Evening star., 1947-01-16
School BUILDING
Program Urged
In Montgomery
ID Million Requested.
With Half of 1t to Be
Available This Yeur

The Montgomery County Board Of
Commissioners today made public a
report from the County Board of
Education which requests a $14,000,-
900 building program for the coun-
tvs 63 schools.
The report, which gives q de-
tailed survey of the county school
system by schools, also lists pro-
posals for future school sites, con-
solidation Of schools and improve
ments to grounds as well as build
ings.
A four-point program by DR..
Edwin w. Broome, school superin-
tendent, recommended:
THAT unified effort be made to
secure State aid for buildings, with
adequate appropriations.
That the program outlined for
the county in this report be used
as the basis in making provisions
for school expansion.
THAT in anticipation of the early
removal of building restrictions, an
appropriation for the initial stage
of this program be made available
for 1947 in the amount of $780,
900 from county and state funds.
That authorization for subse-
quent appropriations be made to
provide for the further develop
ment of this program which will
become necessary in meeting school
conditions, as they arise prior to the
next construction report to be sub
mitted January /, 1949."
New Colored Senior High.
Included in the reorganization
plans for colored schools would be
a new senior high school in Rock
vile, with the present building in
Rockville to be converted into
Junior high school. The 10 ele-
mentary schools would be replaced
by few large colored elementary
schools in central locations.
The long range improvement pro-
gram includes these principal
schools:
Bethesda Chevy Chase High
School, $4,000, for graund i'm
provements and construction of q
new building which would give the
school total capacity of 1900 pupils,
or double the present enrolment.
Richard Montgomery High School,
$450,000, to be expanded for gym
nasium, additional class rooms, and
landscaping.
Sherwood High School, $3.50, 100,
for an additional building, land
scaping, and a disposal plant.
Gaithersburg Beyond Capacity"
Gaithersburg High School, $685.
900 for new building, landscaping,
roads, furniture and equipment. The
present building is described in the
report as beyond capacity" and
having "substandard rooms"
Damascus High School, $685. 900
for a new building The site has
already been purchased, the report
adds.
1.-The need for a new high school
for Damascus" according to the re-
port, 'is paramount. The old build
ing is antiquated in every respect.
While the enrolment in Damascus
High School does not show the sharp
rise indicated for some of the sub
urban areas, there is constant de-
velopment taking place in the
community. Additional buildings
will be required as the school en-
larges."
Takoma Park Junior High School,
$538, 900 for new construction In or
der "to absorb grades seven to nine
which are now housed in the Silver
Spring Intermediary School"
Some Work Under Way.
Montgomery Blair Senior High
School, 10000 for new building,
furniture, equipment and landscap-
ing. It is planned to have greatly
increased facilities there for adult
education, .rboth vocational and
avocational.
Schools either under construction
or having additions built and ex-
pected to be ready for use by fall
include Lynbrook, Montgomery Hills
Junior High, Pinecrest Elementary,
Woodlin Elementary, Kensington-
Wheaton Elementary.
THE schools now under construc-
ton represent a beginning in the
postwar program" DR.. Broome de-
clared. 1.-The limited number OF
buildings under construction ex-
presses the unfavorable building
conditions that have prevailed.
Money for the planning OF schools
has been made available through
advances from the Federal Govern
ment, from a limited amount as a
grant from the Maryland State Post
war Planning and Construction
Commission and from county funds.
Falls Church PIA Hits