All parties to the latest desegregation plan for Cleveland schools are now starting talks. This signals that a solution might be close. Federal court filings note that the parties to the long-running lawsuit expressed their desire to settle the matter. The court has been directed to notify the parties of the status of settlement negotiations by December 16. Jamie Jacks, a Cleveland school board attorney stated that all parties agreed to a conference call with the judge. “I believe that’s the reason why the judge allowed for an period for parties to engage into talks in the scheduling order.” This is after Jamie Jacks, Cleveland school board attorney, stated that a new plan for desegregation involves facilities on both sides the railroad tracks that run through the community. It will allow for the separation of what was historically the predominantly white west side and the predominantly black east. The school board’s original plan would have used only buildings on the west side, Margaret Green Junior High and Cleveland High School. The Justice Department had previously filed court documents stating that these schools had a higher percentage of white students than the entire district. However, the student population at the high school and the middle school on east side of town was almost entirely black. The new plan would house all 9th through 10th graders at the East Side High campus. Cleveland High will house 11th and 12th grades. Margaret Green Junior High would house all 6th-8th graders with the exception of Hayes Cooper Center and Bell Academy. Jacquelyn Thigpen, Cleveland School District Superintendent states that she believes the Unified High School Plan will be supported by the whole community and have a very positive impact on the issue regarding student departure. Thigpen stated that she believes that the Unified High School Plan is superior to the Government plan and the Court-adopted plan of May 13, 2016, on the issue white student departure. Tuesday’s calls to the plaintiffs’ lawyers were not returned. The U.S. Department of Justice did not comment on the latest developments in this case. A meeting was held Tuesday night by Citizens for Consolidation with one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys to facilitate the meeting. Rev. Edward Duvall refers to the latest plan for the district and U.S. District Court Judge Debra brown’s May 13 order. Duvall, a citizen of Citizens for Consolidation, is an East Side High alumnus. Jacks announced that the Cleveland School Board will host a town hall meeting on Dec. 1 to update residents about the case and discuss the new plan. Questions about the case or the plan can be submitted to voice@cleveland.k12.ms.us.