Evening star., 1948-09-01
d Grade School
Districts SET Up
For Arlington
Boord Action Applies
Only to New Pupils,
First Groders This Year

DIVISION OF Arlington into "a
school districts to equalize teacher
load and make the best possible use
OF classroom space in elementary
schools was voted last night by the
Arlington County School Board.
This marks the first time that
the county has had clearly defined
districts for each of its "a elemen-
tary schools, although lines have
been set up In the past to prevent
overcrowding In certain schools.
The districting, schools officials
said, was effected as a result Of
the special school census last spring,
which indicated such a plan should
be developed If educational facili-
Ties were to be used to the best
advantage.
While the plan this year applies
only to first-grade students and
new students in other grades, it
marks the beginning of regulations
which eventually will apply to all
students in all grades.
To Consider Variations.
The board, however, promised to
consider carefully" requests for
variations of the rule.
Tn families for whom a definits
hardship will result from enforce
ment of the districting plan. parents
are asked to send q request In writ
ing to their school principal, stating
the reasons they feel their child
should be allowed to attend q school
outside their own district" School
Supt. Fletcher Kemp said.
The board made several excep-
tions to the districting plan. These
are:
Fifth and sixth grade pupils of the
Picket School will attend Patrick
Henry School and fifth and sixth
grade pupils of the Shirley and
Hume Schools will attend Nellie
Custis School. The shift involves "a.
" and Al children, respectively.
All children who live in Colonial
Village who formerly attended
Woodrow Wilson School will 60 to
James Monroe School. This Is being
done to make room for seventh.
grade pupils who will attend a Junior
high being set up at Woodrow VII
son.
Registration Dates.
Regarding registration, the board
said Picket children who will attend
Patrick Henry should register Sep
tember at the latter school. This
Is the date for registration of all
pupils entering county schools for
the first time; all first, seventh and
10th grade pupils and all who are
transferring from one county school
to another.
The Shirley and Hume pupils,
however. who are being moved to
Nellie Custis, should register at their
old schools on September 13, the
date set for all pupils, other than
those named above, to register The
Colonial Village students also will
register at James Monroe on that
date. Glasses in all county schools
will begin September II.
Principal Named.
Appointment of Mrs. Mae Van
Meter, a former teacher at WASH
ington-Lee High School, who re-
turned to the county system recently
after an absence of several years,
as principal Of the Patrick Henry
Elementary School, was announced
by the board. Mrs. Van Meter will
receive an annual salary of $4,400.
Increases Of 5000 per year were
announced for six teachers who re-
ceived masters degrees during the
summer. The teachers are William
j. Waters, Elizabeth L. James,
Thomas Christie, Helen C. Friauf,
Donald w. Freshman and Frederick
Wampler.
The board set pm. September
IA at Thomas Jefferson Junior High
School as the time for opening of
bids for construction of dressing
rooms at Dolly Madison Junior High
School. The opening will precede
public hearing called by the board
to discuss school needs and pro-
posed bond issue for school con-