Evening star., 1941-11-20
Priority Delays
Hold Up Plans
For New Schools
Forces Deferment
Of Spingorn High
At Leust 5 Months

Delays of several months in COM
pletion dates for plans and specifl-
cations of new school projects car
ried in the current appropriation
bill were revealed yesterday by the
Board of Education by Supt. Frank
w. Ballou.
Difficulty in getting priority
ratings was said to be the stumbling
block.
DR.. Ballou was advised by the
engineer Office of the District that
the Office of Production Manage
ment has refused proirity rating
on the proposed new Spingarn High
School at Twenty-fourth street and
Benning road and has asked Dis
trict officials TO redeSign the project,
then file for new priority rating in
five or six months. Originally plans
and specifications for the new col
ored senior high school were slated
for completion a month ago.
In the case of the new auditorium
roof for Francis Junior High, the
report said, the low bid exceeded the
limit and additional funds have been
requested.
Priority Rating Delayed.
Priority rating is still pending on
completion of six classrooms at
Woodrow Wilson High School for
which plans and specifications have
been completed. Bids will be asked
on the project as soon as priority
rating has been granted. The Hiatt
place underpass for the Powell
Junior High is in the same predica-
ment.
Plans for the new Abbot Voca-
tlonal School in Brentwood Park
were supposed to be ready January
II. but were postponed a month to
February 81.
The date for completion of plans
for the Adelaide Davis School at
Thlrty-siXth street and Alabama
avenue Sc. was advanced from De-
cember to April II. 1912: Benning
Elementary School addition. from
February IA TO May 9; addition ~
Van Ness, February Il to May 9:
school to replace the Brent, Dent,
Lenox and French Schools. from
June 4 to June l8: school to replace
the Cranch, Tyler and Van Ness
Schools. June4 to June l8.
Plans and specifications for the
Junior high at Forty-ninth street
and Washington place NE. will be
ready June as originally sched-
uled
At the same time DR.. Ballou re-
ported to the members completion
OF a number of necessary repairs to
various buildings. The board. fol-
lowing the recommendation Of the
Commissioners several weeks ago,
made the school cuStodianS respon-
sible for the care and operation of
egress doors in their respective
buildings as means of reducing
fire hazards. The custodians will
be asked to report daily TO principals
that all the doors have been checked
and are in workable condition and
principals are to report Immediately
any abnormal conditions reported
by the custodians.
To Report Each Year.
Assistant Supt. Jere j. Crane. IN
charge of buildings and grounds,
will report at the end of each school
year on corrections of fire hazards
during the previous fiscal year, other
than action taken by the District
Repair Shop This report will be
sent to the Commissioners.
Establishment of special kinder
garten for the Bellevue defense de-
velopment in Anacostia was ap-
proved. Dr.. Ballou told the board
it would serve the 1000 home section
built by the Navy Department. Some
80 10 35 pupils are ready for the
class to be supervised by Miss E. M.
Trusheim. principal of the Congress,
Heights School. Naval authorities
will furnish the building. heat, light
and custodial service. The school
board will furnish the teacher and
supplies.
Receipt of $4,000 in Federal
funds for supplementary pre-
employment and refresher courses
for defense courses in the schools
was announced by DR.. Ballou
1t was decided that hereafter the
board would not formally approve
cadet corps appointments as in
previous years but would simply re-
ceive roster of the appointees for
the information of the members.