TIME FOR JUDGE CLARK TO END DESEG CASE

U.S. District Judge Russell G. Clark has decided to withdraw from the Kansas City school desegregation case.

It is a move that is long overdue.

Judge Clark's decisions have cost the state of Missouri millions upon millions of dollars. Missouri has literally been held financial hostage to one man's concept of justice, which has been questionable at best.

Desegregation efforts have been a disaster in terms of student achievement. Missouri taxpayers paid for expensive buildings and equipment in Kansas City, including Olympic-sized swimming pools and fencing teams. But student scores never reflected this influx of dollars. Money alone is not the answer to better schools.

Perhaps the greatest irony of all is that these gold-plated schools have not attracted the racial mix sought through court-ordered desegregation in Kansas City.

Before he steps down, Judge Clark can still do considerable damage. In June 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court indicated this case should begin winding down. Missouri has asked Judge Clark to declare the Kansas City district desegregated, which means state payments could end by 2000. Clark has been holding hearings since Jan. 13.

Missourians can only hope that Judge Clark's last decision on Kansas City desegregation will be his best.