The Washington times., 1908-04-05
CLOSING SCHOOLS
IS HELD LAWFUL
attorney Gives Authority
for Shutting Potomac
and Mccormick.
Commissioner Mcfarland
Pleased With Action
of Board.

Stuart McNamara, attorney for the
Board of Education, yesterday after
noon sent TO the secretary Of the board
a communication in which he stated
that the laws of the District had not
been overreached by that body in par
TALLY closing the Potomac and McCor-
mick School buildings.
The action Of the building committee
in recommending the closing Of these
schools because Of their unsafe condl-
ton il regard 70 hre-escapes and fire
protection was taken Friday night. but
the board decided TO defer action until
Mr.. Mcnamara determined the legality
of such a move. In view of Mr.. Nc
Namara's recommendation to the board
yesterday evening. these schools will
be closed from tomorrow morning until
repaired.
This will not mean that those pupils
who have attended as members of either
Of these schools VIII be deprived alb
solutely Of continuing their studies.
Half sessions will be held in the rooms
on the ground floors Of each build
ing. Those who cannot be accOmmo-
dated by this arrangement at the Nc
Cormick School will attend half day ses-
slons in the Lennox building. Half
day sessions also will be conducted at
she Bradley School for the accommo-
dalton OF two grades at the Potomac
School.
Board Not Criticised.
The section Of the law regulating the
government of the schools. which the
board thought they were possibly over
stepping in closing the two buildings,
requires that all grades above the sec
Mcnamara contended that it was with
IN the power of the board 20 act as
St has done, in spite of the regulation,
in view of the precedent set in the case
OF the Petworth School, which was
closed because OF its fnsanitary cOndi-
aion.
If the board had the right to take
such action in the case Of the Pet
worth School" said Mr. Mcnamara,
''it follows that the action taken IN
regard 10 the Potomac and Mccormick
buildings is perfectly proper"
The attitude which the Commissioners
are charged with having taken in the
matter, by their alleged unwilIingness
10 approve appropriations for the re-
pairing Of these buildings, was denied
by Commissioner mcfarland. A mem
Der of the building committee stated
that il the repairs had been given as
the board asked, such drastic meas
1Ires as closing the schools would not
now be necessary.
THE Commissioners gentle hint that
" houId have asked for specific re-
to the Mccormick School long
said the member, 'is III advised,
have documents before US show
hat we have asked for specific
s for the past three years"
Mr.. Macfarland Speaks.
Macfarland said that such an at
was not and is not held toward
appropriations for repairs which
been submitted by the Board Of
ton. He said that since 1870
cent of appropriations asked for
board for repairs has been ap-
in full by the Commissioners in
report to Congress. Speaking Of
natter last night, the ConmIs-
saids
n glad to learn that the Board of
ton has partly closed the Nc
tx and Potomac school buildings, |
of Chief Engineer Belts report /
fire dangers to the teachers and |
n unless extensive changes were |
Tres for which there is no avail l
ppropriation. This was the ap-
rte action the Commissioners had
- 49, ID in bringing Chief Belts reporL- !
ito the attention Of the Board Of Edu- J
cation.
The Board Of Education replied. sug- I
rgesting that the buildings might be kept 4
open by making miner changes very
much less than Chief Belt recommend /
ed. The Commissioners replied that +.
they could not take the responsibility
OF disregarding the urgent recommended
tions Of the Chief Engineer Of the Fire
Department, since, unless his recon-
tmeEdatiOns were carried out the conse-
squences might be of the most serious
character, and that his recommended
tiOns could not he carried out until tho
special emergency appropriation asked
for in view Of his recent report was
made. Moreover, the Commissioners
said the Mccormick school building
would be abandoned at the end Of this
school year and the new building would
be ready when the schools met in the
fall. The Inconvenience to teachers
and pupils, the Commissioners said
would not compare with what might
happen in case Of fire.
Board Not Criticised
The published statement about the
matter speaks of the Commissioners
letter as criticising the Board Of Edu-
cation for not asking for specific repairs
10 the Potomac building. prior to this
time. But there was nothing of that
sort IN the Commissioners letter. 1
quote exactly what was said about the
Potomac School building:
The Commissioners regret in the
case of the Potomac School building
that the Board Of Education did not
submit in its estimates Of former years
an estimate for a new building for this
school, one Of the oldest and poorest
now in use. The Commissioners approx
ed the estimate submitted by the Board
OF Education in October last for the
purchase Of a site for a new building
Th0 DNnr0~