Newspaper Page Text
Page 6
~The Pembroke Journad, Thursday, March 28, 1968
BRYAN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PEMHROKE, GEORGIA 31321
March 1, 1967
NOTICE OF SCHOOL DESEGREGATION PLAN UND&! TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 196 L
This notice is made available to inform you about the desegregation of our schools.
Keep a copy of this notice. It will answer many questions about school desegregaticne
1. Desegregation Plan in Effect
i‘Ee Ean _Coun% üblic echool system is being desegregated under a plan
adopted in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 196 L, The purpose
of the desegregation plan is to eliminate from our school system the racial segregation
of students and all other forms of discrimination based on race, color, or national
origin.
2. Thirtye-Day Spring Choice Period
—E%c-fi%—u%éfi't or his parent, or other adult person acting as parent, is required
to choose the school the student will attend next aschool year. 21‘18 choice period will
begin on March 1, 1967 ,and close __ March 31 s 1967,
3?8 mfiera and jngg*hgg_]; Choice | F‘im_l_x_g
On Efig first day of the choice puriod, an explanatory letter and this notice
will be sent by firstw.class mail to the parent, or other adult person acting as parent,
of each student then in the schools who is exspected to attend school the following
school year. A school choice form will be sent with each letter, together with a return
envelope addressed to the Superintendent. Additional copies of the letter, this notice,
and the choice form are freely available to the public at any school and at the Superine
tendent's office.
ke Returning the Choice Forms
Parents and students, at their option, may return the completed choice forms
by hand to any school or by mail to the Superintendent's office, at any time during
the 30=day choice periods No preference will be given for choosing carly during the
choice period. A choice is requited for each student, No assignment to a school can
be made unless a choice is made first.
Se Choice Form Information
The school choice form list the names, locations and grades offered for each
school, The reasons for any choice made are not to be stateds The form asks for the
name, address and age of the student, the school and grade currently or last attended,
the school chosen for the following year, the appropriate signature, and whether the
forms has been signed by the student or his parent, (If choice form asks for the coloer,
race, or national origin, insert the following sentences: "The race, color, or national
origin of the student is requested for purposes of recordkeeping required by the U. Se
Office of Education. The information will not be used in any way to discriminate
against the student.") Any letter or other written cummunication which identifies the
student and the school he wishes to attend will be deemed just as valid as if sub
mitted on the choice form supplicd by the school system. The names of students and the
schools they choose or are assigned to under the plan will not be made public by school
officlals.
6. Course and Program Informatior
B O | &6 T it Td birents in saking a cliokoe of sdhool, liated below, by
schools, are the courses and programs which are not given at every school in this school
stem.
" Bryan County High Schooul = Vecational Agriculture
agricnltural Shop
Bookeeping
Foreign Language
Richmond Hill High School « Bookeeping
Foreign Language
Driver Education
Pemiroke High School = Driver Education
Te %.flze Choice Ffi" {1 AL
eRO ¢ form may fiéflgfiry a parent’ or other adult person acting as parent.
A student who has reached the age of 15 at the time of choice, or will next enter the
ninth or any higher grade, may sign his own choice form. The student's choice shall
be controlling unless a different choice is exercised by his parent before the end of
the period during which the student exercises his choice.
8. Proceas?g of choices
o choice be denied for any reason other than overcrowding. In cases
where granting all choices for any school would cause over crowding, the students
choosing the school who live closest to it will be assigned to that school, Whenever
a choice is to be denied, overcrowding will be determined by a uniform standard
applicable to all schools in the system.
9« Notice of Aasig%ent, Second Choice
students an eir parents will be promptly notified in writing of their
school assigmments. Should any student be denied his choice because of overcrowding
he will be promply notified and given a choice among all other schools in the system
where spaces is available,
10, Students Ho_!i_.gfi Into the Cmmunigg
cholce of school for any student who will be new to the school system may
be made during the spring 30-day choice period or at any other time before he enrolls
in schools An explanatory letter, this notice and the school choice form will be
given out for each new student as soon as the school system knows about the student.,
At least seven days will be allowed for the return of the choice form when a choice
is made after the spring 30~day choice period. A choice must be made for each student,
No assignment to any school can be made unless a choice is made first.
11. Students Enterix_xg First Grade
parent, or other a person acting as parent, of every child entering
the first grade, is required to choose the school his child will attend. Choices will
be made under the same free choice process used for students new to the school system
in other grades, as provided in paragraph 10,
12, Pr:lori? of Late Choices
0 cholces made after the end of the spring 30-day choice period may be denied
for any reason other than overcrowding. In the event of overcrowding, choices made
during the 30-day choice period will have first priority. Overcrowding will be deter=
mied by the standard provided for in paragraph 8. Any parent or student whose first
choice is denied because of overcrowding will be given a second choice in the manner
provided for in paragraph 9.
13. Tests, Health Records and Other Entrance Requirements
Iny academic test or other procedures used %fi assigning students to schools,
grades, classrooms, sections, courses of study, or for any other purpose, will be
applied uniformly to all students without regard to race, color or national origin,
No choice of school will be denied because of failure at the time of choice to provide
any health record, birth certificate, or other document. The student will be tentaw
tively assigned in accordance with the plan and the choice made, and given ample time
to obtain any required document. Curriculum, credit, and pramotion procedures will
not be applied in such away as to hamper freedom of choice of any student.
i, Choices Once made Cannot be Altered.
Once & choice has beeh submitted, it may not be changed, even though the
choice period has not ended. The choice is binding for the entire school year to
which it applies, except in the case of (1) compelling hardship, (2? change of
residence to a place where another school is closer,(3) the availability of & school
designed to fit the special needs of a physically handicapped student, (L) the avail
ability at another school of a course of study required by the student, which is not
available at the school chosene
15. All Other Aspects of Schools Desegregated
ALI school-connected services, %acflities, athletics, activities and programs
are open to all on a desegregated basis. A student attending school for the first
time on a desegregated basis may not be subject to any disqualification or waiting
period for participation in activities and programs, including athletics, which might
otherwise apply because he is a transfer student. All transportation furnished by
the school system will also operate on a desegregated basis. Faculties will be dese
gregated, and no staff member will lose his position because of race, color or national
origin. This includes any case where less staff is needed because schools are closed
or enrollment reduced.
16, Attendance Across School System Lines i
o arrangement be made, or permission granted, by this school system
for any students living in the community it serves to attend school in another school
system, where this would tend to limit desegregation, or where the opportunity is not
available to all students without regard to race, color or national origin, No
arrangement will be made, or permission granted, by this school system for any students
living in another school system to attend school in this system, where this would tend
to limit desegregation, or where the opportunity is not available to all students with
out regard to race, eolor or national origin.
17. Viollt%g;g to Be Regorted
a violat our desegregation plan for any school official or teacher
to influence or coerce any person in the making of a choice or to threaten any person
with penalties or promise favors for any choice made. It is also a violation of
Federal regulations for any person to intimidate, threaten, coerce, retaliate or dis
criminate against any individual for the purpose of interfering with ths free making
of a choice of school. Amny person having any knowledge of any violation of these
prohibitions should report the facts immediately by mail or phone to the Equal
Education Opportunities Programs, U. S. Office of Education, Washington, D, Ce, 20202
(telephone 202-962-0333)s The name of any person reporting any violation will not
be disclosed without his consent. Any other violation of the desegregation plan or
other discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in the school system is
also a violation of Federal requirements, and should likewise be reported. Anyone with
a compliant to report should first bring it to the attention of local school officials,
unless he feels it would not be helpful to do so. If local officials do not correct
the violation promptly, any person familiar with the facts of the violation should
report them immediately to 'the U, S. Office of Education at the sbove address or
phone number,
Bryan County Board of Education - Pembroke, Georgia
(School System Name and Office Address)
March 18, 1968
Dear Parent:
Your school system's desegregation plan under the Civil Rights Act of 1964
is being continued for the coming school year. The purpose of the plan is
to eliminate the dual structure of separate schools for children of different
races.
The plan requires every student or his parent to choose the school the student
will attend in the coming school year. It does not matter which school the
student is attending this year, and it does not matter whether that school was
formerly a white or a Negro school. You and your child may select any school
you wish.
A choice of school is required for each student. A student cannot be enrolled
at any school next school year unless a choice of school is made. This spring
there will be a 30-day choice period, beginning March 18, 1968, and ending
April 16, 1968.
A choice form listing the available schools and grades is furnished. This form
must be filled out and returned. You may mail it, or deliver it by hand to any
school or to the address above any time during the 30-day choice period. No
one may require you to file your choice form before the end of the choice
period. No preference will be given for choosing early during the choice
period.
No principal, teacher or other school official is permitted to influence any
one in making a choice. No one is permitted to favor or penalize any student
or other person because of a choice made. Once a choice is made, it cannot be
changed except for serious hardship.
Also, there is an explanatory notice giving full details about the desegrega
tion plan. It tells you how to exercise your rights under the plan, and tells
you how teachers, school buses, sports and other activities are being dese- T
gregated . : ! ‘
Your school board and the school staff will do everything we can to see to it
that the rights of all students are protected and that our desegregation plan
is carried out successfully.
Yours sincerely,
/ %@'JW\
BRYAN COUNTY DE N’
PARTMENT OF EDUCATION Pembroke, Georgia 31321
March 18, 1968
This form is provided for you to choose the school your child will attend for the
coming school year. It does not matter which school the child has been attending,
and it does not matter whether the school you choose was formerly a white or a
negro school. No student can be enrolled without making a choice of school. This
forT must be either brought to any school or mailed to the Superintendent's
office at the address above by April 16, 1968, llf the student is 15 years old by
the date of choice (April 16, 1968), or will be entering the ninth or a higher
grade, either the student or his parent may make the choice.
1. Name of child
Last First Middle
2, Age
3. School and grade currently or last attended Grade
4, School Chosen (Mark X beside school chosen)
Name of School Grades Location
( ) Black Creek School 1+« 7 Ellabelle, Georgia
( ) Bryan County High School I = 19 Pembroke, Georgia
( ) Richmond Hill High School 1 #1312 Richmond Hill, Georgia
() G. W, Carver School 1- 8 Richmond Hill, Georgia
( ) Pembroke High School 1- 12 Pembroke, Georgia
The race, color, or national origin of the student is requested for purposes of
record keeping required by the U. S. Office of Education. The information will
not be used in any way to discriminate against the student.
( ) White
( ) Negro
( ) Other
This form is signed by Signature
(mark proper box):
Address
Parent ¢ )
Date
Other adult person acting
as parent )
Student )
Ses e
This block is to be filled out by the Superintendent's office, not by person
signing. Is student assigned to school chosen? Yes No
If not, explain:
G o e s s e e