School Race Seminar Approved By Teachers

Thu results of a questionnaire distributed to all Ann Arbor Public School teachers last week at the end of the Human Relations In-Service Training Day indícate the majority of the staff approved the program by a nearly 2-to-l margin. Ronald Edmonds, human relations directer for the public schools, told the Ánn Arbor Board of Education in a wntten report that 63 per cent of the teachers who turned in the questionnaires had a positive response to the program, while 37 per cent indicated a negative response. More than half of the evaluation sheets were turned in, he said. Edmonds said 99 per cent oí the professional staff attended the race relations day Oct. 8. It was the first day set aside to specifically discuss race relations in the history of the school system. Spokesmen for three organizations - the Education Committee of the Coalition for Racial Justice, the Ann Arbor Education Association and the League of Women Voters - commended the Board of Education last night for presenting the human relations day. Other Items In Brief Four appointments to the professional staff were approved last night by the Ann Arbor Board of Education. Also approved was the resignation of Kathleen Severn, a special education teacher at Forsythe Junior High. O 0' A request from City Adrmnistrator Guy Larcom Jr. for financial assistance for the city school bus system was delayed until the next meeting. o o The Board of Education indicated a special citizens' committee would soon be formed to study the problem of easements, school walkways and their financing in rura! school areas. The committee was requested by the Executive Committee of the Newport School PTO because of its concern with the safety of children coming to and from school in areas of heavy traffic in rural areas. Many Newport parents have been atteinpting to persuade various Government agencies to install sidewalks along Newport Rd., with little success. o o Trustee Joseph T. A. Lee was appointed the board's delégate to the Board of Control of the proposed Envircnmental Interpretive Center, o o The trustees approved the school district's participation with the City of Ann Arbor in negotiations for the purchase of Lakewood Woods. o o The board delayed approving a submitted plan providing for revised parking and recreational uses of the Jones Building grounds. One reason for the delay is the board has not yet determined the final future use of the building, o o During the Questions, Comments and Petitions portion of last night's meeting, Douglas Fulton urged the board to hire a landscape architect for the school system and to delay any changes in the Jones Building .grounds until the final disposition of the building is determined. A spokesman for the Ann Arbor Junior Chamber of Commerce invited the school board and interested persons to attend a panel discussion on human relations problems in Ann Arbor at 8 p.m. next Thursday in the Ann Arbor High School auditorium, o o A member of the NorthEast Area Planning Review Committee asked the board to consider building additional recreational facilities, especially tennis courts, in the "growing northeast area." o o A Mack School ParentTeacher Organization representative read a letter last night from the PTO detailing the "poor physical plant" and lack of auxiliary aids and materials at the school. Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. said a number of the items that need repair are "in the works" and will be fixed promptly.