be within reason to feel that way. Black children who currently attend Jefferson County schools were substituted as plaintiffs in the action and opposed the secession.” And he later described that “bitter . . the Town of Brookside. And the City of Graysville. is worth it.e. the Gardendale Board moved to intervene in this action.
Superintendent Martin joined representatives of the Department of Justice and others for a tour of the schools in the Jefferson County system. achieved full unitary status for the [district] [c]ourt to be able to rule on [the] motion to be allowed to separate. “[I]t is [not] necessary for the [district] [c]ourt to decide whether or not the county has. Counsel for Gardendale stated. the district court made two findings of fact. we need to do everything to make sure we are not lumped into that process.” And about a year later.” When the district court ruled on the motion by the Gardendale Board to operate a municipal school system. it found that “Gardendale ha[d] not established that its separation will not impede Jefferson County’s effort to obtain a court order dissolving the . . Martin opined in a “Weekly Board Update” to members of the Gardendale Board that “if Jefferson County really does aim to gain Unitary Status there is going to be an excessive amount of work to be done across the entirety of the county and . . After the site visit.” Second. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 21 of 61 The Gardendale Board sought immediate review of its motion to secede even though the district court was in the process of determining whether judicial supervision of Jefferson County continued to be necessary. First. in fact. desegregation 21 . it found that the Gardendale Board violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because “race was a motivating factor in Gardendale’s decision to separate from the Jefferson County public school system. . .
which created a Gardendale attendance zone that includes North Smithfield and provides for desegregation transfer opportunities. and they worry that Gardendale. most of the transfer students attending the Gardendale schools were desegregation transfer students. It found that “some Gardendale citizens are concerned because the racial demographics in Gardendale are shifting. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 22 of 61 order. The district court found that concerns about the “geographic composition” of the student bodies in the Gardendale schools could be traced to the 1971 desegregation order.” The district court found that the supporters of secession from the outset acted with a racially discriminatory purpose. The district court also explained that although at least one Facebook comment ostensibly blamed the No Child Left Behind Act for capacity and other issues at the Gardendale schools.” But the district court then sua sponte invoked its equitable authority to craft a new secession plan based on “a number of practical considerations. may become a predominantly black city.” The district court found that they “prefer a predominantly white city” and support a municipal school system because it would allow them to eliminate non-resident black students from the Gardendale schools. The district court found that the secession leaders preferred that the Gardendale schools serve only the predominantly white students that reside in Gardendale and Mount Olive. like its neighbor Center Point. So the children “who look ‘totally different’ from the children who attend churches in Gardendale or play on ball 22 .
.” Different versions of the secession plan imposed conditions that the district court “reasonably infer[red]” were “designed to minimize or eliminate racial desegregation transfers. which would effectively eliminate Gardendale Elementary and Bragg Middle as potential transferee schools.” The district court found that “[t]his official action—or lack thereof—dovetails with the separation organizers’ expressed interest in eliminating 23 .” they had to “translate their grassroots effort into official action. . Earlier drafts conditioned transfer opportunities on space availability. and transfer students from areas like Center Point who attend Gardendale schools pursuant to the . desegregation order. of his draft transfer policies the Gardendale Board ultimately would be willing to implement. if any.” The plan attached to the motion to secede would have eliminated all racial desegregation transfer students. And the last plan submitted to the district court provided that transfer opportunities would be provided “subject to space availability” and that transportation would not be provided “unless required by federal courts. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 23 of 61 fields there are students from the North Smithfield community . .” The district court found that the secession leaders recognized that if they wanted to “maintain the geographic integrity of the Gardendale zone. .” The district court explained that none of these plans had been approved by the Gardendale Board and that Superintendent Martin was “unable to say which.
the Gardendale Board would condition the attendance of North Smithfield students on the remittance of ad valorem tax dollars from Jefferson 24 . tactical decision aimed at addressing a recognized road block to breaking away” confirmed the motivation behind that decision.” The district court found that the treatment of the North Smithfield students in the various draft plans suggested that the Gardendale Board would permit those students to attend Gardendale schools only if required by a federal-court order. And even if the district court ruled that the order still governs secessions. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 24 of 61 from the [Gardendale] schools . .” If the district court ruled that the order no longer governs municipal secessions. Even though North Smithfield students have attended the Gardendale schools since 1971. . technical. the Gardendale Board sought to exclude them entirely in an early draft of the secession plan. students who are bussed into Gardendale from other areas of Jefferson County. The district court also found that the Gardendale Board had not voted on a plan because it “ha[d] been waiting to see whether its attorneys could persuade the [district] [c]ourt that the 1971 desegregation order does not govern Gardendale’s separation.” And comments referring to the change in the December 2015 plan as a “specific. then the Gardendale Board would not need to ensure any racial diversity in its schools. The Gardendale Board “recalculated after it realized that the elimination of the North Smithfield students might jeopardize the separation effort.
It explained that Stout III used the term “unitary” to describe student assignments in Jefferson County.” The district court found that “the Gardendale Board is trying to evade the [district] [c]ourt’s desegregation order because some citizens in Gardendale want to eliminate from Gardendale schools the black students whom Jefferson County transports to schools in Gardendale. And it rejected the argument that “desegregation orders are outmoded” because “age alone does not render the  order unenforceable. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 25 of 61 County because the desegregation order provides the “mechanism that makes those tax dollars flow to Gardendale.” The district court rejected the argument of the Gardendale Board that our predecessor circuit ruled that Jefferson County had achieved unitary status in Stout III.” In other words.” It also explained that it “reasonably infer[red] from Gardendale’s litigation strategy and from the Superintendent’s statement that Jefferson County has to do ‘an excessive amount 25 . a predominantly white community. to attend the Gardendale schools. the North Smithfield students “would have no assurance that [the Gardendale Board] would allow them to continue to attend Gardendale schools. the Gardendale Board refused to “ma[k]e a meaningful. even though the secession leaders originally planned to permit students from Mount Olive.” So if the desegregation order were dissolved in the future. not the status of its desegregation efforts. binding commitment to the children in North Smithfield.
the overall student population in the 26 . The district court found that the secession of Gardendale would impede the desegregation efforts of the Jefferson County Board in three ways. it considered the “post-separation racial demographics.” The district court found that a new school system would likely have a higher percentage of white students than the statistics offered by the Gardendale Board suggest because predominantly white communities likely would be annexed by Gardendale. it ruled that the “one-third requirement” that prompted the inclusion of North Smithfield in the secession plan was unenforceable under current law because it involved an unlawful racial quota. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 26 of 61 of work’ to fulfill the obligations of the desegregation order that Gardendale does not genuinely believe that Jefferson County currently is eligible for a release from federal supervision. The district court also acknowledged that the impact on the Jefferson County school system “may seem insignificant at first blush.” But although the district court determined that the 1971 order was still in effect. First.” It acknowledged that “[b]y Gardendale’s numbers.” It found that if Gardendale seceded and the new school system included only Gardendale students. the municipal system will be more desegregated at the conclusion of the [transition] period” because the Gardendale Board will “phase out more white students than black students.” But it found that the transition period “makes the ultimate racial composition of the Gardendale district difficult to forecast because so much may change over 13 years.
demographic. The district court stressed that middle and high school students. It explained that the Jefferson County Board invested in the magnet program in the high school and located it in Gardendale to encourage voluntary desegregation and satisfy its obligations under the 1971 order. it would lose the 27 .8 percent more black. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 27 of 61 Jefferson County school system would become 1. would be forced to attend schools that are between 85 percent and 99 percent white or black. in particular.” It found that the “series of municipal separations in Jefferson County has repeatedly shifted the geographic. If the Jefferson County Board were to forfeit the high school facility. and it found that its loss would cause the Jefferson County Board to have fewer funds to invest in other facilities and programming. And if North Smithfield students were zoned for the Gardendale schools. the Jefferson County student population would become 1. Second.5 percent more black. and economic characteristics of the Jefferson County district. the district court underscored the importance of Gardendale High to the desegregation efforts of the Jefferson County Board. But it underscored the “cumulative impact of municipal separations and annexations on Jefferson County’s ability to fulfill its obligations under the desegregation order. making it difficult” for the Jefferson County Board to comply with the desegregation order and for the district court to evaluate its compliance. And it found that the “[t]he direct impact of the separation” would be to force displaced students to attend more segregated schools.
Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 28 of 61 use of this important “desegregatory tool. If desegregation transfer students could no longer attend those schools. and the Gardendale Board never voted on any plan that would give North Smithfield students some meaningful assurance that they could continue to attend the Gardendale schools.” And it explained that the Gardendale Board not only failed to disavow those messages of inferiority but instead reinforced them. black students might be less willing to transfer at all. the district court explained that the words and actions of the secession leaders and the Gardendale Board “communicated messages of inferiority and exclusion” to black schoolchildren. It quoted the “belittling language of exclusion” on the public Facebook page. he ignored reports that Gardendale residents were upset that North Smithfield students would be allowed to attend the Gardendale schools. It described the FOCUS Gardendale flyer that “ask[ed] Gardendale voters if they would rather live in an affluent white city or a formerly white city that now is well-integrated or predominantly black. Third. The district court found that 28 .” And the district court added that the other schools in Gardendale have also “played an important role in Jefferson County’s desegregation efforts” because their location makes it “relatively convenient” for black students to take advantage of desegregation transfer opportunities. The Gardendale superintendent never conferred with the parents of North Smithfield students even though he was in regular communication with Gardendale residents.
to the extent practicable. given the evidence of racial motivation in this case. 29 . permitting the secession would allow the district court to “tailor supervision to the particular needs of the county district and the municipal district. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 29 of 61 “[t]he messages of inferiority in the record in this case assail the dignity of black school children. and it listed four “practical considerations” to support its decision. Gardendale families and students “may blame students from North Smithfield for Gardendale’s inability to operate a municipal system.” In contrast. the district court sua sponte devised and permitted a partial secession that effectively amended the 1971 desegregation order. it explained that if it prohibited the secession.” Third. and it stated that it “would be reluctant to [release Jefferson County from federal supervision] if the Gardendale zone remains in the Jefferson County district.” Despite finding that the Gardendale Board sought to secede for racially discriminatory reasons and that the secession would impede the desegregation efforts of the Jefferson County Board. First. it explained that it had to consider the interests of the students and parents in other parts of Jefferson County.” And fourth. it noted that it “may consider the interests of” students from Mount Olive and the other communities that would be directly affected by the secession. it stated that it “must. honor the wishes of parents who support a local system simply because they want greater control over their children’s education.” Second.
” The district court then explained that it would consider a renewed motion by the Gardendale Board for the operation of all city schools. The district court also directed counsel for all parties to develop and submit to the district court a proposed desegregation order “tailored to the specific circumstances of the Gardendale City Schools System. The plan would either place Gardendale High under the control of Jefferson County or place the high school facility in “an anticipated K-12 Gardendale district. 30 . The Jefferson County Board must retain the middle and high schools until the district court orders otherwise.” in three years if the Gardendale Board operated the two elementary schools “in good faith compliance with the anticipated desegregation order. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 30 of 61 The district court permitted the Gardendale Board to operate the two elementary schools in Gardendale and stated that the schools must be zoned for students residing within the Gardendale City limits. Elementary students from North Smithfield must be zoned for another Jefferson County elementary school. “Kindergarten through 12.” In that case.” And it added that the proposal should “redraw the lines for Snow Rogers and Gardendale Elementary to address capacity issues at Gardendale Elementary.” The district court ordered counsel for all parties to develop a proposed facilities plan for the students attending Bragg Middle and Gardendale High. the Gardendale Board would have to make an “appropriate payment” to the Jefferson County Board to help fund another facility.
The district court also ordered the Gardendale City Council to appoint at least one black resident of Gardendale to the Gardendale Board within 60 days. . The district court reasoned that it could not rely on its finding of a discriminatory purpose to prevent a future secession because it “must weigh the possibility that the plaintiff class would not succeed” in seeking “appropriate judicial review and relief” in the 31 .” But because the 1971 order was “45 years old. would be subject to federal supervision for years. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 31 of 61 And the Jefferson County Board must permit middle and high school students from North Smithfield to attend a school of their choice for the 2017–18 academic year. including Gardendale. the [district] [c]ourt decided to place the Gardendale Board under a new desegregation order that creates a fresh start for federal supervision of all aspects of the public schools in Gardendale. the district court reasoned. the residents of Gardendale could later try again to secede after the 1971 order is dissolved. the United States. After the plaintiffs moved the district court to reconsider its order. and federal oversight of the Jefferson County Board of Education may be nearing an end. . The district court stated that prohibiting the secession might have been appropriate if it had “recently” issued a desegregation order and “kn[e]w that the [C]ounty. the district court issued a supplemental opinion that defended its decision. The plaintiffs. .” Without that “new” order. and the Jefferson County Board must then submit a joint proposal for the permanent zoning of the students.
give the Jefferson County Board certainty. The district court maintained that its order was tailored to remedy the constitutional violation by the Gardendale Board and restored those harmed to the position they would have occupied had the violation not occurred.” It later stated that it must consider the “message” that it will send to black parents if it prohibits the secession and forces them to choose between “having their African-American children attend a public school system 32 . The district court also explained that it was concerned about the resentment North Smithfield students would experience if it enjoined the secession. and it stressed that North Smithfield students would now benefit from the ability to choose the school they attend. allow the residents of Gardendale and Jefferson County to “heal from this dispute. It defended its decision to consider the motivations of Gardendale residents who supported the secession for nonracial reasons on the ground that “the residents whom the [district] [c]ourt had in mind are African-American. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 32 of 61 future.” The district court gave special weight to the interests of black Gardendale residents who supported the secession. It stated that its order would reduce costs to the Jefferson County Board.” and send a message “that any community contemplating separation at the expense of Jefferson County’s desegregation efforts will pay a high price and will have no guarantee that the community will be able to separate.
It explained that although “it does not have a tool available that will enable it to erase the message of inferiority conveyed by the conduct of the Gardendale Board. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 33 of 61 that these parents consider deficient or of moving to a municipal system elsewhere in Jefferson County that will give these parents the control that they desire.” The district court also revisited its finding that the secession would impede the desegregation efforts of the Jefferson County Board. it stated that its order would create. including Mount Olive and North Smithfield. It cited the requirement that Jefferson County retain control of the high school or receive an “appropriate payment. if implemented. a student population “more diverse” than the current student populations of the Gardendale middle and high schools. “Although the [district] [c]ourt did not explicitly order” that solution.” And it stated that it had “unambiguously signaled that it envisions the creation of a new middle and high school zone comprised of students” from a number of surrounding communities.” its order mitigated the harm from the loss of Gardendale High and the displacement of students that currently attend Gardendale schools. In response to the plaintiffs’ argument that the district court was bound by precedent and the law-of-the-case doctrine to deny the motion to secede. It stated that Wright overruled the holding in Stout I that a district court must prohibit a secession if it finds that the secession will impede the desegregation efforts of a 33 . the district court declared that Stout I was overruled or simply inapplicable.
3d 1325. 2005). St. 842 F. 1343 (11th Cir. of Boilermakers. And. 1336 (11th Cir.” II.” Id.3d 1333.2d 750.” Id. Dist. STANDARDS OF REVIEW “In school desegregation cases. 34 .S. 1985)). 2012) (evidentiary rulings). we review de novo the district court’s interpretation and application of the law.. 1110 (11th Cir. Holton v. 754 (11th Cir. 425 F. is based on clearly erroneous subsidiary findings of fact. Bd. Equal Emp’t Opportunity Comm’n v. Inc.3d 1104. Joseph’s Hosp. We may reverse a factual finding “only if the finding is clearly erroneous. see also Stell v. Blacksmiths. Int’l Bhd. at 1350 (discussing Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 52(a)). We review evidentiary rulings and the validity of an equitable remedy for abuse of discretion. City of Thomasville Sch. U. Savannah-Chatham Cty. 2016) (equitable remedies).. “Clear error is a highly deferential standard of review. Dortch. Forgers & Helpers.. in the alternative.” and we review its factual findings for clear error. 778 F. (quoting Barber v. 696 F. See United States v. or is based on an erroneous view of the law. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 34 of 61 larger school district. Iron Ship Builders. the district court stated that it “believes that both the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court would find that the age of this case diminishes the likelihood that Gardendale’s separation would impede the county’s effort to fulfill its desegregation obligations.
888 F.. Third. 228 (1985)). 222. A. 2014). Underwood. that the secession would impede the desegregation efforts of the Jefferson County Board. in the alternative. at 1286 (alteration adopted) (quoting Hunter v. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 35 of 61 of Educ. 1989) (reviewing a remedial order in a desegregation case for abuse of discretion). Const. § 1. III. I. we explain that the district court abused its discretion when it permitted the partial secession of the Gardendale Board.S. 83 (11th Cir. we explain that the district court did not clearly err when it found.3d 1273. . 1277–78 (11th Cir. The District Court Did Not Clearly Err When It Found That the Gardendale Board Moved To Secede for a Racially Discriminatory Purpose. 739 F.” Id.S. First. amend. A facially neutral action by a state actor violates the Equal Protection Clause if it is done for a racially discriminatory purpose. Alabama.” U. v. 471 U. XIV. . The Supreme Court has explained that “[d]etermining whether invidious 35 . deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Second.L. A discriminatory purpose exists if “racial discrimination was a substantial or motivating factor behind enactment of the law.2d 82. DISCUSSION We divide our discussion in three parts. The Equal Protection Clause provides that “[n]o State shall . we explain that the district court did not clearly err when it found that the Gardendale Board moved to secede for a racially discriminatory purpose.
at 1350 (quoting Anderson. Hous. 36 . at 1353 (“The district court was not obliged to recite and analyze individually each and every piece of evidence presented by the parties. “If the district court’s account of the evidence is plausible in light of the record viewed in its entirety. See Holton. Corp. Metro. 266 (1977).” Id. 429 U. at 573).S. at 1354. 470 U. 425 F. Dev.. Courts may consider the racial “impact of the official action.3d at 1350.S. We may reverse only if.” Id. We review a finding of a racially discriminatory purpose for clear error. of Arlington Heights v.” Id. at 1351 (quoting Anderson v.” the “historical background of the decision. and “legislative or administrative history.” procedural or substantive “departures from the normal” sequence. it would have weighed the evidence differently. 470 U. we are “left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed. The existence of conflicting evidence is not sufficient to overturn a finding of fact if it is supported by substantial evidence. see also id. 252. the court of appeals may not reverse it even though convinced that had it been sitting as the trier of fact.”).” the “specific sequence of events leading up to the challenged decision.S. at 266–68. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 36 of 61 discriminatory purpose was a motivating factor demands a sensitive inquiry into such circumstantial and direct evidence of intent as may be available. City of Bessemer City. after reviewing the evidence in its entirety.” Vill. 573–74 (1985)). Id. 564.
that the statements of private citizens are irrelevant. To be sure. but constituent statements and conduct can be relevant in determining the intent of 37 . The Gardendale Board also argues that the district court erred when it found that the statements of the private citizens were racially discriminatory. at 267.” The district court also considered the “legislative [and] administrative history. only a state actor can violate the Fourteenth Amendment. The Gardendale Board argues that the district court erred by imputing the discriminatory intent of private individuals to state actors.” id. at 268. Arlington Heights. of the secession proposals and reasonably inferred that the secession leaders translated their discriminatory purpose into official action. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 37 of 61 The district court relied on relevant circumstantial and direct evidence to support its finding.S. 429 U. We disagree. and that some of the statements should not have been admitted because they were not authenticated. That is. And it reasonably inferred that the secession leaders expressed “a desire to control the racial demographics of the four public schools in the City of Gardendale and the racial demographics of the city itself. The district court considered the “specific sequence of events leading up to the challenged decision” when it reviewed the public comments made by the secession supporters. the Gardendale Board and its superintendent devised secession plans that reflect the same desire to control the racial demographics of the public schools as had been expressed by the secession leaders.
a powerful lobbying organization..L. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 38 of 61 public officials. 188. and not discriminatorily. 739 F.”).” Id. at 1287 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).3d at 1287. In Arlington Heights.L. And as examples of the type of evidence that may be considered. see also City of Cuyahoga Falls v. 38 . The district court in I.” Id. it listed the “historical background” of a decision and the “specific sequence of events leading up to the challenged decision.” Id.S. the Supreme Court affirmed a finding that a voter initiative was motivated by a discriminatory purpose based on statements made by citizen sponsors and proponents. 458 U. and a clash between rural and urban interests. the Supreme Court explained that “[d]etermining whether invidious discriminatory purpose was a motivating factor demands a sensitive inquiry into such circumstantial and direct evidence of intent as may be available.” I. Hope Found. 471 (1982). Seattle School District No. 538 U. heavy support from the Alabama Farm Bureau Federation.S. For example. we have relied on evidence about the work of private lobbyists to hold that a district court did not clearly err when it ruled that two state constitutional amendments were “financially. made its finding based on a record of “massive resistance to substantial property tax increases. And in Washington v. 196–97 (2003) (“[S]tatements made by decisionmakers or referendum sponsors during deliberation over a referendum may constitute relevant evidence of discriminatory intent in a challenge to an ultimately enacted initiative. motivated. at 266. 457.. at 267. Buckeye Cmty. 1.
We affirm the finding that the Gardendale Board acted with a racially discriminatory purpose because that finding is amply supported by this record. in any event. we do not have the luxury of deciding factual issues de novo. B. In the alternative.3d at 1351. As an appellate court. the Gardendale Board recites a few out-of-context statements from the decision of our predecessor circuit in Stout III. 425 F. 1. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 42 of 61 The findings by the district court are more than “plausible in light of the record viewed in its entirety. The Gardendale Board challenges that finding by arguing that the Jefferson County schools have already achieved unitary status and that. in Stout III. The Gardendale Board argues that Jefferson County has already been declared unitary.” Holton. The District Court Did Not Clearly Err When It Found That the Secession of Gardendale Would Impede the Desegregation Efforts of the Jefferson County Board.” and we would “overstep the bounds of [our] duty under [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure] 52(a)” if we reversed—even if we were “convinced that [we] would have decided the case differently. but to support that argument. These arguments fail. For example. the former Fifth Circuit stated that “the former dual 42 . the secession would not impede the desegregation efforts of the Jefferson County Board. the district court found that the secession of Gardendale would impede efforts to desegregate the schools operated by the Jefferson County Board. Jefferson County Has Not Achieved Unitary Status.
at 803 (“[O]ur guiding lights are the trial court’s conclusions that the Jefferson County system has been effectively desegregated and is unitary and that these three one-race schools are the products of geography and demography alone.” Id. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 43 of 61 school system [in Jefferson County] has been effectively dismantled and a unitary system substituted. see also id.2d at 802. The Gardendale Board confuses two uses of the term “unitary. Our predecessor circuit did not rule that the school system had achieved “unitary status.S.] the uprooting of which the Court spoke has been done and a unitary system is operating.” a mistake the Supreme Court identified in Board of Education of Oklahoma City Public Schools v. (quoting Ga. 245 (1991). Dowell when it explained that “lower courts have been inconsistent in their use of the term ‘unitary. 1985)). 775 F. 1413 n. The whole of the Stout III opinion makes clear that Jefferson County has not fully fulfilled its desegregation obligations and remains subject to judicial oversight. it added that the district court found that “in Jefferson County[. Georgia.” a declaration that would be appropriate only if it had “eliminated the vestiges of its prior discrimination and ha[d] been adjudicated as such through the proper judicial procedures.” and later.’” 498 U. State Branches of NAACP v. But both the Supreme Court and this Court have cautioned against reading these kinds of statements out of context.”).” whether or not “vestiges of past 43 .2d 1403.12 (11th Cir. 237.” 537 F. It meant instead that the school system “ha[d] currently desegregated student assignments.
Indeed. 425 F. 1424 n. it also ruled that the school system “must continue under the scrutiny and surveillance of the district court” and that “it would be appropriate. Id. Stout III “makes clear” that the court did not intend to make a unitary-status determination.” Holton. of Educ.” Id.S. . Although the former Fifth Circuit stated that the Jefferson County schools were no longer formally segregated. To hold that Stout III declared that Jefferson County had achieved unitary status would contravene the principle that “‘substance. (quoting Lee v. court used..” Dowell. 775 F. Stout III. .2d at 803. must govern’ in remedying school segregation. 1992)). 402 U. not semantics. 537 F.3d at 1340 (alteration adopted) (quoting Swann. That mandate of continued judicial oversight means that our predecessor circuit certainly did not “adjudicate [the unitary status of Jefferson County] through the proper judicial procedures.9 (11th Cir.2d at 1413 n. Bd. . State Branches of NAACP. it is wholly irrelevant what precise language the . Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 44 of 61 discrimination” still remained. though [not] require[d] . 498 U. at 245 (quoting Ga. at 31). for the district court to give especial and renewed consideration to the possibility of broadening and making more attractive its existing majority-to-minority transfer procedures and to the possibility of enriching and strengthening the curriculum to magnet levels” in two facilities.12).. Etowah Cty.S.2d 1416. and “thus. 963 F. . that principle is likely why we explained more than a decade after Stout III that the Jefferson County 44 .
Houston Indep.2d at 714. and the seceding district “bear[s] a heavy burden to show the lack of deleterious effects on desegregation. of Educ. the Supreme Court considered three factors in particular: (1) the potential change in the racial composition of the city and county schools. 2. 559 F. Bd.2d at 944. Sch. 583 F. Dist. a district court must consider the effect of the secession. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 45 of 61 school system “ha[d] [not] yet been declared unitary. The District Court Did Not Clearly Err When It Found That Permitting Gardendale To Secede Would Impede the Desegregation Efforts of the Jefferson County Board. 1446 (11th Cir. To satisfy its burden. 1987). Ross v.2d 937. the splinter district “must express its precise policy positions on each significant facet of school district operation. In Wright. 1977).” which includes all “areas of public school operations or support which the district court may specify as pertinent to the accomplishment of its underlying desegregation order. 808 F. To determine whether a proposed secession would impede the desegregation efforts of a larger school district. 559 F. 559 F. .” Brown v. 943. for permitting newly created districts to come into being for parts of districts already under an ongoing court desegregation order.”).” Ross II. . (2) the ease of identifying the predominant race of the resulting school systems “by 45 . see also Ross I.2d at 945 (“[T]he burden remains on [the splinter district] to establish that its implementation and operation will meet the tests .2d 1445. (Ross I). 944 (5th Cir.” Ross I. of Bessemer.
” (quoting Brown v.S. at 466. see also id. Bd. and the secession movement communicated “messages of inferiority” to black students.13 (“Because of their proximity to local conditions and the possible need for further hearings. students displaced from the Gardendale schools would attend less racially diverse schools. Together. The district court did not clearly err when it found that the secession of Gardendale would have a substantial adverse effect on the desegregation efforts of the Jefferson County Board.2d at 715 n.. 299 (1955))). or the organization of sports activities”. We will reverse a finding that a proposed secession will impede desegregation efforts only if the district court clearly erred. and the judgment is primarily the responsibility of the district judge. Ross II. Kan. 402 U. The Supreme Court made clear that “[t]he weighing of the factors to determine their effect upon the process of desegregation is a delicate task that is aided by a sensitivity to local conditions. the three rationales support a finding that the secession will 46 . at 464–66 (quoting Swann. the quality of school buildings and equipment. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 46 of 61 reference to the racial composition of teachers and staff. 583 F. of Educ.S.g. 349 U.” Id. The district court provided three rationales for the finding: the Gardendale school system would inherit Gardendale High. the courts which originally heard these cases can best perform this judicial appraisal. See. 294.6. 407 U.S. of Topeka. and (3) the message the secession would send to black schoolchildren. (Brown II). at 18). at 466 n. e.
“one of Jefferson County’s strongest examples of good faith implementation of the Stout desegregation order. Jenkins. 515 U. see also NAACP. Gardendale High houses a sophisticated career technical program strategically located to attract students from across the County. See Holton.” Missouri v. the high school would only have a 54 47 .” The district court reasoned that under the December 2015 secession plan.S.” It would give the Gardendale Board control over what could otherwise become. As the district court explained. 2001) (commending a school board for its use of magnet programs to encourage desegregation). 273 F. Duval Cty. We cannot fault the finding that the loss of Gardendale High will impede the desegregation efforts of the Jefferson County Board.3d at 1351. without requiring extensive busing and redrawing of district boundary lines. according to the district court. 967–68 (11th Cir. 425 F. 92 (1995). the Gardendale secession would surely hinder efforts to desegregate Jefferson County because it would require the Jefferson County Board to forfeit this “desegregatory tool. Jacksonville Branch v.3d 960. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 47 of 61 adversely affect efforts to desegregate Jefferson County.. 70. Sch. And both the Supreme Court and this Court have endorsed these kinds of magnet programs because they “have the advantage of encouraging voluntary movement of students within a school district in a pattern that aids desegregation on a voluntary basis.
There would also be an obvious financial effect from the change in ownership with repercussions for the feasibility of other desegregation-related programs. Nor did the district court clearly err when it weighed evidence that the secession of Gardendale would result in fewer desegregated schools in Jefferson County.” 583 F. The result. as the district court explained. the district court is permitted to consider the “adverse financial [e]ffect [of a secession] on future desegregation efforts.” but the burden rested with Gardendale—not the district court—to show that its plan would not impede the desegregation efforts of the Jefferson County Board. And as we explained in Ross II.2d at 715. the secession would not provide desegregation transfer opportunities. would likely be a decline in students seeking to transfer schools. In addition. See id. Because the Gardendale Board failed to satisfy that burden. The Gardendale Board argues that the district court “could have ordered Gardendale to keep th[e] [magnet] program open to County students without preference for Gardendale residents. the district court was entitled to find that the change in ownership militated against permitting the secession. at 714. which would mean that black students from the surrounding areas in Jefferson County would be required to travel further to take advantage of that policy. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 48 of 61 percent utilization rate and would likely have a less racially diverse student population. The district court found that the secession would force students at Bragg 48 .
1989). of Educ. For example. The Gardendale Board misunderstands our precedent when it argues that the district court was not permitted to consider evidence related to the racial balance of the relevant schools. 878 F. 273 F.59 percent white.” Freeman v.” but it is a valid consideration when “the unlawful de jure policy of a school system has been the cause of the racial imbalance in student attendance. We have criticized “racially identifiable” schools. 1308 (11th Cir.. Jacksonville Branch. and explained that courts should consider “student assignments” when determining whether a school district has fully remedied the effects of de jure segregation. 467.3d at 966.2d 1301.33 percent black. 494 (1992). Lowndes Cty. 503 U. “Racial balance is not to be achieved for its own sake. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 49 of 61 Middle School and Gardendale High School to attend far less racially diverse schools. the district court found that the student population of one receiving school is 99. United States v. The third rationale offered by the district court—that permitting the secession would send “messages of inferiority” to black schoolchildren—is also supported by the law and the record.S. Bd. “both words and deeds have communicated messages of inferiority and exclusion. NAACP. The district court reasoned that throughout the secession effort.” It cited the Facebook comments.” the “public rejection of transfer students” by 49 . and the student population of another is 85. Pitts. the “flyer bearing a photograph of a white student.
the district court found that the secession movement communicated a “message” that “cannot have escaped the [black] children in the [C]ounty. the timing of the message was different.S. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 50 of 61 Gardendale residents. There.S. True. Id. Neither 50 . but the message was the same. the failure of the Gardendale Board to “disavow the belittling language of exclusion used by [secession] organizers and supporters. Id. The argument of the Gardendale Board that “[t]here is no Equal Protection right to be shielded from offensive messages” is wholly beside the point. 347 U. But the Supreme Court did not limit its reasoning to messages of inferiority that result from the timing of a secession attempt. as the Supreme Court did in Wright. the failure of the Gardendale Board to “ma[k]e [a] commitment” to North Smithfield students. Here. at 494). the factual context in Wright was different. In other words. at 466 (quoting Brown I. a predominantly white splinter district sought to secede immediately after a desegregation order issued. District courts may consider the message communicated for any number of reasons if a secession attempt “generates a feeling of inferiority” in black students that is akin to the message condemned in Brown I.” the inconsistent treatment of the North Smithfield children in the different draft secession plans. and the Gardendale superintendent’s decision to attend Gardendale community events even though he refused an invitation to meet with the parents of North Smithfield students.” 407 U. at 465–66. at 466.
Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 51 of 61 the district court nor the plaintiffs ever suggested that the secession effort violated such a right. 775 F. communicated a message that was intolerable under Wright. C. State Conference of Branches of NAACP. the district court misapplied the law governing both splinter districts and race discrimination. And “we cannot overturn the district court’s finding of fact simply because [other] evidence [i]s merely conflicting.” Holton. The district court did not clearly err. 425 F. when considered in the light of the history of the secession movement.2d at 1419). Although the district court did not clearly err when it made its factual findings.3d at 1351. the record amply supports its finding that the secession would impede the desegregation efforts of the Jefferson County Board. The District Court Abused Its Discretion By Permitting a Partial Secession.” Id. And it devised a novel remedy by weighing legally irrelevant—and sometimes legally 51 . The district court reasoned that the official acts of the Gardendale Board and other Gardendale officials. By sua sponte amending the 1971 order to permit the partial secession of Gardendale. Indeed. Its “account of the evidence is plausible in light of the record viewed in its entirety. at 1354 (alteration adopted) (quoting Ga. we agree with the plaintiffs and the Jefferson County Board that it abused its discretion when it modified the desegregation order.
. Both of the factual findings made by the district court permit only one ruling: denial of the motion to secede. Our precedents make clear that a splinter district must propose and defend a secession plan that will not impede the desegregation efforts of the school district subject to an ongoing desegregation order.” Ross II.2d at 404 (citation omitted). the proponents of the new district must bear a heavy burden to show the lack of deleterious effects on desegregation. we declared that “[t]he division of a school district operating under a desegregation order can be permitted only if the formation of the new district will not impede the dismantling of the dual school system in the old district. . 448 F. in Ross II. in Ross I. the splinter district “must express its precise policy positions on each significant facet of school district 52 .” and “[i]n such a situation. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 52 of 61 prohibited—factors. Because the Gardendale Board was the moving party. 583 F. When the splinter district fails to satisfy that burden.2d at 945. To satisfy that burden. “the district court may not .2d at 714.” 583 F. Similarly. recognize [its] creation.2d at 714.” Stout I. 559 F. we explained that the burden to show that the “implementation and operation” of a splinter district “meet[s] the tests outlined for permitting newly created districts to come into being” remains at all times with the splinter district. For example. it bore the burden of proof. The district court erred when it ruled that a partial secession could be permitted even though the Gardendale Board had not proved a “lack of deleterious effects on desegregation.
Anderson. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 53 of 61 operation. 407 U. at 944. The district court also erred when it ruled that it was not bound to follow Stout I under the law-of-the-case doctrine. When the Gardendale Board failed to satisfy its burden.S. may enjoin it from being carried out” as granting a district court more flexibility. Although the district court acknowledged that at least one precedent. it erroneously concluded that the Supreme Court overruled that precedent in Wright and granted district courts greater discretion over whether to permit a splinter district. then a district court. 2014) (alteration adopted and citation and internal quotation marks omitted). Stout I. which provides that earlier decisions “bind all subsequent proceedings in the same case” as to “both findings of fact and conclusions of law. 772 F. The district court stated that “the facts of this case have changed” and that “it would 53 .” United States v.” Id. at 460. 668 (11th Cir. Wright instead “h[e]ld only that a new school district may not be created where its effect would be to impede the process of dismantling a dual system. that “[i]f [a secession] proposal would impede the dismantling of [a] dual system. required it to prohibit the secession. in the exercise of its remedial discretion. at 470. The district court read the statement in Wright.” Id. But Wright never suggested that a district court could fashion a more limited secession plan of its own making when it finds that a proposed plan would impede desegregation. the district court should have denied the motion before it.3d 662.
1510 (11th Cir..” Although there are “limited exceptions to the law-of-the- case doctrine [for situations in which] ‘there is new evidence. Co.. 54 .g. 129 (5th Cir. 1987) (en banc) (alteration adopted)). if implemented. including Wright. See. e. Main Drug. Ross I. an intervening change in controlling law dictates a different result. That precedent still governs proposed secessions of municipal school systems. their age enhances that effect.”)..3d 1228.2d 1506.S. at 668–69 (quoting Litman v. Inc.2d 123. Apr. Datapoint Corp. none of those exceptions apply here. Inc. If anything. Mut. v. . . we cannot overrule a decision of a prior panel of this court.’” id. or the appellate decision. Aetna U. The Law of Judicial Precedent 176 (2016) (“The fact that a case remains an accurate statement of the law through many generations often shows that it should be afforded special respect . Stout I remains good law. 642 F.” (quoting NLRB v. 475 F. 2007) (“[W]ithout a clearly contrary opinion of the Supreme Court or of this court sitting en banc. and Ross II. 825 F. And the district court provided no explanation for why its application would work a manifest injustice in this case. We and the district court are bound by every other splinter-district decision of the Supreme Court and this Court. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 54 of 61 work a manifest injustice for th[e] [district] [c]ourt not to take the lack of activity in the case into account. Life Ins. The age of these decisions does not diminish their precedential effect. 1981))). See Bryan A. Mass. would cause manifest injustice because it is clearly erroneous.. Healthcare. Garner et al. 1230 (11th Cir.. .
” City of Richmond v.S.3d at 1337 (quoting Freeman.S. 458 U. State Conference of NAACP v.” Holton.S. see also id. at 379 (“[A]cts generally lawful may become unlawful when done to accomplish an unlawful end . See. v. That is why the Supreme Court has repeatedly invalidated government actions that violate the Equal Protection Clause. 503 U. Underwood. No. Foster. is no longer present. 267. . The 1971 order issued to ensure that the Jefferson County Board “eliminate[d] the vestiges of the unconstitutional de jure system” so that “the principal wrong of the de jure system. 105. 378 (1975). 831 F. see also N. . 233 (1985).S. Faced with a motion to 55 . 433 U. 1. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 55 of 61 The finding that a racially discriminatory purpose motivated the Gardendale Board also obliged the district court to deny the motion to secede. the courts were not faced with a motion to amend an extant desegregation order. 358.g. see also Jenkins. 471 U. e. Dist. 281 (1977). 239 (4th Cir. 425 F. at 485). 247 U.C. Seattle Sch. Co. 515 U. at 88.S..” (quoting Western Union Tel.S. The Supreme Court has explained that official actions motivated by a discriminatory purpose “ha[ve] no legitimacy at all under our Constitution. 422 U. 222. Hunter v. 114 (1918))). Bradley. at 487. . But in those cases. United States. the Supreme Court has stated that district courts supervising school desegregation cases have “broad” equitable authority to remedy the effects of past de jure segregation. To be sure. the injuries and stigma inflicted upon the race disfavored by the violation. McCrory. Milliken v.S. 2016) (collecting citations).3d 204.
which is governed by a federal order to desegregate its schools. the district court—unprompted by either party—devised its own secession plan.S. 515 U. Its finding of a racially discriminatory purpose required the district court to deny the motion to secede in its entirety.” “the victims of [the] discriminatory conduct” was to deny the motion to secede. The district court failed to abide by the mandate to “restore the victims of discriminatory conduct to the position they would have occupied in the absence of such conduct. it weighed a number of impermissible considerations and thereby abused its discretion. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 56 of 61 amend that order by a school board motivated by invidious discrimination.” “as nearly as possible. it abused its discretion. In doing so. When the district court rejected this option in favor of permitting a new board created. in part. Id. at 88 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). the district court was obliged to deny the motion. Here. the clear way to “restore. The district court speculated that the 1971 order may soon be dissolved. for the purpose of racial discrimination to control the educational policy of at least two schools. and it drew a series of impermissible conclusions from that supposition.” Jenkins. Instead of denying the motion to secede. black schoolchildren who attend Gardendale schools would continue to benefit from the supervision of the Jefferson County Board. If the motion were denied. The district 56 . (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
According to the district court. As a threshold matter.” And it explained that it had to “weigh the possibility that the plaintiff class would not succeed” in proving racially discriminatory purpose.” So it decided “to place the Gardendale Board under a new desegregation order that creates a fresh start for federal supervision of all aspects of the public schools in Gardendale. “there would be no federal desegregation order to protect zoning. the district court had no basis to speculate about the possibility that Jefferson County might or 57 . the situation in Gardendale will be identical to the set of circumstances that produced the [district] [c]ourt’s finding that the Gardendale Board violated the Fourteenth Amendment. Multiple errors plague this reasoning. if Jefferson County were to succeed.” It added that the new order was appropriate because the plaintiffs may not be able to prove racially discriminatory purpose in the future and. interdistrict transfers. the residents of Gardendale could again attempt to secede and. it would be unable to protect the plaintiffs. it would be “reluctant” to release Jefferson County from the 1971 order because of the “evidence of racial motivation in this case. It stated that it is “not a safe assumption” that “in a few years. and the Gardendale high school facility. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 57 of 61 court stated that if it permitted the secession.” In its later supplemental opinion. without a constitutional violation. it appeared to be less concerned that Jefferson County might fail to obtain a unitary-status determination than that it would succeed. in that scenario.
” When a splinter district moves to secede from a school district governed by a desegregation order. 433 U. 58 . In other words.. it modified the 1971 order. 515 U. that order would have been unlawful. If the district court had imposed an entirely new desegregation order. A desegregation order must instead remedy state- sanctioned segregation that has already been adjudicated. A new desegregation order may not be imposed to guard against the possibility that a constitutional violation will either soon be remedied or no longer exist. at 88 (“[F]ederal-court decrees must directly address and relate to the constitutional violation itself. the Gardendale Board only proposed to violate the Fourteenth Amendment. Although a racially discriminatory purpose motivated it to secede. the Gardendale Board had not implemented its plan so as to require a judicial remedy to unravel it.S. e. So when the district court permitted the Gardendale Board to operate a new school system. and the district court was obliged to reject that proposal. Jenkins. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 58 of 61 might not obtain a determination of unitary status. See. the movant seeks to modify that order. The district court acknowledged that it “[did] not have before it information that [would] allow it to determine just how close Jefferson County may be to the end of supervision.” The district court was faced with a motion to amend the 1971 order and erred when it described its order as imposing a “new desegregation order.” (quoting Milliken.g. at 282)).S.
.S.” 407 U. “[t]he existence of a permissible purpose cannot sustain an action that has an impermissible effect. Wright made clear that when a locality attempts to secede from a school district subject to an ongoing desegregation order. And the district court erred when it suggested that the benign motivations of some Gardendale residents could cure the discriminatory motivation of the Gardendale Board. honor the wishes of parents who support a local system simply because they want greater control over their children’s education. The district court stated that it “must. Indeed. . But even if the plaintiffs had suggested—contrary to their litigating position—that such a concern was plausible. constitutional principles cannot be allowed to yield simply because of disagreement with them.S. 349 U. The district court stated that it had to consider the interests of students from North Smithfield who “may feel unwelcome in Gardendale schools” if it denied the motion to secede. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 59 of 61 The district court also erred when it speculated that the possible social tension caused by finding a constitutional violation would warrant allowing the violation to succeed in part. Even more 59 . to the extent practicable. As the Supreme Court put it then. the history of school desegregation is rife with conflict. “the vitality of . at 462. at 300. Brown II would have been in error.” But even if the parents the district court identified were state actors relevant to the constitutional analysis. if animosity alone could thwart constitutional imperatives.” Brown II.
then the district court may not prohibit the secession. at 99. both Wright and our precedents about splinter districts still govern the Gardendale Board.” Jenkins.2d at 1215.S.” Wright. If the Gardendale Board. the “local autonomy of school districts is a vital national tradition. 515 U. We hold only that the 60 . 407 U.S. we do not suggest that the Gardendale Board of Education is “forever [a] vassal of the [C]ounty [B]oard. 466 F. the plaintiffs’ counsel represented that they and the Jefferson County Board expect later this year to present the district court a plan for the final resolution of this litigation. 515 U. which should be—and is—legally irrelevant. for permissible purposes in the future. the district court gave special weight to the concerns of some Gardendale parents because of their race. at 469. We do not belittle the “need that is strongly felt in our society” to have “[d]irect control over decisions vitally affecting the education of one’s children. Indeed. The authority of the judiciary to intervene in the “local autonomy” of Jefferson County. We encourage that effort to bring this remedial phase to an end. is tied to the constitutional violation at issue: the earlier de jure segregation of schools. which has lasted more than a half century. Jenkins.” Stout II.S. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 60 of 61 concerning. Of course. At oral argument. at 99. satisfies its burden to develop a secession plan that will not impede the desegregation efforts of the Jefferson County Board. In the meantime.
61 . CONCLUSION We AFFIRM IN PART. Case: 17-12338 Date Filed: 02/13/2018 Page: 61 of 61 desire for local autonomy must yield when a constitutional violation is found and remains unremedied. and REMAND WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO DENY THE MOTION OF THE GARDENDALE BOARD TO SECEDE. IV. REVERSE IN PART.
Achievements of KPK in education.

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