Evening star., 1946-04-18
School Board Asks
Immediate Raise Of
$500 for Teachers
By Morton Wode DOYLE

An immediate $500 raise for all
public school teachers and officers
was requested by the Board of Edu-
cation in letter sent to the District
Commissioners today.
The board, at its meeting yester-
day, also asked the Commissioners
to approve the long-pending plan
of operation by group Of incor-
porated mothers of IA nurseries in
school buildings The Commis-
sioners have been asked to vote on
the proposal in the near future so
that the mothers may start the
centers immediately-possibly Mon
day, according to c. Melvin Sharpe,
chairman of the board committee
in charge.
The board decided to stream
line" its committees and rules of
procedure. Organized so long ago
that Thomas Jefferson was the
first president, the board has been
following certain rules of order
that possibly might now be elm
mated without loss of dignity or
authority, board members pointed
out.
Requested by Corning.
The request for streamlining came
from DR.. Hobart M. Corning, who
has been superintendent for about
six weeks. DR.. Corning already has
suggested the board need not again
approve scholarships that are Of
fered annually, and has asked for
a study of many such customs.
Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle, board
president, said she would appoint
a streamlining committee soon.
The increased cost Of living and
the necessity for attracting and
holding good teachers are the two
main reasons for the boards request
for a fiat $500 raise, it was declared
yesterday. This amount was origi-
nally suggested by a large group OF
teachers during recent hearing on
a 500 raise suggested for most
teachers in bill submitted by Sem
ator McCarran, Democrat, Of Ne
vada.
The McCarran provisions, the
board declared, do not meet the
needs of teachers and officers as
adequately as the $500 increase"
Varying raises had been suggested
by Senator McCarran, but the board
believes that $500 should simply be
added to the intricate pay system
approved when salaries were raised
last July
Pension Bill Approved.
The board also told the Com
missioners 1t approves a pending
bill authorizing teachers and OH
GERS to lay away more money for
their retirement pensions than is
now permitted.
The mothers plan to operate the
nurseries contemplates 10 centers
for colored children and four for
white children until June 80, when
Congressional support may have
been obtained, Mr.. Sharpe told the
board. The Community War Fund
has advanced $4,000 for the i'm
mediate expenses, with about $20,-
600 in reserve. The mothers are
expected to meet additional costs
with fees, he said.
While food, and a truck to de-
liver it, may not be on hand by
Monday, the nurseries will have
enough milk to open then If the
Commissioners approve, Mr.. Sharpe
added. The mothers request to
operate the center has been pending
since February %, when Federal
Works Agency funds were with
drawn. Two former FWA centers
on District property and four on
National Capital Housing Authority
property, already are being man.
aged by parents
DR.. Corning told the board he
had submitted to the Senate District
Appropriations Subcommittee tables
showing that even if all planned
construction goes through, 5000
colored elementary children will
still be in part-time' classes in 1949
About 1000 now attend part time.