Julie Finley

The Natchez Democrat

FERRIDAY &8212; A small group of Ferriday NAACP members is ready to lead the community on a boycott of the Ferriday schools until black personnel are treated fairly, they said at a Monday night meeting.

The solution most of the crowd agreed on was to rally community support and take children to school in Vidalia or Monterey &8212; forcing the district to provide transportation, a stipulation of a desegregation court order.

Less than 30 attended the meeting called to discuss personnel changes and the court order the Concordia Parish schools are under.

The group agreed recent principal changes at the Ferriday schools were unfair to black employees. A black principal and assistant principal at Ferriday Upper Elementary were moved to other positions. The school now has a white principal.

NAACP President Justin Conner said the Ferriday community had to get involved in the schools to ensure success.

&8220;We are not holding people accountable,&8221; he said. &8220;Everyone is responsible for the system. Just because your kids have graduated, remember it takes a whole village to raise a child.&8221;

Conner encouraged the group to develop a plan and spread it throughout the community.

Ferriday resident Margie Hines said she agreed with Conner&8217;s points.

&8220;If we take a stand it&8217;s going to send a double-fold message,&8221; she said. &8220;Our teachers are very, very discouraged. They need someone to get behind them. Their shoulders are bogged down with weight.&8221;

The group agreed on meeting with Superintendent Kerry Laster, who has said she will meet with them. The NAACP members also agreed to contact their lawyers and hire professional help.

The group wants lawyers to examine the 1970 court order and determine if the district is following it correctly. Laster has said board attorneys see no problem with how the order is being followed.

Conner said the district should transfer award-winning teachers from Vidalia schools to Ferriday, and not give teachers the option of where they teach.

A recent change to school board policy is sending all teaching applications to the Ferriday principals first.

Still, Conner said the district doesn&8217;t treat the Ferriday schools fairly.

&8220;We are allowing too many things to happen at the Ferriday schools that will never happen in Vidalia and Monterey,&8221; he said. &8220;You don&8217;t put a janitor (in those schools) without asking the community.

&8220;They have abandoned our system.&8221;

Laster was not invited to Monday night&8217;s meeting.