Evening star., 1955-03-22
CountyAffirns
lntegrdtionP Plan
For Schools
Montgomery Boord
Leaves Question
Of Timing Unsettled

EUuCdtlOu lutenQS 70 lntegrdLe
the public schools Of the county
in ian orderly and just manner"
when all legal barriers are re-
The board issued prelim-
mary statement Of policy on the
integration issue last night,
leaving unsettled what Chair
man Willard g. McGraw called
the 1854 question of timing"
The statement said the board
would await a ruling from the
Maryland attorney general.
Earlier the board had an
nounced it would await imple-
menting rulings from the Su-
preme Court.
Puts Aside 12-Year Plan
In effect, the reports put aside
the recommendation of its 49,
member Citizens Advisory Com
mittee, calling for a gradual ap-
proach to desegregation under
which pupils would be inte-
grated over a 12-year period.
Word that the board would re-
lease statement leaked out yes
terday. with the result that a
group of go persons appeared at
last nights board meeting.
There was little reaction from
their spokesmen after the state
ment was read by Mr.. McGraw
because, they said, the vital tim
ing question was not answered.
1.-THE board is not ready to
make that decision. said Mr..
McGraw. This is a basic start:
It's not the last word"
The Boards Statement
Following is the text of the
statement Of policy approved by
the Board of Education:
"In recognition of the Supreme
Court ruling of May II, 1854.
that segregation in public school
education is unconstitutional.
the Montgomery County Board
of Education affirms its intention
to proceed to integrate the public
school system of Montgomery
County in an orderly and just
manner.
I'm so doing, the Board Of
also acknowledges the
moral and democratic implica-
tions of the ruling. and regards
compliance as an opportunity to
all of it's educational pro-
grams and facilities to all the
on an impartial basis.
"The Board Of Education is
a study and analysis OF
the problems involved in deseg-
of the report of the
Citizens Advisory Committee as
well as the minority reports re-
ceived from the members OF that
committee, and of the materials
and communications received by
the Board of Education and its
members.
Lists Basic Principles
'In order to develop a plan of
operation for the desegregation
of the public schools Of Mont
gomery County to be put in oper-
alton when the legal obstacles
have been removed, the board
adopts the following basic prin-
ciples:
81. Upon receipt of ruling or
advice from the attorney general
of the State of Maryland that
there is no legal barrier existing
in Maryland to the integration
of all students in public schools.
the Board Of Education will in
struct its superintendent to
place in operation its program Of
integration.
20. The primary consideration
of the public schools shall con-
tinue to be the educational needs
of the pupils.
"3. The same policy Of I'M
tegration shall prevail through
out the county, provided, how
ever, the superintendent, with
the approval Of the board. shall
have discretion to vary the tim
ing of integration as conditions
warrant.
~. The integration Of Board
of Education employees shall be
accomplished at the same time
as the integration Of pupils.
rs. Employment and placement
of all personnel shall be based
on relative merit established by
personal and professional quail
ifications for the requirements Of
any particular vacancy.
IS. School distrist lines shall
be drawn without regard to race:
pupils shall attend the school of
their district unless by special
permission of the school admin
istration.
az. Wherever necessary. there
shall be q realignment of school
districts or a reassignment of
pupils to accomplish proper use
of existing facilities; new facili-
ties shall be provided as promptly
as possible to relieve overcrowded
conditions.
"8. Wherever a pupil in a sec
ondary school desires q particu-
lar course or courses, not avail
able at the school which he would
normally attend, the pupil shall
have the option to go to q school
that will provide the course de-
sired. These decisions shall be
made by the Board Of Education
;va anrorfaanna xx,it1 v1yocn,,t al.