Evening star., 1948-06-13
School Fund.-
Breaks Promise,
tineChdrges
Montgomery Board
Accused of Falling
Pledge to Teachers

n. 0GdIUey StlIlc, pI CSAuCut "a tAiC
Montgomery County Board OF Edu-
cation, last night accused the
County Commissioners of going
back" on their implied promise that
the School Board would get enough
money this year to put all teachers
on the new salary schedule.
His charge was the latest develop
ment in the county's hottest fight
in years over school appropriations.
A hearing on the proposed 1948-49
county budget, which calls for a
slash of s544,501 in school funds,
will be held at pm. Tuesday in
the Rockville Courthouse.
In a letter to the commissioners
last Tuesday, Mr.. Stine said that
in order to give teachers the pay
raises promised them, the Board
of Education would be forced to
shelve plans to hire so additional
teachers.
Tax Increase Opposed.
He also said the school board
would have to eliminate kinder
gartens, music, art and physical
education classes in elementary
schools, the driver training program
and reduce librarian and counsellor
services.
The commissioners have indicated
they will support the proposed cut
in school funds as recommended by
County Supervisor Irving G. Nc
Nayr. They also have expressed op-
position to Mr.. McNayr,s proposal
for scent increase in the county's
$1.88 tax rate.
Last night, Mr.. Stine said that
when the county commissioners cut
the Board of Education's request
last year by about $500,000, only 30
per cent of the 1888 teachers could
be placed on the new salary sched-
ule.
The implication from our con-
versations with the commissioners at
that time" Mr.. Stine declared, was
that we would get enough money
this year to put the remaining 10
per cent on the schedule.
Calls Morale Every Low"
! AS a result of Mr.. McNayr's pro-
posal, he added, teacher morale is
very loW."
| Like soldiers, they continue to
work but they can't put forth their
best efforts" he asserted.
| Most Of last years salary raises,
on Which a $1,000 ceiling was i'm
posed. went to the newer teachers,
Mr.. Stine said, since a majority of
the older teachers were entitled to
larger increase than the maximum
! because of their length of service.
While he was unable to estimate
1 the average increase, Mr.. Stine con-
tended. it "didn't even meet the in
crease in living costs"
If the proposed slash in school
funds is approved, Mr.. Stine said.
the school board will attempt to
put the remaining 10 per cent of
the teachers on as much of the
salary schedule as possible. That
will necessitate cutting out other
services, he claimed.
Says Letter Was Truthful.
He denied the charge made by Mr.
McNayr Friday that Tuesdays letter
was misleading"
That letter was statement of
truth" Mr. Stine asserted. 1T was
a prediction of what will happen
if the cut goes through. and was in
tended to inform the County Com
missioners and the people of the
situation confronting us.
1T definitely was not an attempt
to put pressure on the commits
Sioners."
In another statement last night,
Nathan r. Gilbert, president of the
County Council of Parent Teacher
Associations, said Mr.. McNayr's
recommendation is 'unrealistic.
Mr.. McNary has recommended
enough money for so new teachers
, at a minimum salary of $4,000 8
year each,' Mr.. Gilbert said. "Nt
beginning teachers are available
however, and we would have to ger
experienced teachers and pay then
: an average of at least $500 an
nually.'
: PTA Opposes Cut.
He also said a few teachers hae
indicated to him their intention
to leave if the proposed cut is ap'
proved, adding:
ITO put the rest of the teacher!
, on, the new salary schedule woule
mean an average increase of about
$500 each"
Meanwhile, the Rockville Elemen-
tary School Parent Teacher Asso'
citation announced its opposition tt
the proposed cut in school funds.
The reduction, according to tht
group would so greatly undermine
/, our overburdended, understaf1ed ane
ill-equipped school system tha'
!, present and future generatlon
would suffer immeasurably."
} -Four Corners 10 Get Branch