Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 9, 1993 TAG: 9304090282
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MARY BISHOP STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
FRANKLIN RACIAL MEDIATOR WILL CONTINUE TALKS
Frank Tyler, a federal mediator who's in Franklin County to talk about racial tensions in county schools, plans to continue his meetings with county residents until Saturday."Frank is talking to as many people as possible, and doing a lot of listening," said Jon Chace, director of the U.S. Justice Department's Community Relations Service regional office in Philadelphia.
The service - not a law enforcement or investigative branch of the Justice Department - sends mediators to communities that are experiencing frictions over race, color, ethnicity or national origin.
Tyler came to Roanoke in 1982 and other mediators returned in 1990 to assess allegations that city police used excessive force against black citizens.
A federal mediator for 17 years, Tyler read last month about racial tensions at Franklin County High School. He talked with school officials, who asked him to help the community solve its problems.
Called at his motel room Thursday morning, Tyler referred questions about his progress to his boss, Chace.
"I spoke with him this morning," Chace said Thursday, "and he said how pleased he has been with the reception of people, with their willingness to be candid with him." Tyler said last week that he expected to leave late Thursday, but he prolonged his visit.
County residents say Tyler has spoken so far with school officials, parents and members of the newly formed county branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Tyler also asked for a talk with Russ Merritt, director of the county Chamber of Commerce. On Thursday, according to a parent, Tyler was talking with students at the high school.
Darlene Swain, an NAACP member, said she thinks Tyler will help Franklin County. Officials have needed to get people together to talk ever since the controversy arose in February, she said, "instead of sweeping it under the rug."
Chace said Tyler should determine within a few days what the next step should be in resolving the problems. Sometimes, federal mediators visit a community several times in the course of assessing its troubles. They occasionally bring in consultants and they often help form local committees to work out the tensions.
Chace's office worked in more than 100 communities last year, Chace said. His region covers Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.