School officials from the Lower Merion School District have denied allegations that race was a factor in choosing where to assign students. The controversial plan calls for dozens of students from a predominantly African American neighborhood to be bused five miles to Harriton High School, even though they live within a mile of Lower Merion High. The district says the plan will equalize enrollments at both schools. Temple law professor David Kairys says schools are legally allowed to consider race, if used properly. "If they created what are called race quotas or any number of other possibilities, it could lead to it being invalidated but it's not invalid simply because race was considered."