The Jefferson County Board of Education voted Monday night to forward with its new student assignment plan for middle school students next year, but will delay implementation of the high school plan until the 2012-2013 academic year.The 4 to 3 vote came after lengthy discussion and input from the public. Board members Debbie Wesslund, Carol Haddad and Joe Hardesty voted 'no.'Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission Director Carolyn Miller Cooper was among several speakers who urged the board to implement both plans next year."Do the right thing. The nation is watching us. Our children are watching us and our children want to know why we can't make a decision and move forward," she said.Implementation of middle and high school assignment plans was already delayed by one year amid concerns about potential transportation problems.Some board members wanted a further delay because of transportation issues this year and complaints about the elementary plan, which was put into action in the fall of 2009.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.
