Haikala’s ruling, which came down on Monday, apparently caught the Gardendale School Board by surprise.
In a statement, board president Chris Segroves said they were reviewing the order and leaning on their lawyers for “advice as to the best methods for us to move forward in the creation of the Gardendale City School System.”
And on May 16, Haikala’s ruling is expected to be the hot topic when the Board of Education meets and the public gets the chance to question board members.
Monique Lin-Luse, a lawyer with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund who represented black families opposed to the split, said she applauded Haikala’s clear statement that race was at the root of the separation movement. But she remains perplexed by the judge’s ultimate decision and said she is weighing whether to appeal the decision.
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