A Desegregation Plan for the Marion County School System

    MARION COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM 

  
  

  

App ENDIX  



A DESEGREGATION PLAN FOR THE 

MARION COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM 

A REPORT TO THE 

SUPERINTENDENT 

; BY THE 

DIVISION OF EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES 

UNITED STATES OFFICE OF EDUCATION 

ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30323  



DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE 

REGIONAL OFFICE IV 

Room 404, 50 Seventh Street, N. E. 

OFFICE OF EDUCATION Atlanta, Georgia 30323 

Mz, Carl E., Loftin 

Superintendent 
Marion County School District 
Columbia, Mississippi 39429 

Dear Mr. Loftin: 

In accordance with the July 5, 1969 order of the United States 

District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, the 

following desegregation plan for ending the dual system in the 

Marion County School District is submitted for your considera- 

tion. 

We wish to express our appreciation for the cooperation received 

from you and your staff. 

Sincerely yours, 

i J. Jordan 

Senior Program Officer 
Equal Educational Opportunities 

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Enrollment and But1atne Tarormation 

Recommended Plan for Student Desegregation 

faculty Desegregation | 

Transportation | 

School Construction and Site Selection 

Majority to Minority Transfer Policy 

Attendance Outside System of Residence 

Suggestions for Plan tuplementation 

Resources for Assistance 

Building Information Forms 

 



  

  

  

COME sik BLT LING INFORMATION FORM 

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Name of School Grades Perm. W. Ports. W N T Ww N Comments 

  

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MARION COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 

II. : 

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SCHOOL DESEGREGATION 

Recommendations, 1969-70 

In order to bring about a unitary school system in which schools are 

not identifiable by race, the following recommendations to be effective 

for the 1969-70 school year are submitted: 

The student assignment recommendations are approximate because the Marion 

County School District did not have a pupil locator map. School capacities 

are based on figures supplied by the district and checked by multiplying 

the number of regular classrooms by 30. 

1. That West Marion become a county-wide senior high school for all 

students in the County, grades 9-12. 

Marion Central will become a middle school, grades 5-8, to serve 

all students in the County. 

Hub will become an elementary school, grades 1-4, for all students 

in the southwest portion of the County, both sides of the river. 

The actual attendance zone will be established by the school system 

so as to fill the building. 

Improve will become an elementary school, grades 1-4, serving the 

central portion of the County, both sides of the river. The actual 

attendance zone will be established by the school system. 

Bunker Hill will become en elementary school, grades 1-4, serving 

all students in the northern portion of the County, both sides of 

the river. The actual zone lines may be set by the school system. 

- (See 3 and 4) : 

 



  . CURRENT TRANSPORTATION 

Statistics furnished by the Marion County School District Superintendent's 

office indicates that some schools are already receiving as many as 99% of 

their students by buses. The lowest percentage reported in this County 

was slightly over 90%. The County average is 96%. 

 



  

  
Herts G7- -70 

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Grades 

Comments 

  
Name of School 

Y—/ 7. 
  

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LES / Fe A AE al SH ESE 

  
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POSSIBLE INTERIM STEPS 

The plan that we have prepared and that we recommend to the Court 

provides for complete disestablishment of the dual school system in 

this district at the beginning of the 1969-70 school year. Because 

of the number of children and schools in this district, and because 

of the proximity of the scheduled opening of the school year, imple- 

mentation of our recommended plan may require delay in that scheduled 

opening. Should the Court decide to defer complete desegregation of 

this school district beyond the opening of the céoming school term, 

the following steps could in our judgment be taken this fall to 

accomplish partial desegregation of the school system without delay, 

or with very minimal delay, in the scheduled opening of the school 

Year. 

Student Desegregation: 
  

1. That grades 1,4, 7, and 9 be discontinued at Marion Central. 

The remaining grades (2-3, 5-6, 8 and 10-12) will continue 

to be housed in that school during the 1969-70 school year. 

2. That all Negro students in grades 1,4,7, and 9 be reassigned 

to the school serving the attendance zone in which they live. 

3. That all other schools retain the same grade structure as in 

1968-69. 

Desegregation of Faculty and Other Staff: 

Full desegregation of faculty and other staff in the grades affected 

  

by the possible interim assignments of students above, and district- 

wide desegregation of faculty and other staff in each school to at 

least 50% of the recommendation contained in Part I of Section III 

of this plan. 

Other: 

Implementation of Sections IV, V, VI, and VII contained in this plan.  



  

  

  

    

  

              

              

  
    

        

    

  

    

      
                    
            
                  

OT his Step Ss. 

var: of Secrool Grades WE i Ports. W Ha T u rg 7 Comments 

West Marion {2 | 352 /345C losay 17 1,097 | | 

Magen Conta BIZGLL- aol 1350 | 4352 | O140271Lead 

) Die. § 39a mus lana slag 

Toprov j-12- § Slo} 5/0 36} 30139] 

Biter dlls [= Vdael dae Taghl ality 

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2064 11,5¢4 |3 625 

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¥ Hag Megre Ltudes 5 L Din Cents / (drades Lg 9) nl) Z. allt ® 

yi Wied Mirren, Huby Tgrovl and Buffer 11. arid Celitre with] or 

TT Rouse oredr s 7, 4 ai Surg “he 176% — Fe Sed os [ =dir. 

  

  

  

  

  
  

    

  
  

              

           



  

111, 

DESEGREGATION OF FACULTY AND OTHER STAFF 
  

The School Board shall announce and implement the following policies: / 

1. The principals, teachers, teacher-aides and other staff who work 

directly with children at a school shall be so assigned for the school 

year 1969-70 and subsequent years that in no case will the racial com- 

position of a staff indicate that a school is intended for Negro students 

or white students. For the 1969-70 school year the district shall assign 

the staff described above so that the ratio of Negro to white teachers in 

each school, and the ratio of other staff in each, are substantially the 

same as each such ratio is to the teachers and other staff, respectively, 

in the entire school system. : 

The school district shall, to the extent necessary to carry out this desegre- 

gation plan, direct members of its staff as a condition of continued employ- 

ment to accept new assignments. 

2. Staff members who work directly with children, and professional staff 
who work on the administrative level will be hired, assigned, promoted, paid, 

demoted, dismissed, and otherwise treated without regard to race, color, or 

national origin, except to the extent necessary to correct discrimination. 

3. If there is to be a reduction in the number of principals, teachers, 

teacher-aides, or other professional staff employed by the school district 

which will result in a dismissal or demotion of any such staff members, the 

staff member to be dismissed or demoted must be selected on the basis of 

objective and reasonable non-discriminatory standards from among all the staff 

of the school district. In addition if there is any such dismissal or demotion, 

no staff vacancy may be fjlled through recruitment of a person of a race, 

color, or national origin different from that of the individual dismissed or 

demoted, until each displaced staff member who is qualified has had an oppor- 

tunity to fill the vacancy and has failed to accept an offer to do so. 

Prior to such a reduction, the school board will develop or require the develop- 

ment of non-racial objective criteria to be used in selecting the staff member 

who is to be dismissed or demoted. These criteria shall be available for 

public inspection and shall be retained by the school district. The school 

district also shall record and preserve the evaluation of staff members under 

the criteria. Such evaluation shall be made available upon request to the 

dismissed or demoted employee. 

"Demotion" as used above includes any reassignment (1) under which the 
staff member receives less pay or has less responsibility than under the assign- 

ment he held previously, (2) which requires a lesser degree of skill than did 

the assignment he held previously, or (3) under which the staff member is asked 
to teach a subject or grade other than one for which he is certified or for 

which he has had substantial experience within a reasonably current period. 

In general and depending upon the subject matter involved, five years is such 

a reasonable period. / 

 



TRANSPORTATION 
  

The transportation system shall be completely re-examined regularly by 

the superintendent, his staff, and the school board. Bus routes and the 

assignment of students to buses will be designed to insure the transpor- 

tation of all eligible pupils on a non-segregated and otherwise non- 

discriminatory basis. 

V. 

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND SITE SELECTION 
  

The size and location of new school buildings and additions to existing 

buildings can significantly affect desegregation now and in the future. 

All school construction, school consolidation, and site selection (including 

the location of any temporary classrooms) in this system shall be done in a 

manner which will prevent the recurrance of the dual school structure once 

this desegregation plan is implemented. 

YI LJ 

  

MAJORITY TO MINORITY TRANSFER POLICY 

Whenever there shall exist schools containing a majority of Negro students, 

this school district shall permit a student (Negro or white) attending a 

school in which his race is in the majority to choose to attend another 

school where space is available, and where his race is in a minority. 

 



  

ATTENDANCE OUTSIDE SYSTEM OF RESIDENCE 

If the School District grants transfers to students living 
in the district for their attendance at public schools outside 

the district, or if it permits transfers into the district of 

students who live outside the district, it shall do so on a 

non-discriminatory basis, except that it shall not consent to 

transfers where the cumulative effect will reduce desegregation 

in either district or reinforce the dual school system. 

 



VIII. 

SUGGESTIONS FOR PLAN IMPLEMENTATION 
  

Successful implementation of desegregation plans largely depends upon local 

leadership and good faith in complying with mandates of the Courts and the 

laws upon which the Courts act. The following suggestions are offered to 

assist local officials in planning for implementation of desegregation orders. 

Community 
  

1. The Superintendent and Board of Education should frankly and fully 

inform all citizens of the community about the legal requirements 

for school desegregation and their plans for complying with these 

legal requirements. 
. 

The Board of Education should issue a public statement clearly 

setting forth its intention to abide by the law and comply with 

orders of the Court in an effective and educationally responsible 

manner. 
: 

School officials should seek and encourage support and understanding 

of the press and community organizations representing both races. 

The Board of Education, or some other appropriate governmental unit, 

should establish a bi-racial advisory committee to advise the Board 

of Education and its staff throughout the implementation of the 

desegregation plan. Such committee should seek to open up community 

understanding and communication, to assist the Board in interpreting 

legal and educational requirements to the public. 

The Superintendent should actively seek greater involvement of parents 

of both races through school meetings, newsletters, an active and bi- 

racial P.T.A., class meetings, parent conferences, and through home 

visits by school personnel. 

6. The Superintendent and Board of Education should regularly report to 

the community on progress in implementing the desegregation plan. 

"School Perscnnel 
  

1. The Superintendent should provide all personnel copies of the 

desegregation plan and arrange for meetings where the personnel 

will have an opportunity to hear it explained. ; ; 

The Board of Education should issue a policy statement setting forth 

in clear terms the procedures it will follow in reassignment of the 

personnel (see section on Desegregation of Staff). g 

A  



Assignments of staff for the school year should be made as 

quickly as possible with appropriate followings by school 

principals to assure both welcome and support for personnel 

new to each school. Invitations to visit school before the 

new school year begins should be offered. 

The Superintendent should see that a spec;al orientation 

program is planned and carried out for both the professional 

and non-professional staffs (including bus drivers, cafeteria 
workers, secretaries and custodians) preparatory to the new 

school year. He should make every effort to familiarize ncw 

and reassigned staff with facilities, services, and building 

policies, and prepare them to carry out their important role 

in a constructive manner. The Superintendent should direct 

each principal to see that each teacher new to a school is 

assigned for help and guidance to a teacher previously assigned 

to that school. Each such pair of teachers should have an oppor- 

tunity to meet before the school year actually begins. 

The Superintendent should arrange an in-service training program 

during the school year to assist personnel in resolving diggiculties 

and improving instruction throughout the implementation period. 

Help in doing this is available from the South Mississippi In- 

Service Consulting Center at Hattiesburg, Mississippi. 

It is important that, through personal observations, students see 

that nonprofessional service positions in their schools are not for 

members of one race and that harmonious working relationships can 

exist between members of both races. The Superintendent and Board 

of Education should therefore take all nécessary steps to assure 

that all staffs are bi-racial. 

 



  
! 

Instructional Program 
  

1. Each principal should be required to appoint biracial faculty 

committees to study and, as necessary, revise each area of the 

curriculum to assure better learning opportunities for all stu- 

dents. This should become a continuous activity in each school 

and throughout the district. 

Student evaluation policies and procedures should be reviewed 

‘continuously for areas in need of improvement and adjustment to 

encourage the educational growth and motivation of students. 

Remedial programs in reading and mathematics skills, as appro- 

priate, should be introduced and/or expanded for all students 

in need of special help. Such a program should supplement reg- 

ular course offerings and assignments of students. 

Grouping procedures should be reviewed and revised as necessary 

to assure they support the spirit as well as letter of desegre- 

gation plan the district has accepted responsibility for imple- 

menting in good faith. 

Participation in extracurricular activities by students of 

both races should be actively encouraged by administrators and 

teachers as a means for developing school spirit and a feeling 

of belonging. 

School organizations =- student government, cheerleaders, musi- 

cal organizations, athletic teams must be operated on a nondis- 

criminitory basis and should include students of both races. 

Guidance counselors should be oriented and urged to plan a 

leading role in successful implementation of the desegregation 

plan. 

The curriculum should be reviewed and, as necessary, revised 

to provide recognition of Negro history, culture and contri- 

butions to our society. Library books which deal with such 

subjects should be added to school book collections. 

Vocational education offerings should be reviewed and improved 

as a means of providing students of both races with education 

relevant to vocational interests and as a means of reducing 

dropquts. : 

pe 

 



Headstart or similar preschool programs for children of both 

races should be implemented. 
! 

Use of Federal and Station education funds should be planned 

comprehensively for maximum educational benefit to all eligible 

children. 
; 

STUDENTS 

1. The Superintendent should direct each principal to hold special 

orientation programs welcoming students who will be new to a 

school, before the regular school year begins. 

The Superintendent should require each principal to see that 

students are frankly and fully informed about the desegregation 

plan and their responsibilities to help carry it out. Each 

principal should seek to establish rapport and communication 

links with new students to encourage mutual understanding and 

confidence. 

The Superintendent should direct each principal to establish 

a student-faculty human relations committee representing both 

races to aid in the successful implementation of desegregation. 

All school staff and members of the student body should exert 

extra effort to assure the full participation of all students 

of both races in extra-curricular programs, including when 

appropriate the provision of a "late bus" for those staying 

after school to participate in such programs. 

Each principal should request teachers to make themselves 

available to students outside of regular class for counseling 

and extra instructional help. 

 



  

1X. 

RESOURCES FOR ASSISTANCE 
  

In addition to the regular resources for assistance 

available to school officials, districts developing 

or carrying out plans of desegregation in Mississippi 

may call upon the following agencies for help: 

South Mississippl In-Service Consulting 

Center 

University of Southern Mississippi 

Southern Station 

Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39401 

Phone: (601) 266-7150 

Division of Equul Yducacional Opportunities 

U, 5. Office of Education 

50 Sovench Stceeer, No. E., koom £04 

Atlanta, Gsorgia 30323 

Phone: (604) 526-3070 

 



| BUILDING DINFCRMATION 

Name of School West Macio, 

Mires. Pi Lad 107 ol eit Miss. 

Name of Principal ane Atty 

Grades in School /— /2 __ Number of Permanent Teaching Stations l 5 

  

  

  

  

  

  

2 ‘ ante 
State Rated Capacity /Z O00 ~~ Maximum Building Capacity ld 20 Jas 

(without portables) 
  

  

  

  

    

  

  

  

  

  
  

Portable and Temporary Classrooms Aloe. 
: 20 A 

2 tf 
Current Student Enrollment [O7cé~ 1 Z : Lode] [17 

| White Negro . . Total 

Total Student Enrollment /o 9 7 

Number of Teachers YY > = ey 47 
White Negro Total 

Other Professional Personnel . 5) > 0 ’ 3 : 
White Negro Total 

Enrollment by Grades 
  

    

1st] 2nd| 3rd| &th| Sth] 6th| 7th] 8th| Oth| 10th | 11th| 12th] Total 

WIN[WIN|{WINIWIN[ WIN] WNW] NI WIN{WIN|WINIWINIWINIWIN 

0012 Wel lal Yealz 0 lai 2benl) Vio {1 baz lo Wis) bis 3 esol 
  

                            

          
                        
  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

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a192 197 142 14 197193 l/o3| mm 194 195 144 | 651/257 
Number of Students Transported 995 

25yes.  1oyrs.  byrs, «2 | 
Age of Building Type of Construction wood 2 Yercue = lasorery 

Number of Portable Classrooms DUR 

Number of Temporary Classrooms ler 

Number of Square Feet in 7.uoildling 

Number of Acres in Sclimal Qite to 

y : 
i Attach a list of the subjzcts or courses offzred. 

Slide = ig Te 0s 74 3. — 

 



  

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Name of School SL Lt, it t-27. Ne rl 7.52 

  

  

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. Address of a2 : rd LL’ 7/ Serf : oo A g biotin. , A je 

Name of Principal ; A Ee: PEs tl : A 
  

  

Grades in School /- / 2 Nurder of Permanent Teaching Stations HD 

State Rated Capacity 0 Maximum Building Capacity Vo Ve? (30 208 

(without portables) = 7. 

  

  

  

  Portable and Temporary Classrooms / 2 
. i 11 

Current Student Enrollment 0 : ’ | F7EaYs i=’ . 1502.2 1B 
\ | apie 

White Negro Total 

Total Student Enrollment | LEAT (hit) (1s 27) 

Sather of Teachers 3 > HZ 7 5/ ; 

WE | 
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

White Negro Total 

Other Professional Personnel / Jhecse © ’ 0 ’ / a 

: White Negro Total 

Enrollment by Grades 
  

  

  

  

      
  

  

  

  

                            
  

  

        

    
                      

  

    
      

          

  

st| 2nd| 3rdl| 4rh} 5th] 6th| yeh) Beh} 9h 10th | 11th] 12th] Total 

WIN WIN WINIWIN| WIN WINIW Nl WI NjWw NIWIN Wl N| WNW} N 

SH 1 ET | 
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10 lolo ldo luo lee oli 0 zi 0 luzlo lus 012 
Tot- : er : 

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> 4 £ 

Number of Students Transported / 4 dE 
  

  

  

  
Age of Building y/ 208 Type of Construction pn HLL ine 3 

vi | Lad 

  

  

  
    

  

  

    
  

  

  

Number of Portable Classrooms © 

: Number of Temporary Classrooms / a 

Number of Square Feet in foiling 7 

  Number of Acres in Sclimal Site 40 : | So 

Attach a list of the subjects or courses offcred. 

[bo 

 



  

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BUILDING INFORMATION | 

Name of School HUB ATTENDANCE CENTER 

‘©. Address Route 5, Box 76 Columbia, Mississippi 

Name of Principal Joe Tolar 

Grades in School 1 Number of Permanent Teaching Stations 13 

(1 Elementary Resource Center, I gym-Aud., T secon 

State Rated Capacity 3239 Maximum Building Capacity 268 "AD. 1ibrs 

| “ “(without portables) 

Portable and Temporary Classrooms | None 

Current Student Enrollment 338 oy None ; 339 

White Negro ; Total 

" Total Student Enrollment = 322 7,59 

Number of Teachers 13- ; 2 2 15 

White Negro Total 

Other Professional Personnel 1 > g y : 

White Negro Total 

Enrollment by Grades 
  

st| 2nd| 3rd] &thl Sth| 6th] 7th] 8th oth | 10th | 11th] 12thl| Total 

ENE 
EEE EIR REAR: 

2110130] 0l29}0 {44} 0]28]0{26}0 2p org} 0 {16]0|p3y © 

    

          
  

  

  

  

  

                                                
                          

    

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  

1 35] 30 32 21 31 29 | 44 28 26 28 19 16 {| 339 

Number of Students Transported | 331 a 

Age of Building "1 yrs Type of Construction Brick 

Number of Portable Classrooms None 

Number of Temporary Classrooms None 

Number of Square Feet in Lvilding 24,640 

Number of Acres in School Site 35 acres 
  

“Attach a list of the subjects or courses offered. 

i Shomer Te WH = 9S. 

 



i a BUILDING INFORMATION 

Name of Schoo \Lrpos Lleol; (AZZ rtd Jol. 
ERR ; 

Address_ ne er  . IZ 22s ri Co Pl sail Lik I Leis 

is Name of Principal = Ag or 

Grades in School SZ Number of Permanent Teaching Stations ~ 5 vil 

  

  

  

  

  

  

‘State Rated Capacity o£ C0 Maximum Building Capacity   
  

’ 
: TE Sr 

(without portables)’ 

Portable and Temporary Classrooms foes   

Current Student Enrollment = fi I yy 
White 

22 (. 

Total Student Enrollment d GF 

Number of Teachers wd; > 

White 

    

  

  

  

  

  

Other Professional Personnel ZZ, 
White 

  

  

  

Enrollmant by Grades 
  

        

  
  

  fzh| Szh! 6th] 7thl 8th] 9th 

Wl N| WIN WLHI WIN ; N 

AZ 3313 bg A 1 logle Joao 

CTR Ad at lage lds” 

Number of Students Transported 

Age of Building 2 0 -/rs Type of Construction_ 
| sy 

Number of Portable Classrooms eT 

Number of Temporary Classrooms Fens. 

Number of Square Feet in Evilding LC, 5/214, 

Number of Acres in Sclimol Site 7 
ee 

  
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Attach a list of the subjects or courses offered. 

“Elam lei 21.3...  



- BUILDING INFORMATION 

Neme of School Bruker KL 1 
  

Address 1 [) a Lohr iy 44 
  

  Name of Principal oR SMT Ar0 

  

  

Grades in School ir Number of Soran Teaching Stations rit 

State Rated Capacity +H #7 /° Maximum Building Capacity Py Ly 
  

  (without portables) 

Yortable and Temporary Classrooms. LE rat AT, 
  

  

  

==. 33 Por 

Current Student Enrollment Ea / 

8 Negro 

Total Student Enrollment .=<   

Number of Teachers ] [A   

  

White 

  

  
Other Professional Personnel C 

: White 

Enrollment by Grades 
  

6th gthi 9th   

  

wn | N   

  

  

  

  
                        

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                                        At i | 2.4   
  

    

Number of Students Transported 2, ¥   

  
  

: OF A : => - 
Age of Building ) 2 Type of Construction Fa Mk 

  

Number of Portable Classrooms 2, 
  

Number of Temporary Classrooms £3 : 
  

Number of Square Feet in ILoilding {9 SLL 
  

  
Number of Acros in Schinnl Site i = 

/ 

Attach a list of the subjects or courses offcred. 

Fem