USDC, Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, Civil Action Case #4263- Pecola Annette Wright, et al vs. the County School Board of Greensville County, Virginia, et al
| Creator | USDC, Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division |
| Description | Beginning in March 1965, a suit was brought against the County School Board of Greensville for operating a dual educational system in its public schools. The Court ruled that that the County could not operate “disproportionately” white or black public schools. In August 1969, the plaintiffs filed a supplemental complaint alleging that the City Council and School Board of the City Emporia had taken steps to establish a city school system independent of the Greensville County systems, thus making it exempt from the previous desegregation order. Until August 1969, pupils residing in the City attended County public schools (the City had been reimbursing the County for this expense). Emporia denied the plaintiff’s assertion that they were attempting to “frustrate” the efforts of the Greensville County School Board to implement the Court ordered desegregation plan. They, in turn, asserted that as the City dealt with the transition of affording education to the pupils within its own borders, a “free choice plan” was being offered. The plaintiffs objected. A key obstacle to this case was the July 1967 transformation of Emporia from a town into a city, severing it from Greensville politically, economically, and otherwise under the Virginia Constitution. The City believed it had the right to be represented in the Greensville County School Board and the ownership of the school buildings and properties within its borders. The U.S. Supreme Court disagreed with latter assertion, furthermore decreeing that the City of Emporia had no grounds to compel the County of Greensville to transfer ownership of the schools. The issue of representation on the County School Board was seen as moot by the Court. The reason for Emporia being unrepresented on the School Board, having no control over the school’s budgets or the type of education offered, and no ownership over school property, was its voluntary payment to Greensville, cited the Court. Emporia’s 1967 “voluntary divorce” from Greensville was seen as a major obstacle. Greensville sought reconciliation and a merger, however Emporia remained uninterested. In 1969, Emporia filed suit against Greensville to gain ownership of school buildings within the City and rights to seize certain funds in the Greensville general treasury. An additional suit was filed that year by Emporia to invalidate a contract between its governing body and that of Greensville County. Rulings were handed down in favor of Greensville in both matters, both in the original jurisdiction and again at the appeals level. The City claimed taxation without representation, the Court was not amused. Finally, on June 11, 1981, an agreement was finally reached. Among the details agreed upon was the adoption of a written policy concerning the placement of teachers, staff and students to “disproportionately” white and black schools and/or classrooms. Future groupings of students were to be done on the basis of test scores. Standardized tests, honors programs, pension programs, teacher placement, etc. were also discussed in the terms. The defendants agreed to pay counsel fees for the plaintiff. Both parties agreed upon the wording of a joint press release. |
| Call number | Civil Action Case #4263 |
| Date from | 1965 |
| Date to | 1981 |
| Geographic school | Greensville County, VA |
| Size | 1 1/2 Boxes |
| Access restrictions yes/no | |
| Access restrictions | |
| Part Of larger collection yes/no | |
| Larger collection title | |
| URL | |
| Repository | NARA Mid-Atlantic Region |
| Repository address | 14700 Townsend Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096 |
| Repository contact name | David Weber |
| Repository contact title | Director, Records Management Program |
| Repository contact email | philadelphia.reference@nara.gov |
| Repository contact phone | (215) 305-2000 |
| DoveRegion | (outside of Virginia) |
| Subjects | o Public schools
o Race relations o School children o School integration o Segregation in education o United States. Supreme Court o Virginia. Department of Education o United States. Court of Appeals (4th Circuit) o Public schools–Virginia–Greensville County o Public schools–Virginia–Emporia |
| Types | o Correspondence
o Legal documents |