Georgetown County School Board Votes to Remain Under DOJ Desegregation Orders, Pledges Local Plan to Build Trust

The Georgetown County School District Board on April 21 voted to remain under the Department of Justice desegregation orders that date to an action filed on Jan. 15, 1969, after public commenters and several board members urged caution about lifting federal oversight.

Public commenters urged the board not to seek dismissal. "You need to be looked at," said Mr. Morris Johnson, who described repeated filings on desegregation (1969, 1997) and said the district still falls short on teacher distribution and facility equity. Marvin Neil, speaking for community advocates and the local NAACP, said staffing shortages at Plantersville and Browns Ferry elementaries, attendance‑zone concerns and facility conditions show the district has not met the legal standards for unitary status.

Board members traded views for more than an hour. Some members said the district has improved on paper in areas such as facilities and transportation but still has unmet "green factor" obligations including student assignment, faculty assignment, extracurricular access and transportation. Several directors said community trust is a central consideration in deciding whether to pursue a court declaration of unitary status.

Board attorney Christopher Cox read two motions for the membership: one to remain under the current desegregation orders; a second to authorize the board’s attorney, in conjunction with Department of Justice counsel, to seek a federal court declaration of unitary status and dismissal of the 1969 action. The board took raises‑of‑hand votes; the chair announced that the motion to remain under the orders carried.

District leaders said that remaining under orders would not relieve the board of responsibility to pursue equity and that staff will develop a clearer plan to address outstanding factors and to rebuild community trust. Superintendent Dr. Gaus (recorded in the meeting as Dr. Giles/Dr. G) said some obligations remain unsatisfied and that further engagement with DOJ counsel could follow depending on the board’s direction.

The board’s formal vote to remain under the orders was the most immediate outcome; the transcript records both motions being read and the chair’s announcement that the motion to remain carried. The board did not adopt a final plan at the meeting; several trustees asked staff to return with specific evidence and timelines showing how the district will address the cited equity indicators.

The board followed that vote with routine business and later moved to executive session for student appeals and personnel matters.