Evening star., 1954-09-23

WA Ab 144A R4uy VAA3v 40 PANSASVO
for our pupils program.
The opening day Of school is
always almost wholly out Of the
hands of the central school Of
f1cers. and the full responsibility
for the activities that day lies
in the field. I can, therefore,
unreservedly commend to the
board all the teachers and Of
f1cers in the field because of
their performance on that Mon
day and during the days that
have followed, which have been
wholly free from untoward in
cidents. Building visits have been
made to many schools during
these days, and the reports are
the same-flne spirit. pleasant
relationships, and a buzz of CO.
ordinated activities that spell a
good school In full operation.
There have been some un-
happy and some disappointed
individuals. There have been a
number of parents who have
sought transfers for their chill
dren because Of the effect which
the changes have made in their
own families. In some instances
it has been possible to meet
their requests. in others not.
Families Divided.
Early in the summer began
to receive letters requesting con-
sideration in the placement of
pupils in September. Some of
the problems presented were
caused by the new boundaries,
some by the fact that pupils
new to the system were required
to enter the school serving the
areas Of their residence while
their brothers and sisters were
attending another school, thus
dividing the family, some be-
cause of physical conditions
which necessitated special con-
sideration. The long distances
which some pupils were required
to travel caused parents to ask
for transfers without waiting
for the options provided for in
the superintendent's plan.
I therefore appointed a COM
mittee Of eight school officers to
review these cases and to come
to a decision in each one. This
committee consisted of two SEN
ior high principals. two Junior
high principals and two direc-
tors Of elementary education
and the executive assistant to
the superintendent and the ad-
ministrative assistant to one of
the first assistant superintend-
ents.
The work Of this committee
has not been completed, al
though of the 500 letters already
processed it has been possible
to make favorable adjustments
for approximately 60 per cent.
Some of these requests were at
first denied, but because of
changed circumstances and adj
ministrative action it was possi-
BILE later to give favorable ac-
tion. About 10 per cent of the
cases have been rejected, and
the remaining 80 per cent are
dependent on the options plan.
Replies to parents giving the
committee decisions were delayed
because Of the great number Of
interviews and telephone calls
which had to be handled by the
co-chairmen.
There are approximately 200
additional cases before the COM
mittee for review. Many of these,
however. will be taken care of by
the options which have been
called for in. the elementary and
senior high schools and which
will be called for in the Junior
high schools on September %.
The greatest single problem pre-
sented in these letters Is that Of
the divided family. Parents will
now be able to exercise their OPP
tions to have their children
transferred to the school serving
their area and In this way, If
they so desire. have their fam
lilies together in the same school.
AS rapidly as possible any re-
manning cases which cannot be
solved by the exercise Of the OPP
tions will be processed by spe-
cial committee.
Considerable reference has
been made to changes In our
schools this fall. For the pur-
pose Of record, these are the
steps in the desegregation plan