New Britain herald., 1917-12-15
MAY YET HAVE TO
 CLOSE THE SCHOOLS
Coal Supply Alarmin6ly Low,
 School Board Hears

situation lnaSmuch as 1t refers to the schools, it was brought out at the meeting of the school board yesterday afternoon. Edward O. Kilbourne asked concerning the coal supply in the schools, and L. Hoyt Pease, treasurer, explained that the supply may prove to be inadequate and 1t may possibly be necessary to close the schools this winter in case a sufa- cient supply cannot be obtained. It was also stated that because of the shortage of coal and the boards in ability to get more, the new Elihu Burritt school may not be opened for use when 1t is completed. MT. Pease furthermore explained that already Superintendent S. H. Holmes is taking the matter of a supply of coal for the schools up with Thomas w. Russell, federal fuel administrator for this state.
 Schools Are Overcrowded.
 That the public schools are over crowded and moHe new teachers will be needed were other important mat ters brought out at the board meeting. Miss Ella A. Fallon, supervisor of the elementary grades, has reported that approximately 5,181 children will att tend the elementary grades in F'ebru- ary, this number not including those at the open-air and Elm Street schools Of this number. fully s75 will attend the kindergarten classes. In the 10 elementary schools there are 122 rooms equipped for use, but in February there will be need for at lease 129 equipped rooms, it is es- timated. In order to cope with the situation it will be necessary to use ok and Rockwell schools; three base ment rooms at the Smalley school, and one Kindergarten room at the Stanley school It was also reported that 56 class rooms, or a total of 46 per cent. of all study rooms, will be overcrowded. Only the Lincoln and Smith schools have not yet reached their maximum capacity.
 That part of the city where the growth seems to be the most rapid and the need for more. school room the most acute is the sections cared for by the Rockwell, Monroe and Northend schools. In February these schools will need at least four more rooms than tNere are now. In the East Street school GA per cent. of the of the graded classes will be in over crowded rooms and the 130 kinder gardeners will have to work in one double room. As the Smalley school is now too small to accommodate the classes, it is planned. if possible. to move the sixth grade to the new Elihu Burritt school. This will pre- vent the natural expansion of that school district. At the Stanley school 1t is necessary to discontinue the new Kindergarten classes in order to att tend to the needs of the elementary grades. and at the Osgood Hill school two of the four rooms will be over crowded. There are Al children in the first grade there now, and kinder garten is badly needed.
 Principal w. l.. French. of the Grammar school. has prepared a fore cast for February relative to his school which shows that the classes in some cases must be reorEanized By this means grade seven will have 12 instead of 13 classes, and grade eight would have 12 instead of 15 classes. Thus, by having three addi- tional teachers. it is hoped to avoid the need of more rooms at this school at present
 Superintendent Holmes. after thor ough investigation, has decided that it Is advisable to open a class in the sewing room on the second fioor of the East Street school for which a new teacher will be needed. One new teacher will be needed at the Burritt school and one new one at the Stan ley school. Inasmuch as it is thought that 200 new pupils will attend the Grammar school in February. three new teachers will be needed there.
 Superintendent Holmes reported that 30 women have registered for the afternoon classes in English at the East Street school and there are 15 registered in the evening French classes, while the new Spanish class also has a good registration The Red Cross work in the schools is also progressing well.
 Fire Hazard Low.
 Mir Pease reported that the finance has investigated the sug- gestion of Principal l.. P. Slade of the High school relative to reducing the fire hazard at the Academic High school and is of the opinion that the expense would be too great at this time. MT. Kilbourne thought the mat ter most vital one, especially since the board is now aware of conditions and has been so advised by the prin- cipal. MT. Pease explained that the boiler room has been cleaned and he thinks the fire risk is small, therefore he wished that the finance commit tees report would be accepted as final. The report. was accepted as ono of progress however, on motion of MT. Pratt. MT. Pease also recommended tho payment of bills amounting to $4,59S.04 and likewise reported that l he had already paid bills of $1,0O3.65
 Evening classes in radio and buzzer 1 work have been started at ! the High school and q registration l certificate Is being awaited from l Judge Gaffney, chairman | of the board. asked concerning tho evening school attendance and was 1