IN THE SHADOW OF THE SESSION

Today lawmakers and community education advocates sat down to talk about what they hope to be the focus of legislative action next Monday. Most everyone agrees all the needed parts of a reform package cant be addressed in the two weeks before Christmas. In November 2002, the state Supreme Court gave the legislature until January 2004 to have a reform plan in place. No one knows how lenient the court will be if lawmakers are only half-way through with the job. Consolidation remains the most divisive issue out there. House Majority leader Harmon Seawel said today hes confident a numbers- based plan wont pass in the House. Senator Jim Argue says he wont vote for a plan unless it includes some form of consolidation to boost efficiency statewide. Education advocates also say the state cannot sit down for this session and ignore the achievement gap that exists between black and white students. A plan to create equity there will also have to be addressed to meet the mandates of the Lakeview school equity verdict. Though legislators are eagerly anticipating getting to work, the governor has yet to officially call for the session.