565 to 338; and beat four, 651 to 58. In beat one, 55.52 percent favored the issue( 44.49 opposed it); beat two, 39.84( 61.16); beat three 62.56( 37.44); beat four 91.81( 8.19); and beat five, 45.59( 54.41).
Precinct Breakdown – Beat One – Bailey, 12 for( 19 against); Bonita 16( 23); Chapman 12( 15); Coker 104( 5); Bate’ s Store 3( 4); Jones’ Store 2( 6); Marion 44( 55); Oakland Heights 4( 2); Prospect 23( 24); Russell 11( 31). Beat Two – Lauderdale 21( 54); Lockhart 8( 19); Ponta 24( 7). Beat Three – Andrew’ s Chapel 15( 13); Center Hill 69( 34); Collinsville 126( 146); Martin 178( 7); Obadiah 62( 52); Pine Springs 25( 8); Post 3( 19); Shucktown 31( 2); Spring Hill 12( 11); Suqualena 44( 46). Beat Four – Dry Creek 215( 10); Meehan 72( 25); Sageville 11( 9); Stinson 223( 13); Valley 100( 1); Wanita 11( 0). Beat Five – Whynot 44( 41); Causeyville 136( 29); Culpepper 7( 21); Kewanee 0( 37); Pleasant Hill 39( 94); Toomsuba 17( 68).
Meridian Star, October 8, 1961 Increase of 576
City School Enrollment Reaches Peak 12, 281
Enrollment in the Meridian Public Schools has reached the peak figure of 12,281.“ It is felt now that every pupil in the district has enrolled,” according to Dr. L. O. Todd, Superintendent of Schools. This is an increase of 576 over the same date last year. Significantly, school enrollments in nine years have increased from 7,990 or 52 percent – almost six percent against the rational average increase of 3.5 percent. By race the increase has been, over a nine-year period, Whites, 2,241 or 42 percent; Negro, 1832 or 71 percent. The biggest increase in the latter has been in the upper grades and reflects increased holding power in the schools.
The increase in the white schools has been due to increased holding power and also the population“ wave” advancing in the upper grades, Dr. Todd said. There has been an increase of 1001 in grades seven through ten – 1,499 to 2,500. The big increases among the whites are predicted in grades 9, 10, 11 and 12. The current enrollment in grades 11 and 12 is slightly less than a year ago, and this was predicted; it is currently 837.
“ If holding power remains the same, the enrollment will be 1,200 in 1964 when the present eighth and ninth graders get to the eleventh and twelfth grades,” said Dr. Todd. The Junior College enrollment will increase substantially. The number enrolled as of today in Day College is 305 – an increase of almost 50 percent in three years. The enrollment should be about 500 in 1965.”
The enrollment at Magnolia and Carver, grades seven through nine, has more than doubled in the past four years. The enrollment in the 10 th, 11 th and 12 th grades at Harris has exactly doubled in the same period of time. The elementary enrollments in Negro schools have gone up 50 percent in four years. The Harris Junior College enrollment has increased two and a half times in the same period of time.
Meridian Star, November 8, 1961
County School Board Discusses Building Plans