The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-29
new FOX SCHOOL
IS 0VERCROWDED
Hanover Avenue Structure
Proves Unequal to Grow
ing Demands.
MANY PUPILS ON HALF TIME
Mass-Meeting of Patrons Re-
suits in Definite Organiza-
tion-For New Building.

Seriously overcrowded conditions at
the William +. Fox Public School. on
Hanover Avenue between Addison and
Elm Streets. requiring the placing OF
a large number of pupils on half time.
resulted in largely attended mass
meeting protest at the school building
Yesterday Opened in September. 1911
and occupying half block OF ground,
the building proved almost from the
first week totally inadequate 10 the
needs of the rapidly growing section.
in which new houses are being erected
on every street, and into which families
are moving by the hundreds.
The mass meeting was unusually
well attended. the fathers of "A large
number Of pupils taking part. Robert
Lecky, Jr., and Superintendent J. A.
Chandler spoke on school conditions.
and "A definite organization of the
patrons of the William F. Fox School
was effected by the election of DR.
T. n Calisch as president and w. A.
Saunders as secretary
Want New Lot Purchased.
Resolutions adopted ask the Council
Finance Committee to include in the
for acquisition of lot in the vicinity
for much-needed new building
President Calisch was instructed to
appoint "a committee of twenty to APP
pear before the Finance Committee
in connection with the urgency of the
situation Superintendent Chandler
promised every aid that the limited ia
cilities at his disposal will allow.
large proportion of the rooms are
used by two classes each day. one
set OF children coming at and being
dismissed at II o'clock, after having
done but half of the required days
work to allow d second relay of pupils
1T f.4x "a
classes. The conditions are described
by patrons as most unsatisfactory and
the progress of the pupils is said TO be
greatly retarded.
DR.. Chandler explained that the
crowded conditions would be TO some
extent relieved at the opening Of next
session, when the handsome new TWEEN
ty-room Sidney School building. on
Beverly Street between Rowland and
Sycamore Streets. will be ready for
approximately 800 pupils.
Beyond Boulevard.
The lot which % IL proposed TO &C
qliIre for school purposes is on kensing
ton Avenue. beyond the boulevard. and
when a building is erected will serve all
OF the annexed section west Of the
Boulevard. 10 d large extent limiting the
area from which pupils now come to the
William r. Fox School. With the unpre-
cedented continuation of house build
ing throughout the West End, school
authorities ara considering the recon-
mendation Of new building just
East and South Of the present Fox
School. or that tho old West End School
at Lombardy and Main Streets be re
placed with a building OF twice the
present capacity.
The William r Fox School around
which originates the complaint of over
crowded conditions. was the first district
school 20 be erected IN the present cam
paign for replacing old buildings. While
not entirely freproof. il IL modern
twcnty-room building. conveniently ar
ranged and well equipped in every
detail. Learning from this experience
that 1t must build for the future on
more permanent lines, the School Board
mas just completed new twenty-four-
room building for Madison School.
now IN use. a. the first altogether FIRE
proof and modern district school build
ing III the city
Two I'm Course OF Erection.
New Bellevue School. an even larger.
more complete and costly hreproof
structure. will be ready to meet the
overflow demands Of the East End at
the beginning Of the next session. and
new Sidney School viii redeem the
city's promise 70 the rapidly filling up
annexed portion Of Clay Ward south Of
Main Street II is proboaly that the au-
thOrities viii make arrangements at
the beginning of the half-year in Feb
ruaTy to rent one or more dwellings
III the neigh borhood of the William
=. Fox School for the use Of overflow
classes until some more permanent
arrangement acn he effected