Time capsule

As reported in The Columbia News 33 years ago on Thursday, Feb. 26, 1970.

Desegregation plans for Columbia County

Pressed by a March 1 deadline and possible loss of state funds, the Columbia County Board of Education approved a suggested plan designed to abolish the county's dual-school system at a meeting Tuesday. If the plan, which is in compliance with a court order calling for a unitary school system, is accepting by the State Board of Education and the Department of Health Education and Welfare, it will go into effect Sept. 1970.

State funds will be denied to those systems that do not meet the March 1 deadline.

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The board has divided the county into attendance zones that were dictated by existing buildings and facilities. The zone lines were drawn along existing highways, interstates, railroads, streams and other natural boundaries with no consideration for race.

The plan calls for equality of standards meaning that all schools in the county will operate under the same uniform system of pay, employment and selection of faculty and a uniform system of curriculum, testing and assignments to pupils.

The minority quotient is 26 percent as taken from a 1969 elementary and secondary survey. Teachers and professional staff will be assigned as close as possible to the minority quotient. Teachers who desire a transfer will be considered with a few choices.

Evans named Teacher of the Year

Herbert L. Evans, the head of the English department at Blanchard High School, was selected as Columbia County's Teacher of the Year.

The Clinton, S.C., native has taught at Blanchard for seven years. He received his bachelor's degree from Allen University, Columbia, and his master's degree from Atlanta University, Atlanta. Evans has additional graduate work at the Tuskegee Institute, Alabama A & M, South Carolina State University, Paine College and Kent State University.

Evans is a member of Christ United Presbyterian Church, where he is a member of the Senior Choir, the chairman of the Trustee Board and the president of the S.S. Johnson chapter of United Presbyterian Men.

Evans is married to the former Viola Harris of Augusta, and they have a daughter, Cheryl Anita.