Busing backers see victory in St. Louis

Leaders in the fight to desegregate St. Louis public schools have claimed a victory in a federal court ruling that may result in cross-district busing. The Eighth US Court of Appeals has reversed the decision of US District Judge James H. Meredith and ordered the school board to begin work immediately on a new desegregation plan. The plan board must develop a plan with 60 days. The court left open the possibility that acceptable desegregation may include busing suburban pupils into the city.

The appeals court rejected Judge Meredith's finding that segregation of the public school system resulted from population shifts over which the school board had no control.