Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-13
Newport News
Told 10 Allow
IniegrdtiOn

ANARAAANNANAft tA@s - 80
A Federal Judge has told the
city OF Newport News II must
consider enrolment Of Negro
students In white classes next
September II they are otherwise
qualified for admission.
Judge Walter Z. Holman
threw out a motion by the New
port News schol Board TO dis
miss an integration suit brought
by 10 Negro pupils seeking adj
mission TO q white elementary
school. And he added the State
Pupil Placement Board as O.
defendant In the suit.
The Federal Judge ordered
the school board 10 file with
the court within 20 days a re-
port stating the qualifications
of the Negro applicants to at
tend the schools Of their choice.
His order restraints the board
from refusing. solely sbecause
of race. TO admit TO any school
a child otherwise qualified for
admission.
Judge Hoffman also ordered
the board to prepare within $50
days q pupil placement plan
without regard TO race or color.
Applications Open \
In q memorandum accompa-
nying the order. he said, In
the interim period. the plain
tins, and others of their class
similarly situated, may make
application for admission to
particular schools In the city Of
Newport News at such reason
able time as they deem appro-
pirate for entrance into such
schools at the commencement
Of the regular school term in
September. 1889"
In adding the State place.
ment board as a defendant,
Judge Hoffman said, Hereto
fore, the local school board has
been required to stand alone
the brunt Of the attack by
Negro children seeking to assert
their constitutional rights. The
local board is still obliged to
observe these constitutional
rights and their duties and OBJ
legations are in no sense les
sened. although the final power
of enrolment or placement
may rest in the placement
board"
1.-THE authorities point to
the conclusion that the place.
ment board should be made a
party, If possible, in order that
there may be complete deter
mination in one action Of all
questions involved" the memo
randum continued.
Attorney General Albertis s.
Harrison and school board
attorneys had argued before
Judge Hoffman April Is that
the school board was not the
proper defendant in the suit
because its placement powers
had been stripped and vested
in the State pupil placement
board.
In denying the school boards
motion to dismiss the suit,
Judge Hoffman held that even
If placement powers are vested
in the placement board, the
school board is an indispensable
party to the action.
Norfolk Waiver Clause
In another development. the
Norfolk City Council ordered a
30 day waiver clause for
teacher contracts beginning
January /.
The Norfolk School Board
protested the move, which was
made possible under legislation
passed at the recent General
Assembly special session. School
Board Chairman Paul T.
Schweitzer said the city is
losing good teachers because
of uncertainty over Norfolk's
schools and $50 new ones al
ready are needed for next year.
This hit the school board as
a severe shock" Mr.. Schweitzer
said. 1t is another stumbling
block in the way of getting good
teachers"
Mayor w. Fred Duckworth
said the council was not acting
on a personal basis I'VE have
enough information to realize
that the smart thing to do as
businessmen entrusted with the
peoples money is to cut our
budget next year On a 30-day
basis" the Mayor said.
All city operations will go on
a month-ny-month basis in
1860.