Evening star., 1940-03-03
BY JOHN H. CASSADY. Jr.

Construction of II new District
school buildings to replace "a small
and antiquated structures, some Of
which have been in use 10 years,
was recommended to the Commits.
sioners yesterday by q special three.
man committee appointed last year
to make a survey.
Estimating the cost of such q pro-
gram at $7,889, 900, the committee
took cognizance of the necessity Of
spreading the work over a period Of
years, and recommended that the
replacement and consolidation pro-
gram be carried out over seven-
year period, beginning with the l942
fiscal year.
The survey, requested last year
by House and Senate conferees on
the 1910 District Appropriation Act.
was made by committee composed
Of Capt. John L. Person, Assistant
Engineer Commissioner. the chair
man; Maj Daniel J. Donovan, Dis
trict auditor and budget ofiicer, and
Dr. Frank w. Ballou, superintendent
Of schools.
The interest of Chairman Overton
Of the Senate subcommittee on Dis.
trict appropriations prompted MEM
bers of the committee to visit several
old elementary school structures last
year. Later, Senator Overton joined
with Representative Collins, Demo-
crat, of Tennessee, then chairman
of the House subcommittee on Dis
trict appropriations, in requesting a
new survey.
Repair Outlay Held Impractical.
Declaring it is convinced q con-
solidation program is highly de-
sirable," and that any considerable
expenditure for rehabilitation Of the
old elementary buildings would be
unjustified because of their size and
condition. the committee specifically
recommended construction Of nine
new 24-room buildings, one new 90
room building and four new 1s-room
buildings.
The assessed value of the sites of
the "a schools proposed to be aban-
doned totals $435, ,039 for the land
only, and the report pointed out
that if this property could be sold
at its assessed value the net cost Of
the consolidation program would be
reduced to $7,454,86l. Past expert
ence in disposing of abandoned
buildings, the committee added, In
dicates that the salvage value is so
slightly in excess of the cost OF de-
molition as to be negligible.
| In recommending new construc.
ton, the report explained that prac-
tically all the "a buildings are more
than so years old and added:
They are unsatisfactory not only
because of their age and conse.
quent deterioration, but also and
to a great extent because their de-
sign is obsolete.
They are inherently poorly light.
ed, they have basement toilets, they
have no gymnasium or assembly ia
cilities, they are Of nom -fireproof
construction except in their central
portions. and they are too small.
Rehabilitation could correct their
deteriorated condition, but could not
correct the obsolete design features.
Appearance Depressing.
"The great majority of them are
so badly in need Of painting that
they present a dirty, dark and de-
pressing appearance. The floors in
many are badly In need Of replace
ment. II they were maintained in
satisfactory condition, the item for
repairs to buildings would be much
larger in each case"
The committee also asserted the
construction program would effect
savings in maintenance and opera
ton and in salaries Of teachers and
principals.
The, number of regular classroom
teachers now employed in those Of
the "a schools in divisions 10 IL
204, and the number Of regular
teachers needed after the consoh-
dations would be 1876. resulting IN
(see SCHOOLS, Page A-3)