Evening star., 1947-01-10
Land Purchase Fund
To Bear Burden OF
6 Million Reduction

6 Million Reduction
By Henry A. Muslin
Drastic curtailment of the District
public schools building expansion
program to relieve an acute space
shortage would be necessary under
he budget formula recommended to
Congress today by the President.
The Presidents request for $19,-
los, 400 to finance the schools during
ascal 1913 would slash $6,219,100
lrom the $25,714.5o0 estimate given
The Commissioners by the Board OF
Education.
Coming entirely out Of the portion
of the budget devoted to construc-
lion and land purchase, the cut
would mean abandonment Of l6 OF
23 school building projects sought
by the board, six Of seven building
plan drafts and eight OF nine school
and playground sic purchases. @
Little Pros,ect of Relief.
School officials could see little
of relief under the formula
for the nearly 1000 public school
pupils now on part-tim schedules
because of the classroom space
shortage.
In dollars, construction funds
would be cut from $3.50 ,180 sought
by the School Board to $1,923, 900.
This would be considerably less than
the $2,297, $50 allocated to construc-
ton under the 1947 budget.
More drastic would be the planned
reduction In site purchase funds
from the 100000 asked by the
board to $4,000. The schools were
allowed $296,200 for this purpose
during the current fiscal year. The
sum proposed would 60 toward land
on River Terrace N. E., for an g.
room elementary school and play
ground.
Planning Fund Slashed.
The boards request for $9o,2S0 for
the drafting of preliminary plans
for school buildings and related
structures would be pared down to
$4,000, that sum going toward draw
ings for a gymnasium for Dunbar
High School and q stadium for Dun.
bar and Armstrong Highs.
Funds for furnishing and equip
ping schools would be cut from $8l9.-
600 sought by the board to $50, 900,
depriving five existing schools and
II unfinished buildings Of such bene-
Ats. Money on hand this fiscal year
for furnishings amounted to $780,
500.
The formula presented to Congress
contains no provision for teachers
salary increases. With the one-year,
$3.50 raise granted last spring expir-
ing June 30, this would present a
financial problem in the event Con-
gress saw At to extend the raise or
increase salaries still further.
More Generous Operating Fund.
On the operating expenses side,
the Presidents recommendations
were more generous. His proposal
| that the schools get SIT ,372, 400 ex-
ceeds both the boards request for
ST, 7,145 500 and the 1947 appropria-
ton of $15,037, ,972. Inclusion of ST.
TOT 900 toward the teachers retire
ment fund in the Recommendation
however, accounts for considerable
portion of the total.
| Despite the recommended increase
in operating expenses, the boards
request for so additional teachers
for the colored schools would be cut
to 56, including q new assistant prin-
|cipal for Randall Junior High School.
Furthermore, 13 full-time and 80
half-year custodial employees would
be furnished instead Of the "a full
time workers sought by the board.
In addition, the Presidents rec
concentrations would provide five
additional clerks for administrative
duties and a personal officer to as
sist DR.. G. c. Wilkinson, assistant
superintendent in charge of colored
schools. Vocational education would
profit to the extent of two more
teachers and an additional depart
mental employe.
Operating Fund Allotments.
The Presidents recommendation
would earmark operating funds as
follows: General administration,
$3.50, 800: general supervision and
instruction, SILICA, 600: vocational
education. $149,50o; operation OF
buildings and grounds and mainte-
nance Of equipment, $2,565 900; re-
pair and maintenance of buildings
and grounds. 600; auxiliary
educational services, SOC, $500, and
teachers retirement fund, 81 ,707, 900.
Specific items which would be
eliminated from the boards pro-
posals under the presidential for
mula include $22.050 to begin q
81 ,05O,000 administration building,
10000 for the accoustical treatment
Of older schools, $4,000 to install
clock and bell systems in so ele-
mentary schools and $4,000 to tilt
the auditorium floors for better visi-
bility at Macfarland, Stuart and
Paul Junior High Schools.
The program would cut in half
board request for $57 900 to modern
ize toilets in "A schools over q three
year period, extending the time to
six years.
Telephone Appropriation Held.
Recommended for retention were
$17,715 to modernize the school tele-
phone system. $4,000 for repairs to
Roosevelt High School stadium and
$16,S86 to provide girls showers at
Central and Dunbar High Schools.
Other construction projects rec,
commended by the President include:
$4,000 for continuing construc-
ton Of an addition to Taft Junior
High School, including 10 class
rooms, two gymnasiums and recrea-
ton facilities.
100000 to continue construction
of the Nalley Elementary School at
East Capitol street and Benning
road NE.
$4,000 for continuing construc-
tion of q replacement for the
Cranch- Tyler Elementary School at
Eleventh and @ streets Sc.
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