The school district and the Concerned Minority Parents Advocacy Group signed the deal after working with a federal mediator with the Department of Justice.

The DOJ was brought in a year ago to ease what district leaders called "contentious relations" between the two sides. Superintendent Julie Morris says there were concerns about discrimination in the classroom.

The new agreement includes a commitment to recruiting a more diverse staff and the creation of an African American Student Association.

"I'm glad that it played out this way. I'm glad that were able to sit across the table and mediate and come to an agreement with aspects of what we want to see as parents, students and families," said Karen Bell, the leader of the Concerned Minority Parents Advocacy Group.

"We had a long haul, it was a tough mediation process. But with the people involved on both sides of the issue, I think we made some great headway," Superintendent Morris said.

Along with minorities, the new agreement aims to improve relations with special needs students.