Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-07-28
Money Is Lacking
To Reopen Schools
Prince Edward
Supervisors
Move Matted

RICHMOND, July % tAP)-
Money is the barrier to re-
opening the migration closed
schools of Prince Edward
County, the county's school
board chairman said yesterday.
DR.. w. E. Smith said "the
difficulty is that the school
board does not have money"
Prince Edwards Board of
Supervisors controls county
funds and for the past three
years has refused to appropri-
ate school money.
Judge Oren r. Lewis of
Richmond Federal District
Court told the board Thursday
to lay plans by September l
to reopen on a non-racial
basis the schools which were
shut three years ago to avoid
racial indignation.
There's nothing Tin the
opinion) to indicate where well
get the money. That's what has
held us up. We can't do any,
thing until we get some money"
said DR.. Smith.
Funds Halted in SO
The cut off of funds forced
the closing of all public schools
in 1859, making Prince Edward
the only locality in the Nation
to shut schools under its own
rather than accept racial
indignation.
Since then, white children
have attended private segre-
gated schools which were ope-
rated in part by public tuition
grants until the funds were
barred by Judge Lewis.
The 100 Negro children in
the rural SouthSide Virginia
community have been virtually
without formal education.
Recently, the board of super
visors approved a county bud
get for next year which for the
fourth consecutive year does
not include money for schools.
Will Submit Plan
Meantime, the school boards
attorney, Collins Denny jr., said
he would comply with Judge
Lewis order and submit a
school operating plan to all at
torneyS in the case by Septem-
Der /. Judge Lewis said the
plan should be sent to him by
September 7.
. Mr.. Denny declined to say
what the details would be until
the plans are submitted. He
submitted a plan some months
ago to Judge Lewis which in
essence was school census.
He said he would meet with
the school board soon but a
date had not been set. This
likely will include other at
torneyS in the 1l-year-old ra-
cial dispute.
Both Mr.. Denny's and Mr..
Smiths remarks are in line
with previously announced po-
Sitions of the school board.
There was no comment from
J. Segar Gravatt, counsel for
the board of supervisors.
No Teachers Signed
/ The prospects for public
schools this September in
Prince Edward are slight. Mr..
Smith said the board has no
teachers under contract. There
are other formidable problems.
Presumably. the county and
State will seek an appeal when
a formal opinion is issued. This
would further delay any open
ingS.
In his opinion, Judge Lewis
held that Prince Edwards pub
lie schools May not be closed
to avoid the effect of the law
of the land as interpreted by
the Supreme Court while the
Commonwealth of Virginia per-
mitS other public schools to
remain open at the expense of
the taxpayers.
I'm the event the public
schools of Prince Edward
County are reopened and
maintained in accordance with
the (previous) order of this
court it will not be neces-
sary to enter a more formal
order.
IF, however, the said schools
are not reopened prior to Sep
TENDER 7, 1862, this court will
on that day consider any and
all proposed orders rendered by
counsel of record"