Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-03
Citizens Face Denial
OF School Buildings
Due 10 Fuel Rule
Regulations of Funds
Bor Payment Being
Applied on Heat
Civic organizations are in the posi-


ton today of being unable to pay,
even though they are willing to do
so, for fuel costs in heating and
lighting school buildings in which
they might want to meet and be-
cause of this inability to pay may
be denied the use of the buildings.
This peculiar situation developed
before the Board of Education yes
terday in connection with the APP
plication of a local organization for
the use of Central High School on
week night for a meeting.
However, because of the congress
sional slash in the fuel item for the
schools and it's accompanying pro-
viso that the appropriated amount
must be made to suffice, the schools
have recently been forced to adopt
a drastic economy program in the
school buildings at night.
The organization volunteered to
pay the cost of the heat and light,
and several board members WON
dered if this could not be done.
Receipts in Separate Funds.
Supt. Frank w. Ballou explained,
however, that it would be impossi-
BILE for organizations to pay for the
fuel. Under the present financial
procedure, he said, the cost of the
heating and lighting would be billed
against the fuel appropriation, but
any money taken in payment for
any school usage goes into a sep
arate general fund. Thus the ap-
preparation is cut down and cannot
be supplemented by the payment
Of the organization.
Money cannot be directly ap-
piled to the items" he declared.
Applying their action at a pre-
vious meeting. at which they ap-
proved the curtailed use of schools
at night and over the week ends,
the board told DR.. Ballou he should
administer the program according
to his judgment, but that if he
thought his decision would not con-
form to the board policy he should
submit his recommendation to the
board with his reasons.
Status of Chinese Discussed.
The members debated at length
the status of two Chinese students
enrolled at the Wilson Teachers
College. The matter was placed be-
fore them in the form of a recon-
mendation that the institution be
approved by the Department of
Labor as school for immigrants
The students. it appeared, are out
side the quota allowed and are here
for educational purposes only. They
must study in a school accredited
by the department.
The papers in the case contem-
plated admission of these students
without payment of tuition, and
several members raised strenuous
objection to these students being
educated by District taxpayers. DR..
Ballou pointed out, however, that
the matter of tuition payment is
decided legally by the corporation
counsels Office.
Approval was finally given to the
project only with the proviso that
the laws regarding payment of tut
ton should prevail
|. New Budget Procedure.
A new procedure in preparing the
school budget was also approved.
involving getting started earlier in
the year in gathering data and re-
porting to the board from time to
time.
The board approved cooperation
with the Traffic Advisory Commit
tee of the Commissioners through
co-ordinating special safety cam
paigns with the school term, giving
organized safety instruction to chill
dren establishment of motor vehi-
Gle driver course by the w. P. A.
sponsored by the board and greater
utilization of playground facilities,
with year-round service as far as
possible.
The new Lenox Vocational School
was renamed the John A. Cham
berlain Vocational School after the
former director of manual training
in the District schools.
It was further decided that teach
ers on maternity leave who at the
end of that leave are offered re-
appointment and decline shall be
carried on the eligible list only one
year from the time they decline.
This rule, it was explained, is in no
way retroactive.