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HISTORICAL BRIEFS*

NATIONAL CAUCUS OF BLACK SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

*Written by Robert DeFrantz, Sr., Former President, Indianapolis (IN) Board of Education; Hurley Goodall, Member, Muncie (IN) Board of Education; and Leo A. Lucas, Member, Daytona (OH) Board of Education; and edited by Dr. Jeremiah Floyd, Director, Urban and Minority Affairs, National School Boards Association.

The National Caucus of Black School Board Members is an organization to provide a national forum and to be a national advocate for the unique problems faced by Black School Board Members incident to their primary function of working within the framework of the National School Boards Association to advance the opportunities in public education for all children. 

The initial action of the Black School Board Members for a more meaningful way to make their concerns more forcibly heard by the National School Boards Association  began at Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Convention of the National School Boards Association in April 1966. 

Persons involved included Reverend James Jones, Los Angeles, California; Attorney James H. Roland, Sr., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Mr. Leo A. Lucas, Dayton, Ohio. Others associated with the movement at this time were Dr. Remus Robinson, Detroit, Michigan; Dr. Aaron Brown, New York; and Mrs. Artie Mae White, Houston, Texas.

The 1967 National School Boards Association convention held in Portland, Oregon, elected Reverend Jones as spokesman for the Black Caucus. In 1968 he was elected Convenor of the Black Caucus for the National School Boards Association Convention in Detroit, Michigan, and subsequently served as spokesman for the Black Caucus at the National School Boards Association held in Miami, Florida, in 1969.

For a period of three years, the Black Caucus has patiently and tolerantly endured its birth and growing pains. However, prior to the 1969 Convention, an organization called Scholarship, Education and Defense Fund for Racial Equality, Inc., sponsored retreat at Arlie Resort (Virginia) to educate Black school board members as to their role in the educational picture and to teach them the structure and politics that guide and control the National School Boards Association. This process led to the first officially drafted position paper presented to the National School Boards Association from the Black Caucus. This paper focused on a procedure to increase non-white representation in the Delegate Assembly of the National School Boards Association. 

At the 1970 National School Boards Association Convention which was held in San Francisco, California, Dr. Joseph Casey, Marion, Indiana, was elected president of the Black Caucus. The Black Caucus' primary effort at this time was the implementation of a Department of Human Resources and Minority Affairs which would be directed by a non-white National School Boards Association staff person. This effort was successful, and Mr. Chester Whittaker was hired as the Director.

Mr. Robert D. DeFrantz, Sr., Indianapolis, Indiana, was elected Chairman of the Black Caucus at the 1971 National School Boards Association Convention at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Representatives from each state were selected to carry out the work of the Black Caucus between the conventions.

A projection of the Black Caucus at the Philadelphia meeting was to seek adequate funding for the Department of Human Resources and Minority Affairs. Again, another mile of success, coupled with the fact this was the first real demonstration of unanimity by Black School Board Members.

Another highlight of this Convention was the securing of Senator Birch Bayh of Indiana to address the Black Caucus. 

At the 1972 National School Boards Association Convention held at San Francisco, California, Mr. Leo A. Lucas, Ohio, was elected Chairman of the Black Caucus. It was at this time the Black Caucus firmed its foundation. Several hundred Black School Board Members made a yearly contribution of $12.00. Also, the Black Caucus was able to negate and stop an ill-conceived poll that was being conducted by the National School Boards Association. 

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