Minutes 02/12/1946 - Laserfiche WebLink

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nurses be alwo made available to the colored patients, doctors and nurses. We are requesting that colored doctors be allowed the same privileges of attending and visiting their patients as those granted ~o white doctors. We are requesting that this proposed colored wing shall contain a maternity ward or section for colored expectant mothers. In a plea for Justice in this situation, ~e are asking you to act favor- ably on this petition and to do all within your power to bring about the provision of equal hospital services and facilities_ a~ the Maryview Hospital. for all citizens, white and colored. Respectfull~ submitted, Young Men's Civic Organization, John H. Lewis, Secretary." The following letter was read and on motion of Mr. Howard, referred to the City Mans~er for study, the Manager to report at a special meeting of~the Council to be called for consideration of same: "The Young. Men's Civic O~ganization ~ requesting that the Portsmouth City Counci2 give favorable consideration to the construction of a new high school building for colored students in the downto~m area and that this proposed new building be erected on a different site from the present Norcom High SohoolBuilding. We believe this proposal to erect a new high school plant for colored students to be p~ac~ical and economically sound for many reasons. (1) The present location of the Nor~om High School in the same short block with the downtown elementary school oresen~s a congested situation which can'be remedied by the removal of the high school to another locat.ion. (2) The present high school building is overcrowded to ~he extent that there are now three "floating teachers~,. (3) The present building is without auditoriMm, cafeteria or gymnasium, these three feature~ being universally considered as ~musts" for modern high schools. The building of an annex to th$ present Norcom building would provide these features, tut, on the other hand, the annex would also serve ~o increase the congestion in this already cramped school area. (4) ~By constructing a new building for Norcom High School, the present high school building could be turned over to the elementary school, which now is crowded into the plight of having to operate some classes on part time. (5) By providing another plant fo~ the high school at a ~ifferent location, the City would thus relieve a troublesome ~sisuta~ion. The proposed new building would offer mode~ high school facilities for years to come and would ~erve to relieve a problem of congestion which ~ill~ he with us as ~ong as both the elementary and high schools are situated in the same limited area. (6) The addition of such essential features as an auditorium, cafeteria and gymna- sium must be provided at the Norcum High School. This can be done in Just ~wo ways -- the ouilding of an annex or the c0nstr~stion of a new building on a different site. The erection of a new building would be the mos~ practical and satisfactory solution, not only for the pre- sent, but also for efficiency through years to come. The Young Men's Civic Organization submitted a similar petition calling for the erection of a new high school building for colored students to the Portsmouth School Board in .its recent meeting. Although this proposal came ~oo late to be included in the Board's resort on building recommendations, the School Board members did look upon this suggestion with fa- vor. It was pointed out tha~ the School Board, in submitting plans for the present inadequate high school building, had recommended tha~ the building include an auditorium, gymnasium and cafeteria and also that the high school building be erected at another location, away from the cramped area of the crowded downtown elementary school. We sincerely hope that this petition meets with your favor and that the Norcom High School might operate efficiently, ~as ~her high schools are doing, with the modern facili- ties which this aew era demands. Sincerely, The following letter and report red to the City Manager for study and to report called for the consideration ~of same: Young Men's'Civic Organization Chas. H. Venable, ~ Seo~ary. were read and on motion of Mr. Howard, refer- at a special meeting of the Council to be "I have been directed by the Portsmouth School Board to submit to you a copy of the report of the School Board's Special Committee on School Bhildi~gs, which report was adopted by the School Board at its recent meeting. In this report ~tems l, 2 and 3 are con- sidered urgent and the City Council is respectfully requested to make an appropriation for them as soon as possible. Item No. i calls for the installation of toilets in the basement of the old Port Norfolk School building at an estimated cost of $8,000. Item No. 2 calls for th* replac- ing of the presgnt outmoded slate urinals with modern china urinals a~ an estimated cost of $13,250. Item No. 3 calls for replacing the present hot air furnaces with low pressure steam boilers in the various public school buildings whenever these furnaces need to be replaced. This will affect ten school buildings and will cost an estimated $11~,OOO. This improvement program will extend through about five years as only about two furnaces will be renewed in one year. Items 4, 6 and ~ call for the erection of annexes to the Norcom High School, t the Brings S~ool and to the Mt. Hermon School, and the City Council is asked ~o authorize the