Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1920-02-18
Building Program for Colored
Schools of State Well Under Way
FEW CONSULTATIONS FOUND PRACTICABLE
Negotiations for Land Already Begun and At
tractive One-Room Buildings to be Com
pleted by September

of New York, men who for years
have been students of school prob
lens, was created. These men
again surveyed the situation, this
time limiting their to the proposed |
colored building program. A con-
ference was held at Dover on No
vember 10th, attended by the State
Commissioner and the three County
superintendent, members Of the
Executive Committee of the Della
ware School Auxiliary Association,
Doctors billiard, Bachman and Mr..
Davis, DR.. w. c. Jason of the
State College for Colored Students,
D. H. Hargis, I. N. Ringgold, and
j. H. Scott, distruct Superintend-
ents of the A. NJ. E. Church. Such
subjects as Consultations, "
"School Site," and community
center features Of the buildings
were discussed at this meeting.
Few Consultations Found
Practicable
Bearing strongly upon the whole
building program, was one feature
brought out at this conference
the scattered nature of the colored
population throughout the State.
In many rural sections colored
homes are already far apart, and
attempted consultations would
mean, in numerous instances, seven
mile trips, with roads of a nature
which in bad weather would neces-
state detours, adding miles to this
distance. In view of these facts
relatively few consultations are at
present being considered-only at
Port Penn and Georgetown in New
Castle County; at Blanco's, Down S
Chapel, and possibly Cheswold in
Kent, and at Millsboro, Wharton s
Branch, Loves Cross Roads and
Ross Point, Drawbridge and Mas
sau, Omar, Frankfort, and Days
bor0 in Sussex. Relative to site,
at the conference it was decided to
adopt the rule of two acre plots
for one-room schools, 3 acre plots
for two-rooms, and 4 acre plots for
larger buildings.
Negotiations For Land Begun
In the special districts, follow
ing the conference, negotiations for
land were begun at once. In the
counties, however, it was felt more
time was needed in regard to the
! location of the rural school build.
ings. Under the direction of the
County Superintendent men were
sent to the districts to visit every
colored home to indicate its exact
location on maps, also to report
whether or not the resident is al
owner or tenant, the number OF
children now in school and the
number under school age. Thi:
complete information will bt
in the hands of the county board:
early in February; land in many
instances in which the location ha:
already been decided upon has beer
purchased. The work very prob
ably will be done by counties, b.
the dupont Construction Company
Surveyors have been at work TO
several weeks and it is hoped &C
tual construction will begin b.
March LIST.
Type of New Building
The new one-rOOm school build
ings will be situated on two-acr
/. plots, selected from the standpoint
of location, drainage and play
, ground adaptiveness. The build
ing itself will be frame, with vest
bule entrance leading into separat
cloak rooms for boys and girls, be
yond which are the toilet rooms
The school room itself, will b
equipped with movable desks, an
, readily adaptable to communit
! gatherings at night. To the LEI
, and separated by folding door
form the main school, there will b
!; a manual training and lunch room
This will be built on higher ell,
walton, adaptable for overho'
meetings or stage uses at the ever
:, ing entertainment.
4 1t is estimated that the propose
: one-room school building will co,
f $4,000. 1t is hoped to have tt
K greater number of them complet
S by next September.