Minutes 11/09/1971 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 9, 1971 read:71-S16 The following letter received from Mrs. Sandi Cahoon, 111 Shore D~ive, was "t am writing to request to speak at the next Council meeting. Representing S.O.N.S. of Portsmouth~I will make a request of City Council that will help Save Our Neighborhood Schools. I will also ask as a representative of my organization for the resignation of an employele of the City of Portsmouth." Mrs . Cahoon spoke and presented the following letters: "Let it be resolved that I, Sandi Cahoon a citizen of Portsmouth, Virginia, and Mother of two children in the public school system, respectfully petition individual member to take immediate steps to rally the city council city a~d other surronnding cities, to a moment of truth, as to the the massive busing plan, that our cities have been forced to adopt. I submit to you the following facts that prove the plan is not distructive to our public school system: I, therefore, submit that the expense, hardships, and in van and achieving no educational benefit for any the city council or any and school boards of our educational benefits of working but is definitely disruption of family life are child. 2 o The very purpose of the plan is supposedly to help our fellow black American citize it has and will continue to harm them. It he's taken away the pride and respect and individuality of many black children 5y forcing them to go to schools where they los~e their identiiy~ They are made to feel that the only way to receive an education to go to schools with whites. The situation in our school system is so deplorable that we have lost a large number of students and if this continues we will lose many more. jobs as educators under adverse condi~ion~ Schools can et function without teachers. Teachers are not able to carry out their and many are mesigning~. Large numbers of children are missing the education they so desperately need for lack of funds for bus rides. 7. Our city has had to make large loans from the federal government which put a strain on the citizens of Portsmouth. For these reasons, the very courts that haned down these orders, with no respect to the educator, local judges~ parents or children, should be shown no respect now. We, as parents have tried this plan and know it can not work much longer. We feel that ~ the schools should be closed immediately on the first Friday after school hours as possible ahd mare all books, records and children back to there neighborhood schools or the school of their choice for educat&onss~nd other community social benefits. Not forgetting some of the deplorable condition~ that conceived this disruption, I also respectfully submit the fol- lowing plans to be carried out immediately after schools close. The plan for remodeling orcreplacement of any school starting with the ones that need it the most to begin immediately. That a course of black history and culture begin as soon as possible which ~huld lead to a better race relations through out our city and better understanding by all white student and more pride respect, and identity by black students. As leaders of our city, I would hold you as responsible as the school.~oard or any other part of the federal, state, or local government that does not take immediate hold, bazaar, and outward action to save our city and schools." "As chairman af Save 8ur Neighborhood Schools, I do hereby request the resignation of City Manager Aubrey Johnson, for the following reason: In section 5-4~ of the city code, the city manager had authorization to put a load on city transit vehicles. We put in a request to this gentleman to please do so within reason on all buses carrying school children. limit Instead of taking a look at the deplorable situation on the buses he chose to question the constitutionality of the code, and then had it stricken. We think that carrying as many as 132 children nn these buses is indeed unconstitutional these children are not cattle, and should not be transported as such. We feel that he has no feeling for the office he holds and has truly neglected his duty to our City." On motion of Mr. Holley and seconded by Mr. Raymond Smith, letter regarding school system, to be received as information, with a cop)- to be se~t to mem%ers of the School Board and a copy to Judge Walter E. Hoffman, ~hi~f ~h~6 U. S. District Court. The City Manager to make a study ~.'-~a~rmine"t~e~pupi,I ~load~ O~,Ci'ty buses ~o and from the various schools, was adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Holley, Johnson, ~gg~IM~im~S~i~nRa~m~ Smith, Barnes Nays: Turner