Evening star., 1935-10-21
SCHOOL SLASHES
SECRET PENDING
BUDGETS REPORT
Educators Unaware of Items
Hit by Reduction to
$13,959,046
BUILDING PROGRAM
BELIEVED AFFECTED
Ballou's Office Preparing Sched-
ule of Structures and Land
for Congress.

District school authorities will be
uniformed of just what modification
has been made in their schedule of
appropriations until Congress is ready
to hold hearings on the proposed 1887
budget. According to Maj. Daniel j.
Donovan, District auditor, that budget
has been reduced from $18.041, ,339 to
$13,959,046.
The larger figure included, in addi-
ton to operations costs, funds for %
new buildings and the purchase Of is
land sites for additional schools. In
the current budget funds were allowed
for only six new buildings and the
purchase Of one piece of land.
Just how much Of the increase re-
mains and what the items are cannot
be made public under Treasury De-
partment rules until after the budget
Is sent from the Budget Bureau to
Congress Maj. Donovan. bound by
the restrictions, has declined to discuss
any individual items In the new pro-
posals.
Notification Awaited.
School authorities today declined to
discuss the schedules sent to the
Budget Bureau until they are formally
notified Of the notifications made in
their original requests. They are ig-
norant Of what alterations have been
made. but 1t Is believed the slash OF
$4,082 ,2s3 made by District authorities
and approved by the Commissioners
was made chiefly in the contemplated
building program. proposed land pur-
chases and in Q requested increase for
the Community Center Department.
Further slashes also are anticipated,
or perhaps feared. when the Budget
Bureau begins its check. Heretofore,
cuts have been made both by the
bureau and by the House or Senate
subcommittee that considered the
school budget. School administrators,
however, are hopeful Of keeping the in
crease over current appropriations so
far allowed, totaling $2.506 1896.
The total school schedule Of $l3,-
959,046 over present funds includes
$2.l2l,5Oo for new schools, gain Of
81 ,346, 500, and S26l 900 for land pur-
chase, q gain Of 100000. This leaves
an increase of 1854, ,496 for all other
purposes, including operations costs Of
the schools and Of the Community
Center Department.
Silent on Schedules.
Untn breakdown Of the figures,
however, has been made available to
the Board Of Education and DR.. Frank
w. Ballou, superintendent. authorities
at the Franklin administrative build
ing are silent on the present sched-
ules.
Meanwhile DR.. Ballou's office has
begun work on q schedule Of needed
new buildings and land purchases that
will be offered Congress, under the
boards sponsorship, that will be COM
parable to the flve-year building pro-
gram inaugursted about 10 years ago.
At that time the building program
was planned in advance and handled
separately from the usual school
budget.
Mrs. Marion Wade Doyle, president
Of the board, proposed the new pro-
gram several weeks ago. and Dr.. Bal
lou and Jere ]. Crane, first assistant
superintendent in charge Of business
affairs, began compilation of the sys-
TENS needs.
In view Of the cuts made by the
District Commissioners and Auditor
Donovan, 1t is expected that any re-
jected items in the 1887 budget will
be made a part Of the new building
program.
It's Projects Authorized.
Meanwhile, ITS improvement prof.
ects in the existing school plant have
been authorized by the Works Prog
ress Administration and the money
for them was to be made available
by the Treasury today. Commissioner
Allen, local w. p. A. administrator
said some time ago that actual work
will begin on the program as soon as
the money Is ready.
No estimate has been made Of the
total cost Of the new 5-year or possible
10-year building program. nor will one
be made until a complete statistical
survey Of the schools current and
future needs has been completed.