Lawsuit seeks to block school closures in Sacramento district

A dozen low-income minority students and their parents are suing to block the Sacramento City Unified School District from closing seven elementary schools. The Sacramento Bee reports that a federal suit has been filed on behalf of the students, their guardians and three parent-teacher associations at closing schools. The suit contends that the schools designated for closure were chosen because they are in an area "without political influence or organization" -- south Sacramento -- and have disproportionately low-income and minority populations. District representatives say the allegations in the suit are baseless and unsubstantiated.