Evening star., 1939-01-13
Trade Board Group
Hits NONRESIDENT
Burden on Schools
Fiscal Policies for
D. 6. Education Are
Questioned

The Public Schools Committee OF
the Board Of Trade, which has un-
dertaken a comprehensive study of
the local school system, believes that
the burden Of free education for
nonresident students-an expense
laid upon the District public schools
by law-should be eliminated.
This conclusion was reported to
the Board of Trade last night by
George E. Keneipp, chairman of
the committee, who discussed the
groups findings in its study thus far
and promised to prepare recon-
mendations for improvements in the
school system later.
The committees report criticized
the budgetary procedure for support
Of the school system as being tire
some, needlessly complicated. time
consuming and expensive" and
promised that 1t win consider care
fully the question Of whether the
Budget Bureau Is pursuing penny
wise and pound foolish" policy in
continually slashing the Board of
Education's estimates for capital
outlay items.
Two Conclusions Reported.
Mr.. Keneipp reported that the
committee so far has reached only
two conclusions:
/. That the education of our chill
dren in the District of Columbia
should in no way suffer because of
unWise fiscal policies.
2. That the additional costly bur-
den of free education for non-resi-
dent students should be eliminated.
Mr.. Keneipp pointed out that in
1888 the estimated cost of instruc-
ton of the 2,246 nonresident pupils,
who paid no tuition for attendance
in the schools if a parent was en-
ployed in the District, was $232 ,514-
all at the expense of local taxpayers.
I'm general" he said, when chill
dren in the States attend public
schools outside of the taxation units
in which they reside, they are re-
quired to pay tuition fees, which may
cover part or all Of the cost Of
instruction. The District should be
rid of this unusual situation"
Referring to the budgetary proce-
dure, Mr.. Keneipp said the combi-
nation of local and Federal scrutiny
almost always results in rigorous re-
duction in school estimates. Should
not the Board of Education have ex-
elusive control over the ALLEGATION
of funds to specific expenditures
within the limitation of the total
amount of the budget, possibly ex-
cepting expenditures for large capi-
tai outlay?" he asked.
Cites Huge Slash.
He pointed out that the Board of
Education asked for capital outlay
items totaling $6,289 400 for 1910, but
that the Budget following
the practice which has become Gus
tomary during the past few years.
approved $1,50O,000.
Mr.. Keneipp's report said the diff
ficulty of acquiring land for school
buildings is growing. somewhat acute
because land which previously might
have been purchased at a compara-
lively low rate now has so appre-
ciated in value as to render the pur-
chase price prohibitive.
The report declared, school costs
could be greatly reduced If there
were fewer and larger buildings.
This would lower the cost of super
vision, wages of custodial employees,
cost of supplies, ETC., he said.
Other important factors in the
high cost of operation and the high
per student cost, Mr.. Keneipp said,
are that the dual school system Is
employed here and the proportion of
pupils enrolled in high schools Is
much higher than the average.
Mr.. Keneipp pointed out that the
Presidents Advisory Committee on
Education has recommended that
comprehensive survey of the Dis
trict school system and its needs be
made by a group of outside experts
ito provide a sound and adequate
basis for judging the educational
program and its administration and
financial support"
There are compelling reasons
why we should be included" he de-
clared. "Our residents pay Federal
taxes, we should have the benefit of
Federal advisory service that will
constitute a part of the program of
Federal aid to education and the
school system of the District should
by all means have purposeful con-
facts with the school systems In the
States and with the Federal Once
Of Education"