Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-19


With the exception of the request
for more teachers, which Congress was
unwilling to grant until the Bureau of
Efficiency completes survey OF the
school system, public school appro-
priations for the next fiscal year sur
pass the allowances for the current
year in many respects, particularly for
carrying on the building program.
For all of the varied needs of the
schools, including salaries, mainte-
nance and new construction. the act
for the 12 months beginning July
contains a total of 81 ,998,015. which
is close to $1,000, 900 more than was
appropriated for the current fiscal
year.
While the new act was being con-
sidered in Congress public interest
centered around the proposal for "A
additional teachers to meet the expan-
sion of the system, with the result
that increases allowed for other phases
of public education did not attract as
much attention as they would have
ordinarily.
Liberal on Building Program.
Although Congress decided to post
pone any increase in the number of
teachers, it was more liberal than last
year in advancing work on the school
building program. For buildings and
grounds the new law carries $2794,-
$50, as against $2,450, 900 in the cur
rent fiscal year an increase of APP
proXimately S345, 900. In arriving at
the total for the current year school
officials include $154 900 for the Park
View School, which was originally APP
propriated in 1925 and reappropriated
for 1927. If this item is omitted from
the calculation the total for the cur
rent year becomes $2,296, 900. Using
this basis for comparison, the amount
allowed for buildings and grounds for
the coming II months Is in reality an
increase of $49S,250 over the 1927 law.
Counting the funds just appropri-
ated for the IL months beginning July
/, Congress now has made available
a total of approximately $4,000, 900
toward the five-year building program,
which was authorized by substantive
law in February, 1925, and which Is /
to cost in the aggregate $20,1S5,O0O.
Really Seventeen Program.
The school building act was labeled
a five-year program, but ON the basis
of annual allotments made thus far
it appears likely the work will extend
over at least a seven-year period. TO
make it a five-year proposition would
require $4,037 900 a year. Three in
stallments have been appropriated to
date, as follows: First year, 5000;
second year, $2,450.000. and third
year, $2,794.250 1t is apparent from
these figures that the building pro- |
gram could be kept within a five
year period only by exceptionally large |
sums in the next two District appro- |
priation bills, and officials have about |
nnunl1fcinn that will mt /
be possible.
Although the new law carries less |
than one-fifth of the five-year pro-
gram, school officials are gratified |
that Congress gave them substan-
tial increase over this year for push.
ing forward with work on new school
houses. While the new act was pass
ing through the various legislative
stages the school building items. like
many others, were changed back ana
forth.
Items Remaining in Bill.
Here are the construction and land
purchase items that remained in the
bill as it finally passed:
For continuing work on the new
Mckinley High School, 81 900. 900; to
complete the Garnet Patterson Junior
High, $275,000; to complete Gordon
Junior High, SITS, 900; to complete
Langley Junior High addition, $685.
600: to erect a four-room extensible
building in Potomac Heights, $S5 600;
TO erect an eight-room addition and
assembly hall at the Barnard School.
SITS 900; to erect a 16-room building,
including assembly hall and gym
nasium, in place of the Langdon
School, $275, 900; to erect a six-room
addition TO the Bryan School and to
remodel the present building, $125.OOO:
to erect an eight-room addition to the
To prepare plans for a junior high
school in Brightwood, similar to the
Junior High, $4,000; to
prepare plans for 24-room building /
and assembly hall at Nineteenth |
street and Columbia road, $12 500; to
prepare plans for gymnasium and
assembly hall at the Wheatley School.
81 500, and to prepare plans for an
addition to the Morgan
School, including assembly hall and
gymnasium, $4,000. ........
Other Sums Allowed.
For the purchase of school build
ing and playground sites-in the
of the Langdon School; land
aJ In, xric Ifx Of Cd 20