Equal Opportunity in the Fort Wayne Community Schools: A ...

PREFACESchool desegregation has been a controversial issue in the Fort Wayne community for at least10 years. It is an issue that heated up considerably in the winter and spring of 1977 and thatpromises to spark controversy in the months ahead. This report is not the end of the story. Inthis report, released in its unpublished form early in May 1977, the basic conflicts that havelong been raised in Fort Wayne are reviewed and the current issues are discussed. Recommendationsare also offered for dealing with some of the prevailing issues.The first chapter of this report is based upon extensive documentary review and telephoneinterviewing by the Commission's Midwestern Regional Office. Sources of information includedlocal, State, and Federal agencies having relevant information on the Fort Wayne CommunitySchools (FWCS), as well as representatives of local and national organizations concerned withthese issues. The second chapter summarizes supporting information gathered onsite by Commissionstaff in April 1977 and additional documentary analysis and telephone interviewing. Allsources of information are cited in the text or footnotes.Supporting documentation cited in this report and related documents not cited are retainedin the files of the Commission's Midwestern Regional Office, Chicago, 111. Copies of files ofFederal agencies are available to the public through requests made under the Freedom of InformationAct, 5 U.S.C.A. 552, as prescribed by the Commission's rules and regulations for thefiling and granting of such requests, 45 C.F.R. 704, including procedures for requesting waiverof search and copying fees under certain conditions.All inquiries for documents under the Freedom of Information Act should be sent to theDirector of the Commission's Midwestern Regional Office, 230 S. Dearborn St., Room 3280,Chicago, 111. 60604.IV