TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Students at Florida State University continued their engagement in local politics Wednesday by discussing segregation in Leon County Schools.
As part of their Spring Community Dialogue, the Center for Leadership and Social Change invited students and the Leroy Collins Institute to discuss the findings of a study published last fall.
That study identifies Leon County as having one of the most highly segregated K-12 school systems in the state.
Leroy Collins Institute Director, Carol Weissert, says she's particularly interested in opening dialogue about an issue that is all to often overlooked.
"Particularly in Tallahassee. You know, they think, 'oh, well, that was solved. You know, that's not an issue anymore, you know, we have integrated schools.' So it's probably good to say, no you need to look at your local schools and see," said Weissert. "We have 12 schools in Leon County that are heavily segregated."
Community leaders including Leon County Judge Candidate Monique Richardson and Tallahassee Chapter NAACP First Vice President Williemae Musgray attended the event and welcome the discussion.
"It shows that others are aware of the problem as well," said Musgray. "And it is a national problem. And the NAACP would whether nationally, statewide or locally have the same stance that we are not going back and we're doing everything we can to make sure that there is fair and equitable educational opportunities for all of our students for students of all colors."
The Leon County School Board will also join the Leroy Collins Institute for discussion later this month.
