Evening star., 1914-04-28
PLANS TO REPLACE
BURNED BUILDING
Board of Education to Ask Ap-
preparation for the West
ern High School.
COST OF RESTORATION
MAY BE ABOVE S15O.OOO
District Architect to Prepare Design.
Important Changes in Con-
struction Proposed

Immediate action is to he taken by the
board OF education for the rebuilding OF
Western High school. which was badly
damaged by fire Friday morning. This
was decided by the board at meeting
at the Franklin School yesterday after
noon. The cooperation of the District
Commissioners is to he asked in getting
an appropriation from Congress. and the
municipal architect Snow den Ashford.
VIII be asked to draw up plans for the
restoration of the building.
The restored building Will he but little
larger than Western was before the ire
but provision will be made To- avoid the
overcrowdi which had been expert
enced during the last few months. The
most important difference in construc-
tion, il was planned yesterday. will
be the addition OF an open air class
room and a lunchroom on the roof. This
will be the first open air school in the
high schools of Washington, although
the plan has been tried out III the grades
Henry P. Blair. president of the ooard,
and Ernest l.. Thurston, superintendent
of schools. both opposed using the oc-
casion of the fire for having a larger
building or new additions erected Both
were of the opinion that the new Central
draw an appreciable percentage from
Western $ enrolment. and believed that
the additional classrooms provided con
the roof would be sufficient for the pu-
pills without congestion for many years
to come.
Opposes Extravaganza.
Il do not think we should ask for any
thing that seems to be extrava CANT ."
said President Blair. He estimated that
the cost of rebuilding would be between
sl5o,00O and $4,000. This. however. does
not include the necessary equipment for
the institution. which PROBABLY would cost
approximately SJooSo.
Miss Edith l.. Westcott principal OF
Western. appeared before the board to
explain the plans which she had dis
cussed informally with the municipal
architect. The labora tories should be on
the first floor. she said. inasmuch as
trouble had always been experienced III
Keeping them from leaking on the class
rooms below. The assembly hall, also.
should be on the first floor. as it had
been in the building just demolished
principals office and classrooms
and the third floor should also contain
classrooms. The roof should contain the
outdoor claSsrooms. which would be
capa bic of being converted into Symna
SUM inasmuch the walls of the rooms
would he movable The lunchrocm here
would be better lighted and better ven
tlated than it had neen when in the
basement. she said. The basement would
be given over for drill hall and armory
for the cadets. The plans also include ad-
ditionai stairWayS.
Miss Westcott said that the portion of
the building which had been constructed
in freproof manner had stood the recent
test well. 1t is planned to make the
new building entirely fireproof. as
nearly so as modern construction viii
make it. The foundations and walls Of
the burned building are intact, it is be
,lieved.
Commends the School Force.
President Blair declared that the force
in the schools, from the superintendent
down to the assistant janitors, should
be highly commended for the rapidltX
with which arrangements had been made
for the accommodation of the pupils. The
board authorized that a special letter of
commendat ton should be sent out to
those who had worked overtime to effect
this.
Mr. Blair explained that a protest had
been received from parents of children
Of the Fillmore School because these
buildn. to others to allow the first year
Westcrncrs to be established there The
president further explained that he had
answered the protest by saving he
thought the eNisencies Of the occasion
WARRANTED the measure taken. The board
sustained his action.
At the conclusion of the discussion John
3. Larner offered a resolution looking
toward the immediate rebuilding of the
school, while Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes Of
fered one providing for the equipment of
the new institution when it should be
completed.
A communication from the Department
of the Potomac. G.. A. r.. asking that
it have charge of the Flag day exer-
cises in the school, as in the past, re-
ceived favorable action. but it was eX-
planned the ceremonies would have to be
held on the Friday preceding. June T..
as the following week was the closing
period of school owen S. Wiley is to
be the patriotic instructor, while the as
sistant patriotic instructor will be Charles
X. Douglass.
Approval of Changes.
The following changes We're approved:
Appoint Miss NJ. l. Lucey as teacher