By
The Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. - A $500 million agreement to end Mississippi's 26-year college desegregation case has been signed by all sides and forwarded to federal court, officials said yesterday.
"All we need now is the court's approval and we're done," Attorney General Mike Moore said. "This is a very big day for us."
The agreement calls for $246 million spent over 17 years on academic programs at the state's three historically black universities - Jackson State, Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State.
Another $75 million would go to capital improvement projects, $70 million to public endowments and up to $35 million in private endowments. Other programs, including summer classes for struggling students, will receive the balance.
U.S. District Judge Neal Biggers Jr. still must approve the deal, which could also be challenged. His review could take several months.
Mississippi was sued in 1975 by Jake Ayers, the father of a black college student who claimed the three colleges got less money than five historically white universities. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed and ordered the state to remedy the situation.
The state College Board, state officials and plaintiffs have been negotiating a settlement since June.
Moore said the agreement was signed by himself, Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, College Board members and lead plaintiffs.
The agreement calls for the dismissal of the lawsuit. Moore said he expects a hearing on the agreement in August.
