Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-20
Order Is Asked
To Apply to All
County Schools
BY JOHN BARRON
star stan Writer

ton Of the entire Fairfax Coun-
ty school system.
In q suit. they also urged
Judge Albert v. Bryan of Alex
andria Federal Court to require
the county school board to adj
NIT 26 colored children to white
schools at once.
Applications by the children
for entry to white schools have
been disapproved by the State
Pupil Placement Board in Rich
mond.
The suit requests that If the
school board seeks any delay in
effecting migration, it be re-
quired to submit within 10 days
a comprehensive desegregation
plan.
The suit ends hope of Fair
fax school officials that they
could avoid a court fight over
desegregation.
Plan Ready for March
The school board has pre-
pared a desegregation plan for
possible use next March when
the county obtains the option
of administering pupil place
ment. It also might be put
into effect should the Federal
court order Indignation.
The school board, however.
has declined to make the plan
public and last Saturday it re-
fused to disclose it to Attorney
Frank D. Reeves who represents
the rs Negro pupils.
He said he sought informa-
ton about the plan with the
hope that a legal battle might
be averted.
But after the refusal, Mr..
Reeves said he had no choice
but to ask the Federal court to
intervene.
Blanket Order Asked
Although the suit is directed
only against the school board
and School Supt. w. T. Wood
son, it asks that "all persons in
active concert or participation
with them" be enjoined from
interfering with desegrega-
ton.
The latter phrase is believed
to be directed at any possible
efforts by the State Pupil
Placement Board, the county
Board of Supervisors or any
State body to forestall desegre-
cation.
The suit also asks that
should the school board re-
quest delay, the court place
upon it the burden of proving
necessity for delay.
Limit Asked on Evidence
It requests that the school
board in presenting any evil
dence that delay is desirable be
forced to cite only admins
tratlve reasons such as trans
portation. personnel. over
crowding Of schools, or the
possible necessity of revising
attendance areas.
Although the school board
has declined to divulge details
of the plan it has prepared,
the general features of it we're
reported by The Star last Sat-
urday.
Its major feature called for
gradual desegregation begin
ming in the first grade and
progressing through an addi-
tional grade each year. Ages
of the children involved in the
suit filed today range from
s to Is. Ii
Chairman Not Surprised
Fairfax School Board Chair
man Samuel S. Solomon said
of the suit: This was antici-
pated. They're certainly not
taking us by surprise"
Mr.. Solomon noted that the
school board does have a de-
segregation plan and added
that apparently what they
will attempt to do is get the
Federal court to bring it into
play"
Mr.. Solomon had explained
yesterday to the Board of
County Supervisors that the
plan was formulated to use If
court action were filed. He
said that as soon as he is
served with legal papers in the
suit he will call a special closed
of the school board.
School Board Member Clyde
w. Gleason said he welcomed
the suits suggestion on sub
a plan IN court.
Settlement Seen Possible
Mr.. Gleason said that it
might lead to an amicable set
Element that would be satisfac-
tory to all parties" He added
that "it seems to be a perfect
opportunity to come to a con-
clusion in a matter that needs
TO be concluded"
School Board Member Theo-
dore s. Heriot said: Wen
have to see what the court says
and hope we can maintain
control"
Stuart T. VeBell, chairman
Of the Board of County Super
said he felt the county
should fight it out in the
courts"
Mr.. DeBell added that he
reserved the right as it pro-
presses to change my mind"
II want to do what's best for
the school system and the peo-
pie Of Fairfax County" Mr..
DeBell said, adding that he is
bitterly opposed" to integra-
ton.