A Chattanooga civil rights pioneer is ready to pick a fight with Hamilton county schools.
James Mapp, a past president of the local NAACP chapter, says he will take that job again in January, and plans to ask for an investigation by the Department of Education.
In 1960 - Longtime NAACP president James Mapp filed a federal school desegregation lawsuit against the Chattanooga Board of Education. The first schools in the city started to integrate in 1962.
Since then the 84 year old Chattanooga businessman and activist has led many a civil rights fight over the years.
Now, he's preparing to challenge the school board on a number of issues.
JAMES MAPP "As it stands now, I'm president elect..I will be president elect of NAACP..it's going to be different."
Mapp is angry about the removal of three principals earlier this year.
JAMES MAPP, CIVIL RIGHTS PIONEER "They demoted them. And they haven't demoted ..you ever heard of them demoting any white principal?...they get lateral transfers". "That's racism."
The school district says the former principals Charles Joynes, Rodney Johnson and Visa Harper were reassigned in order for the district to receive a half million dollar state grant to "turnaround schools".
All are now assistant principals.
Mr. Mapp also complains that 14 million dollars was once allocated for a middle school for students in Alton Park, but never built.
JAMES MAPP "They're being shipped out to Red Bank. I had to say this to them...I say, you had thr audicity to announce a 30-million dollars middle school ..while these kids have no school. That's a shame..shame on you for doing things like that."
His assessment of the board after his appearance last week?
JAMES MAPP "Years ago the wisdom of the school board was so different..these people don't have any wisdom."
Mr. Mapp says he intends to call the Civil Rights division of the education department to investigate the Hamilton county school district.
A School Innovation Zone grant, aimed at improving schools that perform in the bottom 5 percent, requires new leadership for schools in that group whose principals have been in place for two years or longer.
