Evening star., 1954-12-16
New Staff Plan
In Schools SET
For February
Corning Sees Poy Cut
Unlikely in Last
lntegrotion Step
BY james G. Deone

feet in mid-February, School
Supt. Hobart M. Corning said
today.
He added that the reorganiza-
ton will not cost any officials
their jobs and that salary cuts
are unlikely.
The reorganization-details OF
which are subject to Board OF
Education approval-will end the
duplication of many jobs which
prevailed under racial segrega-
ton. It is the last major inte-
grafton step still untackled.
DR.. Corning told the school
board yesterday he will submit
his reorganization proposals at
the February 16 board meeting.
go Positions Affected.
Affected will be some go posi-
tions, including those Of two as
sistant superintendens, eight as
sociate superintendents. 26 de-
department heads and a number
of directors and supervisors.
The superintendent said today
some department heads may be-
come assistant heads under his
plan.
Administrative officers, like
teachers, have job protection
rights. DR.. Corning did not state
whether he felt these hold good
under a major reorganization.
He did state, however:
1--WE do not have too many
people We're already spending
far less than many other cities
our size for administration"
New Posts Expected.
DR. Corning told the board
yesterday that the abilities Of
staff officers are being studied
and that reassignments will be
on a city-wide and functional
basis Some new posts are ex-
pected to be created.
He said the administrative Of
f1cers at present are working as
teams and with complete Coop
Grafton.
DR.. Corning outlined the ad-
miniStrative situation in a FOUR
page reply to criticism last month
from DR.. Margaret j. Butcher.
Negro board member.
DR.. Butcher had accused the
superintendent Of being dilatory
in desegregating the school ad-
ministration. Among other
things she criticized the handling
Of athletics plans and failure to
nominate a successor to the re-
tired head of physical education
In the old colored division, DIR.
Edwin B. Henderson.
DR.. Butcher yesterday, in q
brief statement before the super
intendent's report, declared that.
since she made her criticism, she
had been advised of several steps
taken toward staff integration.
Regarding sports, she said there
was a gratifying indication of
progress" She again urged f1ll-
ing DR.. Henderson's position,
however.
Rules Revisi0ns Submitted.
DR.. Corning, in his report, said
that both Negro and white off,
cials took part In plans for an
all-star football team and for an
inter-racial basketball schedule
which starts this month. He also
reported that bi-racial commit
tee has Just completed recon-
mendations on revising athletics
rules.
The superintendent stressed
his view that the administrative
reorganization "is not a process
which can be hurried If the re-
suits are to be satisfactory to
the school system and to the in
dividual officers concerned"
Wesley S. Williams, another
Negro board member, yesterday
urged speed in the administra-
tive reorganization. He declared
that it was "high time" for such
a plan to be submitted, since
school officials undoubtedly would
be questioned on the subject
when they go before congress
sional committees on next win
ter's school budget.
Mr.. Williams also suggested
that vocational schools. junior
highs, curriculum planning and
special education for retarded
and advanced children be set up
as independent administrative
functions. Vocational and junior
highs are now administered
Jointly. One associate superin-
tendent has charge Of both our
riculum and elementary schools,
and special education is q SUBJ
ordinate department.
Faulkner Move Defeated.
DR.. Corning said all these
ideas already were being studied
For the second time, member
Robert r. Faulkner was defeated
3 to 2, in an effort yesterday to
have the board reconsider Its
policy barring pupil transfers
based on race.
Mr.. Faulkner In October
argued that parents should be
permitted to transfer children
out Of schools where they are In
a small racial minority. He was
defeated, however, by a SO vote
Yesterday he asserted that the
reasonableness of his proposal
was supported by press reports
that persons high in authority
understood the Supreme Court
would take emotional strains OF
parents and children into &C.
count in dealing with desegre-
cation. This was an apparent
reference to a statement last
month by President Eisenhower
Mr.. Faulkner also said that n
of the city'S lS6 schools have a