History of Lauderdale County School District | Page 105

Meridian Star, November 5, 1960

Two Schools Proposed by Citizens Group
Northeast Project Meets Opposition
The Citizens Study Group Friday came out I favor of a two school plan for Lauderdale County.
The group met after the county school board had received notification that $365,936 in federal funds had
been approved for construction of a 12-grade school near the Meridian Naval Auxiliary Air Station.
Opposing construction of the school under present conditions, the Citizens Study Group said a program
for the entire county should be carried out at the same time. M.C. Welch, chairman of the group, said
construction of the school at the proposed location, and without a bond issue, would make it difficult for
the rest of the county to get a satisfactory program for its children. “The people in the northeast area
would never vote in favor of a bond issue for the rest of the county, since they would be getting their
school without any increase in taxes,” said Welch.
As to location, one member of the group said the proposed location of the Northeast School
would not fit in with a two-school plan. “The location should be moved to the northwest and more
toward Meridian, to make it accessible to more students,” he said. The other school, according to several
members, should be located in the southeast part of the county. One woman expressed fears that use of
federal funds would “pave the way for integration.” Another member, who repeatedly asked not to be
quoted, said, “We have been assured that use of federal funds will not give the government any basis for
integration. But I’ll tell you this, if a test case is ever made on integration, the first thing you are going to
hear from the Supreme Court is that federal money was used.”
Several members said they believe the only logical solution to the county’s school problem was
for the children to attend Meri dian City Schools. “Any plan to be acted on,” Welch said, “will have to
come from the school board. We are trying to come up with a compromise plan that we can all support.”
A group, representing each school area in the county, was appointed to go before the school board and
present the Citizens Study Group proposal.
Meridian Star, September 10, 1961

Lauderdale County Citizens Vote Oct. 3 on School Plan
Lauderdale County citizens will vote October 3 on a proposed $1,400,000 bond issue to
finance the county board of education’s consolidation plan. The plan calls for construction of
two new elementary and high schools and additions and renovation to the existing Clarkdale
School.
For the plan to pass, 60 percent of those voting will have to approve it. The election was
set last week by the board of supervisors. One school in the board of education’s plan, the
Northeast School has already been completed at a cost of approximately $557,000. The three
other schools will be located in the other corners of the county.
The construction program is designed on a long-range basis to accommodate an eventual
4,000 students. County enrollment for the 1961-62 year is expected to reach approximately
3,000. County students presently attend seven schools in various areas. The plan calls for
consolidation of the schools in order that better and more varied curriculums may be offered
through greater concentration of teachers and students. County Superintendent of Education,
Dan B. Johnson estimates that curriculums would be three or four times more extensive than at
present.