Evening star., 1945-09-01
Welfare Board Seeks
$4,000 10 Start
jolly Acres School

jolly Acres School
The campaign for better care Of
children at the Industrial Home
School paid off today.
The Board of Public Welfare an
nounced, after meeting yesterday,
1t will request immediate reclassifl-
cation of personnel and a 1916 sup
Elemental appropriation of $840 900
so that construction can begin at
once on new facilities at jolly Acres,
Laurel. Md, to replace the ancient
institution at 2453 Wisconsin avenue.
Ray L. Huff, director of welfare,
said the reclassiflcation, to raise
salaries and improve the caliber of
employees, will cover all cfildren's
institutions and will not wait on
completion of the new building.
The boards action carries out the
major recommendations of civic
groups and editorials in The Star
criticizing conditions at the school.
Will Seek Added Funds.
In addition, the board will seek
supplemental appropriations total
ing 81 ,959 900 for the Home for the
Aged, the District Training School
and the District Jail
The largest sum, 81 ,250,0 900, would
go for construction of a new home
for the aged The board also re-
nnuynH ifS ofTnrtc ~ lc
and gate for the District Jail with
request for $31, 500. The superin-
tendent repeated a demand for them
after recent escapes
Most of the boards report on a
special meeting held yesterday an
swered points raised in a long fight
to remedy the evils of the indus
trial school .
The board decided to hold up
plans for moving the school tempo
rarily in November to the building
now occupied by the National Train
ing School for Girls on Macarthur
boulevard.
Will Retain Property.
The report said efforts should be
made to secure the continued use of
the Wisconsin avenue property pend
ing new construction" 1t did not
mention the recommendation made
Thursday by Commissioner Guy
Mason for housing the children in
temporary buildings at jolly Acres
until their new home is completed
Pointing out that there are no
buildings available on the property,
Mr. Huff said the board would agree
to move the children to the country
If it can find suitable temporary
buildings.
1t will take two years from the day
Congress appropriates the funds to
complete the permanent facilities,
he estimated. The Navy owns the
Wisconsin avenue building and has
ordered the schools to vacate, but
Mr.. Huff hopes the Navy will recon-
slider.
On that supposition, the board an
nounced an accelerated program to
repair and improve the facilities on
Wisconsin avenue. Scarce materials
now becoming available will make
the job easier, Mr.. Huff noted
Win Big Victory.
Critics won their biggest victory in
the decision to reclassify employees
Immediately. Some members of the
board formerly favored waiting until
a new child care center could be
constructed at jolly Acres.
Organizations leading the cam
paign also won their demands for
more civic supervision of the school.
The board decided to encourage the
interest of independent organiza-
tions through the Committee of
Civic Welfare Chairmen, now advis-
ing the board.
The Federation of Women's Clubs,
the Washington Board of Trade, the
Districts two citizens federations,
the two parent-teacher associations,
the League of Women Voters and
the veterans organizations will be
invited to participate in planning
for the school.
Mr.. Huff said that plans were de-
veloped for improvement in the
schools educational, vocational and
social program in anticipation of
moving the school to Macarthur
boulevard. These will be adapted to
the continued use of the Wisconsin
avenue site and will be announced
later, he said.
Personnel Improved.
The end of the war, he added, al
ready has improved the personnel
picture. The school recently has
added a domestic science teacher, a
nurse and a cook to the staff.
The board acted on recommends
tions of its institutions committee,
headed by A. j. Driscoll. Mr.. Dris-
coll, said his committee reviewed
reports made by the Federation of
Women's Clubs, the Council of So
cial Agencies and other groups be-
fore making its suggestions.
New construction proposed for the
District Training School included
four units for defective delinquents
to cost S536,000 The board also