Evening star., 1947-09-12
Montgomery Schools
Called Best in Area
Despite Overflow
By J. B. Zotmon

Although approximately 200 Mont
gomery County children are being
forced to attend classes in churches
because their schools are over
crowded, Assistant Supt. Edgar M
Douglass today insisted that 1--WE
are in better shape than any other
school system in the Washington
area"
He stuck to his statement even
after admitting that part of the
kindergarten class at the East Sill
yer Spring Elementary School may
be transferred to a nearby church
and that double shifts are being
considered for about 80 pupils at the
Colesville School.
Reporting to church for their stu
dies are 100 kindergarten and first
grade pupils at the Woodlin School,
Silver Spring, who go to Grace Epis-
copal Church five blocks away; IS
fifth and sixth graders at the Sandy
Spring School, who go to the Ashton
Friends Meeting House, about 100
feet from the school, and approx
mately IS kinderSarten children at
the Kensington School, who have
been shifted to the Kensington
Presbyterian Church, five blocks
away.
Nominal Cost Involved.
In arranging for the transfers, the
Board of Education agreed to pay a
nominal sum to the churches to
cover the cost of light, heat and jan
itor service, Mr.. Douglas said
He added that those shifted from
the Woodlin School will return in
about two months when conStruc-
ton of a four-room addition is
completed.
Glasses for the other two groups
of children will continue to be held
in the Kensington and Sandy
Spring churches until September
1948. At that time an eight-room
addition to the Kensington School
and three-room addition to the
Sandy Spring School are expected
to be ready for occupancy.
In explaining his optimistic view
Mr.. Douglass pointed out that while
enrolment has reached an all-time
high of about 1900 pupils, an in
crease of nearly 300 over last years
figure, a total of TIT teachers-an-
other an-time high for the county
have signed contracts. The num-
ber of teachers represents an in
crease of 10 over the previous school,
year.
Six Schools Being Built.
mo school in the county has
been forced to hold classes in cor.
ridors nor have any double shifts
been ordered" he asserted. THE
shifts of pupils at the Kensington
Woodlin and Sandy Spring Schools
were put into effect to avoid sucf
conditions"
In addition, according to Mr.
Douglass, six school construction
projects, estimated to cost $1,250,.
900 are under way. One--the Wood.
lin addition-will be completed II
two months and the other five will
be ready for occupancy no latel
than next January. When all hav'
been finished, they will meet thu
county's most urgent school needs
he declared.
Besides the addition to the Wood
lin School, the projects include:
Four room additions to the Pine
crest, Gaithersburg and Lynnbrool
Elementary Schools, a 12-room ad
dition to the Montgomery Hill
Junior High School and new Ken
sington- Wheaton School which vii
accommodate about ITS children.
Takoma Park School Planned.
Pressure on the East Silver Sprint
Elementary School will be relieve'
when a new school in the Flowe
avenue area of Takoma Park /
built, Mr.. Douglass asserted. Bid
will be sought within the next 8
days and construction probably vii
be completed by September, ls4s
he said
| According to Mr.. Douglass, TN
average number of pupils per teachel
last wear was 20 in high schools ane
IS in elementary schools.
While he termed that pretty
good" Mr.. Douglass said schooi ON
cials hope to reduce the elementar!
school figure to 80 pupils per teacher
this year.
Meanwhile, officials at the Ken
sinpton. Woodlin and Sandy Sprlnt
Schools said parents Of the childrer