A federal court awarded Tangipahoa Parish School System full unitary status in facilities last Thursday, bringing the 61-year-old desegregation case to an end.
M.C. Moore and Henry Smith filed the case in 1965 in federal court in New Orleans against TPSS, seeking integrated schooling and employment opportunities for Black residents.
Facilities were the last area of TPSS’ operations that remained under federal court supervision. Previously, TPSS received full unitary status in extracurricular activities and transportation in 2012 and in student and teacher assignment and administrative hiring practices in 2025.
With all areas accounted for, TPSS will no longer run under federal court supervision and plans to redirect court fee money back into classrooms.
Superintendent Melissa Stilley said achieving this was “the best retirement gift I could have.” Stilley plans to retire from her position in January.
She shared at the Tangipahoa Parish Council meeting Monday that U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle said TPSS demonstrated “clear convincing evidence” and “demonstrated good faith effort.”
Stilley added, “We’re going to continue as a district to provide the best education possible for all...