Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-31
34Negroes0Kd
In School Switch

School Board last night inn
plemented its Indignation policy
with the admission of "a colored
students to seven formerly all
white schools.
The "a students are among
90 colored students who had
accepted the boards offer to
consider requests for transfer to
schools nearest the students
homes, without regard to race.
OF the remainder, decisions
were deferred in So cases. two
requests were rejected and five
were withdrawn.
Schools scheduled to accept
colored students for the first
time on September 6 are North
western High School. /; Mount
Rainier Junior High School. 3.
and the following elementary
schools, Beltsville, /; Accokeek.
6: Seat Pleasant. S: Glenn Dale;
4; Carole Highlands. IA.
Trial Period Setup
At the suggestion of Supt.
William S. Schmidt, the board
decided unanimously to establish
q trial period extending until
November /, during which those
students granted a transfer may
make application for transfer
back to their former schools If
they so desire.
The plan was adopted after
Mrs. Emma Everson. a board
member, raised the question as
to what provision should be
made for those students who
might become dissatisfied during
the school year after having
been granted a transfer.
OF the So requests still pend
ing. "a were made for Beltsville.
Is for High Point High School
and from residents Of the
Laurel-Bowie road who possibly
would go either to Glenridge or
Laurel Elementary Schools. de-
pending on their residences.
Most of the applications for the
Beltsville and High Point High
Schools came from residents of
the Beltsville and Muirkirk areas.
Transportation Unsettled
Mr.. Schmidt explained that,
although his pupil personnel
staff had verified addresses listed
in the applications. the trans
portation supervisor had not had
an opportunity to determine IL
buses will be available for the
students.
The boards original integra-
ton policy included a provision
giving it the right to reject
transfer applications because of
overcrowding, transportation diff
ficulties or other valid reasons.
Mr.. Schmidt said the county
faces a critical school bus prob
lem this year, with 20 new buses
ordered but none received. He
pointed out that all Of the appli-
cations to Beltsville and High
Point could. not be accepted
without a careful study of the
bus problem in areas served by
the schools. The one student
admitted to Beltsville can walk
to school.
The board authorize Mr..
Schmidt to rule on the applica-
tions still pending after study
of bus facilities with John w.
Helm, supervisor Of transporta-
ton.
Mr.. Schmidt noted that his
pupil personnel staff probably
will not consider car pools a
satisfactory solution to the prob
lem.
Seniors Transfer Denied
The board rejected the appli-
cation Of a Fairmont Heights
High School senior to transfer
to Suitland High School because
1t IS 2h miles closer to his home
and he wants to take advantage
of athletic facilities there.
The rejection was based on a
belief held consistently by the
board that students should not
transfer from one school to an
other in their senior year. The
student admitted to Northwest
ern will be in the 10th grade.
Also rejected was the request
OF Paramount Heights Elemen-
tary student to attend classes at
Cheverly to avoid a double shift
AZ Paramount Heights. The
board win not permit any trans
fers for this reason.
The five withdrawn requests
were from students now taking
vocational courses at Paramount