Evening star., 1939-05-14
Montgomery Maps
4-Year Schools Plan
To Cost S750,000
$50, 900 for New Bui|dinq
In Bethesda Area Is
First on Program

A long range school construction
program, designed to guard against
overcrowding in Montgomery County
Md public schools during the next
four years. will cost the county ap-
proXimately S75OO00 according to
estimates revealed yesterday by the
Board of Commissioners.
The program is in addition to a
S4O0 900 project just being completed.
of which as per cent was a grant
from the Public Works Administra-
ton, and another to cost 1922 900.
for which bonds will be issued this
month. 1t will bring the total to be
spent for school construction by the
county during the five-year period.
1936-43, to more than $1,2O0,0O0
The new program contemplates
improvements to Bethesda, Park
side, Alta Vista, East Silver Spring,
Glenmont, Gaithersburg, Poolesville,
Damascus, Sherwood and Wood
side Schools, totaling approximately
S197 600, to be carried out during
1910 and l94l. 1t includes also a
projected program for 1912 and l943
principally in high school enlarge
ment, costing about sass 900.
Bethesda School First.
The first item on the program is
acquisition of land and building the
flrst unit of a new 100000 school in
the Bethesda area to relieve over
crowding of the Bethesda Elemen-
tary School. A new elementary school
is being built on Massachusetts, ave-
nue. extended but estimated enrol
ment through l943-44 indicates an
extreme condition of overcroWding
and the present building cannot be
enlarged because of the size of the
site
1t is proposed to add new five
room unit at the Parkside School
at a cost of $4,000, and several
rooms to the Alta Vista School and
grading OF the school grounds at
cost of $4,000. An expenditure
of $4,000 has been recommended
for grading and fencing the grounds
OF the East Silver Spring School,
and one of $500 for adding two
acres 20 the school grounds and
finishing one unfinished classroom
at the Glenmont School,
The purchase of additional land
and grading of the grounds at
Galthersburg School will cost ST.
900 and about $4,000 would be
spent for land purchase and grad
ing at the Poolesville School. Ad-
dltlon OF three classrooms at Da-
mascus School would cost $4,000
ana at Sherwood School, $4,000.
Expenditure of $4,000 for acouisi-
ton of more land and grading at
the Woodside School and purchase
OF equipment costing about $4,000
completes the first part of the pro-
gram
Junior High Indicated.
Looking into the future, the board
estimates that an additional build
ing will be required for the Mont
gomery Hills Junior High School
after 1912, costing about 100000.
The school is now at capacity en-
rollment, but by shifting pupils to
either the Kensington or Takoma-
Silver Spring Junior high schools.
1t will probably not be necessary
to enlarge the building until after
l94l, according to the board reports.
In the western suburban section,
the Leland Junior High School will
exceed its capacity by 1941 at its
present rate of growth, and a new
building for the Cabin John-Glen
Echo area. costing about S165 900,
will probably be needed The cost
of a new high school building at
Damascus would be $130,0OO to make
possible discontinuance of the use
OF the present high school building.
An auditorium gymnasium for the
Poolesville High School would cost
s35.OOO
To secure options on two new sites
for Junior schools in the suburban
areas, an appropriation of $4,000 is
recommended and for connecting
passageways and workrooms at the
Massachusetts avenue extended
school. $4,000 An additional $29,-
600 would be set aside for procuring
more land for the Takoma Park
Junior High School and the Massa-
chusetts avenue extended school
under the program.
The latter portion of the program
is subject to change in accordance
with future development of the
county and no funds will be asked
until the 1941 legislative session.