Evening star., 1948-12-16
Unit 10 Operate
All Cafeteriias in
Schools Studied
Corning Plan Would
Fix responsibilities
And Control Buying
By Colt HendIey, Jr.

By Colt Hendley, Jr.
The establishment of a central
to control and operate
all cafeterias in the public schools
is under study by the Board Of
Education.
This proposal would change com.
pletely the present policy of the
School Board to take no official no.
tice of the cafeterias, which are
operated separately at most schools
by the school principal. The plan
was recommended to the board yes.
terday by School Supt. Hobart M.
Corning and was taken under ad.
visement.
DR.. Corning told the board in-
formal conferences with Corporation
Counsel Vernon E. West have con-
vinced him the School Board has
the legal authority to operate cafe
terias." However, there is a grave
question as to whether the board
has the right to delegate that au-
thority to Others" he said.
Since school cafeterias have been
operated here the principals have
set them up as nonprofit business,
hired and fired employees, and had
complete control. Prices of food
and quality-vary from school to
school,
Would Be Part of System.
DR.. Corning said the proposed
cafeteria department would be oper-
atd as an integral part" of the
school system. It would be stated
by a director and assistants, re-
sponsible to the school superin-
tendent.
All cafeteria workers would be
employees of the school board, and
principals would be relieved of tine
pressing responsibilities" of cafe
terra management. All purchasing
would be done by the central Office.
In another action the board op-
posed issuance of a liquor license
for the premises at 30l6 Nichols
avenue Sc, near the Congress
Heights Elementary School.
DR.. Corning said the store is only
294 feet from the main" entrance
of the school. The law requires 1t
must be at least 400 feet.
DR.. James A. Cannon, board mem
ber. disputed DR.. Corning's definition
of the main entrance. He said it Is
located on Alabama avenue, while DR..
Corning contended it is on Nichols
avenue. DR.. Cannon declared:
Il have no sympathy with the
liquor business, but / want the small
businessman to sell his liquor If it Is
allowed by law just as he can sell
his Bibles and prayer books"
Fire Alarm Report Adopted.
The board also adopted DR..
Corning's amended report on fire
alarms for schools. The report con-
tanned no reference to the dispute
over whether fire boxes should be
inside or outside the schools. DR..
! Corning tried on Tuesday to get q
recommendation for inside boxes Of
some type from board members but
they would have none of 1t.
All members seemed anxious not
to take sides in the squable as to
the type of fire boxes to be used.
The Commissioners have voted for
inside boxes of type recommended
by Herbert A. Friede, District super
intendent of communications. Fire
Chief Clement Murphy wants or
dinary street alarms installed out.
side the schools.
George E. c. Hayes, board MEM
ber, said: THE board should be very
careful not to say we are against
Fire Chief Murphy's stand because
under the law he is responsible for
the safety of the children"
Steniem Agrees.
Albert E. Steniem agreed, saying:
III the Fire Department Is charged
with the responsibility, it should be
taken into consideration" Mr.. Hayes
and Mrs. James w. williams, an
other board member, both said that,
If they had to make choice. they
would side with Chief Murphy.
In other actions, the board:
Authorized establishment Of
courses in high schools to train key
punch machine operators. This was
requested by the Bureau of Census.
which said 1t will need about 5000
such operators starting about July.
1850, for the census. The instruc.
ton will begin next semester.
Approved the distribution of coin
cards to students in the schools for
the March-of- Dimes campaign of
the National Foundation for Infan-
tile PARALYSIS,