Evening star., 1956-01-31
ArIingtonDele
Fights School Bill
Unites to Oppose
Move to Forbid
Elected Bourd
By ALEX r. PRESTON
star Staf Correspondent


RICHMOND, Jan. 31.-Ar-
delegation to the Gen.
eral Assembly today united to
defeat bill that would with
draw that county's authority for
popular election of its school
board.
Reaction ranged all the way
from branding the bill as "puni-
tive" to a challenge of its le-
gality.
When Stafford Delegate Frank
P. Moncure introduced his re-
pealer bill in the House of Dele
gates yesterday, 1t bore the sig
nature of Sc co-patrons.
There's no denying the fact
that a lot of the members Of the
Legislature are irked at the Ar
lington County School Board.
Their ire stems from the boards
action about three weeks ago,
declaring it intended to integrate
some county schools in the fall
providing State policy and law
allows.
Not Unexpected
Delegate Harrison Mann Of
Arlington had this to say:
"The introduction of the bill
was not unexpected. The an
|nouncement by the School Board
|of its plan to integrate Airing.
ton schools far in advance OF
|crystalization of State legisla-
tion created considerable senti-
Iment in the House to bring this
school board into line with the
approach in the rest Of the
State"
Other members of the Legis-
lature, from outside of the Ar.
lington area, said they had
agreed to co-sponsor the Mon
cure bill because of the Gray
Commission program. The Gray
lplan is designed to prevent en-
forced integration of the races.
1t places the initiative for inte.
grafton on parents Of school chill
dren instead of on local school
boards.
Some lawmakers sponsoring
the bill said they wanted to make
the method of naming school
boards uniform throughout the
State. In other Virginia counties,
the Circuit Co'irt judge, who is
selected by the Legislature,
names a school trustee electoral
board. The trustee electoral
board. in turn, chooses the To-
cal school board members.
Lone Election County
Arlington is the only county
in Virginia where voters make a
direct choice Of school board
members.
Delegate Kathryn H. Stone Of
Arlington said: II seriously
doubt that simple repeal Of the
provision for Arlington's elected
School Board would stand up In
court"
She said the State Supreme
Court already has held that an
Ielected board is permissible un-
der the special county manager
act for Arlington. Mrs. Stone
posed the question of whether
Mr.. Moncure is attempting to re-
peal Arlington's special county
manager act.
"Mr. Moncure's comments re.
veal that his intent is purely
punitive, Mrs. Stone said.
Forecasts Bills Failure
She said she does not believe
the Legislature will pass the
bill.
The bill was referred to the
House Privileges and Elections
Committee. Its chairman, Roy
B. Davis of Halifax, said he may
call a meeting of the committee
for Thursday but that no plans
have been made for a public
hearing.
Arlington's State Senator
Charles R. Fenwick had this
comment:
Il am distressed that a bill
has been introduced in the
House that deprives Arlington Of
an elected school board. /, Of
course. will oppose this measure
with the hope that, on mature
reflection, the sponsors will not
insist upon their bill"
Special Act in 1946
Arlington obtained its elective
method of naming a school board
at a special session of the Legis-
lature in 1916. Because that was
a special session. it required the
unanimous consent of lawmakers
for the bill to be introduced.
Delegate William Winston Of
HA4 AAAS VOAl OAHU, L LIIC1lu W Op-
pose the bill and do my utmost
to bring about its defeat.
Since the elected School
Board was brought into being
by the vote of the people, I am
doubtful that it can be taken
away in any other manner. I in
tend to examine the legal prec-
edents of this aspect of the
matter to determine whether or
not the bill, if enacted, would
accomplish the purpose of its
sponsors.
Delegate Omer L. Hirst of
Fairfax said: II shall do all I
can to see that not only Arling-
ton but all other counties have
the kind of school boards they
want"