Evening star., 1937-08-05
$1S,S58,939 ASKED
FOR D. c. SCHOOLS
Needs More Pressing Today
Than in Last rs Years.
Board Declares.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
The problem OF keeping school
construction abreast of the con-
stantly orouing school population
is dlways one OF the most pressing
facing District officials. Annually
school authorities outline their
needs, but restricted appropriations
consistently tall short OF meeting
these, and the result is conoested
class rooms and staggered hours.
Calling for appropriations totaling
$l8.858, ,939-an increase Of s6,058,2l4
over current fiscal year allotments-
and Warnin, that school needs today
are more pressing than they have been
for a quarter Of century, the Board
OF Education today submitted its
1889 budget to the District Commits
sioners
Mrs. Marion Wade Doyle, chairman
OF the Board OF Education, and Supt.
Of Schools Frank w. Ballou warned
the Commissioners that the school
system no longer can operate ade-
quately under the economy budget
forced upon it by the depression.
The Board of Education and the
school officers feel that the education
al welfare of boys and girls in the
public schools is paramount obliga-
tion on the District Of Columbia" de-
clared Mrs. Doyle, "and that 1t Is in
cumbent upon those in charge Of the
District OF Columbia to see that the
burdensomv results of financial and
economic conditions shall not weigh
too heavily upon the lives Of the young
people now In our schools
Figure Surprises Donovan.
The school budget was the first Of
the departmental estimates for the
coming fiscal year received, and Dis
trict Auditor Daniel Donovan, who
for the past several weeks has been
trying desperately to find funds to
keep the local government from de-
claring itself bankrupt, could not con-
ceal his shocked surprise over the 50
per cent increase sought by the school
authorities.
If other departments ask for in
creases anything like this don't know
what we will do next year" said Dono-
van. Even with increased taxes We
will just about meet operating ex-
penses this year"
But Dr.. Ballou painted stark pic
ture Of the condition of the city's
school system and grimly warned that
If the budget Is not increased in 1889,
then greater expenditures will be nee
essary in 1910.
Construction of 18 new schools and
additions and continuance Of building
operations on four other projects, and
the appointment Of 24l additional
teachers Is necessary to cope with
congestion, Ballou declared
The school officers" wrote Dr. Bal
lou, "are we'll aware OF the financial
situation which now exists in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, which inevitably
requires increased taxation. However,
the accumulated needs of the school
system over period Of years, plus
the curtailments made necessary by
the financial depression, have COM
blllCO w llCkCdoC SClEOOl az GIlG
present time"
Congestion Crisis Cited.
Emphasizing that "one Of the most
serious problems" now facing the Dis
trict Is the congestion in the school
system, DR.. Ballou declared
AT no time In the last quarter Of
= century have the needs OF the
school system as q whole been greater
than they are at the present time"
DR.. Ballou pointed out that 233
teachers were sought when the current
budget was compiled, but only 81 were
allowed. He recalled that a five-year
building program calling for the ex-
penditure of $4,000, 900 between 1897
and 1o42 was drawn up by the Board
Of Education last year. In the curren.
budget. DR.. Ballou declared. school
authorities asked for $4,024,000 for
new buildings and were allowed only
31,540,000. The current budget. as
compiled by the Board Of Education.
called for 81 ,46s, 900 for purchase of
land sites, but only $242,500 was
allowed.
In the 1899 budget school authori-
ties are asking for 1886. .450 for new
buildings and $l,562,5oo for purchase
Of. land.
For operating expenses, excluding
building and land expenditures, the
proposed new school budget calls for
$l2,5o9, ,o69, - compared with $11,-
0lS,22S allowed In the current fiscal
year.
Increases In operating sxponses axs