Byline: Andrew Brophy

Oct. 8--FAIRFIELD -- The state Board of Education has approved a plan designed to reduce the percentage of minority students at McKinley School.

"It was approved on the consent agenda, no discussion," Deputy Supt. of Schools Jack Boyle said last week. "We think it's the right thing for Fairfield, and we're taking a good approach in terms of having a better balance across the elementary schools in terms of race."

The state Board of Education ruled in April that McKinley was in "racial imbalance" because its percentage of minority students was at least 25 percentage points higher than the districtwide average at the elementary school level.