Changes

==Caddo Parish School Board==

==Caddo Parish School Board==

Williamson served on the parish school board when the body had twenty-one members. With so many members, it was difficult to preside over the meetings, which Williamson did in his role as the president. In 1965, when the board was ordered by the federal courts to [[Segregation|desegregate]], Williamson was the president who was credited with guiding the process forward. He said that he made many friends in the [[African-American]] community, who later supported him in his political campaigns, including later state Representative Alphonse I. Jackson (1927- ) and Jackson's daughter, former District 39 state Senator Lydia Patrice Jackson (born 1960), both Democrats. Williamson said that his motivation as board president was to preserve the integrity of the schools and to treat all citizens fairly in the process of desegregation. "The community responded in a positive way, and things went smoothly," Williamson said. He spent a week in the court of U.S. District Judge Benjamin C. Dawkins, Jr., himself a former Caddo Parish School Board president, during the hearing of the desegregation suit. The board was later reduced to nine members, a more manageable number, through state law under Williamson's leadership. [5]

Williamson served on the parish school board when the body had twenty-one members. With so many members, it was difficult to preside over the meetings, which Williamson did in his role as the president. In 1965, when the board was ordered by the federal courts to [[Segregation|desegregate]], Williamson was the president who was credited with guiding the process forward. He said that he made many friends in the [[African-American]] community, who later supported him in his political campaigns, including later state Representative Alphonse I. Jackson (1927-2014) and Jackson's daughter, former District 39 state Senator Lydia Patrice Jackson (born 1960), both Democrats. Williamson said that his motivation as board president was to preserve the integrity of the schools and to treat all citizens fairly in the process of desegregation. "The community responded in a positive way, and things went smoothly," Williamson said. He spent a week in the court of U.S. District Judge Benjamin C. Dawkins, Jr., himself a former Caddo Parish School Board president, during the hearing of the desegregation suit. The board was later reduced to nine members, a more manageable number, through state law under Williamson's leadership. [5]

[[Billy Guin]] (also born 1927), disagrees with Williamson about smaller school boards. In 1964, Guin became one of the first three Republicans elected to the Caddo Parish School Board since [[Reconstruction]] and in 1977 the only Republican to have served as city public utilities commissioner. He contends that smaller boards enhance the power of interest groups. While the larger membership can be cumbersome, Guin said more members insure that the overall well-being of the community is served, rather than the interest of vocal minorities. [6]

[[Billy Guin]] (also born 1927), disagrees with Williamson about smaller school boards. In 1964, Guin became one of the first three Republicans elected to the Caddo Parish School Board since [[Reconstruction]] and in 1977 the only Republican to have served as city public utilities commissioner. He contends that smaller boards enhance the power of interest groups. While the larger membership can be cumbersome, Guin said more members insure that the overall well-being of the community is served, rather than the interest of vocal minorities. [6]