Evening star., 1948-11-25
Conference SET
On Arlington
School Fight
Legal Right of Board
To Create Post for
Braun Questioned

Virginia's top authorities on edu.
cation and law will confer this week
to decide whether the Arlington
School Board had legal right to ap-
point an associate" superintendent
of schools.
Dr.. G.. Tyler Miller, State super
intendent of public instruction, said
that while he had not reached final
conclusions, he knew of no provision
in the law under which the board
could create the new job.
The Arlington board recently
named Edward J. Braun, its con-
sultant, to the associate" position.
In doing so, it deprived Supt.
Fletcher Kemp of some of his most
important duties.
County Treasurer John Locke
Green announced yesterday that he
will withhold Mr.. Braun's salary
and all expenditures under the new
school construction program.
Il just want to. be certain that
the School Board is following the
law" the treasurer declared. II pre-
sumo the law is being observed, but
when l get notified that it is not,
as I have been in this case, then 7
must withhold approval of eXpendi-
lures until the matter is straighten-
ed out"
Court Test Hinted.
DR.. Miller said he has received "a
! Iot of fiNy,cH m cub
ject and that he would confer with
Attorney General J. Lindsay Al
mond, jr.
The question of legality was
raised at board meeting Tuesday
night when Mr. Green limited at the
possibility of a court test of the
boards authority and Common
wealths Attorney Denman T.
Rucker questioned the procedure Of
the board.
1t is believed that a principal
point at issue is whether so many
important duties of school super
intendent can be taken from him
and reassigned to some one else.
The Arlington resolution gives Mr..
Braun practically all administrative
responsibility not concerned with
teaching, though under the super
vision" OF Supt. Kemp.
Building Delays Decried.
The School Board said it was
motivated by a desire to push the
projected school construction pro-
gram. 1t decried delays in building
authorized by two bond issues total
ing more than S6000,000. Members
said Mr.. Braun would expedite this
work.
Supt. Kemp originally planned
to recommend" the appointment
of Mr.. Braun to be one of his
assistants but decided against such
a course after hearing the text Of
the resolution creating the Office
! of associate.
| DR.. Miller said in Richmond that
| it is customary for School Boards
/ to follow the wishes of their division
superintendents With respect to ad-
ministrative personnel, Supt. Kemp
objected strenuously to a resolution
introduced by O. Glenn Stahl, but
the board adopted it unanimously.
First Open Break.
The boards disapproval of Supt.
Kemp's policies long has been
known. Nevertheless, the creation
of the new job and the appoint
ment of Mr.. Braun constituted its
first open break with him.
DR.. Miller described as a neces-
sary formality the State Board Of
Education's recent approval of ad-
ministrative officers for the Arling-
ton and Loudoun County school
systems.
The State boards action in Ar
lington's case covered the position
held by Charles Walsh, assistant
superintendent of schools DR.. Mil
Ter explained that the State board
approved Mr.. Walsh's appointment,
along with several Others, to remove
all doubt as to the legality of ac-
ton by the assistants in the absence
OF their superintendents. The ap-
proval was retroactive to the date
| of appOintment