We, the community members of Calcasieu Parish, are calling on the Calcasieu Parish School Board (CPSB) to protect equity, maintain transparency, and uphold the existing federal desegregation order that has protected our students for decades. Recent actions by CPSB — including closed-door meetings, motions to add the Louisiana Attorney General as counsel, and discussions held without community involvement — have raised serious concerns that the Board may be preparing to weaken or overturn the current desegregation order in Conley v. CPSB. While we are aware the board doesn’t make the executive decision, they are the voice of the people and have that direct point of contact with the judge as well as the attorneys. Community voices deserve to be heard before any decision is made that affects the education, safety, and equity of our children. Conley vs. CPSB is a long-standing, active federal                                                                                             desegregation case in Louisiana that originated in 1964.  The lawsuit was initiated to eliminate the legally segregated public school system in Calcasieu Parish. Court ordered plans were implemented to integrate students, faculty, and staff by 1970. Despite its age, the case is not fully resolved. The school district operates under a federal consent decree, which requires them to maintain certain demographic standards and periodically report to the court. The ongoing supervision ensures the school board does not revert to segregated practices and ensures equity in school facilities and staffing. The effects of an overturned desegregation order will be felt for generations. WHY DOES THIS MATTER? If the desegregation order is overturned in Calcasieu Parish the district would have control over: • Independent Boundary Changes - The district could redraw attendance zones and neighborhood school boundaries without submitting them to a judge for review. • School Closures and Construction – Decisions to build new facilities, expand existing ones, or close under utilized schools would be under local control. • Personnel and Hiring Adjustments – Mandated ratios for minority faculty and staff recruitment would no longer be strictly enforced by the court. • End of Mandatory Reporting – The district would no longer be legally required to file regular status reports on the racial breakdown of students and staff with the federal government What Can You Do? Scan the QR code, sign the petition! Share the petition! Contact board members and Honorable Judge James David Cain Jr.   What Do We Want? Commitment to preserve the current desegregation order. Protection of equitable education for all students in Calcasieu Parish. Transparency, reassurance, and community involvement.   STATISTICS & FACTS! • World Population Review (2025/2026) Louisiana ranked 3rd least educated state. • In the 2021-2022 school year, LA public schools were about 42% white and 38% black, while charter schools were 65% black and 21% white. • In highly segregated districts black students are more likely to be suspended/ expelled, and less likely to access AP classes and advanced education opportunities. • De Facto Segregation: Segregation that happens in practice due to residential patterns, private school enrollment, and policy decisions – rather than legal mandates. • Our governor and Attorney General have both been on a campaign to overturn desegregation laws and remove federal oversight from the school boards. Jeff Landry has stated that our desegregation laws are outdated and no longer necessary in our state. • Schools are more racially and economically segregated than they were in 1975. The board may not make the decision, but they are the voice of the people and have that direct line of contact with the judge and attorneys.     Honorable James David Cain JR 337-493-2200 Sylvia Fontenot (Judicial assistant) Sylvia_fontenot@lawd.uscourts.gov