As we continue to look at equalization suits, it is important to look at the ways in which suits motivated school boards to enact change. It also reveals the ways in which the school board and Central Florida’s communities continued
Days after Judson B. Walker’s visit to Tallahassee, the county school board superintendent received word from State Superintendent Thomas D. Bailey that a newly formed committee would begin the resurvey at 1 pm and [would] probably be complete late Monday afternoon.” This was a rescheduling of the resurvey—another delay by the school board with no cause cited. [1]
“Site Survey Meet Called: Hearing Scheduled to be Held August 21,” Orlando Evening Star, August 17, 1950.
An article published soon after confirmed that Walker’s actions, covered last week, were the result of a desire to confront the issue ahead of the suit proceedings in the hopes of settling the matter out of court.” It reports that the resurvey would begin on Monday at 2:30 pm—another delay, if a small one. Following the resurvey, the school board would receive the findings at a public hearing at Memorial Junior High on Tuesday, 9 pm. [2]
“School Site Peace Seen: Walker Confident of Agreement,” Orlando Evening Star, August 19, 1950.
An August 21, 1950 article provides further detail to the resurvey. Dr. R.L. Johns, professor of education and school administration at the University of Florida, recommended the survey group consider both sides of citizen concern by meeting with representatives from the black and white citizen committees. The white committee group—led by E. S. King—consisted of 40 people, split between those in proximity to “the area west of Orange Blossom Trail” and those “from the area east of OBT and south of Gore Ave.” The survey would begin by “study[ing] pertinent facts concerning the four sites” proposed for the new school and “view[ing] the proposed school location” before compiling their report to the school board. [3]
“School Site Resurvey Under Way: Representatives of All Factions Will Appear at Hearing,” Orlando Evening Star, August 21, 1950.
Coverage of the resurvey becomes a little less clear. The next connection is an adjacent one—There was a meeting at Memorial Junior High School on August 24 but it does not mention the equalization suit. The proceedings of the post-resurvey report meeting would yield further insight into attitudes of those present and the reception of the report containing the results of the findings. [4]
“Faculty to Hear Talk on School,” Orlando Evening Star, August 23, 1950.
An article published the day after outlines the extent of the expansion needed to catch up with population growth, outdated facilities, and periods of no construction due to resources diverted during the war. State School Superintendent Tom Bailey identifies a “backlog of years of inadequate construction, and the necessity to replace dilapidated and outmoded schools” while the article provides statistics about expansion and its shortcomings. Construction, enrollment, and funding numbers provide a background to claims made of stretched resources causing delay in construction of the new black school and updating facilities of existing ones. [5]
“Florida School Construction Lags Seriously, Walker Says,” Orlando Evening Star, August 24, 1950.
While held accountable by the suit for enacting equalization, the school board also struggled with expansion. Viewing the proceedings and procedures of equalization alongside those of segregation provides a point of study to examine how they demonstrated continuities or change over time. The background for the construction of the new Black school’s and reasons for its delay cited by the school board pulls into sharp focus more issues surrounding equalization while also highlighting those created from maintaining segregated communities in segregated societies. Next week will cover reasons for the substantial delay and how these were largely the result of problems stemming from segregation, including the reason for Superintendent Walker’s expedient actions to get the site selection underway, as well as updates and mentions of Hungerford.
Sources
[1] “Site Survey Meet Called: Hearing Scheduled to be Held August 21,” Orlando Evening Star, August 17, 1950.
[2] “School Site Peace Seen: Walker Confident of Agreement,” Orlando Evening Star, August 19, 1950.
[3] “School Site Resurvey Under Way: Representatives of All Factions Will Appear at Hearing,” Orlando Evening Star, August 21, 1950.
[4] “Faculty to Hear Talk on School,” Orlando Evening Star, August 23, 1950.
[5] “Florida School Construction Lags Seriously, Walker Says,” Orlando Evening Star, August 24, 1950. *Note—The title erroneously attributes the statements to Walker while the article quotes Bailey.*