Add-onAdd-on Resolution Sponsored by Comm. Welsh
8/19/14 City Commission Meeting
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RESOLUTION NO. _________________ 1
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A Resolution instructing the City Attorney to investigate the 4
racial disparity at Somerset Academy Charter School in South 5
Miami. 6
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WHEREAS, 60 years have passed since the United States Supreme Court 8
found that separate but equal schools for different races violated the United States 9
Constitution in Brown v. (Topeka, Kansas) Board of Education and ordered 10
schools to integrate "with all deliberate speed.” 11
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WHEREAS, the Honorable Federal Judge C. Clyde Atkins, in Pate v. Dade 13
County School Board ruled that the Board of Public Instruction of Dade County, 14
Florida, is permanently enjoined from operating a dual system of public education 15
segregated by race, and shall henceforth operate a unitary system; and 16
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WHEREAS, federal judicial oversight has ceased; and 18
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WHEREAS, there are less than 1.2 percent African-American children 20
enrolled at Somerset Academy’s charter school in South Miami; and 21
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WHEREAS, the current census appears to show that Miami-Dade County is 23
made up of 15.2 percent white residents (not including Hispanic), 65.6 percent 24
Hispanic residents, 19 percent African-American and 1.7 percent Asian; and 25
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WHEREAS, the current Miami-Dade County school population for the 27
County is made up of 7.7 percent white residents (not including Hispanic), 67.5 28
percent Hispanic residents, 23.0 percent African-American and 1.8 percent all 29
other groups; and 30
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WHEREAS, the current Miami-Dade County school population for South 32
Miami’s District is made up of 10.7 percent white residents (not including 33
Hispanic), 79.9 percent Hispanic residents, 7.8 percent African-American and 34
1.5 percent for all other racial groups; and 35
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WHEREAS, the racial makeup of the charter school is, according to Miami-37
Dade County School Board, 11.2 percent white students and 86.9 percent Hispanic 38
students, 1.1 percent African -American students and 0.8 percent Asian students. 39
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Add-on Resolution Sponsored by Comm. Welsh
8/19/14 City Commission Meeting
Page 2 of 2
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND 1
CITY COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA: 2
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Section 1
7 . The City Attorney is instructed to investigate the reason for the 5
racial disparity in the student population at Somerset Academy. 6
Section 2.
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Severability. If any section, clause, sentence, or phrase of this 8
resolution is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent 9
jurisdiction, the holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of 10
this resolution. 11
Section 3.
15 Effective Date. This resolution shall become effective 13
immediately upon adoption by vote of the City Commission. 14
PASSED AND ADOPTED this ____ day of _____________, 2014. 16
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ATTEST: APPROVED: 19
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_____________________ ______________________ 22
CITY CLERK MAYOR 23
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READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM, COMMISSION VOTE: 25
LANGUAGE, LEGALITY AND Mayor Stoddard: 26
EXECUTION THEREOF Vice Mayor Harris: 27
Commissioner Edmond: 28
_____________________________ Commissioner Liebman: 29
CITY ATTORNEY Commissioner Welsh: 30
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