Brief Items From Board

Representing the Ann Arbor art teachers, James Robison made a request last night to the Ann Arbor Board of Education that Ruth Beatty be reinstated as art coördinator to assist art teachers on a full-time basis. She is presently a teacher assistant at Tappan and works with art teachers only on a part-time basis. School Supt. R. Bruce McPherson said he would take the matter into consideration and respond in the near future. o o The architect firm of Hobbs and Black was approved for the planning of the Northeast Elementary School and the firm of Donald Van Curler was approved for designing the Main Library Addition by I the board last night. A member from the audience objected that the Friends of the Library had not been consulted for this recommendation. o o The following resignations and leaves of absence were approved. Resignations: Jean Hirsch, Mary Lang, and Judith Wagner. Leaves of absence: Margaret Guire, Mary James, Mary Lee, Noryne Wayne, Donna Weisman, and Carolyn Gersten. o o A representatlve from the Ann Arbor Association for Gifted Children, Charles Hall, requested that the board respond to the "gifted and highly intelligent" children in the system. He said that this was the most neglected segment in the schools here. School Supt. R. Bruce McPherson replied that although these children were not the most neglected, programs for them have been. Nancy Brussello commended the board for approving its goals and also suggested that the board develop means to hear from a large segment of the Ann Arbor population that has not had opportunity for input. o o Approval was given to the Detroit Edison Company and Michigan Bell for right-of-way in the northwest corner of the Clague Junior High property so that they may install and service new lines in the area. o o Michael Morris of the Angell Parènt-Teacher Organization told the board that more public discussion is needed before the board makes any plans for reorganizing the system. He referred to t h e proposed middle schools for grades 6, 7, and 8 which would replace the junior high school and make high schools four years. ' He also said he had heard that plans were being made to relocate students at Angell to other schools. McPherson answered that considerable discussion had taken place concerning middle schools over the past few years here and the idea was not new to teachers, parents and administrators. "It is uní air to suggest that no public discussion has taken place over the school reorganization," said McPherson. "It is still taking place in the local school communities and this is where the gut decisions are made, not in board meetings or public hearings." The superintendent also denied that plans for relocating students at Angelí school have been made, but he added the administration is obligated to use empty space more adequately and it is possible that eventually some elementary schools would be considered appropriate for high school classes.