The Fairfield Board of Education passed a plan Tuesday designed to ?racially balance? the district?s elementary schools, particularly McKinley Elementary.

District officials say the ratio of minorities at McKinley is higher than at other elementary schools. The state recently ordered the board to fix the situation. However, district officials say it is illegal to single out students based solely on race.

At a meeting, the board passed a plan that would allow any parent to voluntarily pull their children out of McKinley and place them in other schools in Fairfield. Board members pointed out at the meeting, though the plan is a direct result of McKinley, racial imbalance is a district-wide problem.

?It?s not McKinley?s problem, it?s the town?s problem. If all our schools were (as) diverse as McKinley, we wouldn?t be here tonight,? board member Brenda Kupchick said.

The plan still has to be approved by the state Board of Education. The plan will be presented to McKinley parents Wednesday night.

Related Information:Fairfield officials, parents discuss 'racial balancing'