Evening star., 1954-10-21
Top Possible
AfAnacosiia,
Cardozo High
.. G. Board Names
John Koontz and
james Saunders

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james Saunders
John d. Koontz yesterday was
named principal Of Anacostia
High School and James N. Saun-
ders principal Of Cardozo High
School.
The appointments by the Dis
trict Board Of Education were
among six to administrative posts
In the secondary schools.
Mr.. Koontx, who has been prin-
cipal Of Taft Junior High, sue
ceeds Mrs. Opal Corkery who re-
tired this year after q long teach-
ing career In District schools.
Eugene Griffith had been acting
prin cipal at Anacostia this term.
The new Arlacostia principal
began his service with District
schools as q social studies teacher
at Langley Junior High In 1899.
Prior to being named principal
Of Taft last year. he had served
as assistant principal at Kramer
Junior High and Coolidge High.
Mr.. Saunders. q native Of the
District, has served in the Dis-
trict school system since 1921.
He had been serving as assistant
principal at Cardozo since 1946.
Other Appointments.
Other appointments were:
Mrs. Marjorie r. Bowen to be
assistant principal Of Western
High School: Harry i. Chasey
to be assistant principal ct Sousa
Junior High: Elmer F. Mitchell
to be assistant principal at
Banneker Junior High: and
Sidney Fl. Zevin to be assistant
principal at Paul Junior High.
A move BY board member Ro-
bert n. Faulkner that would
have resulted hi q restudy Of the
boards policy on ending segrega-
tion. prior to b further ruling Of
the Supreme Court, was lost BY
q tfree-to-two vote with two
board members abstaining.
Mr.. Faulkner had suggested
that q committee Of the board
study his request that parents
be allowed to send their children
to schools housing pupils pre-
dominantly Of their own race.
irrespective of school boundaries,
and that teachers be assigned to
schools On the basis of colored
teachers being assigned to pre-
dominantly coIored schools and
white teachers ct predominantly
white schools,
How board Voted.
board mennbers West Al.
Hamilton. Dr, Margaret Just
Butcher and Walter M TUbriaer
voted 10 table the request. Dr.
H0mland r. Kinks and Miss Mary
Parker abstained from voting
and Mr.. Faulkner and Mrs.
Frank 8. Phillips voted for the
study.
School supt. Hobart M. Cor
ming advised the board that It
became necessary to establish
six part-time classes for first
and ond-graders at Young
Elementary School because Of
serious overcrowding. The school
has q capacity OF 864 pupils but
1897 registered for the current
term, Mr.. Corning said.
Parents of children involved
had been told that openings were
available at two nearby schools
but no requests for transfers
were received.
School Closing Approved.
The board formally approved
closing Of 63-year-old Wilson
ScnO0l though some members
expressed criticism Of Supt. Cor
ning's action in evacuating the
school without first consulting
board members. The change had
been made to save money and
teachers, the children being sent
to other schools nearby.
Mr.. Corning, In reply In criti-
cism by board members that he
had violated the spirit II not
the letter" OF q board rule re-
quiring that citizens Of an area
in which q school Is proposed
to be closed be given q hearing,
declared:
The superintendent has not
closed the Wilson School. He
brings you today q recommends
ton that the Wilson School be
closed. I've proceeded In the
best interests Of the education
Of the children" Z.