Norfolk, VA

Norfolk experienced school closings from the fall of 1958 through February 1959. Over 13,000 students were out of school in the crisis. Norfolk City Council tried to prevent integration in a last ditch effort in January 1959 when it passed a resolution to cut off operating funds for all grades above sixth after Feb. 2 when integration was to take place under federal court order. Federal District Judge Walter E. Hoffman issued an injunction against the resolution and integration proceeded on February 2nd when Betty Jean Reid became the first black student to enroll at Granby High School, and sixteen other students integrated Norview, Maury, and other schools in Norfolk.