The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-05
Reopening Of Beebe . Street Rooms Tinted
Chitenden Believes Proposal Would Eliminate Over
 crOwding; Board Members Approval Likely

Beebe street school; the other by resdrawing district lines and n1ov- ing some children now attending Salem school to another building where there Is less crowdlng. Judg. Ing from the attitude Of some of the board members, it appears that they would favor the former meth. cd.
 Clarifies Closing Plan
 Schools will Do closed here only because of very severe weather, supt, Chittenden told the board, saying he wished to clarify his posi- ton on the matter. He pointed out that years ago when the present ar. engagements for closing schools were made, the school system was fairly simple. There was no bus transpors tation then whereas now there are eight buses transporting several hundred children.
 There were no school cafeterias then whereas today hundreds use the cafetesias daily. He pointed out the present Bet.up requires pur- chase of provisions in advance, or. rangementS for transportation and said when 1t becomes necessary to give notice that schools are to be closed for the day, the decision on this must be made very early in the morning for there are many people besides teachers to be notified and many arrangements to be made. Now, 7:30 Is the last possible minute for such notification to be made, he said.
 Tn station he only plans to give the closing signal in case of vevy severe storms, Mir. Chittenden said he thinks the organization Is so complicated now it would be unwise to do 60 ct other times. He said parents who feel in stormy weather that their children shouldn't go to school that day may keep the chil. dren home without being subject to criticism, but in most eases the schools will be open for those who can attend. ,s
 S1,O0O a Day
 He pointed out 1t costs about SI,- 900 day to operate public schools here and If schools are closed for @ day, 1t is $1,000 wasted.
 He also suggested 1t would be ad- visahle, when a closing signal is given, to have it effect both the grammar schools and the high school. Now grammar schools may be closed and the high school re- main open if school authorities feel the older children could attend school. The board took no action on this suggestion but MT. Chittenden said he thought it would be prob- able that If a signal for closing Is given, 1t will include all schools. There could be exceptions to this he pointed out, citing an imaginary case of where 1t might be necessary some noon because of bad weather to close grammar schools whereas the high school would be in session at that time.
 There are 736 high school stu- dents enrolled now as compared with over 900 two years ago, MT. Chittenden reported. There Is no overcrowding in the high school now.
 There are 30 children from other towns attending local schools, most Of them being Beacon Falls resi- dents attending the local high school. The tuition fee for these latter is 0ll2 each and may be iIi- creased because of the pay raise granted local teachers, 1t was hinted.
 The enumeration report showed @,6a4 children here this year be- tween the ages Of { and le, as coll- pared to 4.A50, decrease of 26, a Cutnpnrmtivote Grnah nnn1ber. Cf