Four years after last settlement talks, sides in U-46 suit meet again

Nearly four years to the day after the last unsuccessful settlement talks occurred in the U-46 racial bias lawsuit, the parties face another round.

Next Monday, representatives from the five Elgin families suing the district will meet with the seven members of the school board, Superintendent Jose Torres, and district legal counsel Pat Broncato to discuss terms of a counteroffer delivered to the plaintiffs at the end of September. Magistrate Judge Michael T. Mason, along with a neutral educational expert to assist in facilitating the talk, will also be present.

Many readers and taxpayers are well-versed in the allegations and cost of the suit.

For those just joining us, the Elgin families claim the district, after redrawing boundaries in 2004, violated the rights of black and Latino students by placing them in older, more crowded schools; forcing them to ride buses farther and more often than their white peers; and giving them inferior educational opportunities.

The case was granted class-action status in August by Judge Robert W. Gettleman. Now, if the court rules in favor of the five Elgin families accusing the district of racial bias, all current Hispanic and black U-46 students who have been subject to racial discrimination in school programs and services would receive remedies. All current Hispanic U-46 students receiving bilingual services, those who have received those services in the past four years or those who should have but did not receive bilingual services, would also receive remedies, Gettleman ruled.

The case has already cost the district more than $5.9 million in legal fees. If plaintiffs are successful, remedies would likely be district wide - and very costly.

While plaintiffs have expressed hope that an agreement can be reached, the district has been much more hesitant.

"While the District is committed to participating in the court-ordered settlement conference in good faith, the parties remain at a significant distance, and there is no assurance that a settlement will be reached," lawyers from Franczek Sullivan, one of the district's firms, wrote in a Tuesday filing.

Gettleman and Mason have repeatedly warned both parties that settlement talks will involve give and take from both parties.

After so much time and so much money, we can only hope they will heed the judges' advice, and that some level of progress is reached next week.

This suit can't drag on forever. Or even for another four years.

ECC College Readiness bridge program gets accolade: Elgin Community College was one of three community colleges in the state to receive an Innovation Award from the Illinois Council of Community College Administrators.

The Bridge Program - a collaborative effort between the college and local high schools - helped 14 recent high school graduates enter college-level reading, English and math courses.

Stars align for Nature Ridge teach: Congratulations to Larkin High School graduate and Nature Ridge Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Laura Buhmann.

Buhmann was recently crowned Ms. Galaxy International 2008. Buhmann competed against women 30 and over on beauty, charm, personality, poise and the ability to articulate.