New Britain herald., 1919-01-11

III to a plan for the erection of a third building to accommodate the as- sembly hall and gymnasium and ll- brary, together with possible quarters for certain additional phases of trade school instruction, as for example, automo obile repair work. plumbing, and carpentry, and also to complete the equipment of the heating plant in the rear of the vocational high school in order to supplAAlsat for the entire high and trade school plant. This plan would also permit of the transformation of the present library, assembly hall and gymnasium into much needed additional cIassrooms.
 ''The problem of the grammar and schools is difficult of solution. It is possible that the pres ent assembly hall might be trans formed into classrooms and that the basement gynnasiums might be used for shop instruction, if a third build ing were provided for assembly hall and gymnasium purposes, thus piac- ing the assembly hall as near the ground level as possible--a change much needed for the sake of the safe- ty of the pupils.
 IL IS olSo IOSSlDtS tIldJ d D0IiCT plan would be to make no further changes in the present plant, but to provide for a second grammar school center in the northern section of the city. accomm odating in both the new grammar school and the present pre- ocationaI-grammar school, not only the seventh and eighth grades. as at present, but also the first year pupils of the high school, thus making both Of these schools junior high schools and relieving the senior high school of some five hundred pupils If this plan were chosen the new Elihu Bur ritt school could be used for the junior high school in the north end of the city, if @ new elementary school building were provided to replace the Elihu Burritt school.
 Elementary School Needs.
 we now come to a consideration of the elementary schools. The SmaIIey school building should, I believe, be enlarged by the addition of not less than twelve additional school rooms. This building is undoubtedly capable of successful enlargeme and the School Tot is ample for indefinite en- largement without need for an addi- tional purchase of land. Tn this build ing the use of three basement rooms. the library room and the two rooms which have been carved out of the corridors as school rooms should be discontinued. Thus it will be seen that a twelve room addition would actually provide only six rooms more than are now in use.
 The Bartlett School should be 3n creased in size by the addition of not less than eight more rooms, or a new building should be erected in such ? location as will take care of the prospective increase in the school pop- ulation of this district To increase the size of the Bartlett School would require the purchase of a considera bIe amount of land to enlarge the school lot and also would probably involve considerable structural changes in the present building to make it safe and satisfactory IS to location of fire pfoot stairWayS, a relocation of the heating plant, and more satisfa ctory lighting. The best solution, although more expensive, would undoubtedly be to abandon the present plant and better location.
 IAIO IAtIiColtl kCII SSL SCHOOL IS Tn many respects the most unsatisfactory school building in the city. The ioca- tion and the school lot are unsatis- factory. The present building would probably not lend itself to satisfac- tory enlargement. The school lot is too smalI-the purchase of additional land would be necessary in case of en- largement. The six school rooms on the north side 0f fhh h11i1itntr near the tenement block located on the adjacent lot. The older part on the south side of the corridor, including the tower should in any event. be torn down and new fireproof stairways should be provided. AS in the case of the Bartlett School, it would probabiy be better in the end to sell the proper ty and build a new and larger school on a better location.
 ''The Rockwell School has reached the limit of possible size on the pres ent location. Relief for this school may be provided partially by the promised addition to the Camp School and partially also by an addition to the Northend School, which ought to be increased by at least eight more school rooms. The Northend School lot would permit such enlargement with out the purchase of more land, if the addition were made on the front of the present building. This would leave a fair sized playground on each side of the building.
 Both the East Street and Smith school should be either enlarged or tt new building should be provided at such a point as will be convenient for the accomm odatton of the overflow from both buildings. A total increase Of not less than ten rooms should