OCS-5 (1-60) STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office Memorandum Date March 9, 1961 To: State Superintendent Bailey From: Herman O. Myers Subject: Federal Assistance - Dade County President Kennedy received the total report on the need for assistance in Dade County shortly after Secretary Ribicoff returned to Washington on February 2. The President wishing, in so far as possible, to handle this assistance on an administrative policy basis was able to have four million dollars released froMutual Security Funds for use in assistance toCuban refugees. There were nine major areas of assistance in which the President was extremely interested; of course, direct welfare assistance was the one phase which received the major allocation of funds available. Some of the other areas are: aid to public schools in Dade County for (1) education grades 1-12; (2) assistance in constructing school facilities; and (3) assistance in providing adult courses in citizenship, vocational, and language orientation; college student loans; assistance in retraining professional persons, sch as medical doctors, dentists and lawyers. Four million dollars is not too much money when the areas to be financed are considered. The public school system in Dade for the remainder of 1960-61. The U.S. Commissioner of Education sent his representative, Mr. Alden B. Lillywhite. to Miami on march 8-10. I joined Mr. Lillywhite in a series of conferences with Dr. Joe Hall, Dade County Superintendent. During these conferences an agreement form was developed which will be executed by the school board and a representative of the Federal agency. The basis of payments will be made in three major categories, as follows: Current Expense For each Cuban refugee child, in average daily membership during the second semester of 1960-61, the county will receive one-fourth of the calculated cost per pupil in average daily membership. Current estimates: $365 x .25 = $91.25 per pupil, not to exceed $461,000. Based on the agreement, 75% would be made available immediately and the remainder paid at the close of school in June - based on final pupil and fiscal data.