On Thursday, Feb. 26, at approximately 10:45 a.m., the Pulaski County Special School District was notified of the ruling from U.S. District Judge D.P. Marshall Jr. granting the district with full unitary status. After more than 43 years, the district will no longer operate under federal court jurisdiction.
PCSSD Superintendent Jeff Senn said, “To say that we are pleased with Judge Marshall’s ruling is an understatement. Prior to becoming PCSSD superintendent in July 2025, I served the district as a principal and teacher. I know the decades-long work the district has been doing to achieve this milestone moment.
Today, I am especially proud of the work of my colleagues — Mr. Curtis Johnson, Dr. Janice Warren, and Mr. Damien Patterson, as well as the work of many others — who played key roles in helping to make unitary status for our district a reality. This achievement is a testament to their commitment and dedication.
We are grateful to have achieved unitary status, and we look forward to the future of this district with renewed optimism and purpose.”
Warren is the assistant superintendent for Student Services at PCSSD. Through her work in the district, Warren led initiatives which had previously released the district from all areas of the desegregation case except facilities.
“This is a long time coming for the students, staff, and patrons of PCSSD. I firmly believe that hard work and God’s grace and mercy always pays off,” Warren said.
Johnson is executive director of operations, and Patterson is principal at Mills University Studies High School.
Additional information about this new development will be provided at the March PCSSD Board of Education meeting.