NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - Arguments Begin In Nashville School Rezoning Case

Arguments Begin In Nashville School Rezoning Case

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Arguments began Tuesday in a federal lawsuit over Metro's school rezoning plan. One family accuses the school district of forgery and racism.

On the witness stand, Frances Spurlock said her daughter, who is black, was offered a choice of two failing schools, John Early Middle School or HG Hill Middle School.

"When I took her to John Early the computer lab wasn't up to par. There were no books," said Frances.

The Spurlocks and two other families have filed suit in federal court asking a judge to stop the rezoning plan. They said it's a step to resegregate the schools.

The 6th grader had previously attended a majority white school, Bellevue Middle School, with a much better academic record.

U.S. District Judge John Nixon is considering an injunction in the case.

Former School board member George Thompson told the judge he voted against the plan.

"This plan increases the black proportion of students going back into North Nashville, so here we are stacking blacks on top of blacks and creating even more racial isolation," said Thompson.

During testimony the Spurlocks accused the school system of forging Jeffrey Spurlock's name on a document indicating the Spurlocks chose to send their child to John Early Middle School.

"That's the first time I've ever seen that paper," said Jeffrey. "I know that's not my handwriting. I don't spell my name like that."

In court documents the school board argues the rezoning plan is not racially motivated. The plan's goal was to increase parental involvement by returning children to neighborhood schools.

"We feel good about our case, and we have confidence in the system," said Kevin Klein, Metro Legal Department.

The judge already ordered that the Spurlocks' daughter be allowed to return to her previous school temporarily after he learned her new school had not received textbooks three weeks into the school year.

Arguments and testimony in this case are expected to take up to two weeks. After they're finished in the courtroom the lawyers will get up to a month to file written briefs.

The judge must decide if the school board had racial motivations when they put the plan together and if segregation is the effect of the plan.

Court officials said Judge Nixon's decision could come several weeks later.

(The Associated Press Contributed To This Story)