Evening star., 1955-03-01
Secret Report
On Integration
Given Board
Advisers Submit
Policy Proposal for
Montgomery Schools

Montgomery Schools
The Montgomery County Board
Of Education last night voted to
hold up release Of the final re-
port of its Advisory Committee
on Integration.
Then it extended the secrecy
policy 1t imposed on itself and
the committee so far as public
utterances about the subject OF
integration in county schools Is
concerned.
Later the board chairman and
another m en- ber pointedly
warned a third member to cancel
a tentatively scheduled engage
ment to participate in a public
forum on the integration issue.
The final report , of the ls-
member advisory group, repre-
! senting five months study. was
sent to the board yesterday.
In letter of transmittal, John
r. Reeves. the groups chairman.
revealed that 13 members had
approved the report. three voted
against it and two ahstained
from acting on it.
Sees Vote rs Closest.
He had been hopeful. he wrote.
that the committee would come
forth with unanimous agreement
on recommendations for integra-
ton. but that. in view Of the
strong opinions of its members,
the 13-to-3 vote represented the
closest possible approach to
unanimity, he said.
No hint was given Of the con-
tents of the majority findings.
but it has been generally known
that they suggest a gradual ap-
( proach to ending segregation
in schools, with pupils being in
tegrated one grade at a time
over a 12-year period.
When Willard G. McGraw,
board chairman, finished read
ing Mr.. Reeves letter, Mrs. Helen
M. Scharf declared that "the
public mas had more opportunity
! to discuss the report than the
board"
/ She moved that the report,
together with two minority opin.
ions. be kept secret until the
board digested the recommends.
tions.
Supplementary facts may be
needed before the board adopts
its own policy on integration.
Mrs. Scharf said. Another mem-
ber. Mrs. Rose Kramer. said ad.
ditional facts might give a diff
ferent perspective.
Harrison King asserted that
"it's not up to us to supplement-
the report with facts" He
warned that until the report is
released, wild rumors" will
sweep the county.
Wylie B. Barrow asked what
factual information was re-
quired.
Would Study Redistricting.
| Mrs. Scharf said a report was
needed on how pupils will be re-
distributed under an integration
program, and said a study of
redistricting of school districts
should be made.
At that point School Supt.
Forbes H. Norris presented an
estimate of individual school en-
rollments next September, If in
tegration were to become effective
at that time.
The report was first classed
as factual information available
for public release, but later was
withdrawn when some board
members called it incomplete
and misleading.
This report showed sharp dis
PARTIES in enrollments between
schools, forecasting vacant class
rooms in some schools and criti.
cal overcrowding in others.
! Mr.. Norris revealed also the
existence of a third report on
integration. prepared by a COM
mittee of classroom teachers.
Copies were given to board
members, but the contents were
not discussed.
Secrecy Request by Phone.
Immediately following the
vote on holding up the commits
tees recommendations, a school
board aide notified Mr.. Reeves
by telephone of the secrecy reso-
luton. The advisory group re-
quested last week that the ban
on public utterances by its mem-
bers be lifted Immediately.
Mr.. McGraw said he now
could give no estimate Of how
soon the board would announce
its own policy. nor what would
happen to plans for a public
hearing on the integration ques-
ton. The board is committed
to holding a public hearing and,
until last night, had tentatively
scheduled the meeting for this
month.
Mr., King told the board he
had planned to make a public
appearance next week at q
meeting to discuss integration.
Other Actions Taken.
In other actions, the board: ~
Decided to study a ruling by
Norman p. Ramsey, assistant at
torney general. who said schools
cannot be used for religious serv-
ices. Many county schools now
are used for church services and
Sunday schools.
Approved plans for a $3.50, $50
gymnasium classroom project at
Gaithersburg High School, and
for four-room addition to Lay-
louisville Elementary School. n
Approved a liberalizing OF the
nav ceiling for exneriencrd "A