Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-18
SHARPLY CRITICISED
Board of Education Raps Dis
trict Officers.
LETTER FROM Mr.. OYSTER
Delay in Erecting School Annexes
Called Inexcusable.
APPROPRIATED FOR YEAR AGO
LETTER FROM Mr.. OYSTER
APPROPRIATED FOR YEAR AGO
Overcrowded Rooms in Northern
Section of City-Children Turned
Away From Schools Daily.

Inexcusable, says the board OF education
over the delay in the completion of the
annex to the johnson School and of the
addition to the Monroe School, for which
Congress made an appropriation over a
year ago.
I'm consequence of this failure on the
part of the Office of the former inspector
Of buildings and of the present municipal
architect to provide these two structures
within reasonable time declares the
president Of the school board in a letter
to the Commissioners. the board OF
education is confronted with one of the
most serious school COMPOSITIONS in the
city.
lowing to the very rapid upbuilding of
this section the schools lying between
the Soldiers Home grounds and the Rock
Creek Park, north of Florida avenue and
south Of Petworth, are full, some over
crowded and other children are daily re-
questing admission. If these buildings
had been completed within reasonable
period the present situation would have
been avoided
President Oysters Letter.
Justifying the claim of inexcusable de-
lay, President Oyster of the board of
education says ine the letter:
1.-The appropriation bill for the fiscal
year 1909 contained the following items:
Fifty thousand dollars for the purchase
of ground and toward the construction
Of the eight-room addition or annex to
the Johnson School. the total cost OF
building and ground not to exceed
Thirty thousand dollars for the pur-
chase of ground and toward the erection
of four-room addition to the Monroe
School, the total cost of building and
ground not to exceed $500
This act was approved May d. 1908.
The appropriation bill for the fiscal year
1910 carried the balance of theSe appro-
priations.
I'm the case of the johnson annex or
addition the building was not started un-
til the past summer, year after the ap-
preparation was made. 1t is now hardly
up to the top Of the second story, with
little prospect of its being occupied until
spring.
Plans Not Even Drawn.
''The Monroe addition has shown no
signs of life, the plans not even having
been drawn. so far as the board of edu-
cation is aware, although full year and
a quarter has elapsed since the appro-
priation was available
In reply to this hot shot of the board of
education the Commissioners will notify
the board that the time taken was neces-
sary for reasons of business and proper
economy.
The Commissioners now. as always, re-
ply to the board of education in a spirit
of patience. wishing that all District
agencies would cooperate toward an Or
DERBY, efficient and economical administra-
ton of District business the answering
letter will say. But the Commissioners
must invite the attention of the board of
education to the fact that the acquisition
Of site for school building. and the
erection Of the building thereon. are busi-
ness Propositions and many matters such
as the selection of proper site at a reas-
enable cost and the construction of a
proper building at the most advantageous
price, can only receive fair and sufficient
consideration at the hands of the officials
whose duty IL is to obtain the site and
erect the building.
Hope for the Future.
Under favorable conditions. it is hoped
in the future. now that the Office of the
municipal architect has been created, and
estimate submitted to Congress for
proper organization of such office, that
school buildings for which appropriations
become available on July 1 Of any year
will be ready for occupancy a year from
the beginning Of the next ensuing school