Junior High Underground Paper Policy Urged

Several parents urged last night that a policy on the publication and distribution of underground newspapers be formulated for Ann Arbor's junior high schools. A "free press" which allows non-official student publications to be published and distributed on school property if several articles of agreement are signed first was passed by the school board in February of 1969 for Pioneer and Huron High Schools. But there is no similar policy at the junior highs. Several parents told the board such a policy is needed, since underground papers are appearing more and more frequently at the junior highs. The Secondary C o u n c i 1, composed of secondary school administrators, i s presently discussing the need for such a policy, according to Dr. Sam M. Sniderman, assistant superintendent for instruction. School Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. said it is a general policy now that no papers Or flyers are passed out in any of the school buildings or on school property without the principal's permission. But he conceded that it is sometimes difficult to prevent persons w.ho "aggressively" come on campus to pass out literature. When this happens, "it is against our will and beyond our power to affect," Westerman said. Limits Set For Speakers A new policy of limiting audience comments at Arm Arbor Board of Education meeting to five minutes if they are speaking as individuals and 10 minutes if they represent a group was informally agreed upon last night by the school trustees. School Board President Harold J. Lockett said he will try to implement the new time limit policy informally for a while before asking that the policy be approved formally. It will be up to the president whether to limit persons to speak only once during the evening. House Building Training Urged A proposed Building Industry Program for Ann Arbor Public School students- which would feature the construction of a house by pupils - was reviewed last night by the Board of Education in briefing session. A similar program is already in effect in Ypsilanti. The Ann Arbor School District hopes to begin the new program in September. An 11-man steering committee composed of local contractors, tradesmen, bankers, architects and educators worked out a proposal which includes the following items: -The Ann Arbor Federal Savings and Loan Association has agreed to provide up to $30,000 to finance the purchase of a site, materials and contracted services. - A non-profit Corporation called "The Ann Arbor Student Building Industry Program, Inc." would acquire a building s i t e in Ann Arbor, plan and coordínate the building of a house on the site and arrange for the sale of the house when completed. The Ann Arbor Board of Education would be expected to provide some 30 students for the program, hire and pay an instructor for the students, provide necessary tools for the students, plus transportation from their home school to and from the building site, as necessary. Henry Landau, chairman of the proposed program and chairman of the Washtenaw County Association of Contractors, told the board such a program would give the students an opportunity to learn first-hand a b o u t the skilled trades in the building industry. The proposed project is expected to be on an agenda for approval soon. Phone Device Nearly Ready A telephone device which will record the comments' of the public on school issues is expected to be installed within a week, the Ann Arbor Board of Education learned last night. No specific date was revealed. Each caller will be given three minutes to discuss his or her concern, according to John W. Hubley, assistant to the superintendent for community services. The tape will be activated during all non-office hours. Callers will be encouraged to contact school board members or school personnel during working hours. Hubley says this approach will be reviewed after four to six weeks to determine its adequacy. A summary of comments from the "Record-A Comment" device will be read at each regular school board meeting, or the comment will be referred to the appropriate administrator for follow-up. The "Record-A-Comment" idea was originally proposed by Trustee Cecil W. Warner. Other Items In Brief A total of 202 probationary staff members recommended for tenure by Personnel Director Stanley Zubel were approved last night by the Ann Arbor Board of Education. Some 189 probationary staff members were approved for a second year of employment. A third probationary year was recommended and approved for four staff members. o o Five additions to the professional staff were approved. o o Cost figures from the architectural firm of Colvin, Robinson, Wright and Associates for four different categories of physical changes and additions at Mack Elementary School will be received within I two weeks, the Board of catión learced. The changes were recommended last week by a Mack citizens' committee. o o The sum of $3,750 was authorized ío be transferred froro a contingency fund to pay for half of the additional funding needed for a research project on improving the management process in the Ann Arbor School District. The other $3,750 will be contributed by the Center for Research on Utilization of Scientific Knowledge of the University's Institute of Social Research. The money for the project, which runs through mid-June, ran out Tuesday and has not been renewed by the federal government under the Educational Professions Development Act. o - - o Trustee Richard M. Wood was the only trustee who did not attend the nearly seven hours of briefing, executive and regular sessions last night ___J