Evening star., 1948-11-28
2.year Surplus
For Virginia Put
AT S12,500,000
Whitehead Urges
Sum Be Used for
School Construction
By the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
RICHMOND, Nov. 27.-Revised
estimates of Virginia's general fund
revenues for the current biennium
now indicate surplus of S12,500, 900
by June 20, 1880
This, it was learned from a rellable
source today, would exceed the con-
ditional and unconditional appropri-
atlons made by the 1948 General
Assembly.
Word that State fiscal officials had
raised their estimate of the general
fund prompted Delegate Robert
Whitehead of Nelson County to urge
that the s12,50O,O00 be allotted to
the State literary fund as at least
"a gesture toward helping meet
emergency needs in school construc-
ton.
Mr.. Whitehead said today he
thought special session of the Gen.
eral Assembly soon would be fully
justified to transfer into the
literary fund an amount equal to
the expected surplus.
Sum Seen Insufficient.
A persistent advocate of an early
extra session to plan greater State
financial aid for schools, possibly
with a sales tax, Mr.. Whitehead
conceded that $12.50O,O00 was little
compared with school construction
needs reported last week by the
State Board of Education.
Based on reports of county and
city school superintendents, the esti-
mates were put at approximately
S185 100000 in the next two years
and 1896, 100000 over the next 10
years.
The literary fund, from which the
State Board of Education lends
funds for construction work to local
school boards, is now virtually ex-
hausted
The new surplus estimate con-
trasts with the $7,518 used by Of
ficials as the expected 1850 general
fund surplus when the 1948 General
Assembly adjourned last March.
State Budget Director J. H. Brad
ford would not comment on the re-
ports of the new estimate State
Comptroller H. G.. Gilmer could not
be reached. Gov. Tuck was away
from Richmond for the week end.
Trend Continues.
One factor in the revised fore
casts was the $5.3l5,0OO extra sur
plus achieved by last June 30 An
other factor was the trend in State
revenues, which have continued to
rise.
Meanwhile, school officials re-
ported they are using 1000 schools
that are unsuitable because of fire
or health hazards or other reasons,
State Superintendent OF Public In
struction G. Tyler Miller disclosed.
Mr.. Miller's announcement served
to emphasize claims of the 100
counties and Is cities-laid before
the State Board of Education and
the Governor earlier in the week
that they need 1896 100000 in the
next 10 years for school construc-
ton.
The superintendent made his dis
closure on the basis of supplemental
information furnished by local di-
vision heads,
Arlington County, for example, re-
ported it needed S7,573,469 in the
current biennium; $3,892,201 in the
next three. and Sl.374,080 in the next
five. 1t also reported it could
finance the entire amounts.
Needs for Fairfax.
Fairfax County, with similar needs,
said for the three periods it re-
quired S7,565,237 $3,913,562 and ST.
567,938. But it could only provide
$1,517047, $782,712 and $1,513,5S7 to-
ward these requirements.
Charlotte and Westmoreland we're
among counties which reported
needs but no ability to meet any of
! the cost.
Among cities, Winchester and
Staunton reported they could
finance the entire amount needed.
Supplemental reports from 112 of
the l25 political subdivisions showed
that the l090 schools regarded as
unfit for use in values 1896 class
rooms Local school officials pro-
vided this breakdown on the un-
suitability of the schools:
Lack of toilets and insanitary and
unhealthful conditions-727 schools
and 1909 classrooms.
Serious firehazards-S7 schools
and $50 classrooms.
Other reasons-276 schools and
TAT classrooms.
The localities also reported that
258 schools had been closed during
the past three years through con-
solidation and 40 were closed for
other reasons, with 435 classrooms.
They expressed the view, however,
that it would be practical to re-
open and use only 6S of the rooms
to relieve overcrowded conditions.
The supplementary report also
showed that 3,752 elementary school
teachers were carrying excess pupil
loads more than 35 in a class and
that $50 high school teachers were
teaching more than the accepted
maximum of $50 pupils a day.
Some ats elementary teachers and
IS high school teachers were holding
double-shift classes because of in
c1r Enin ca ~