Evening star., 1947-09-28
Pat,e''',nI'1ttsPNiesf en-
Lack Of Wafer,
Heat al tGroveton
Officials of Fuirfox
School Deny Pupils
Health Is Endangered

Lack Of water and heat at the
Groveton Elementary School in Fair
fax County, 3 miles south of Alex
andria on Route l, has resulted in
parents protests to county school
officials and threats to keep children
out of school until the conditions are
remedied, it was learned yesterday.
County Schools Supt. w. T. Wood
son and School Principal Emmett M.
Day. however, declared last night
that conditions aren't as bad as some
parents believe and that the health
of the pupils is not being endan-
gered.
The water shortage at the over
crowded school began two weeks ago
and the lack of heat prevailed last
week until Friday when the furnace
was repaired. A few more than $50
pupils are attending classes in three
buildings at Groveton, an increase of
more than 30 over last weeks en-
rollment.
mo Reason for Fear"
Both parents and school officials
agree this isn't the first time there
has been a water shortage at Grove
ton but they disagree on the serious
ness of the resulting conditions. The
parents feel their children's health
Is endangered but Mr.. Woodson says
fatty there "is no reason for fear"
During the first week of the water
shortage, pupils were sent home daily
at 1870 am, parents and school
officials agree. But during the past
week, parents say, the children were
kept there when they shouldn't have
been, both because of the water
shortage and the lack of heat.
Mr.. Day and Mr.. Woodson said
that the water was turned off at
intervals to that a sufficient quantity
could be pumped from the we'll into
the storage tank to create the proper
pressure.
Called Not Dangerous.
Parents complain that toilets
could not be flushed as often as they
should have been but Mr.. Woodson
and Mr.. Day reply that they were
flushed after each recess. While
such a procedure is not ideal, the
school officials assert, it is not dan
gerous to health.
Another complaint Of parents Is
that the water pressure was so low,
pupils had to place their mouths
against the fountains to drink. Off
cials say when the fountains were
running there was sufficient pres
sure so that children did not have to
touch the fixtures.
The parents contend the main
building. of brick, was too cold last
week for the children. The other
buildings in use are both frame and
are heated by stoves which were
in operation.
Consulted Faculty.
Mr.. Day said he consulted the
faculty and it was agreed the un-
heated building was not too cold
for the children. Mr.. Day said he
expected the CRATES would be placed
in the furnace last Thursday, so he
kept the children in school.
When he determined about pm.
that the CRATES would not be in
until the next day, he and the
faculty decided they might as well
finish out the day, since they had
held classes that long. The CRATES
were put in early Friday and the
building was heated by 10 am.
Officials expect the water supply
will be adequate early this week.
The well which has been supplying
the school will not be used after
a pump can be installed in
second we'll which has been dug,
Mr. WoodSon said.
Work was begun on the second
well, an old one which had been in
disuse for sometime. the day after
Mr.. Woodson was notified on Sep
tember 18, that there was water
shortage. On this both officials and
parents agree.
The work of deepening the well
was completed Friday, Mr.. Day said,
and it contains IS feet of water.
Before it is used 1t will be inspected
and approved by the Health Depart
ment, school officials said.