Evening star., 1943-01-13
County Plans
$1,736,000
School Program
Postwar Building
Measure Nay Be
Sent to Legislature
By ], B, ZATMAN.

BY J. B. ZATMAN.
Plans for q $1,736, 900 postwar
school construction program are
being made by the Prince Georges
County Board of Education in an
attempt to meet the anticipated in
crease in school enrolment, County
Superintendent Of Schools Nicholas
Orem disclosed today.
Debating that county school en-
rollment has increased steadily since
1918, Mr.. Orem said he already has
drafted a proposed bill for sub
mission to the State Legislature to
seek permissive legislation author
izing the county commissioners to
issue bonds up to 100000 for the
construction Of new schools after
the war on the recommendation Of
the Board of Education.
The bill will be presented first to
the county commissioners at their
meeting Tuesday. If it is approved
1t will then be given the county's
delegation to the Legislature for pre-
sentation in the General Assembly.
Mr.. rem explained that since the
county cannot borrow funds except
by specific authorization of the
Legislature, approval of the bill by
the General Assembly will permit
the county commissioners to act as
soon as the war Is over.
He added that he hoped the Fed
eral Government would provide the
difference between the $500 900
which would be authorized by the
commissioners and the estimated
total cost Of the program.
The program includes construc-
ton Of six new schools and additions
to II other schools.
The new schools and their esti-
mated cost as proposed are:
Marlboro High, $4,000
Hyattsville High, 100000:
Hyattsville Elementary, $4,000;
Mount Rainier Elementary, $780,.
600;
Landover Hills Elementary, $75,.
900;
Suitland High, $280,000.
Additions proposed are:
Beltsville School-f1ve classrooms
and library, $4,000:
College Park two classrooms,
$4,000;
University Park six clasrooms
and an auditorium, $4,000;
Riverdale-four classrooms, S35,-
900;
Lanham, four classrooms and an
auditorium. $780, 600;
Suitlahd Elementary. $4,000.
Silver Hill, $4,000;
Surrattsville, $4,000;
Oxon Hill, $4,000;
Fairmont Heights Colored School
$4,000; Marlboro Colored School
SAC, 900.
| While admitting that no provi-
sion has been made in the program
for expansion Of school facilities in
Greenbelt, MIR. Orem asserted, 1T
is assumed new Greenbelt schools
will be constructed by the Federal
Government"
Need ito Pile Up"
With many Of the countys schools
overcrowded at present and the pos
sibility that some students may
have to be placed on haf-time,
Mr.. Orem declared that this con-
dition will be aggravated by the
prohibition against school construc-
ton during the war, causing school
needs ito pile up"
Experience after the First World
War;" he pointed out, "has shown
that the great acceleration In popu-
lation growth in the county did not
cease when the war was over. 1t
seems entirely probable that the
same experience will be true after
the present conflict"
Since an early start on construc.
ton Of additional school facilities
will be imperative" the superin-
tendent said that 1t isprobable that
the Federal Government will au-
thorize matching funds after the
war for public construction.
The community that Is ready to
match these funds without waiting
for the convening Of the legislature, :"
he emphasized, will be fortunate" !"
At the same time, he pointed out
that the proposed legislation is
merely permissive and not compul-
sorry. It's purpose, he added, Is to
put the county in position to meet
school needs promptly after the
war, If and when the occasion
arises.