Evening star., 1940-01-11
New Schools
Equipment
Asked
More Than $500, 900
In Emergency Items
Sought by Board

Sought by Board
The Commissioners will consider
within the next few days a request
by the Board of Education for in
clusion of more than 100000 of
supplementary appropriations to the
school budget covering five emer-
gency school items in the deficiency
bill being prepared for early sub
mission to Congress.
Specifically the items decided upon
by the board members yesterday
were $199,750 to equip the newly
completed Calvin Coolidge Senior
High School at Fifth and Sheridan
streets NV; $66,16O to equip the
new Thomas Jefferson Junior High
School to be completed in August;
$4,000 to complete equipment of the
recently finished Banneker Colored
Junior High School at Eighth and
Euclid streets NV; $22,400 for II
teachers in the colored divisions, and
an unrevealed sum for purchase of
land near the Smothers School.
In addition, Acting Supt. Robert
L. Haycock told the members three
other items are under consideration
for possible supplemental requests in
a later bill. These are funds to give
additional equipment to buildings
constructed under the recently COM
pleted sl,000,000 P. w. A. program,
funds to alter and remodel the
Health School at Thirteenth and Al
Ison streets NV. into school for
crippled children, and funds to meet
q deficit in the salaries of officers
and clerks.
Action by March Possible.
Under normal circumstances items
included and approved by Congress
In the first deficiency bill would be
available by late February or early
March, it was said.
While the board was approving
the urgent items to supplement the
present budget. it also made plans
to meet with citizen leaders some
time during the week of January
% to discuss the 1941 school bud
get as it emerged recently from the
budget bureau and went to Con-
gress
Some 1922 900 is carried in the
1941 appropriation bill now before
Congress to equip the Coolidge and
Jefferson schools but by the time
this budget is passed, usually dur
ing the summer, it would be too late,
school officers fear, to let contracts
and get the equipment in time to
open in the fall on time. Under
Government contracts, the con-
tractor has 80 days to deliver the
material and usually takes 1t, 1t
was indicated.
Another Procedure Possible.
At the same time it was con-
sidered doubtful by some observers
that such furniture and equipment
items are proper items for a de-
hciency bill. 1t is thought, in case
these items are not approved in
the deficiency bill, that Congress
will be asked to make the 1922, 900
Immediately available upon passage
Of the budget. With such language
inserted, and should the budget be
approved before the beginning of
the new fiscal year July l. school
officials would gain just that much
time in letting the contracts. Board
members pointed to the fact that
the Coolidge is now complete and
ready for equipment and requiring
some heating and care to prevent
any deterioration before it is put
into use. For this reason they con-
sidered it urgent" that funds be
Immediately available.
When items for school furniture
and supplies were submitted for
the 1910 budget for this year they
were stricken because it was thought
the building would not be ready for
occupancy until later in the spring
of 1910. With good weather and
steady progress in construction,
however, the contractor was able
to finish the building slightly before
the regular contract time. It is now
complete and was inspected last
Wednesday by the Buildings and
Grounds Committee of the Board
Of Education.
Heat Essential.
Although the building is not in
use, heat must be kept in it to keep
water pipes from freezing and to
protect the new structure further.
Depending on the severity of the
weather, more or less oil must be
burned-but now it costs about SIS
. day.
But even if Congress should make
some of these funds or all of them
Immediately available through q
deficiency bill, it is considered i'm
practical now to try to use the
school for the rest of this school
year, officials say.
Delivery, which would throw the
date so far into the spring, would
not be considered fair to pupils
having to move into the new school
with new teachers for a small part
Of the remainder of the school year.
Funds for a girls gymnasium
(which could not be built because
funds already available were less
than the contractors bids) will be
put into the deficiency bill, 1t was
indicated, so as to open the posi-
bility for the girls gymnasium. The
boys gymnasium already is COM
pleted as part of the new building.
Ofhcials estimate that IL teachers