Evening star., 1924-06-08
WAY OPEN.TO EXPAND
DC. SCHOOL SYSTEM
Appropriation Available July l
Provides for Buying New Sites
and Finishing Buildings.
s125.0oo FOR SPORTS FIELD
Health Structure at 18th and Up.
shur to Be Pushed.

Minus some of the essential items
urged by the board of education and
school authorities, the District ap-
propria tion bill as st passed the
Senate. opens the path for some I'M
provement in WashinEtons pubic
educational facilities during the next
fiscal year. Appropriations Will be-
come available on July l, for the
purchase of sites for new school
buildings, for the completion of
and for the preparation of plans for
other proposed new schools.
The bill also brings to a realiza-
ton the business manager for the
public school system, a plan on which
three times previously in the House.
In addition, it will allow the Of
ticials TO proceed with the construc-
ton of the new Health School at 14th
and UpShur streets. An appropria-
tion for the erection of this school,
which will replace the Hamilton
School on Bladensburg road Was
made available several years ago, the
plans were drawn. and some of it's
equipment purchased, but a restrain
ing order issued by the District Su-
preme Court prevented the work from
getting under way.
Lifts Part of Burden.
! Tho business manager will relieve
Supt- Frank w. Ballou of many of
the present routine affairs of his
Office, giving him more time to de-
vote to educational problems. The
new officer. who is expected to be
appointed within the next several
weeks. will have entire charge of the
business affairs OF the board of edu-
cation The character of service to be
rendered as outlined yesterday by DR..
Rallou follows:
Ito direct the work Of the office
of finance and accounts. (Now un-
der the Immediate supervision and di-
rection of the Superintendent)
TO purchase all new furniture
for the equipping of new buildings
and for the replacement Of furniture
in old buildings. (Now purchased by
the assistant superintendent
3-To direct the repairs and altera-
tionS of all public school buildings.
4-To purchase all books and educa-
tional supplies for the school system.
(Now purchased by the director of in
term ediate Instruction.
5-To assist in the preparation of
school estimates (Now prepared
largely by the superintendent
Concentrated In One Man.
Under the present system four or
five subordinate officials are respons-
ible to DR.. Ballou for the business af-
fairs of the school system. When
the new business manager is ap-
pointed. the superintendent will have
only one official to deal with in con-
nection with the business affairs.
Another step toward the erection
of the new building at End and II
ntc -nVN1n hn
kinley Manual Training School will
be taken on July l, when work on the
plans will be started with the $1,000
appropriated for this purpose. The
site for the new building already has
been purchased out of a former ap-
preparation of S215.000.
The bill also provides $1,000 for
the preparation of plans for the pro-
posed Francis Junior High School for
colored pupils in the vicinity of Gath
and y streets northwest. The plans
for this building, according to DIR.
Ballou. will follow closely those of
tn" Macfarland Junior High School
The site for the school has been pur-
chased.
Other Sites To Be Bought.
Appropriation for new school sites
In the bill, include $4,000 for a site
in the vicinity of Sd and Rittenhouse
street, and $4,000 for a site in the
vicinity of 5th and Buchanan streets
~ SIN -STdue elementary Dulld1ng Will
be constructed on the Rittenhouse
street site to relieve congestion in
the Woodburn, Takoma and Bright
wood schools. A similar building will
be constructed on the Buchanan street
site with view to affording relief to
the Petworth, Brightwood Park and
West Schools.
Other important school items which
will be provided in the new appro-
priation bill are for the completion
of buildings already under construc-
tion. These are the Armstrong Man
ual Training School. Western High
School, the John F. Cook School and
the third-story addition to the Thom-
son School. The Thomson School ap-
preparation of $4,000 will be used
principally for the purchase of equip
ment
Athletic Field Assured.
One of the items which the Senate
allowed, calling for an appropriation
of $4,000, will be used to grade and
make sewer and water connections in
the school site near Calvert street
and Connecticut avenue, where it is
proposed to erect an elementary
building to relieve crowded condi-
tions at the f. V. Brown and Henry
.. Cooke schools.
The bill also carries an appropria-
tion for a site adjoining the Burrville
School on which it is proposed to
erect an addition to the school, and
$125. 900 for an athletic field at West
ern High School.
Two items strongly recommended
eliminated from the bill were $4,000
for site in the vicinity of South Da-
kota and Rhode Island avenues and
site for a junior high school in the
northeast near the Taylor School, at
9Th and G. streets.