City Schools' Race Relations Aide Resigns

The resfgnation this June of Ronald R. Edmonds, human relations director for the Ann Arbor Public Schools since August of 1968, was announced last night to the Ann Arbor Board of Education. Edmonds will be leaving his post to become assistant superintendent for urban affairs in the Michigan Department of Education in Lansing. This is a completely new department which Edmonds will créate. Edmonds is the Ann Arbor Public Schools' first human relations director. As director, he has been primarily concerned with inter-racial and inter-cultural relations in the school system. Edmonds' resignation will be effective sometime bet ween June 8 and July 1. His contract expires June 30. School Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. and School Board President Harold J. Lockett lauded Edmonds last night for his services to the district. His new job offer "testifies to the excellence of his services" in Ann Arbor, Westerman said. The superintendent said he was "disappointed" at Edmonds' planned departure, but congratulated him on his new job. Lockett called Edmonds' service to Ann Arbor "unparallelled" and said he funetioned "expertly" in a difficult role. Trustee Richard M. Wood asked for a resolution of commendation for Edmonds at the next meeting. Edmonds taught American history at Pioneer High School from 1964 to 1968, and was associated with the University's Center for Conflict Resolution and the Institute for Social Research. He has been a member of the City Planning Commission since June of 1969. Edmonds earned a bachelor's degree at the U-M and a master's degree at Eastern Michigan University.