In 1969 Ossining had been singled out as 1 of 54 target segregated districts in New York by a state study group known as the Fleischmann Commission. The first steps to desegregate the Ossining elementary schools occurred shortly after the state board of education wrote the school department pointing out the racial imbalance in the elementary schools. Ossining was one of several school districts to take the state's informal letter seriously and initiate voluntary plans. At the request of the board of education, the superintendent called for a demographic study of the district. As a result of the study, the closing of one of the five elementary schools and the desegregation of the four other schools were recommended. A redistricting study commission was also appointed to study how the remaining four schools could be racially balanced. The redistricting commission developed four separate plans, all of which provided greater racial and socioeconomic balance, yet attempted to the greatest degree possible to assign students living in the same neighborhood to the same school and to minimize the number of students bused. In March of 1974, one of the plans was voted in. While enthusiastic about the successful implementation of the desegregation plan, members of the school board, administration staff, and community also spoke of the need for improvements. Among the main concerns today are: (1) racial imbalance in 4 elementary schools caused by changes in residential patterns during the first year of desegregation, and (2) the potential of resegregation in the classroom. (Author/AM)