Evening star., 1950-02-01
BiIIWouIdANow
Shifts in Mamma
School Boards
Virginia Measure
Authorizes Localities
To Change Method
By Alex K. Preston
Star StoH Correspondent

SEof jun feApohdehf
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 1.-vir-
ginia localities would determine
how their own school boards
would be selected by terms of
bill to be sponsored in the General
Assembly today by Delegate Ed
win Lynch Of Fairfax.
Under his plan, the voters of
any county or city could initiate
a referendum on the question of
whether any change in the pres
ent method is desired, and If so,
which of two alternate plans
should be used.
At present, most school boards
are elected by school trustee elec-
toral boards which. in turn, are
appointed by the circuit judges. If
voters decided to change the sys-
tenn they would have a choice OF
naming the local board either by
direct election or by selection by
the Board of Supervisors.
Teacher Tenure Sought.
Mr.. Lynch said he is primarily
interested in letting the people
decide which method they prefer.
State Senator Harry F. Byrd,
Jr., Of Winchester already has in
troduced a bill to require the
Board of Supervisors to appoint
school boards. Senator Lloyd M.
Robinette of Lee County has spon-
sored a measure to require that
one member Of the supervisors
serve on the School Trustee Elec-
toral Boards while Senator Frank
P. Burton has proposed that the
school boards be elected by the
supervisors from a list submitted
to it. This list would be pre-
pared by the School Trustee Elec-
toral Boards and include the
names of three persons from each
n1agisterial district.
The Arlington delegation,
meanwhile, introduced duplicate
bills yesterday designed to estab-
lish plan of permanent tenure"
Tor school teachers.
More than 10000 teachers could
receive "job security" if the plan
were adopted by each locality.
Eligible After Three Years.
Sponsored by Senator Charles
R. Fenwick and Delegates George
Damn and ]. Maynard Magru-
der. the bill would require the
State Department of Education to
set up a teacher tenure committee,
composed of the State superin-
tendent of public instruction, a
school superintendent and from
one to three other persons.
Any locality, by resolution of
its School Board. could come un-
der the act. Any teacher holding
q degree and who has taught
three years in the State. two of
which were in the locality. would
be eligible for permanent tenure.
The State teacher tenure commit
tee would pass on the applicants
request for permanent. tenure.
The certificate of permanent
tenure would remain in force for
the life of the teacher and the
local school board could remove
the teacher only for just cause.
Appeals of the boards ruling could
be carried to the State committee.
Asks Fairfax Salaries.
At present. teachers renew their
contracts on a year-to-year basis.
Senator Fenwick said that the
effect Of the bill would be to pro-
vide assurance to teachers that
they would hold their jobs.
The teachers of Arlington had
asked the delegation to sponsor
such a plan. The sponsors re-
called that a similar plan was
adopted by the General Assembly
q few years ago but left its execu-
ton to the State Department of
Education. It was never put into
effect because of wartime condi-
tions.
Mr.. Lynch introduced another
bill relating to schools yesterday
1t would permit the members of
the Fairfax School Board to re-
ceive 5000 a year each.
Delegate w. H. w. Cassell of
Portsmouth introduced a bill to
repeal the price fixing powers of
the Virginia Milk Commission.
Similar efforts at previous assem-
bly, sessions have met with failure.
Welfare Hearing damned.
The House was scheduled to
pass today bill to establish an
administrative officer for the
courts. The measure, one of a
series backed by the Judicial
Council, weathered a debate on
the floor yesterday.
Also in line for passage in the
House is bill by Delegates Lynch
and Armistead Boothe of Alexan-
dria. 1t permits Federal Govern
rnent workers in Alexandria, Fails
Church and Fairfax County to
hold Office in the State and local
governments, subject to restric-
tions by the Federal Government.
4 Welfare officials and represent
atives of cities and counties filled
the hall of the House of Delegates
yesterday as the Senate Finance
and House Appropriations Com
mittees held a joint public hearing