HAMMOND---Hammond Mayor Mayson Foster announced today that he is seeking public input on the proposed desegregation plan for the Tangipahoa Parish School System.

Foster said the plan "represents a challenge the citizens of business community of Hammond must address to move our city forward."

Released to the public last week, the 262-page plan calls for creating several new schools across the parish and duplicating the magnet program currently used in Hammond's elementary schools on a parishwide scale.

The plan also calls for a new 1 cent sales tax and a parishwide millage to fund the nearly $183.4 million in proposed school improvements.

Foster said he would like the public to let him know their thoughts on the plan as the city prepares to participate in the upcoming April 18 public forum on the proposal.

"As a public servant, my first responsibility is to accurately represent the feelings and concerns of my constituents on this and any other issue," Foster said. "Now more than ever before, Hammond is being called to respond to the challenges we face in public education with a proposal that focuses on the parish as a whole instead of communities individually. I am asking the public to let me know your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions on the school system's proposed desegregation plan, so that I can, as your representative, voice your needs to the school system and its designees."

Foster invites the public to email him personally at schoolplan@hammond.org on the desegregation proposal.