Evening star., 1948-08-26
SchooIsE End
DoubIe.Shift
Threat in County
Structures Ready to
Include Lundover Hills
And Five Additions
By ChorIes A. McAIeer

A new elementary school and ad-
ditions to five other schools, all
built during the past year at cost
of more than s1,500,000. are ex-
pected to be ready for occupancy
by the time classes are resumed in
Prince Georges County September g.
AS a result no double shifts-as
many county residents feared would
be necessary-are planned for the
county this year, even though a
record enrolment of % 500 students,
$500 more than last year, is an
ticipated
Most crowded areas, according to
School Supt. G. Gardner Shugart,
will be the Mount Rainier, Ager
road, Bladensburg, District Heights
and Suitland areas. Schools in
some Of these areas might have to
go on double-shift program in the
fall of l949. but not before then,
Mr. Shugart declared.
Opening for the first time will be
the Landover Hills Elementary
School, described by school officials
as one of the most modern struc-
lures in this part OF the country.
Additions also have been construct
ed at the Laurel High School, the
Paramount Heights Elementary
School. the Lakeland Junior Senior
High School, Douglass High School
at Upper Marlboro and the Oxon
Hill Elementary and Junior High
School The latter four schools are
for colored pupils.
Cost s50o,363.
The Landover Hills School, con-
structed on l6-acre site, was built
st cost of s500,363, including fur
nishings. It includes nine class
rooms, a general utility room, Ii
brary. cafeteria, gymnasium and
ONCE space. Use of glass brick and
fuorescent lighting to provide more
light than in the ordinary school
structure is one of the features of
the new building. 1t also is built so
that 10 additional classrooms can be
added, If necessary. without too
much difficulty.
At Laurel. six rooms, including a
modern industrial arts shop, home
economics. tipping and science rooms
and library, gymnasium, cafeteria
and Offices have been added at a
cost of $541,159 The school previ-
ously had only four classrooms and
an auditorium.
Other additions include eight
classrooms, cafeteria and auditorium
at the Fairmount Heights Elemen-
tary School at a cost of 1920, 1853,
and four-room additions to the
Douglass and Lakeland High Schools
and two rooms at the Oxon Hill
School, at a total cost of about
sl40,949.
Another Being Completed.
Besides these schools, another, the
new Frederick Sasscer High School
at Upper Marlboro, is scheduled for
completion about December l, while
a new high school at Oxon Hill may
be ready by spring.
High costs of construction are
emphasized in the amount being
spent on these two schools. The
Upper Marlboro school, originally
slated TO be built for S976, ,404, now
will cost about $l.102733. At Oxon
Hill, the cost will be about $1,18l ITO,
compared to the original contract
price Of $934,300.
Also under construction now and
slated for completion by next
September is new vocational GEN.
ter ut Bladensburg. part of a pro-
posed high school eventually to be
erected there on property north of
the town. A contract was awarded
for this school for 1919, ,789.
Other Schools Planned.
When the Oxon Hill and Upper
Marlboro High Schools are finished,
the present schools will be converted
to elementary school use In addition,
bids soon will be accepted for the
construction OF a new senior Junior
high school for colored pupils in
Fairmont Heights for erection on
Is acres already purchased.
Plans also are in the drafting
table stage for new senior high
schools in the Hyattsville and Suit
land areas. which, if built. will re-
turn other buildings to elementary
grade use. Land has been purchased
on part of the Heurich tract off
Queens Chapel road for the Hyatts-
vile school and on Silver Hill road,
between Suitland road and Marlboro
pike for the Suitland school.
The major problem facing the
county Board of Education is where
the money will come from, accord
Ing to Thomas S. Gwynn, jr., new
supervisor of school construction for
school board In each of the last
two years. bonds totaling $4,000, 900
were sold to provide funds for school
construction