I THINK YOU'RE ONLY EXPOSED TO THAT IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE DIVERSE PEOPLE, DIVERSE INCOMES, DIVERSE EMPLOYMENT."

DON'T LOOK FOR AGREEMENT ANYTIME SOON ON WHETHER NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS OR RACIALLY DIVERSE SCHOOLS ARE MORE IMPORTANT.

AND DON'T EXPECT THE SCHOOL BOARD'S FIGHTING TO STOP OVER THE CONFLICTING BUDGET PRIORITIES THAT FOLLOW FROM THESE DIVERGENT VIEWPOINTS.

PERHAPS SURPRISINGLY, BOARD PRESIDENT JEAN FINK AND HER USUAL RIVALS AGREED ON ONE POINT: THERE IS AN OBVIOUS INEQUALITY IN THE TYPE OF MIDDLE-SCHOOL EXPERIENCE OFFERED TO THE DISTRICT'S CHILDREN.

"WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS," FINK SAYS "AND WE HAVE TO DO IT RELATIVELY SOON, ABOUT WHAT WE VALUE ABOUT WHAT WORKS.

AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT IN AN EQUITABLE WAY ACROSS THE SYSTEM.

THERE'S NO EASY ANSWERS - WE DON'T HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO RUN AROUND OPENING SCHOOLS.

BUT, I DO THINK IT'S AN EQUITY ISSUE.

I DON'T DISPUTE THAT FOR A MINUTE; WE NEED TO OFFER AN EQUIVALENT ACROSS THE BOARD."

OF COURSE, WHETHER FINK WOULD MAKE THIS A PRIORITY FOR THE BOARD IS ONE QUESTION, AND WHETHER SHE COULD MARSHAL HER FIVE-VOTE BOARD MAJORITY TO CHANGE THE BOARD'S COURSE IS ANOTHER.

MEANWHILE ESTHER BUSH SAYS, TAKE THE CASE TO THE PUBLIC: "I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY; TO TRY AND HAVE AN OPEN MIND AND LOOK OBJECTIVELY AT THE FACTS.

GIVE THOSE NUMBERS TO ANYBODY, AND LET THEM MAKE A LOGICAL CONCLUSION.

THE URBAN LEAGUE DOESN'T NEED TO MAKE THE STATEMENT, YOU CAN MAKE IT ON YOUR OWN: BLACK CHILDREN ARE BEING TREATED DIFFERENTLY."

END