Evening star., 1934-03-24
CITIZENS |NDORSE
SCHOOL PROGRAM.
Anacostia Group Backs
Junior.Senior High Pro-
posaI of Dr.. BalIou.

The plan of Supt. of Schools Frank
W. Ballou for relieving congestion at
Eastern High School by Incorporating
q senior high school with the pro-
posed Anacostia Junior High Scnool
and later constructing a high school
on that side of the Eastern Branch
was indorsed in a resolution adopted
by the Anacostia Citizens Association
last night.
1t was reported TO the association
that there is an enrolment of more
than 2,700 at Eastern High School,
which was constructed to handle 1000
pupils. Of these 497 are from the
Anacostia side of the river and sp-
proximately 127 from the area North
of the river and south Of Pennsyl-
vania avenue. DR.. Ballou's plan to
handle this group is an Anacostia
Junior-Senior High School for few
years and then construct a senior high
school in the Anacostia area which
would cut down the enrolment at
Eastern to almost normal, and is re-
ported to be favored by the Board Of
Education.
Stipulates Conditions.
DR.. George C. Havenner, prest-
dent of the AnacoStia association, has
informed DR.. Ballou that his group
will support the plan on the follow
ing conditions: First, that Gne con-
struction of the junior high school
shall not be delayed; second, that the
arrangement will not be permanent,
and third, that the senior high school
will eventually be built. These condi-
tions have been agreed to, the asso-
citation was told.
Capt. F. M. Dent. discussing the
school situation in Anacostia, claimed
no major repairs had been made in
26 years. At KetCham School coal gas
leaking from the antiquated heating
plant seeps into the class rooms.
Three teachers and several children
have become i'll, and it was reported
that attending physicians placed the
blame on coal gas. Repairs to the fur
mace have been made, but have not
remedied the situation. However. a
special committee. investigating, called
on Dr. Ballou and the Engineer De-
partment of the District, and Capt.
Dent reported there were strong in
dications that a new steam-heating
plant would be installed at Ketcham
School.
School Heated by Stoves.
At the Van Buren School annex
also, it was said, the heating system
is unsatisfactory. This annex is heat
ed by stoves, and several times our
ing the past Winter the temperature
made it necessary for teachers to take
their pupils into the main building,
according to Capt Dent
William T. Martin, chairman of the
Fire and Police Committee. announced
the District Engineer Department mad
informed him it would attend 10 the
paving in front of No. Is engine house
as soon as possible. This cobblestone :
paving was laid in 1897, and the ex-
treme cold of the past Winter has so
broken it up that water seeps into the
basement of the engine house.
w. j. Tucker, secretary of the aSso-
citation. was directed to report to the
Engineer Commissioner the danger
Gus condition caused by number of
loose bricks in a wall on the Four
teenth street side of Number Is En-
glne House. Mr.. Tucker said he had
reported the condition of this wall
before but nothing had been done.
Is New Members Added.
Secretary Tucker. reporting for the
School Committee. said the A. B. C..
Board had decided it had the power
to refuse license to an applicant
within 400 feet of a school, or at any
location, if the board members felt
they were acting in the public good
in refusing. He said most of the
credit for obtaining this decision
should go to the District Public
School Association.
Fifteen new members were unani-
mously elected to membership in the
association at last nights meeting
Capt Dent, who was elected president
protein in the absence of both the
president and vice president, presided
The group met in the AnacoStia
Methodist Church Hall, Fourteenth
and u streets southeast.