Busing decision was necessary first step

busing.jpgCongratulations to the Wichita school board for its historic unanimous decision Monday night to end busing for desegregation in the district by the next school year. Such forced busing was the rule for nearly four decades, during which some African-American children were bused across town for all 13 years of their schooling. But it has long struck many in the community, white and black, as unfair and unnecessary. The logistics of placing the 2,000 affected students in neighborhood and magnet schools won’t be easy, but “I believe in my heart we will make sure all of our kids will get an equitable education,” said board member Kevass Harding. That’s a promise the district now must do everything it can to keep.