Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-30
SIMMONS ATTACKS
SCHOOL HEADS FOR
DELAY IN BUILDING

Continued From First Page.).
only anticipated steps taken to prevent
that congestion.
I'm February, 1880, the school au-
thoritleS asked for money to complete
the Western High athletic field. So
lar as l can find, it is the only request
made for funds for that school. Most
certainly proper administration would
have determined last year the possible
ity, If not probability, of this conges-
ton at Western arising. But II they
anticipated 1t, they kept mighty still
about it. In February, 1880, the school
authorities submitted to our committee
figures showing an actual decrease in
attendance at Western High as of Feb
ruary, 1880, over February, 1929.
Situation Is Reviewed.
1.-THE school officials should not now
evade their responsibility by saying
that they do not control the building
of new buildings The statement is true
that they do not control the building
of buildings-but two years ago Con-
gress provided for business manager.
One of his jobs was to be to coordinate
the activities of the school officials with
the District officials. Instead of giving
him that job the school board mace
him, among other things, superin-
tendent of janitors. If the business
manager were allowed to function prop
erly he could have expedited the build
ing Of accommodations to prevent con-
gestion at Western High School, appro-
priations for which have been made.
1.-THE appropriation for the start of
the Deal Junior High, which DR.. Ballou
asked for and described as most
urgent in January, 1929, was given and
{1aIaI L. T.r1x
contract for the construction of the
building was let IA months later, on
August &c, 1880. That unnecessary
delay in starting construction could have
been avoided by proper administrative
measures. But no District or school
official undertook to expedite that con-
struction, so far as have been able to
determine. It is now anticipated that
that building will be complete August
is, 1881, and will relieve the situation
at Western
Delays Cited as Unnecessary.
Last year the Budget recommended
the building of auditorium gymnasium
additions to Gordon Junior High to
cost $4,000. The Committee on APP
preparations of the House increased
that amount, at the request of the
Parent-Teacher Association, to $685.
OOO dA1o P1ONIQCQ 1OT LIE
on the Gordon Junior Building of
IL additional class rooms, as we'll as the
auditorium gymnasium. The school Of
f1cialS did not support the item before
the Senate Committee and that body
cut out the entire $255,00 In con-.
ference the amount was restored to the
Dill. The money to construct that adj
dition, that would also relieve the West
ern High situation, became available
July /, 1880. The contract will not be
let for that building until February 16,
1881, and the building will not be ready
for school next Fall.
Proper administrative foresight on
the part Of school and district officials
would have prevented that delay and
expedited that construction. Had the
school authorities anticipated tbs con-
geStion-as in my judgment they should
have-and made the proper request to
the district officials, the Gordon Junior
addition would have and should have
been put first and not almost last on
the list Of this years construction. The
desire to meet school needs would have
dictated that course.
1T am advised that when conStruc-
ton of the Alice Deal and Gordon
Junior Is completed the congestion
at Western will be relieved. The ap-
preparations have been made. The
remedy is in the hands of the school
and district officials. They can speed
up or further delay the program"