University of Virginia Library

Board Rejects HEW
Busing Command

By TIM WHEELER

The Albemarle School Board has
refused to comply with orders from the
Department of Health Education, and
Welfare (HEW) to achieve a racial balance
between two county schools by busing.

The board claims that it is awaiting
direction from the Supreme Court before
acting.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch
disclosed Monday that the county's
Board of Supervisors, in a recent secret
meeting, supported the board's position.
In addition, the supervisors granted
permission for the board to retain legal
counsel, if such a move became necessary.

Edgar N. Garnett, chairman of the
Supervisors, stated that there had been
such a secret meeting, but he said "no
formal action" was taken by the board. If
"anything public needs to be done," he
added, "everyone will know about it.

The dispute between HEW and the
school board has ensued for four months
over HEW's directive to mix Yancey
School, which is 80 per cent Black, and
Scottsville, 70 per cent white.

The conflict has recently expanded
to include a Senator and Congressman
from Virginia, who have defended the
board's position.

A sharp exchange of letters took
place between Sen. Harry F. Byrd, Jr.
(Ind.-Va.), and HEW Secretary Elliot
Richardson. Mr. Byrd charged HEW with
harassment and demanded the dismissal
of Eloise Severinson, the area's civil rights
director.

"I believe the evidence of HEW's
unreasonable harassment is
overwhelming," Mr. Byrd said.

Mr. Richardson replied, "I have no
intention of dismissing Mrs. Severinson,"
labeling Mr. Byrd's allegations "for the
most - part unfounded." "HEW
employees," he continued, "may have a
stronger claim to the charge of
'harassment'."

Led by Dr. R.A. Johnson and the
Rev. Roger Ford, the black citizens'
group also wants more black teachers and
principals, and an increase in black
administrators in the school system.

After conferring with a civil rights
lawyer, Dr. Johnson stated that HEW
planned to cut Albemarle County's
federal funds for noncompliance with
desegregation standards.

An HEW official said, however, that
the case was still being studied, and that
no decision had as yet been reached by
the general counsel.

Busing students long distances to
school is not an uncommon practice in a
rural county such as Albemarle,
according to the newspaper, the Times
Dispatch. Often thousands of children
ride buses to classes, sometimes as much
as 50 miles each way, it reported.

Referring to the busing situation in
Albemarle County, Mr. Garnett said.
"No one really seems to know what it's
all about."