Edwin Washington Project

Will explain the evolution of the school boards from prior to the formation of public schools in 1870, to the unified county school board, , etc[1].

• 1922   Unified District Structure
• 1928-1954.  Oaths for School Board Members[1] 
• 1931: School board minutes substitute the word “negro” for “colored,” but Negro does not appear again until 1947, when teachers are “negro,” but schools are “colored.”[2]
• March 23, 1943: The word “Negro,” rather than the traditional “Colored,” is found in Board of Supervisors ’ minutes for the first time
• In 1947 Arlington County was permitted to elect school board members but the legislation was suspended in 1956 “when Arlington insisted upon keeping its schools open, rather than closing them in opposition to integration.”  (Staff, A Long History 1994).
• It’s important to keep in mind that while school decisions were made by the school board, they were selected by the School Trustee Electoral Board, themselves appointed by the Circuit Court (Raflo 1988).  See 2.3 Trustee Electoral Board
• July 1976: Carr P. Cook Jr. is the first black school board appointee, for Mercer District.  Father of Phyllis Cook-Taylor of the Black History Committee of the Friends of the Balch Library.
• By 1991, Virginia was the only State in which school boards were required to be appointed.  That occurred either by Board of Supervisors or a school board selection committee appointed by the court. (Staff, A Long History 1994).
• In March, 1992, a controversy arose concerning the power of the Board of Supervisors over the School Board.  Without warning to the School Board, the size of the board was increased by two.  According to the BOS, the move was to generate constructive cooperation; but others felt it was really a use of naked power to control decisions of the lower body (Editor 1992).
• In April, 1992 Teresa Moore became the first African-American woman appointed to the School Board. She was also a former President of the Loudoun NAACP (Carlton 1992).

• By 1994, eighty of Virginia’s political subdivisions had opted for elected School Board (Faflo 1994).  Then in November, 1994, a referendum championed by State Senator Charles Waddell (D) of Loudoun allowed for local elections, which took place for the first time  on November 7, 1995, with the new Board convening for the first time on January 1, 1996 (Staff 1995),  (Staff 1995).  [1]   Seventy-nine percent of the 35,755 residents who voted cast in favor of an elected board (McAndrews 1995).  The main responsibility of the elected Board was to set policy, maintain curriculum standards, adopt the budget (subject to Board of Supervisor approval), oversee the actions of key personnel, approve the hiring of personnel, and request state and federal money.  The membership of the appointed Board was eleven, then reduced to eight members corresponding to the Magisterial District, plus one at-large member.
• The first African-American on the elected Board was Wendell Fisher of Sterling, who became the at-large Board member.  He ran unopposed; his primary issue being an objection to vouchers, which he felt was a wedge issue (Staff 1995).  Vouchers were used, according to critics, to divert funds from public to private schools.[2]
• See also See also 1.1a   Construction Decisions of Board of Supervisors and School Board about 1955, which contains a decision not supporting construction needed by the African-American community until they agreed to segregation, which they rejected.

• In the archives are also minutes of School Board meetings for 1988-1993, but those are not enumerated in this catalog because they are outside the segregated era.

2.2  Reports to and of  School Board:  1918 -1952. 

Includes 1918 Message of OL Emerick calling for an Annual report of the Superintendent, which was his way of announcing policies and asking for an endorsement.  Files contain mostly memos from Emerick on a wide range of topics   1920 report discusses shortages of teachers and use of emergency permits.  At the time, there were 127 white and only 31 “colored” school rooms open.  See the January, 1940 report of the Survey Committee on long-range planning, which includes statistics on white and “colored” schools.  See also the school construction program for 1950-54.

Finding Aid:  All of the records listed in 2.2. School Board are filed in the 2.2 location, except for specific files on this topic found in the Archives of the Circuit Court of Loudoun County or merged in various books, such a journal by Oscar Emerick which holds many different kinds of records. In those instances, the records are listed in the following by date and then cross-referenced to their physical location.

2.2A   1918-1930

1. April,  1918,  1^st Annual Report of Oscar Emerick 

• First Annual Report.  Emerick felt it should be a routine for the future and require the careful consideration of the Board of Trustees.  Some recommendations came under the authority of the county board, others under the several district boards.
• Wanted a uniform county report blank for pupils’ report of elementary work done, and a different report blank for high school work.  Also suggested a system for designing them.  That will mean teachers must make a report to parents at regular, stated intervals.
  • • Standard blanks will reduce the cost of government and this should be borne by the school board, not the teachers, as in the past.
    • The present lack of a system meant some teachers rarely or never made any sort of report.
    • Emerick also wanted a uniform way of keeping records of the elementary grades, as required by the State Board of Education.  He also proposed a number of other record keeping and attendance rules by students and teachers in order to enhance the value of education.   Many of his innovations have been invaluable to the research efforts of the Edwin Washington Project.
    • It is important to note that teachers sometimes didn’t show up for work or reduced the class times without asking permission from high authority, an offence for which Emerick wished to fine instructors.  In addition, many teachers had no certificates to document their own training, which he felt was intolerable.  Finally, Emerick presented a schedule for salaries, which included a calculation formula.  What isn’t clear is how that impacted “colored” teachers.

1. April 1, 1919, 2^nd Annual Report of Oscar Emerick.  Noted that rural schools had a discouraging year due to the disparity between salaries offered by the system and those offered clerks.   He also felt the “elasticity of city finances” placed Leesburg in a competitive advantage to the county. All of this forced Loudoun to hire relatively inexperienced and unprepared teachers.  Influenza and the tendency of high school pupils to leave classes for work also was a problem.
   • • Reflecting perhaps on a national recognition of how poorly educated returnees from the war were, Emerick impressed on the board the need to improve efficiency, including in the area of teacher supervision. He had employed one Supervisor in Broad Run as an experiment, which reaped rewards and thus was a model for the rest of the county, especially since the State would help pay.  He also felt his own remuneration and cost reimbursements were below where they should have been.  He also needed a paid clerk.
     • Note:  As will be seen in other parts of the catalog, compulsory education rules were not working.  The Trustees had managed it before.  Instead, that role should be under the management of the Superintendent, in cooperation with the Sheriff, a plan which was adopted.   See note on truancy,
     • True budget management was requested from the Districts.
     • During the war, there had been pressure to amend the opening and closing hours due to the emergency, but now that the emergency had passed, he was opposed unless applied uniformly across the county.
     • Improvements were needed in the method of hiring, which he wanted to manage.
     • An upcoming state-wide school survey was discussed, which was designed to enhance district performance and organization.

School Board Agenda, Spring 1919.  Location: Material from Journal of Work and Expenses for Oscar Emerick, pg. 298.

April 6, 1920, 3^rd Annual Report of Oscar Emerick

• • Budget and Teacher Shortage
  • Supervision.  Notice on page 2 “supervision of colored schools by white women not satisfactory.”  Though not said explicitly, this may well have been said in response to African-Americans.  Some white staff and instructors brought with them the prejudices they were taught as children and which were reinforced by a pre and post-Civil War political and social environment. On page 3, Emerick noted that he “could secure one-half or more of the $800 necessary for a colored supervisor.”  He also noted that sixty counties in Virginia employed colored supervisors.  We assumed that this meant he wanted a “colored” person to supervise “colored” teachers, but that’s not said explicitly.
  • Emergency Teachers and low teacher standards.  Emergency or LP permits were provided by the Superintendent in order to employ teachers when normal advertising didn’t work.  Unfortunately, some of these hires were less than optimal as instructors[1].
  • Overdrafts on treasurer.
  • Appropriation for Superintendent’s Office
  • Apportionment of County Funds
  • Salary of Superintendent
  • Dates for election of teachers
  • Salaries of teachers to be based on a score card classification.

The July, 1920 meeting of the school board passed a number of resolutions and voted down others (Staff 1920).    

1. Schools wishing to play sports on school days needed the permission of the Superintendent.
2. Endorsed amendment to constitution relative to compulsory attendance.
3. Voted against permitting female members of the school board.

March 29, 1921, Message by Oscar Emerick

• • Emerick laid out a philosophy of education, which was that the emphasis on educating the poor had passed.  Education of all children was important in order to elevate the civilization.  This was a major policy pilot because it meant that the provision of resources needed to reflect a new order of thinking.  Keep in mind as well that in those days, Superintendents were employed by the State Board of Education in Richmond, so an expression like this carried special weight and influence that it might not have were it to have been posited by someone hired by the local school board[1].   This year saw a confluence of forces that was changing education.  The field of management was quickly changing and the nation had woken up to the need to end illiteracy following a realization that many of the returning veterans from World War One could not read or write, which surely created a serious employment hurdle.
  • Budget issues
  • Average pay has moved up 96% since 1914/15 level of $354.
  • Supervision of white one and two room schools.
  • Want to continue colored supervision for $300 for entire county. As in 1920, it is unclear if the Supervision was by a white or a “colored” person.  This needs to be resolved, especially in the context of Mrs. Gertrude Alexander, who would supervise “colored” education in Loudoun 1938-1941.
  • Salary schedule.  Will include effort as part of schedule.
  • Teachers need to report vacancies as they occur.
  • Prospective teachers must accept offers of employment terms within two weeks.
  • Appropriations for Superintendent’s office
  • Standardization of schools.
  • Salary of Superintendent

July 21, 1922, Correspondence on status of Leesburg city as a School District (1922).  At that point, there was a county district of Leesburg, as well as a separate district for the city.

1930-1940 (with a few exceptions

1. Oaths for School Board Members:   1928-1954:  1928, 1932, 1943, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954.  (Location Folder 7.  School Box 2, Archives of the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, Va. In Leesburg.)
2. 1930/31 recommendations on Myers School Survey Commission[1].  General principles for standards at accredited high schools and larger elementary schools, as well as one and two room schools.  Decision to discontinue Waterford High School and convey all children to Leesburg.  Various hiring decisions as well as investments in transportation.  Consideration of enhanced salary schedule. Add a year to Middleburg High School and commercial work at Lincoln and Leesburg.  Nothing seen related to” colored” schools.
3. June, 22, 1934.  Report by study by Sidney Hall, State Superintendent of Public instruction, who appointed a committee to examine immediate consolidation of high schools in Loudoun.  Recommended ending HS at Lucketts, sending pupils to Leesburg.  Recommended consolidating Waterford and Leesburg High School and conveying pupils from Milltown, in a similar fashion to Furnace Mountain. Consolidate Middleburg and Aldie at Aldie.
4. February 12, 1936.   Deals with school budget for 1936/37, need to expand resources for Hamilton, Purcellville, Middleburg and St. Louis Colored school.  Also shows construction in 1936/39.
5. February 12, 1936.   School Budget for 1936/37, presented by Emerick.  Average salary for teachers is below state average.  Needed to expand Ashburn. Need auditorium for Purcellville. Various other recommendations, including “the colored schools need some buildings and is now using three rather unsuitable basement rooms for regular school work.  There is now or soon will be needed four additional rooms. Hamilton in Jefferson and Purcellville in Mount Gilead are using rented space and our experiences at Purcellville are far from satisfactory.  Middleburg and Saint Louis colored schools are crowded.”  Chart of building costs and appropriations is provided.
6. December 21, 1936.  Request to assume debts of Lovettsville and Town Of Leesburg School District,
7. February, 27, 1937.  Memo from Ruth Emerick on policy of holding meetings.

2.2C   1940-1949

1. February 28. 1940.   The actual minutes are missing; however, a summary of high points was reflected in a memo by Oscar Emerick in 1947.   The gist of the minutes was that after a public hearing, the School Board decided to keep open four high schools: Aldie, Lincoln, Leesburg and Lovettsville, as well as several elementary schools: Aldie, Arcola, Ashburn, Bluemont, Hamilton, Hillsboro, Leesburg, Lincoln, Lovettsville, Lucketts, Middleburg, Purcellville, Round Hill, Sunny Ridge, Unison-Bloomfield and Waterford.  Since then, Sunny Ridge’s enrollment had dropped significantly, so the school was closed and a bus route opened to tend to the children.  In addition, Unison-Bloomfield had burned down and the building was not rebuilt.  Instead the children were sent to four different schools (O. Emerick, Letter to Douglas Myers, President, Waterford Community Citizens Association Feb 10, 1947).
2. 1944 warning by Emerick that if the School Board does not deal with the maldistribution of resources between white and “colored” students, the courts will force action within four years[1].
3. February 19, 1945:  Synopsis of school budget, receipts and disbursements.  “‘Compensation of Janitors.  Salaries are not changed but it is provided that $3.00 per month per school room will be allowed to all school (including colored) without furnaces.”
4. February 25, 1948 Authority of school board to provide mileage compensation to Superintendent.
5. Undated legal authority of school board. Also includes map of fenced in enclosure at NW Corner of Leesburg School lot for parking school buses. Abuts a cemetery[2],
6. June 28,1948.  Resignation of Middleburg Representative
7. September 27,1949.  Resolution of PTA on Middleburg Elementary School [3]
8. Undated Approval to request loan from Literary Fund to build new high school in Leesburg and Purcellville.

October 1, 1949.  Emerick announced need for Director of Instruction, but he also decided not to hire a woman for the position.  This gender-based decision making changed later in his administration.  See memo as well of February, 13, 1951 from the then Director on the duties of this position.

2.2D   1950-1959

1. January 9, 1950.   Middleburg Lion’s Club resolution.  Want a practical central High School.
2. 1951 (undated).    Note that County Board of Supervisors rescinded their approval of application of School Board for loan from Literary Fund to build central high school.  The matter was appealed to State Attorney General.
3. February 13, 1951.   Report of Activities by Caleb J. Gibson, Director of instruction.
4. March 19, 1951.  Meeting to consider proposal recently adopted school building program to County Board of Supervisors, including use of Literary Fund loan and School Construction fund.
5. March 30, 1951, purchase of Lucketts Road property.
6. April 11, 1951.  Resignation of William T. Smith of Lincoln.
7. 1951 Undated.   School Budget Problems.  Can Board of Supervisors reduce or eliminate items from the budget
8. November 14, 1951.   Req for opinion on authority of Board to use surplus funds for current fiscal year to pay an architect to work on central high school project.
9. December 12, 1951.   Emerick to Board and principals, asking for opinion on budget.
10. December 1952.   School Board meeting on Budget
11. February 21, 1952.  Call for special Board Meeting on Budget.
12. March 13, 1952.   Emerick to Board School Board Meeting on Budget on allocation of funds for school construction. Special attention is given to Douglass High School.
13. March 28, 1952   Special meeting to be held on April 1, 1952 to consider resolution to apply for State School Construction Fund monies for use in building addition to the Douglass High School.
14. April 15, 1952:  Appointing representative for Mercer.
15. April 25, 1952:  Consider plans for new white high school..
16. December 10, 1952:  Resolution to acquire additional land to support Douglass High School.
17. July 13, 1953:  Agenda with handwritten note.  Report of Superintendent on addition to Douglass.  Also information on Vacancies at Douglass and other colored schools.
18. July 29, 1953:  Bids related to Douglass HS and the white high school.
19. July 30, 1953: Myers, Chair of the Loudoun County School Board, recommends passing a resolution authorizing another loan from the Literary Fund to help with construction related to Loudoun County Consolidated High School and Douglass High School.  Discussion of political climate related to broadening taxes.
20. August 3, 1953:  Adoption of resolution related to Loudoun County Consolidated High School and Douglass construction.  Detailed edits to the budget for LC High School are provided.   The resolutions are only effective after approval of the County Board of Supervisors.  
21. August 10, 1953:  Handwritten notes.   Ralph Styer is interested in buying Conklin Colored School.l[1]. See also minutes from July 12, 1954. Wilbur Taylor declined appointment at Douglass.  Vacancies for teachers, secretaries, janitors and bus drivers.  Support for construction at Douglass. Details on bus routes and bus changes.  Mountain Gap to be closed for 1952-53 and pupils transferred to Leesburg on account of Loudoun County Fair.
22. August 18, 1953:  Appointments of Teachers, Janitors and Bus Drivers.  Schools were closed Thursday, September 10, 1953. Efforts under way to reduce cost of Loudoun County High School, but refusal to reduce Douglass addition; however, if sufficient funds not found, all bids might be rejected.
23. August 25, 1953:  Funds were approved for addition to Douglass “despite cross currents of public opinion.”  Much of the resolution deals with Loudoun County High School.
24. September 14, 1953.    Many issues.  Will Board sell Mountain Gap?  Some people paid tuition to go to public schools and Mrs. Tongs could not.[2]  Loudoun Community College offered a psychologist for 2 days a week[3].  Chart showing number of teachers and average school load.  Does cover” colored” schools.  Lots of information on transportation requests, resignations, teachers, bus drivers, reports not accepted and recommendations.
25. October 12, 1953.  15 different topics.  More notable ones include request that three children be excused from further attendance[4]. Funds for Douglass were received.  Discussion on high school construction issues.
26. November 9, 1953:  Mountain Gap sold for $2,500.  Various appointments and infrastructure issues handled.
27. December 14, 1953:  After normal business, the County-Wide League appeared and appealed for attention to three issues impacted African-Americans:  Bull Run was overcrowded.  A New Building for Douglass was needed.  They also wanted a cafeteria, gym, new equipment and grading at Douglass High School. December 15, 1953:  Material on selection of principal for Loudoun County High School. December 28, 1953.   Material for school board by Oscar Emerick.  Covers comparison of teacher salaries in 1952/53 across the state, budgetary matters; but also matters related to the new 12 year system.  Includes chart showing salaries of principals of high schools in Virginia with an enrollment of 900 or more in 1952-53.   Other questions such as whether cottages at Lincoln and Lovettsville schools and Lincoln Elementary School building will be sold.  When? And how. January 11, 1954:  Land purchases, fencing, pay, hire and resignation issues. Furniture budget. The members of the school board for 1954 are also listed in a brown Binder labeled Equipment for Loudoun County High School, 1954:

    1. 1. Purcellville,   J.T. Hirst
       2. Aldie, E.F. Marshall
       3. Leesburg, Shirley Myers
       4. Lucketts, James Arnold
       5. Middleburg, James W. Ashton

    January 18, 1954.  Cost of equipment for Loudoun County High School.  See 9.4 Equipment for Loudoun County High School, 1954 for binder referenced in this set of notes. January 25, 1954.  Curriculum of Loudoun County High School, salary.  Couching funds for Douglass High School. February 8, 1954:  Agenda, injuries, Latin, Salaries and equipment February 12, 1954:  Synopsis of school budget.  Excused attendance. February 22, 1954:  Budget, LCHS Contract and Construction.  Excused attendance. March 23, 1954:  Salary Equalization Fund of the State.  Rules on how to participate.[1] March 27, 1954:   LCHS and Douglass HS improvements. April 2, 1954:   Legislation in Richmond required that each county, or city provide rom local funds for the operation of schools an amount equal to 45 cents on each $100 of true value of property, subject to local taxation, otherwise lost its share of salary equalization fund.  Also the salary schooled could not be lower than a minimum fixed by the State Board of Education, otherwise the county or city would lose its share of the general appropriation from the State for schools.  Emerick worried that unless changes were made locally, the new rules would place the County in serious danger and so asked for an increased appropriation. April 12, 1954:  Appointments, salaries and purchases, including chairs for Douglass High School.  Several agenda items related to LCHS.   Transfer of 5^th and 6^th grades from Arcola to Aldie. May 10, 1954:  Agenda, Curriculum, Budget. Douglass High School. Purchases of equipment for schools.  Excused attendance.  Vacancies and Recommendations for Teachers, includes topic assignments for schools, including Douglass High School.  One interesting item was the provision of “pupil accident insurance” by the Pilot Life Insurance Company for Louise Luck.   Why did they do that and did it evolve into a standard practice?  What were the rules and did African-Americans benefit? May 24, 1954:   Appointment of School Trustees. June 14, 1954:  Appointments, PTA requests, infrastructure improvement.  Ralph Styer offers $450 for the Conklin School Building.  Decide about sale of Lincoln Elementary and Lincoln and Lovettsville cottages.  Douglass High School and Elementary School improvements. July 12, 1954:  Arcola gets water well.  Lincoln and Lovettsville buildings to be sold. Decide about prohibiting students from eating off campus. Pay issues.  Several teachers listed.    “Consider request of negroes for use of Leesburg grounds for baseball.”  Partial lists of secretaries, teachers, janitors, etc.  Transportation of students from Middleburg to Douglass High School. August 9, 1954:  Middleburg Community center School Program.  Scholarships.  This is important because it led to African-Americans gaining university scholarships.  See chapter 6.9.  Discussion also covered grading and showers at Douglass elementary and HS. September/October, 1954:  Conklin.   Styer suggests lease rather than quit claim deed.  Personnel matters considered.  Transportation issues.   Teacher resignation at Douglass of Cortelyou Payne. November 8, 1954.    Busing, water at  Aldie, is now ok.  Nurse to start Jan 1, 1955.  Other personnel matters. December 13, 1954.  Civil Defense use of buses.  Transportation route changes.  Peabody Scholarships.

     

    ---

    [1] Note Did African-American teachers benefit?

    ---

    [1] See volumes on Conklin on www.edwinwashingtonproject.org.

    [2] Note:  Why did some people pay tuition?  We know for example that in 1920, student attending Lucketts paid $2per month. (LTM 4/24/1920, pg 1)  Mountain Gap was not a high school.

    [3] Note:  Would be good to find out why and if “colored” population benefited.

    [4][4][4] Note: Excused attendance came up in several meetings in the 1950’s.  Who were these people and why were they excused?

2.2E   1955-1959

1. January 10, 1955.   Water, Busing, Personnel.  LCHS problems.  Smoking by teachers in HSs to be banned.
2. March 9, 1955:   Request to hold appointments meeting early in May.
3. April 9, 1955:   Increase in Appropriations.  Salaries of teachers.  State raised minimum wage.  Debt service and alterations to buildings.
4. April 12, 1955:  How to save $40,000 in the operation of the budget next year. Might reduce number of teachers at Round Hill, Douglass High School, LCHS, Purcellville and Lovettsville.
5. Disability Retirement of Robert Arthur Myers, born Feb 17, 1910.  Retiree Feb 18, 1955[1]  Myers had been absent from the Board since November 17, 1954.
6. May, 1955:   Salaries and Health Department Requests.  Various teachers declined appointments. 
7. June 13, 1955:   Appointments and Salaries.  Maximum amounts allowed for travel.  See comparison of white and “colored” teachers.  “Colored” were reimbursed 6 cents per mile with 100 miles maximum; whites 6 cents for 120 maximum.
8. July 11, 1955.  Deficit spending and budget issues.
9. Aug 8, 1955:   Lovettsville Cottage Issues.  Cottage wasn’t purchased despite agreement.  Other budget, personal matters covered.
10. September 12, 1955:  Busing, Students assignments, offer to buy Lovettsville cottage.  Vaccinations.
11. October 10, 1955.   Busing, insurance, salaries, vaccination.  Appointments. Attendance requests. 
12. November 14, 1955.   Sewer, busing, “Colored” Busing Requests.  Buildings as Disaster Housing, Appointment, Resignations.  Request to approve special class for retarded children at Lincoln with state and donated funds
13. December 12, 1955:  Welfare, Busing, Resignations.  Appointments.   Welfare children from Washington DC are housed in Loudoun County homes.   Tuition rates are fixed at:  Grades 1 to 7 - $150 and Grades 8-12, $200.
14. January 9, 1956:  LC Bar Association Resolution re steps towards construction of new buildings.  Includes colored school, but no consideration for “colored” schools unless parents conform to opinion of whites on segregation. (see full text in minutes).  Appointments, Resignations, Budget Salaries.  Attendance excuse.  Salary schedule for teachers. 
15. January 12, 1956:  Appointments and budget issues.  Financial statement for 1955-56.  List of teachers (white and “colored”) recommended for retention by Superintendent.
16. February 13, 1956:  Lupton Simpson for principal of Loudoun County High School.
17. March 12, 1956.  Petition from citizens of Purcellville to reappoint.   Admin issues, e.g. closing of schools due to storms.
18. April 11, 1956:  Appointments and budget issues.   Authorization of bus liability insurance for various drivers.  Salary schedule.
19. May 14, 1956:  admin, Transportation, travel allowance.  Teachers for Douglass HS.  Band requests (white and black schools).   Interior Painting Requests (white and black schools).  List of school bus drivers.

2.2D  1994-1996.  Media Reports on Elected School Board

Supervisors: County Board A 1932-1956.  Includes memo from Emerick of 4/11/1940 responding to request from attorney C.H. Houston to improve High School and transport facilities for African-Americans.  There are memos on transportation and school shelters, bonds to pay off Literary Fund loans, March 16, 1946 notes General Assembly decision to provide free textbooks for all elementary school children, but schools had an option to decline.  Emerick felt this was a costly mandate but without making a firm recommendation, asked for a decision.  There was also a discussion in 1949 to expand school grades to 12 years for the first time.  In 1945, there was a plea for funds to pay for space.  In 1948, there was an important discussion on curriculum and a lot of discussion on construction of the Loudoun County High School as well as in July, 1953, discussion about Douglass High School.

County School Board:  1953-1955 and 1953-56.   Both folders contain information on the Boards and annual messages from the Superintendent.  Many of the notes are handwritten, thus requiring detailed study.  They include discussions of hiring, the Literary fund, Douglass High School (in Aug, 1953) and the Loudoun County High School (white).   Samples:  September 14, 1952, the Superintendent was authorized to sell Mountain Gap School (white).  Transportation issues were discussed, including to Douglass.  Decisions were also made regarding the curriculum.

County School Board and Trustees, 1935-56.   Explains purpose of School Board, Trustees, Districts, etc.  Handles vacancies, time limits for appointment, specific hires, problems in attendance.  There is also a petition to appoint Mr. Gum to School Board.  Now kept in 2.5B White Petitions for Leesburg.

1955  County School Board General Records.  

Chair and Waterford, D. H. Myers

(1967)   School Board Recommendations    Letters of recommendations.  One, dated April 20, 1967 may reveal tensions in the Board.  It was from the Superintendent of Instruction to Ruth Emerick, important since she was the sister of Oscar Emerick, former Superintendent.  Reading the letter, it appears that with the attendance of Emerick was a usual friendly argument[1].

1.  School Trustee Electoral Board to appoint School Board Members, May 24, 1967.  In 1967 the Board of Trustees consisted of

• Miss Helen H. March, Purcellville
• E. Fern Marshall, Aldie[1]
• H. Wendell Kline, Leesburg (Chair)
• Robert P. James, Purcellville
• Miss Frieda G. Johnson, Lovettsville
• James A. Walsh, Bluemont

Clarence M. Bussinger was Superintendent and Mrs. Malinda T. Frye was the Clerk.

• May 25, 1967.  File on election of Trustees in Broad Run and Lovettesville.
• See also records of School Commissioners and Treasurers in Box 1 of archives of Circuit Court, and Box 2, Folders 6 and 7, Chapter 18.
• See also 2.4.5 and 2.4.6 for petitions to hire Trustees.

2.2   Press Reports on Elected Vs Appointed School Board 1994-1996