From In a video interview, Wake County high school student Quinton White speaks out against the School Board decision to end busing to achieve socio-economic diversity. Quinton is represented by SCSJ.
In a video interview, Wake County high school student Quinton White speaks out against the School Board decision to end busing to achieve socio-economic diversity. Quinton is represented by SCSJ.
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By Charlotte Huffman
RALEIGH, N.C. – A local high school student who joined the NAACP complaint against the Wake County School Board says he feels minorities have been singled out.
This comes after the Wake County School Board voted to institute community schools and to end busing to achieve socio-economic diversity. On Friday, a federal complaint accusing the Wake County School Board of discrimination was filed by the NAACP.
18-year-old Quinton White was one of 165 non-white students and three white students reassigned in April from Garner High to Southeast Raleigh High School.
“We are in the south and it is no secret that racism still exists in the south and it has in the past… It’s not about an individual. It’s about a community, it is about a group, it is about people’s futures,” White said.
The federal civil rights complaint filed by White, NAACP and teen youth group, NC HEAT, alleges “intentional discrimination” by the school board. However, Wake County School Board Chairman Ron Margiotta says such discrimination is a false claim.
“If we wanted to we could not segregate.There are federal laws, state laws, court rulings, federal and local that prohibit it,” Margiotta contested.
Margiotta backed the school board’s plans saying their intent with school reassignments is to focus on three things: proximity, stability for families and choice for families. He says the new reassignments are designed to fix a system that he calls an academic failure.
“Just take a look at the graduation rates. The graduation rates for low income students are the lowest in North Carolina. That said, that’s unacceptable. These are things we are going to try to correct,” Margiotta said.
Margiotta also says the complaint, along with any other legal actions, will not only cost taxpayers money but will also continue to divide the county.
Source: NBC17