Chief of Staff Kia Banks addressed the Board with an open letter containing an emotional plea:
"CPAA is here—not as an adversary, but as a partner. We know that real progress won’t come from division, but from honest dialogue, shared purpose, and the courage to do what’s right. Our students are watching us. Learning from us. And the lessons we leave behind will shape the future of this city."
This victory belongs to EVERY SINGLE ONE of YOU. The bipartisan support for this bill was a major achievement, and while the weight of this fight rested on President Troy LaRaviere’s capable shoulders, it was truly a testament to our collective strength as CPAA members. As Troy said on Tuesday, “This was a hard-won fight,” and we never gave up, knowing how much this means—not just for principals and assistant principals, but for the very structure of our schools and, most importantly, the young people we serve.
On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of the plaintiffs. Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote the opinion, which stated that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.”
