Evening star., 1948-05-20
Spingarn High
School Project
May Be Scutt|ed
Dr.. WiIkinsonlSoys
Congress Is Ready
To Drop Proposal
SCHOOL Survey Director Under
Consideration. Page Art.
By Colt HendIey, Jr.

by WI ''S"S'Syf S''
The Board of Education today had
an added complication to It's pro-
gram of getting school buildings
constructed before the public schools
get snow under by increasing en-
rollment-the possibility that Con-
gress may abandon the proposed
Spingarn High School.
This was revealed at the board
meeting yesterday by DR.. Garnet c.
wilkinson, assistant superintendent
in charge of colored schools. DR..
wilkinson told the board he had
information some members Of Con-
gress are ready to scuttle the high
school project, which would give
Northeast Washington its only COL
ored high school.
The situation will be critical,
DR.. Wilkinson warned.
S1.200,OO0 Appropriated.
More than 100000 already has
been appropriated for the school,
TO be built at Twenty-fourth and
Benning road NE, and the plans
are about finished, DR.. Wilkinson
said. But, the authorization for the
new school is only $2,505,0 900, and
the latest estimates from the Mu-
nicipal Architects Office indicate
that at least So, 100000 will be need
ed to get the school built because
of the rising costs of construction.
The school board members i'm
mediately asked the Commissioners
to draw up legislation asking for an
increase in the authorized cost OF
the proposed high school.
The city's three colored hlgh
schools, Cardoza, Dunbar and Arm
strong, are overcrowded now, DR..
=. wilkinson said. School officials
have been counting on the new
Spingarn High School to prevent
these three schools from going on
part-time classes, which they Will
be forced to do within two years,
DR.. Wilkinson added.
IF we don't get relief, we are IN
danger of losing the accredited
standing of those schools, y DR.. VIII
kinson warned.
Silent on Source of Report.
He refused to say where he got
his information that the project
was about to be scuttled by mem
bers of Congress. But it was be-
lieved the situation developed in the
light of another school crisis-the
u, gent need for elementary schools.
1t was a report by School Supt.
Hobart M. Corning several weeks
ago that an additional $1,000 ete-
mentary school pupils were expected
within four years that pointed up
the elementary school crisis. Act
ing on this, and an independent
survey, the Washington Board OF
Trade on Monday recommended
that the Commissioners ask for
sl2.559,440 loan from the Federal
Government to get 18 school prof.
ects completed Immediately.
The trade group, in making the
recommendation, noted that the
elementary school crisis is the most
imminent and said it would consider
the needs of the Junior and senior
high schools later.
In other actions concerning the
need for school buildings, the School
Board yesterday asked the Commits
sioners to realize the necessity OF
providing for the acquisition of un-
improved property throughout the
city for future school needs.
Only by buying unimproved prop
ertv now could the cost of new
schools be kept at minimum, the
board said. Dr. Corning told the
board it is imperative to provide
for school sites in relationship to
large building developments which
VIII occupy big areas of land"
The question Of how much 1t
would cost to provide additional
exits and fireproofing so the closed
auditoriums at four schools could
be used also was discussed.
Corning Estimates Costs.
DR.. Corning said that Archie Hut
son, District director of construc-
ton, estimated it would take $4,000
to get the four auditoriums in con-
dition. 1t would take $4,000 for
Sumner Elementary School, s25,O00
for Bell Vocational High School,
$4,000 for Terrell Junior High
School and S25,0OO for Hine Junior
High School, he said.
It's bad policy to spend that
amount of money on those schools
now," DR.. Corning said. I'VE should
step up the program to replace
them, because fixing the auditoriums
would clear up only one thing"
The board voted against convert
ing the auditoriums in Terrell, Bell
and Hine but approved alterations
to Sumner, after DR.. Wilkinson ex-
planned the building program does
not call for the replacement of that
school and that they would be
"stuck without an auditorium for
wears" If if UPre not altered