Evening star., 1937-10-10
NEW SCHOOL NEED
CITED BY CITIZENS
Bunker Hill Structure Now
Just as It Was When
Built in 1911.
BY JOHN w. STEPP.

Through 25 years of heavy service
the Bunker Hill School has remained
In the original state while its environ
ment developed and advanced. 1t is
the same unchanged building which
was erected in 1911 that now looks
upon one of the city's most thriving
and built-up sections.
Citizens comprising the Michigan
Park civic organization have been JUS
tifiably striving for some 10 years to
equip the area with educational IA
cilities to correspond with the sur
roundings.
Set back about a hundred feet from
Bunker Hill road in densely wooded.
spot, the grounds and school proper
constitute something from remote
age in the eyes of President John j.
Hurley of the park group. The struc-
ture stands near the crest of fairly
steep slope which can be ascended by
long series of concrete steps about as
melloWed in age as the building.
Weedy and rough unkemptness mark
the playground area on either side of
the steps, and the few recreational fa-
quated in keeping with the rest.
Description of School.
Bunker Hill School, which occu-
pies less than a fifth of an allotted
five-acre plot is a one-story red brick
affair containing two rooms, a large
hallway and small frame partitioned
section. Equipment is out-of-date and
IN bo obi Nd
foorboards. In this atmosphere more
than hundred children of four grades
and kindergarten take lessons in space
normally adapted to handle so at the
most. Three teachers have the ma
jor task of instructing 10 classes which
include the "a" and "B" sections of
the first four grades and two sepa-
rate kindergarten sessions. The lat
ter are held in the main corridor at
the head of the steps leading down to
the main, in fact only entrance.
Sanitation-the same originally in
stalled-is inadequate and in poor
operating condition, an investigating
committee of the Michigan Park group
reports. The heating plant fails to
provide satisfactory results and at
tendants of the school complain con-
tinually of the coldness of the in
terror. The boiler is the one originally
installed. There is no private cloak
room for the teachers; no place for
attending sick or injured children ex-
cept possibly on a desk top.
The fire hazard is serious. only exit
from the place, the main entrance. is
at the bottom of a steep flight of steps.
1t is feared that in the confusion of
an emergency occupants would be
liable to injury from a rapid descent
of the stairway and would be in press
ing danger should the opening be
blocked or cut off. Presence of classes
In the hallway also would hamper any
exit.
This educational institution Is the
only one to serve the Michigan Park
and nearby area within reasonable
walking distance. Including 300
children Of pre-school age there are 500
to attend public schools. At present
almost a hundred of these must travel
to other points for their education
due to the overcrowding at Bunker
Hill. Last year a Board Of Education
census revealed that in addition there
are ITO children from three years to
school age who must be considered.
And this was before the extensive
building program recently initiated in
the area.
An intensive survey Of the Michigan
Park Association disclosed further fig
extended school facilities. There are
now 700 private homes in the section
and ITO four-family fats now renting
or being built amounting to 470 resi-
dences." Thirty-nine individual dwell
ings and 81 four-family flats are being
planned by single firm for the near
future. In all, there are nearly 1900
residences which are to be reckoned
with as potential sources for increased
school population. The increase has
oeen rapid IN the last five years alone.
Want Eight-Room Building.
In view of present school conditions
and the material and prospective
growth OF the community, the citizens
earnestly seek provision for an eight
room structure with modern and COM
plete equipment. Despite the fact that
their requests have been recognized
by Board of Education estimates for
the budget and that the school super
visor OF this division has recommended
erection of new school each year. the
Senate Subcommittee on Appropria-
tlons struck out 100000 item for a
new school building in conference last
year. The Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations, in cognizance of the Bunker
Hill school proposal has included it
as one of its few pleas for new schools.
Unlon-ln-aim of the Burroughs Citi-
Eens' Association with Michigan Parks
has been made recently.
II the wishes of the Michigan Park
e1tlzens group materialize, the new two
story building will be erected on the
same acreage, though not on the same
site, OF the present, facing TAYLOR
street instead Of Bunker Hill road To
which the former runs parallel. In the
event of expected fund limitations
the group would be temporarily con-
tent with four complete class rooms
on the first floor and an unfinished
upper story adaptable for partitioning
ana hnlshing. Although considered
secondary. the organization hopes for
q proportionately large playground
with equipment.
And instead of junking the present
Bunker Hill School when the new one
is ready, the citizens would suggest
Its economical and useful utilization
ov,I