The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, March 02, 1967, Image 6
p a g e 6—The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday, March 2, 1967
Newberry County Public Schools
Office of Superintendent
1539 Martin Street
NEWBERRY. SOUTH CAROLINA
Notlee of Sehool Desecregation Plan Uader Title VI ef the Civil Rights
Act af 1964
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 Desegregation
1. Desegration Plan in Effect
The Newberry County public school system is being de
segregated under a plan adopted in accordance with Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The purpose of the desegrega
tion 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. Thirty-Day Spring Choice Period
Each student or his parent, or other adult person acting as
parent, is required to choose the school the student will attend
next school year. The choice period will begin on March 1, 1967
and close March 31, 1967.
3. Explanatory Letters and School Choice Forms
On the first day of the choice period, an explanatory letter
and this notice will be sent by first-class mail to the parent, or
other adult person acting as parent, of each student then in the
schools who is expected to attend school the following school
year. A school choice form will be sent with each letter, to
gether 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 Sup
erintendent’s office.
4. Returning the Choice Forms
Parents and students, at their option, may return the com
pleted choice forms by hand to any school or by mall to the
Superintendent’s office, at any time during the 30-day choice
period. No preference will be given for choosing early during
the choice period. A choice is required for each student. No
. assignment to a school can be made unless a choice is made
first.
5. Choice Form Information
The school choice form lists the names, locations and grades
offered for each school. The reasons for any choice made are
not to be stated. 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 sig
nature, and whether the form has been signed by the student or
his parent. Any letter or other written communication which
identifies the student and the school he wishes to attend will be
deemed just as valid as if submitted on the choice form supplied
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 officials.
6. Course and Program Information
To guide students and parents in making a choice of school,
listed below, by schools, are the courses and programs which are
not given at every school in this school system.
The same course of study is prescribed in all the elementary
schools of Newberry County. Special education classes are held
at Boundary Street and Drayton Street Elementary Schools.
Spanish and Latin are offered at Newberry High School. Latin
will be taught at Whitmire High School. Metal Shop, Mechavucal
Drawing, Diversified Occupations, Industrial Arts and Agri
culture will* be taught at Newberry High. Auto Mechanics and
Agriculture will be offered at Mid-Carolina High. Masonry ajid
Agriculture will be taught at Gallman High. Cabinet making
will be offered at Whitmire High. Economics will be given at
Newberry and Whitmire High Schools.
7. Signing the Choice Form
A choice form may be signed by 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. Processing of Choices
No choice will be denied for any reason other than over
crowding. In cases where granting all choices for any school
would cause overcrowding, 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 Assignment, Second Choice
All students and their parents will be promptly notified in
writing of their school assignments. Should any student be
denied his choice because of overcrowding he will be promptly
notified and given a choice among all other schools in the sys
tem where space Is available.
10. Students Moving Into the Community
A choice 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 school. 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 30-day choice period. A choice must be made for each stu
dent. No assignment to any school can be made unless a choice
is made first.
11. Students Entering First Grade
The parent, or other adult person acting as parent, of e v ery
child entering the first grade, is required to choose the senool
his chUd 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. Priority of Late Choices
No choice made after the end of the 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 de
termined by the standard provided for in paragraph 8. Any
parent or student whose first choice is denied because of over
crowding will be given a second choice in the manner provided
for in paragraph 9.
13. Tests, Health Records and Other Entrance Requirements
Any academic tests or other procedures used in 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 tentatively assigned In ac
cordance with the plan and the choice made, and given ample
time to obtain any required document Curriculum, credit, and
promotion procedures will not be applied in such a way as to
hamper freedom of choice of any student:
14. Choices Once Made Cannot be Altered
Once a choice has been 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
•f a school designed to fit the special needs of a physically
handicapped student, (4) the availability at another school of a
course of study required by the student, which is not available
at the school chosen.
15. All Other Aspects of Schools Desegregated
All school-connected services, facilities, athletics, activities
and programs are open to all on a desegregated basis. A stu
dent 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 desegregated, 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 is reduced.
16. Attendance Across School System Lines
No arrangement will 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 without regard to race, color or national
origin.
17. Violations To Be Reported
It is a violation of our desegregation plan for any school
official or teacher to influence or dissuade any person from
choosing a school where a desegregated education can be ob
tained, 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, re
taliate or discriminate against any individual for the purpose
of interfering with the free making of a choice of a desegregated
school. Any person having any knowledge of any violation of
these prohibitions should report the facts immediately by mail
or phone to the Equal Educational Opportunities Program, U. S.
Office of Education, Washington, D. C. 20202 (telephone 202-
962-0333). 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. Any
one with a complaint to report should first bring it to the at
tention of State or local school officials, unless he feels it
would not be helpful to do so. If State or 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 above address or phone number.