Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-09
Dr.. Norris Calls
Board Unjust
In Dismissal
County School Head
Criticizes Members
For 'Intrusions'

ltendent. today revealed that diff
Iferences between himself ant
the county school board over tn,
role of a school superintend
ent led to the boards decision
not to renew his contract.
At an impromptu press con
ference. the 59-year-old schoo
administrator declared that HI
felt school board members haC
been unjust. because 1 don
think their criticisms are mer
Iited." Until today, DR.. Morris
had declined to comment public
ly on the boards action.
The first statement from the
board itself came on March 81
when they confirmed a news leah
that they had agreed to release
DR.. Norris. Almost Immediately
the school board was subjected
to heavy criticism from severa
county civic groups.
Board members. DR.. Norri,
said today, have assumed toe
much responsibility" in admin.
istratiye matters. He said he
has told board members these
intrusions slow us down"
Tells of March 81 Session
DR.. Norris said he held ses-
sion with board members or
March 81 and was told several
instances in which the board
alleged he had shown lack Of
administrative ability.
The specific instances. DR.
Norris said. included the follow
ing:
/. Criticism by the board oil
the procedure the administration
used in the selection of text
books.
2. The transfer across schoo
district lines Of 80 Negro pupil,
TO the Rollingwood Elementar,
School in Chevy Chase.
3. Board criticism over th'
superintendent handling of ;
teacher at the Chevy Chase Ele
mentary School. who was trans,
ferred from a post she had helt
for 81 years.
DR.. Norris also said schoo
heads had blamed him for tn,
poor state of budgetary rela
tons" between school authori
ties and the County Council.
Appears at Meeting
While DR.. Norris was talkini
TO reporters, the School Boart
was holding its regular Tuesda,
meeting in another room OF tn,
school administration buildini
in Rockville. AS the board meet
ing got under way. DR.. Norris ap
peared briefly and stated tina
he has not asked for legal ait
and that he did not plan TO asl
the board for written bill O
particulars in connection witt
his custer.
However. the newly organized
Citizens Committee for Fai,
Play in Public Service this weel
disclosed committee member.
will employ every available lega
means ito obtain a full, oper
airing of the case.
The committee chairman
David Scull. president OF tn,
county Chamber Of Commerce
said his group has retained at.
torneys to safeguard the per.
sonal interests Of DIR. Norris.
The school superintendent sale
he has taken no part in Thu
efforts Of civic groups TO obtair
from the school board a list O
specific and valid reasons fol
the dismissal.
Believes in Firm Hand
/ DR.. Norris declared tina
he believes a school admin.
istrator should conduct schoo
affairs with a firm hand. H,
said school board members APP
parently had 4 different in
depreciation as to what his re
sponsibilities should be.
Many school problems, he sale
are the result of too few stat
members. He said the schoo
system needs a property Office
to keep a continuous inventor
of school supplies. a director O
publications and information an,
a new director of elementar,
education. Money has alread,
been budgeted for the latter
post, he said, but he has beer
unable to find the right man
Fears "Step Backward"
He said proposal now befor
the board TO establish STANDING
committees to oversee variou
school departments would lead {,
interference" He said tn
standing committee policy woulC
be a step backward"
DR.. Norris said he will not re.
sign but will serve out the tern
of his contract which expires OF
July 81. State law provides tina
a school superintendent must b.
appointed during the month O
May to take Office on the follow,
ing August /. DR.. Norris said h,
does not expect to be availabl,
after July 81. even il the schoo
board has failed to hire hi.
successor
DR.. Norris statement followe,
two Developments yesterday il
the dismissal controversy.
The Montgomery County Civi,
Federation voted SO to rs las
night TO table a proposed resolu
ton which would have cited tn
school boards right and duty I,
select a superintendent iii
whom 1t has confidence.