Evening star., 1922-02-25
TAK0MA PARK, Md,
PLANS NEW SCHOOL
Town Council Orders Bill Ap-
propriating $40, 900 Sent
to Annapolis.

At special meeting of the town
council of Takona Park. Nd. held
last night at the residence of Town
Clerk Ben G. Davis. steps were taken
to make a request for immediate leg
islation at the present session of the
Maryland legislature for an appro-
priation for a new site and school
building. J. Bond Smith, corporation
counsel. was directed to prepare
bill appropriating $4,000 for a coun-
ty bond issue. with instructions TO
present it to the legislature next
Monday at Annapolis.
At the meeting last night 1t was
shown that the taxpayers pay TO
Montgomery county $4,000 annually.
or half or what is requested In the
bill for 4 new building. The council
voted an appropriation of $500 last
night, and with q similar amount TO
be made by the authorities of Mont
gdmery county it is proposed to make
Temporary repairs to the school build
ing, pending the construction of a
new building. The plan calls for sell
ing the present site and building and
securing a larger and more central
location.
+. Mayor W1lmeth Presides.
At the meeting Mayor James L. VIII
tn resided. with Councilmen H. +.
Adams, J. w. Shade and Town Clerk
Ben G. Davis. Mayor Wiimeth has
appointed a committee. composed Of
citizens and town officials, to inves-
tigate and report on conditions in the
MAryl$nd school. composed as fol-
and Mrs. c. B. Smith, vice president
Of the Takoma Park Community
League: Councilmen H. F. Taft and
John Il Adams and Roy Y Ferner.
The appointment of this committee
is the result of a demand on the part
of the taxpayers OF that portion of
Takoma Park lying in Maryland for
a modern school building with suit
able Fairgrounds IN the meantime
efforts will be made to have the pres
ent building put in sanitary condi.
ton, jeopasdy from fire removed and
lighting facilities improved
Building Out OF Date.
In a lengthy petition filed with the
town authorities it was pointed out
out of date, has never been finished,
poorly arranged for school purposes.
badly in need of repair. insanitary
and unsafe, great fire risk due to fur
naces being directly underneath
schoelrooms. no windows on west
leaving children in danger of being
trapped in rooms. unsuitable play
grounds. forcing children to play in
streets in muddy weather, and many
other undesirable features.
The town authorities have been in
formed that the location is bad and
should be changed to ground more
suitable to the needs of the school
and more advantageOusly situated as
regards present population and to the
growing needs for the future.
This condition of the school. it is
claimed in the petition. has brought
about q stagnation in school affairs.
which has resulted in parents either
refusing to send their children to the
school or being forced to take them
from the school after a trial there.
has fallen off and the teaching force
has been reduced.
The petitioners claim that this con-
dition is working real hardship on
those citizens who have not the right
to send their children to the District
Of Columbia schools by either being
forced to pay burdensome tuition for
children to the Maryland school.
which is not equipped to give COM
mon education that every American
child fs Justly entitled to and which
every enlightened community is NOR
ally obligated to furnish its children.
In requesting assistance and CO.
operation from the town authorities
from the Maryland legislature. au-
thority to enable q vote by referen-
dum ana A bond issue. II necessary.
TO raise funds for this purpose. the
petitioners recommended certain inn
provements for the present building.