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Title
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[Petitions (Colored schools) 1944 - Middleburg Grant - correspondence from Superintendent O.L. Emerick on plans for a new school in Middleburg]
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Description
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The first letter in this group is a Dec 14, 1944 correspondence from Superintendent O.L. Emerick to attorney James H. Raby. The letter authorized an additional teacher for the Middleburg Colored School and expressed support for building a new school for about 160 children in Middleburg and St. Louis in Middleburg. Emerick notifies Raby that the School Board would not provide transportation but would reimburse for transportation arranged by families. Emerick says that people have claimed discrimination when their school was closed in favor of consolidation, a situation in which the county provides transportation. Citing extreme difficulties due to the war, Middleburg white school is closed due to a cracked boiler and the Aldie white school, which burned down, is being consolidated instead of rebuilt.
In a 7 Feb 1945 letter to Emerick, the Parent-Teacher Association and Community League of Middleburg provides the names of a committee elected to work with the school board on purchasing land for the proposed new Colored School at Middleburg. On 9 Feb 1945 Emerick acknowledges receipt of the committee letter.
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Tag
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1944, correspondence, Superintendent O.L. Emerick, James Raby, additional colored teacher, new school, St Louis, Middleburg, alternative school transportation, school closing, petitions
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Date
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1944-12-14
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Identifier
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1014855
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Is Version Of
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1014855_2-5A_Yr_1944_Dec_14_Middleburg_wants_new_school_and_Buses.pdf
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Is Part Of
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Petitions
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Source
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These letters are in the Middleburg folders in the 2.5.A Colored Petitions Box in the Loudoun County Public School Records Office
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Language
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English
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Replaces
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/Volumes/T7 Shield/EWP/Elements/EWP_Files/source/Ingest One/2 Petitions Plans School Board and Districts/2-5A_Colored_Petitions/2-5A_Middleburg/2-5A_Yr_1944_Dec_14_Middleburg_wants_new_school_and_Buses.pdf
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Transcription
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December 14, 1944
Mr. James H. Raby
526 N. Partick St.
Alexandria, Virginia
Dear Mr. Raby:
At the meeting of the County School Board on December 12 an order was entered authorizing the employment of an additional teacher at Middleburg Colored School and the payment of a reasonable rental for suitable quarters if such could be found. A committe representing the P. T. A. came to our meeting and they are trying to assist us in finding a place in which to carry on the work temporarily. The senses of the school board is that a new school should be provided for about 160 children around St. Louis and Middleburg at Middleburg and I hope that such a building of modern type can be provided.
We already have one school closed for lack of a teacher and we have no certainty that we can find someone for the position at Middleburg but it would seem a more desirable location and it should be possible to find a teacher.
The school board considered the request for transportation for certain patrons but took no action because they had no facilities with which to take care of this area.
I might point out that our school board has had in effect for a number of years this policy: whenever a school was closed transportation was pro-vided by bus for the school area and as many children in nearby areas were accommodated as the bus could include. That has applied uniformly to white and colored children. The main difference is that only four colored schools have been closed under this condition and many more white schools have been closed. Many of the persons of this County claimed that this was discriminating against them in the case of closing their school. We have a number of areas where bboth white and colored children are rather far from school. The school board has adopted a provision that it will assist financially with the transportation in these areas but that it should be necessary for the parents to arrange for the transportation. We are making these payments.
I believe that it is safe for me to assure you that the school board of Loudoun has every desire to improve the conditions for the education of the colored children of this County.
I note in your letter some reference as to what was being considered for a school at our meeting at Aldie. This school burned during the summer and the school board has decided not to rebuild it. They had under consideration facilities in an area where there were formerly five two-room schools, three one-room schools and an accredited high school.
[page 2] December 14, 1944
Mr. James H. Raby ---- NO. 2
The extreme difficulties under which we operate a school system in these war times mates it almost impossible to correct deficiencies that existed before the war and the repair and maintenance are extremely difficult. The Middleburg white school is being kept closed during the entire month of December and part of November with no certainty that it will open on the second of January because the the boiler cracked and had to be replaced. It had to be made at the factory.
Very sincerely yours,
O. L. Emerick
Division Superintendent
OLE:MA
[page 3]
Mrs: Mildred Jackson, Pres. Miss Lenora Stewart, Sec.
Mrs. Hattie Hall, Vice Pres. Mrs. Jane Butler, Treas.
Joseph Butler, Chaplain
PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION AND COMMUNITY LEAGUE
Middleburg, Virginia.
February 7, 1945.
Mr. O. L. Emerick,
Superintendent of Schools,
Loudoun County,
Leesburg, Virginia.
Dear Mr. Emerick:
Please be informed that in complying with the Board’s action and request as of January 31, 1945, our organization has finally appointed the official committee to work with you and Dr. Booth to purchase ground for the construction of a new Colored School at Middleburg.
The committee is comprised of the folowing persons:-
1. Dr. Maurice B. K. Edmead
2. Rev. J. H. Foy
3. Mr: William Jackson
4. Mr. Robert Shefton
5. Mr. Lorraine Dade
6. Mrs. Mildred Jackson
We wish to thank the entire Board for its understandable spirit and its due consideration conferred on the Negro committee which appeared at your invitation.
Sincerely yours,
PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION AND COMMUNITY LEAGUE.
Mrs Mildred Jackson, Pres.
Mrs. Mildred Jackson, President.
[page 4]
February 9, 1945
Mrs. Mildred Jackson, Pres.
Parent-Teacher Association and Community League
Middleburg, Virginia
Dear Mrs. Jackson:
Let me thank you for your letter giving me the names of the committee to assist in the selection
lot at Middleburg, Virginia.
Very sincerely yours,
O. L. Emerick
Division Superintendent
OLE:MA