In July 1903, the Chanute School Board voted to have a separate school for African Americans after four new schools had been built in the four wards. Milton Gaston, an African American leader, told the school board, "We have paid our share towards the new buildings and believe we are entitled to send our children there to school, and by the aid of the Almighty, we will!" On November 16, 1903, Judge Stillwell, who had a reputation for fairness, decided the matter—thus narrowly avoiding having segregated schools.