History of Multicultural Student Transfer Program

LYLE SUTER, ART TEACHER, DEPT. CHAIR., BEVERLY HILLS HIGH

DR. MARTIN PRINCE, BEVERLY HILLS SCHOOL BOARD

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

1969 to 2009
Name: Multi-Cultural Student Transfer Program
Est. 1000+ BHHS Grads. (25 annually)
90%+ graduation rate
Optional; voluntary
27 news articles/8 publications

News Publications & Article Dates:

Los Angeles Times (7):

July 24, 1969 Oct 17, 1991
Nov 9, 1969 April 22, 2000
Mar 26, 1970 April 26, 2000
Jun 19, 1983

Beverly Hills Courier (2)

Nov 7, 1969
Mar 12, 1971

Beverly Hills Independent (2)

Date no available
Mar 26, 1970

KENNETH PETERS, SUPT., BEVERLY HILLS SCHOOLS

ELINOR NATHAN, BEVERLY HILLS SCHOOL BOARD

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Students from Emerson Jr. High except 1969 included Audubon Jr. High
"B" Average balanced by participation in school activities
Private transportation; no busing
Sibling extension for 1969 class
Recruitment by Lyle & Joan Suter

News publications & Article Dates:

Highlights - Beverly Hills High (7)

Jan 17, 1969 Dec 17, 1999
Jan 31, 1969
Oct 1, 1969
Nov 1, 1974 (3)

Beverly Hills Unified School District

Focus (2)

Sep 1969
Jan 1971

Blueprint (2)

Sept 1969
Oct 1978

Summary of Board Actions (3)

Sept. 1970
May 1971
Jun 1971

July 8, 1968

"Memorandum to Mr. Suter.

Thank you for your letter of July 2, 1968. It has been forwarded to the Board of Education as addresses.

I am most appreciative of the thoughts and suggestions contained in your letter and we will make contacts with the elementary teachers listed."

"Dr. Dible and Dr. Robinson have been forwarded copies of your letter, along with Mr. William Jenkins, the new Assistant to the Supt. As a matter of ethics, if the teachers you mentioned are currently under contract with Los Angeles for 1968-1969, we should not encourage them to change.

This would preclude us talking to them about 1969-1970 and contracting, where we have positions for which they would qualify, in December 1968 for the ensuing year."

"I would enjoy the opportunity to have a chat with you to assess where we have been and where we are going as far as teachers, administration, students, community and schools. Could we get together after August 15, when I have returned to the office, to exchange thoughts as to how we can materially meet and attain our responsibilities to all concerned? K.L. Peters"

"At the present time, we have a Grade 6 vacancy at Horace Mann and a Grade 7-8 English position at Hawthorne. There are no openings at the high school but this could change due to the usual retention factors of pregnancy, husband transferred, growth, etc."

"The bibliography you attached has been forwarded to Mr. Gibson. I had asked Mr. Gibson to give me a listing of materials, on our shelves or available for distribution, on the Negro and a quick check would indicate we have many of the titles that you suggest, plus many additional. I am attaching his listing for your interest and reaction."

"Dear Ken:

Yesterday's meeting was most helpful to me in reviewing the present policy governing the issuance of permits between our districts and in assessing the possibilities of the development of a program which would provide increased opportunities for minority students.

In reviewing our discussion, it is my understanding that we will provide the following:"

2. "A committee composed of representatives of our two districts will be formed to study the possibility of developing a program or programs which would provide opportunities for minority group students to share educational experiences with students of the Beverly Hills Unified School District and that it is desirable , where possible, to provide two-way movement of students. Our members of the committee would be:

"The members of the committee can, in turn, call upon representatives from the elementary and secondary divisions and the legal advisor as needed. If these plans meet with your approval, we could call the committee together as soon as you have appointed representatives for your district. It would probably be will for us to meet with the committee at the time they have the initial meeting."

Sincerely, Robert E. Kelly, Deputy Superintendent; Business and Educational Services"

1. Mr. Jenkins will meet with Mr. Sidney Paige, of our Interdistrict Office, review present permit policies, and make such modifications or agreements as will be beneficial to both districts. At the conclusion of their work, I believe that we should develop up-to-date statements which would supersede the letter addressed to you some years ago by Mr. Brick."

Mr. James Taylor, Assistant to the Deputy Superintendent of Instruction
Mr. Richard Hammerle, Administrative Coordinator in charge of our Title III Office which has the responsibility for planning new and innovative programs
Mr. Sam Hamerman, Assistant Superintendent in charge of our Office of Urban Affairs"

Mr. Jim Taylor (long time friends of Suters)

"I appreciate your interest in this project and your willingness to give of your time. It was a pleasure to have the opportunity of meeting with you, Robbie, and Bill."

"To: Robert E. Kelly, Deputy Supt. Los Angeles City School Districts

Dear Bob, Thank you for your letter of Sept. 5, 1968 setting into operation items we discussed the day previous in your office. Wm. Jenkins informs me that he has contacted Mr. Page and after the usual trauma of school openings are completed they will meet to discuss our permit agreements and possible improvements."

Dean Turner, Bev. Hills Federal Projects Coordinator

"We would be happy to host the Committee in its initial meeting and would suggest a 1st choice of Thursday , September 26 or a 2nd choice of Thursday, October 3, at 10A.M. in our Board Room at 255 Lasky Drive. The committee could stay on for lunch as our guests, if schedules permit. I concur that we both should participate in the initial meeting of the Committee."

"I have asked Mr. Jenkins, Adm Asst. to Supt. of Schools, Mr. Lyle Suter, a secondary teacher, and Dean Turner, Federal Projects Coordinator, to participate with your fine committee of Messrs Taylor, Hammerle and Hamerman. The smallness of our District would encourage rather active participation on my part in the Committee activities, unless they object."

"Could you call me to let me know if either of these dates are workable for you.

Yours very truly, K. L. Peters, Supt. of School

CC Mr. Jenkins, Dr. Robinson, Mr. Suter"

To: Mr. K.L. Peter

From: Lyle Suter, Dean Turner, Bill Jenkins

"After several meetings on our own and one with Mr. Hamerle on Nov 1 (Mr. Taylor was absent due to emergency), we have many ideas and proposals as a starting point. Generally speaking the proposals are acceptable to Los Angeles."

"Since our minority population is now less than 3% of the total school population, the only method we can use to increase multi-cultural contacts is to increase the number of Negro, Spanish surname and Oriental students. A second but equally important reason for the program is to provide a continuing environment for students who have already demonstrated an interest for this type of setting."

"It would to everyone's advantage, both Beverly Hills and Los Angeles school staffs to limit our working relationship to Emerson Junior High School.

1. It is the closest school in proximately with a student body of similar economic and academic standing"

3. In June 1969 there will be approximately 39 minority students who will graduate from Emerson who are attending Emerson on out of district permits. It is our intent that these students would be the source of the participants in our program. (Some may go on to University High School or for other reasons may not be interested in attending Beverly Hills High School."

5. "The names and addresses in the categories mentioned above will be sent to us by Emerson Junior High School early in the Spring Semester. A meeting will be held at the high school for any of the 39 students and parents who are interested. All of the programs and problems involved will be thoroughly discussed with the parents. Those interested would be scheduled for a thorough review and counseling session with the high school counseling staff."

6." Of the 39 possible, it is expected that somewhere in the neighborhood of 20-30 may become involved in a permit situation with us."

"Community-Staff Involvement. It is suggested that a rather large, all inclusive advisory committee be organized. This committee might include Transport a Child; Emerson community; parents involved in transporting children out of their neighborhood district; 2 parents from each of the 5 BH schools and 1 faculty rep (elected by faculty) from each school."

2. The program is not limited to one minority group, but the majority will be Negro students. Of the 39 in the B-9 at Emerson, 4 are other than Negro (3 Oriental; 1 Spanish Surname).

"We have discussed several alternatives to working with a single school in the L.A. District, but each time we come back to the single school relationship for a variety of reasons."

Our proposals are as follows: A basic policy statement of philosophy must be drafted that clearly states that the program is to provide multi-cultural experiences in depth for the youngsters of BHUSD."

"It is not anticipated that the number of out of district permits for this purpose would exceed our total school population of 3% (eventually approximately 155 students throughout several grade levels and five schools). Once a permit is granted, it would be a commitment to continue the permittee, if successful, through the full 12 year program."

2. "It has been involved with the Transport A Child Program in which minority youngsters, after obtaining permits in the usual Los Angeles sleeping bag manner, are bussed to the school. These youngsters have already been successful in academic endeavors and leadership opportunities (something like three student body presidents in four years)."

"However many will be unable to obtain permits to University and other similar high schools and Beverly Hills might assist in fulfilling an need in this situation.

4. PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION will be the only form of transportation under consideration. Neither school district will be involved in providing bus service."

"Although no screening devices or criteria are suggested, it should be clear that the Beverly Hills program may or may not be in the best interests of the child. (Mr. Hawkings, Principal at Emerson, indicates that the students involved are usually very well qualified)."

"Reception or Orientation

Counseling. A certain amount of specific counseling time should be assigned to these students.
Tutoring. While it may not be needed, there may very well be a gap in learning because of inherent differences in school districts. A subtle, but expanded tutoring program should be considered until an adjustment to new methods, etc., is made."

"Miscellaneous

1. Once the list of student names has been determined as a result of the initial parent meeting and subsequent interviews, these names would be sent to Mr. Page in the Los Angeles permit office and he would issue the permits at our request."

"By choosing students who truly want to come to Beverly, the administration has created a very positive atmosphere towards this program. On the other hand, people at Beverly should not deceive themselves by thinking that this is a true integration plan. In basic integration, transfer students are selected at random. In contract, all the students who come to Beverly in this program are from Emerson"

"Integration does not take place in the classroom. It takes some kind of extracurricular activity for it truly to take place, explained William Jenkins, asst. supt. of Beverly Hills schools, and head of this program. The multi-cultural program was originally intended to be an exchange program. Students at Beverly were supposed to sign up to go to Los Angeles city schools. Since no one from Beverly signed up to transfer to another school, this aspect of the program was cancelled.

Highlights total supports the multi-cultural exchange program. Although it is not true integration, it does work."

"In a time when forced integration is causing so much disorder and violence across the nation, Beverly is very fortunate to have the multi-cultural transfer program. The concept of selecting 30 minority students who wish to come to Beverly is far superior to that of randomly bussing 30 students into Beverly who really don't want to come her.

Junior High School, which is known for putting an emphasis on educational success. Furthermore, the students are selected on the basis of what contributions they can make to the school as well as what they can get out of Extra-curricular activities such as drama, art, sports, etc. are all considered favorable when choosing students."