Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-14
Flat $3.50 Raise
In Teacher Pay
Asked by Board

Commissioner Plan
For Percentage
Increase Approved
The Board Of Education today ap-
proved = proposal calling for q nat
$3.50 raise for the city's more than
5000 teachers as q substitute for the
Commissioners proposal of . IA per
cent increase for teachers similar to
that pending for the classified en-
ployes and the police and firemen.
Today's plan was announced on
a completion of a poll of board men,
bers by DR.. Robert M. Corning, su-
perintendent of schools.
The Commissioner IA per cent
raise would cost the District an esti-
mated 81 500, 900, budget officials es-
timated. The board favored taking
that sum and dividing it equally
among the teachers, which would
amount to about the $3.50 raise which
they are now asking.
Board Favors Flat Raise.
Since April II when the board first
approved a $500 fiat raise for teach
ers, the board has been definitely in
favor of a fiat raise as against a
percentage raise. At hearing be-
fore the Commissioners on June 4,
both Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle,
president OF the board, and Carol
r. Reed, first assistant superinten-
dent Of schools, emphasized the gen.
eral preference for fiat raise be-
cause they said a percentage In
crease would benefit principally the
highest paid personnel In the sys-
tenn. At that time DR.. Reed said
"a IA per cent increase on $4,000
salary would be $3.50, but on my SAL
airy it would amount to $780,
The fight to raise the pay OF the
Districts teachers opened on April
II when the Board of Education
approved a fiat $500 increase for all
teachers and officers. This was SUBJ
mitted to the Commissioners and a
hearing held on June 4. On June 8,
the Commissioners offered the sub
stitute IA per cent raise proposal.
Today's action by the board is a
counterproposal to this last action
of the Commissioners.
The pay proposal which the Com
missioners are supporting would
give a IA per cent raise with these
exceptions: Where the classified en-
ployes will receive minimum OF
$3.50 under the pending Federal Pay
Act, the Commissioners proposed a
$3.50 minimum for teachers, but also
said they would support no increase
that would raise a salary above
$4,000.
Pending Bills Pushed.
Meanwhile, leaders of House and
Senate District Committees were
pushing ahead with plans to COM
plete action on the teachers pay
and a number of other pending mu-
nicipal measures before the ap-
preaching adjournment of this Con-
gress.
While sessions OF both groups are
scheduled within d week, however
there were warnings that the
chances of passage Of a teacher pay
raise bill were growing simmer by
the day, with delays downtown" in
submission OF a bill having united
backing.
Representative Feighan, Demo-
crat, Of Ohio, chairman of the Edu-
cation Subcommittee of the House
District Committee, said he was
very much interested" in the teach
er pay question because it was basic
to the welfare of the pupils. but
that he had received no proposals
He was prepared to hold hearings
if a bill were offered before the
18th hour" he said.
A similar statement was made by
Chairman Mcmillan of the House
District Committee. Acting Chair
man Hoey of the Senate District
Committee said he had been ap-
preached by several teacher repre-
sentatives, but that nothing definite
had been filed. Senator Hoey said
he would schedule hearings when
this was done.
Other Bills to Come Up.
A session of the Senate District
Committee has been tentatively
scheduled for early next week by
Senator Hoey. At that time action
is expected to be considered on a
number of pending bills, including
those recently passed by the House
The IA per cent pay raise for police
and f1remen and the bill to
strengthen the Districts control
over communicable diseases.
A decision still is awaited by the
Senate Committee on the House
bill to make child day-care centers
and nurseries part of the public
school system. Senator Hoey has
sent transcripts of the recent hear
ing to his members. A final vote
may be taken Monday or Tuesday
A session OF the House Committee
has been called for next Friday
morning. Among bills expected tt
be taken up are those to extend
the Districts residential rent con.
troll for year from next December
81; to postpone for a year from July
l the deadline on rental or occu.
pancy of alley dwellings, and to pei
NIT banks and building and loar
associations to be closed all day Sat.
urdays.
Prescott Backs Dunlop
For County Board Post
William H. Prescott, retiring mem