Milford chronicle., 1924-12-19

Wilmington figure 10 an estimate tn
grade schools: new high school eNtehn
. It must be distinctly remembered
= that these per pupil hgures are
D based upon present costs for build
r inRs that are considered standard In
progressive states and cities ana
= that they include the price OF tne
, site. architects fees, engineering
| supervision and completely new
equipment. The estimated cost 10
based upon providing a desk for
each child enrolled In the school,
: and the buildings are not only as
, fireproOf as possible but are con-
structsd to preserve the health OF
the pupils.
There is no doubt that schools
can be built more cheaply. but the
best authorities in calculating hrst
costs always take into consideration
the annual costs of maintenance and
repair In the future. All buildings
that are erected should be so de-
signed and the materials used
should be of such quality that the
annual upkeep is reduced to mini
mum.
Standards for buildings were
adopted by the Delaware State
Board Of Education in 1920. These
standards were prepared from ex-
perience in school building through
out the United States. They repre-
sent the best available type for the
health and safety Of the pupils. the
utmost of convenience for the teach
ers, the most serviceable community
center for the neighborhOOd, and at
the same time the most economical
investment that can be made.
The State standards call for a
room to accommodate 40 pupils as
sembled in class, outside of special
subjects. This room contains at
least 72O square feet Of floor and
5000 cubic feet of air space. This
means is square feet of floor per
pupil and 200 cubic feet of air space
per pupil. The height being ap-
proximately IL feet, the width of
the room should not be more than
twice the height in order that the
pupils on the side farthest from the
window may have proper illumina-
ton.
The size of the class rooms deter
mines to a large extent the size OF a !
school. Railways and stairways must |
be of size sufficient to guard against
the dangers of fire alarms or panic. |
Heater rooms must be prOpOrtioned |
to the building. The size of toilet |
rooms is determined by the number |
of pupils. Certain wasteful cond tiOns |
must be guarded against. If base
ment rooms are provided, they must |
be sufficiently light and dry to be-
usable, otherwise they are a dead /
loss. Auditoriums and gymnasiums
should be constructed only when the
number using them justifies the extra
cost; there is a tendency to go be-
yond the limits of prudence in ask
ing for these added features. Above
all, no waste should be incurred
through the addition of ornamental
features. If economy is to be con-
sidered let it be directed to cutting
out useless ornament. High roofs
with waste attic space, stone work
and carving, wood and metal work
other than that which is strong and
durable and suited to it's purpose is
useless. 1t should be remembered
that every 1915 wasted may deprive
a pupil of his desk and space in a
modern school building. Another fea-
ture of economy must be considered.
These proposed buildings are to last
at least 40 years. As will appear
later, the annual cost of a fund to
rebuild IS per cent of all school
(S15, 5,3OO,OOO) at the end of
40 years will be S143,00O. If through
poor construction the lifetime of the
is shortened 10 years, the
annual cost of a rebuilding fund
would be S25O,0OO; but if, through
greater care in design and construc-
tion, we can extend this lifetime to
so years we can reduce the annual
cost to S85,7OO Where long time use
of a building is contemplated, the
most enduring construction should
be adopted as a matter of economy. (
On the question of repairs good
is equally beneficial. If
The State makes an investment of
SO, 100000 in buildings, l per cent
FOR repairs is $4,000 each year; but
# the character of construction is !
more perishable, requiring 2 per {
cent for repairs, another $4,000 /
yearly must be sacrificed An addi- {
ion of $1,OOO,OOO to total cost in
)rder to save such an additional re-
pair bill would be well worth while. +
All of this shows the necessity of
lvoiding unwise reductions in cost
n order to accomplish savings that
ire not justified. 1t is not a matter of
great importance whether the State
ssue $5,50O,OOO to complete the
schools as against a possible S4,5OO,-
700; neither amount can be readily
on bonds, but it is of great
oncern to see that the sum of money !
expended is such as to produce the /
'reatest economy of operation over l
period of 40 years. Unwise saving l
# $1,O0O,OO0 may easily result in a
doubling of maintenance and re-
'airs on the entire amount of build =
ngs constructed, which may result Ii
n an additional annual expenditure II
f 100000 or S15O,OOO. d
% If $1,5OO,OOO of the surplus p
rom the general fund is used and b
5,50O,00O of bonds are authorized T
nd issued, will not 20 per cent of b
he total, or $1,940,00O, be an undue d
urden upon the local districts? e,
After careful examination of as 9,
essed values it has been determined n
hat every district except two -
whose shortage is $21OO only is -,
able to raise 20 per cent ;,
f the amount necessary to build it's -
chool without Overstepping the ~
init imposed by law; that is, bor- Of
owing by district for school build 10
l.. z n