Evening star., 1925-03-08
BIC EXPANSION ERA
FOR D. c. SCHOOLS
IS NOW UNDER WAY
Dream of a Model System for
Nation Near Reality With
$4,000 Start.

Preparations for launching the COM
prehensive five-year school building pro-
gram-the largest schoolhouse construc-
tion project ever undertaken in the Dis
trict-were started in earnest yesterday
by school and municipal authorities. Ap-
proximately $4,200,O00 OF the SIS, 9,00O,-
600 appropriation authorized by Con-
gress at the last session for the de-
velCpment of the schools over the five
year period is now availa BILE, and Of
flcials plan to make use of it without
undue delay.
A series of conferences have been ar
ranged to develop the views of those in
charge of the schools as to the types of
architecture and allied problems. and
will be followed by a tour Of some of
the principal cities where new types of
schoolhouse construction will be studied.
The Commissioners, in the meantime.
are expected to call in a number of pri-
vate architects to assist Albert L. Har-
ris, municipal architect in the prepara-
tion Of the plans for the gigantic build
ing undertaking in order to expedite the
work.
Tech High First Project.
School will be the first project started
in the initial installment of the building
program. Plans for the building already
are under preparation.
The new Tech will cost approx
mately S2,500,000. of which $1,000, 900
has been appropriated. 1t will be located
on site at Second and T streets north
east, adjoining the Langley Junior High
School. and will provide accommodations
for 1900 students
Briefly, the five-year program is de-
signed to provide modern and ade-
quate accommodations for all pupils
now enrolled in the schools, as we'll as
the annual increment up to June 80,
1890. 1t will eliminate all part time
and oversize classes, rented struc-
lures portables and other undesir-
able features which have accup1u-
lated since the war.
Record of Generosity.
Approval by the Sixty-eighth Congress
of the five-year program, however was
only one of the epochal actions which
gave it an unequaled record for gem
erosty toward the District public
schools, and brought within a step of
realization the fondest dream of
Supt. Frank W. Ballou of an
educational system that would serve
as a model for the Nation 1t passed
also the teachers salary bill, the
compulsory education and school at
tendance bill, the largest appropri-
alton bill in the Districts history,
which includes larger appropriations
for the schools. and legislation recog-
nfzing the Districts surplus in the
Treasury, and made this money avail
able for schools. parks and play
grounds.
DR.. Ballou sees in this legislation
and unprecedented appropriations
substantial educational progress" in
Washington, and to all those who
aided in pushing it through Congress
he paid tribute yesterday in a
statement to The Star. 1t follows:
Tribute to All Aiding.
The united efforts of the citizens
of Washington, the unanimous sup
port of the press, the sympathetic in
terest and support of the Commits
sioners, the wise counsel Of the audi
tor as budget officer of the District,
the helpful assistance of the Bureau
of the Budget, the kindly consideration
of the House and Senate committees
on appropriations, and finally the ap-
proval by the. Congress and the Presi-
dent, have united to make the efforts
of the Board of Education and the
school officials productive of SO much
favorable legislation relating to pub
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