Westfield Schools Desegregated (jan 1, 1971 – sep 3, 1973)

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The State Department of Education cited Westfield in January 1971 for racial imbalance. 33-35% of students at Columbus School were African American students, while other Westfield schools were only 0-18% African-American. By enrolling students from Columbus school into the surrounding schools the goal was to have an equal percentage of African-American students in the school district.

To meet new state mandates, a three year plan was devised to not only resign students to different schools, but also to redistrict other schools as well. The plan involved the redistricting of the elementary schools: Grant, Lincoln, Tamaques, Jefferson, Wilson and Mckinley. The plan also provided service training for racial issues to teachers and paired elementary school classes to provide a greater exchange between Black and white students.

Opposers of the phase-out claimed that Columbus School offered a more equal educational opportunity to diverse socio-economic backgrounds than any other school. Parents also expressed concern for their children's safety because students who were reassigned to different schools had to cross train tracks and busy streets, since neither a busing system or crossing guards were being used at that time.

Other opposers of the Columbus School phase-out want to “preserve the neighborhood” by keeping the schools segregated. In a yearly Congressional Questionnaire given to the citizens of the 12th Congressional District, a majority answered that they have a higher value for “preserving the neighborhood school as opposed to desegregating education” (Dwyer 5).

Teachers and staff of the newly integrated schools reported positive results for both Columbus School students and students who remained at the same school; “[t]he range of academic ability in third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades in Grant, Lincoln and Jefferson Schools had not varied with the introduction of students from Columbus School” (Allen). Also teachers and staff made an effort to expand the school curriculum and make it more inclusive. Librarians worked with the coordinator of children’s services for the New York public library to search for muilt-ethnic material. While 45 staff members volunteered to attend a 15 week course entitled “Blak History and Culture” taught by Dr. Arnold Roce at the Newark State College.

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