Speech #920173826

D.C. DEAR MR. MYERS: In general. the proposal for Federal participation in the cost of educating Cuban refugee children and adults as set forth In your letter ofJuly 22. 1968. meets with our approval. It is desirable at this step In our negotiations to ascertain if we are in agreement on certain specific items that need to be clarified so that we can proceed to implement our understandings. It is suggested that a new agreement be signed each school year. inasmuch as the per pupil attendance and cost data change annually. The signing of a new contract each year would serie to establish the initial payment at a percentage of the estimated total cost for the yearly contract period. in keeping with the basic agreement that we are now developing. The basic contract form would be used each year with the understanding that increases or decreases In the number of Cuban refugees educated and the actual per pupil cost will cause Increases and decreases that may or may not be entirely consistent with the projected costs as set forth In the proposed plan for payment which accompanied the above referenced letter. The proposed plan for payment indicated that the operational payments for "Old" Cubans would be phased out by 1970. We are in agreement. but suggest that the method of phasing out be more clearly defined as reducing the percentage of current expense payments for "Old" Cubans to thirty (30%) per cent In 196869 and fifteen (15%) per cent in 196970. the total of which would represent the final payment of such costs for "Old" Cubans. In the interests of simplifying the Agreement. it is proposed that special rates not be developed for those Cuban refugee children whose parents are on the relief rolls of the Cuban Refugee Center. At our Miami Meeting of May 13. 1968. we understood the statements of Mr. B. Alden Lillywhite. Deputy Associate Commissioner. Bureau of Elementary and Secondary Education. to indicate that continuing auxiliary services would be available for both "Old" and "New" Cuban refugees subsequent to the time when operational payments were discontinued. provided that there was a justifiable need. The proposal did not provide for the possibility of providing auxiliary services for "Old" Cubans after 196970. A considerable number of the "Old" Cubans who would be excluded have been In the United States less than five years.