LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Late Friday the ruling came that could forever change Jefferson County Public Schools and where your student attends. Officials are still reeling from the news as more answers are expected Monday.
Schools like Myzeek Middle School could revert back to being neighborhood schools, after a surprise ruling that's still settling in, despite being years in the making.
KRS 159.070, it may sound like a code to you - and it is. It's the state law that in part determines where your child goes to school.
The two words - enroll and attend - have been major sticking points.
"Our position is KRS 159.070 clearly states that parents and guardians are allowed to attend school closest to their home," said plaintiff's attorney Teddy Gordon.
"The language that Mr. Gordon is latching onto in this case is language that says that the parents have the right to enroll a child in a particular school," said JCPS's attorney Byron Leet. "That language does not mean as our motion points out, does not mean that those children have the right to attend that school. The statute previously used the word attendance but that word is no longer in the statute, there's a reason why it's not in there."
The most recent lawsuit started last year. Belinda Abernathy was one of a handful of parents suing the district, saying she enrolled her son at St. Matthews Elementary, yet he was forced to attend Shelby Elementary.
"It's very emotion, it shouldn't be this hard to go to kindergarten, it just shouldn't," said Abernathy in a 2010 interview with WAVE 3.
Last August, Judge Irv Maze ruled in favor of JCPS. An appeal was filed. Months later, on Friday, the decision came from the Court of Appeals that parents should have the right to send their kids to the nearest school.
Attorney Teddy Gordon represents the families. Monday morning, he'll further detail about what's next in the case after his client's shocking win - a win JCPS will likely appeal.
Just before the ruling, JCPS announced it's seeking input to revamp the student assignment plan. Only time will tell what the future holds for it, this lawsuit, and what it means come back to school 2012.
Monday night JCPS is scheduled to hold the third of five community feedback sessions on their proposal to revamp elementary student assignment plan. It begins Monday at 7 p.m. at Ballard High School.
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