Correspondence from Luckett to Bell Re: School Transfer Policies and Notice to Pupils

     [||b5d34137-599f-4585-b50b-85b2d029c91d||] ROBERSON, LUCKETT & ROBERSON 
J. LAKE ROBERSON (1887-1960) 
Sumuzs LUCKETT LAWYERS 121 YAZOO AVENUE 

SHEDINILL ROBERSON CLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI AREACODE 20) 
LCUISE ARRINGTON 58 Gra TELEPHONE 624-8366 

/ 

September 13, 1965 b% 

9 4 
Hon. Derrick A. Bell, Jr. 

10 Columbus Circle 

New York 19, N. Y. 

Dear Sir: 

Were it not for the fact that I, too, have heard many wild 

misstatements about the enrollments at our schools, I would 

be surprised over Dr. Henry hearing that "that all white high 

school pupils residing within the Higgins school zone have 

obtained transfers back to white schools." But there is no 

substance whatsoever to such report. No white pupil has 

applied for a transfer out of Attendance Zone S-2-A. And, 

of course, none has been granted. 

Pupils new to the district were required to pre-register 

August 25 and all former secondary pupils of the district 

were required to pre-register August 31. Prior to the first 

mentioned date, all principals were given notices of paragraphs 

seven and eight of the court order dated August 10, 1965, and 

of the fact that the courses offered at one high school and 

not at the other consisted of the following: 

1. Bricklaying (Masonry) 

2. Carpentry 

3. D.O. = D.E. (cooperative work-study program) 

4. : Latin 1,11; Spanish 11 

5. «S0clology 

They were further instructed to distribute to each new pupil 

on August 25 and to each former pupil on August 31 a copy of 

the "Notice to Pupils in Grades 7-12" which had been supplied 

them, and also to 

"Announce to new students on August 25 about the 

courses offered in the other school. Give out written 

notices. 



Hon. Derrick A. Bell, Jr. 9/13/65 Page 2 

"Announce to all students on August 31 about the 

courses offered in the other school. Give out 

written notices. 

"If sufficient pupils are interested and a teacher 

is available to teach the new course, add the course 

to your school's curriculum as directed by the Court 

in paragraph (7). 

"If no teacher is available to teach the new course 

advise each interested student of his right to 

transfer if so desired to the school where such 

course is offered. (To transfer, a pupil must first 

be registered in his home school.) 

"Share fully with counselors the procedures set forth 

herein. 

"Make certain that each student affected understands his 

legal rights and educational implications inherent in 

full compliance with paragraphs (7) and (8), especially, 

of the Court Order." 

A copy of the "Notice to Pupils in Grades 7-12" is attached 

hereto for your information. 

In addition thereto, on August 25, a notice such as one of 

the notices attached hereto, was mailed to each of the senior 

high school students of the district. 

Similar notices were not mailed to junior high school pupils 

because we believe that the curricula in each of our junior 

high schools is the same. 

Anticipating that we might have requests for transfer because 

of all of the foregoing, we prepared a printed application 

for transfer, a copy of which is also attached hereto. 



Hon. Derrick A. Bell, Jr. 9/13/65 Page 3 

As I have already stated, no white pupil has applied for a 

transfer, and no transfer has been granted to a white pupil. 

Two negro pupils have applied for transfers. One was a 12th 

grade student who lives in Attendance Zone S-1-A and who 

requested a transfer to Higgins High School so that he might 

take carpentry, which is not offered in Clarksdale High School. 
Incidentally, he is the football star at Higgins and I under- 

stand the supporters of the Higgins High School football team 

were most anxious to get him back on their team. I have heard 

that he already has a "Big Ten Scholarship." 

The other pupil who has applied for transfer is one of the 

plaintiffs in the suit. I believe she is in the llth grade. 
She desires to take Latin, which is not being taught at 

Higgins High School and is being taught at Clarksdale High 

School. The only reason it is not being taught at Higgins 

is that we have never had any student there evidencing any 

interest in such a course before now. If enough pupils at 

that school do want Latin, the course will be taught there. 

Her application for a transfer will, of course, be granted. 

You may rest assured that we are determined, as we have 

always been, to comply with both the letter and the spirit 

of the Court's orders in this case. 

I trust that the foregoing gives you the information desired 

by you and Dr. Henry. 

Very wo yours, 

7 / 

2 
seémmes Luckett 

SL: VBM 

ENCLOSURES 



August 24, 1965 

NOTICE TO PUPILS IN GRADES 7-12, INCLUSIVE 
CLARKSDALE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Order given to the 
Board of Trustees of the Clarksdale Municipal Separate School District 
under date of August 10, 1965, by the United States District Court for 
the Northern District of Mississippi, Delta Division, pupils in grades 
7-12, both inclusive in the Clarksdale Public Schools who have had the 
normal prerequisite courses have the right to transfer if so desire to 
any other school in the Clarksdale Municipal Separate School District 
offering any course not offered by the pupils' home (attendance zone) 

school, 

All pupils in grades 7-12 are hereby notified that their home 
attendance center principals and counselors have full information on 
the several courses offered by each school and not offered by the other, 
At the pre-registration on August 25 for new students and at the general 
registration of all secondary students on August 31, interested pupils 

in grades 7=12 should confer with their principals or counselors regard= 

ing these courses, 

ull. Type 
Gycelle Tynes, Superintendent 

GT: rw 



August 25, 1965 

TO: Senior High School Students Living in Attendance Zone S=1=-A 
Who Formerly Attended CCHS 

FROM: Gycelle Tynes, Superintendent of Clarksdale Public Schools 

RE: Compliance With Federal Court Order of August 10, 1965 

Several of you have inquired about your status under the new 
Court Order which reached our office two weeks ago today. Not until late 
yesterday was the Board able to determine the exact meaning and require=- 
ments of some provisions of the Order. The following information may there- 

fore be of some assistance to you. 

1. Under the Court Order if you continue to live in Attendance 
Zone S=1-A your "home' attendance center becomes Higgins 

High School. 

2. Under the Court Order if you are living in Attendance Zone 
S=2=A on or before the day you register, your "home" atten=~ 
dance center becomes Clarksdale High School. 

3. If you continue to live in Zone S~1-A and wish to continue 
your education in the public schools of Clarksdale, your 

options are as follows: 

(1) Attend public school at Higgins High School 

(2) Register at Higgins and request transfer if Higgins 
does not offer all courses you would take at CHS 

Please permit me to point out that the Order directs the Board 
of Trustees to "offer identical curricula" in the elementary schools, 
junior high schools, and the senior high schools. 

Under the Court Order the Board of Trustees has to offer identi- 
cal courses at Higgins and CHS. If sufficient seniors elect D.O.~ D. E., 
for example, at Higgins, then an instructor will be employed to teach the 

subject. It appears also that senior math at CHS and trigonometry and 

related senior math courses at Higgins have so many common elements that 
no transfer would be justified on the basis of those course offerings. 

It appears that the chances of a senior transferring from S=1-A 
(Higgins Zone) to S=2-A (CHS Zone) on the basis of taking a subject not 
offered by the "home" school are very slim. 

Gycelle as ll ook 4 oF Schools 
Clarksdale Municipal Separate School Dist. 

GT:rw 



August 25, 1965 

Senior High School Students Living in Attendance Zone S=2-A 
Who Formerly Attended Higgins High School 

Gycelle Tynes, Superintendent of Clarksdale Public Schools 

Compliance With Federal Court Order of August 10, 1965 

Several have inquired about your status under the new Court 
Order which reached our office two weeks ago today. Not until late yester= 
day was the Board able to determine the exact meaning and requirements of 
some provisions of the Order. The following information may therefore be 
of some assistance to you. 

1. Under the Court Order if you continue to live in Attendance 
Zone S=2-A your "home' attendance center becomes Clarksdale 

High School. 

Under the Court Order if you are living in Attendance Zone 
S=1-A on or before the day you register, your "home" atten- 
dance center becomes Higgins High School. 

If you continue to live in Zone S=2~A and wish to continue 
your education in the public schools of Clarksdale, your 
options are as follows: 

(1) Attend public school at Clarksdale High School 

(2) Register at Clarksdale High School and request transfer 
if CHS does not offer all courses you would take at 
Higgins 

Please permit me to point out that the Order directs the Board 
of Trustees to "offer identical curricula" in the elementary schools, 
junior high schools, and the senior high schools. 

Under the Court Order the Board of Trustees has to offer identi=- 
cal courses at Higgins and CHS. If sufficient seniors elect Sociology, for 
example, at CHS, then an instructor will be employed to teach the subject. 
It appears also that senior math at CHS and trigonometry and related senior 
math courses at Higgins have so many common elements that no transfer would 
be justified on the basis of those course offerings. 

It appears that the chances of a senior transferring from S=2-A 
(CHS Zone) to S-1=-A (Higgins Zone) on the basis of taking a subject not 
offered by the "home" school are very slim. 

// /) ~7 

joy ~~ a 

Gycelle Tynes, Superintendent of Schools 
Clarksdale Municipal Separate School Dist. 



APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER 

CLARKSDALE MUNICIPAL SEPARATE SCHOOL DISTRICT 

1965-66 

Pursuant to Paragraph (8) of the Federal Court Order of August 
10, 1965, I hereby make request to transfer from 
School to School in order to take 

s Which is not offered in my home attendance 

Zone center. 

Pupil'’s Signature Parent's Signature 

Approved, Principal of Home School Approved, Principal of Other School 

Approved, Superintendent of Schools 
Clarksdale Municipal Separate School District 

Date [||b5d34137-599f-4585-b50b-85b2d029c91d||]