Evening star., 1946-11-07
School Lunch
Program Hinges
On Board Poll
Unanimous Approval
Needed to Put Federal
Plan in Action
Bv Henry A. Muslin

INBb bI sNSasS"
By Henry A. Muslin
The question Of whether District
public school pupils will benefit from
food cost savings under the National
School Lunch Program hung In the
balance today as School Superin-
tendent Hobart M. Corning prepared
to poll members Of the Board OF
Education on their willingness to
approve the necessary contracts.
Applications of eight schools
await the outcome of the poll, ex-
pected to be completed within two
or three days. Unanimous approval
of board members is necessary II the
program Is to proceed.
This latest stumbling block In the
path Of the Federal lunch program
grew out of a Board of Education
meeting yesterday which developed
into q heated debate on school cafe
terra management and the right Of
Government to step into the educa.
ton system in any way.
Contracts Ready.
Eight weeks after the board had
approved the schools being allowed
to make use of the $209 1894 Federal
grant under School Lunch Act, DR..
Corning reported to the board yes
terday that the necessary contracts
were ready and that eight schools
were eager to sign up.
The schools are Coolidge and
Cardozo High Schools; Jefferson,
Taft, Randle and Garnet-Patterson
Junior Highs, and M. M. Washing.
ton and Phelps Vocational Highs,
he told the board, requesting ap-
proval of their applications.
DR.. James A. Cannon, board mem-
ber. then demanded to know why
DR.. Corning did not regulate tho
schools participation In the pro-
gram. He said only eight Of about
40 eligible schools wanted to sign
up because many school principals,
who are responsible for the indivi-
dual cafeterias, resent the extR
work involved.
ADMITS No Real Control.
DR.. Corning reminded DR.. Cannon
that he appointed a committee to
study the whole school setup some
time ago, but that he has no real
control over the cafeterias because
no money is appropriated for their
operation under the school budget.
He said he expected a report from
the committee soon.
This drew from another board
member. Adelbert w. Lee, the re-
mark that perhaps we are perpe-
tuating a very weak cafeteria
system"
Mr.. Lee remarked that perhaps
the National School Lunch Program
was "just another step in the reg
imentation Of our country" He said
he agreed with DR.. Cannon and
wanted TO study the contract thor
oughly before giving approval.
Provisions Of Contract.
The contract provides for the Dis
trict to reimburse participating
schools from 2 to 9 cents per meal.
If they have complied with Govern
ment food specifications under the
School Lunch Act. It requires the
signature Of the principal, the board
secretary and Harry M. Gardner,
who was appointed to supervise the
program for the city by the Com
missioners. The District, in turn,
would be reimbursed by the Agri-
culture Department.
The program, enacted during the
last session of Congress, has met
with determined resistance on the
part OF certain school principals
and officers since its inception. The
delay has worked hardship on at
least one Of the five schools which
participated in the program last
year. This school has held its prices
down to last years levels since the
beginning Of term in anticipation Of
saving under the program. A con-
siderable deficit has resulted.
Other Actions Taken.
Other actions Of the board yester.
day included:
!. Protesting issuance Of q liquor
license to Fuse and Irving Honik-
man, at premises 2409 Benning road
NE, as being too close to the pro-
posed Spingarn High School.
2. Agreeing to close night schools
November ~, the last school night
before the Thanksgiving holiday.
8. Requesting the Commissioner
to extend Twenty-sixth street NE.
to the intersection of Twenty second
and I streets NE. to provide easier
traffic flow past Browne Junior High
School.
4. Disappearing widening Of Rock
Court alley at the expense Of the
Phillips School playground.
5. Approving use by the Recrea-
tion Department Of certain school
properties with the exception Of
Dunbar High School and the Slowe
School.
8. Announcing dedicatory exer.
cises to be held at the Turner
School, Stanton road and Alabama
avenue Sc, November IA, and at
the Thomas School, Anacostia ave-
nue. and Grant street NE, Novem-
Der Is, both at 8 pm.
7. Approving appointment Of ap-
proximately 127 commissioned Of
f1cers of the white boy high school
cadets and IS for the white girls
corps.
County Hunts Safe Thieves
Montgomery County police today
sought the thieves who stole a
500 pound safe containing between
$500 and 5000 from the Washington
Missionary College Store at Takoma
Park yesterday.