Associated Press - July 17, 2009 9:34 AM ET

OPELOUSAS, La. (AP) - St. Landry Parish schools are another step closer to resolving a 44-year-old desegregation case.

The U.S. Justice Department has agreed to end its oversight of the way schools are staffed. That resulted Thursday in a federal judge saying the St. Landry School Board has achieved partial "unitary" status - meaning the system is providing equal opportunity in staffing.

The move comes after new principals were named at six schools last year. Court records show that, of the school system's 37 principals, 19 are black.

Sixty-one percent of guidance counselors are black, as are 50% of assistant principals.

Information from: The Daily World, http://www.dailyworld.com

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