Evening star., 1948-03-18
School Cafeteria
Central Control
plan Studied
Bourd Asks Bill to Bon
Tuition Exemptions
Of Non-D. G. Students
By Colt HendIey, Jr.

"A pan 10 organize PUBIC ScnOOl
cafeterias under a central control
board has been proposed by School
Supt. Hobart M. Corning and taken
under advisement by the Board of
Education, after one member ques-
toned the legality of school hav-
ing a cafeteria.
In another action yesterday, the
board asked for legislation to require
all students living outside the Dis
trict, but attend school here, to pay
tuition.
DR.. Corning explained that the
present law was impossible" to ad-
minister fairly. Under the present
appropriations act, nonresident stu
dents exempted under previous acts,
and enrolled before July Is, do not
have to pay. But difference in
opinion over the meaning of the
word enroll has caused confusion,
DR.. Corning said. The District
Court has allowed SO nonresident
students who brought the suit to
remain in school here, ruling that
enroll meant register.
Should Ban All Exemptions.
There are so many borderline
cases that even with the court rul-
ing it is impossible to administer
the tuition matter, DR.. Corning de-
clared. The only way to do 1t
equitably is to exempt no non-Dis-
trict residents, he added.
AS for the cafeteria problem, each
school now runs it's own lunchroom,
it was explained. But DR.. Corning
following recommendations of a
committee of school principals
told the board a central body is
needed for Standardization and
supervision Of the school lunch
rooms. -.
No action was taken on the plan
when Adelbert w. Lee, board men,
ber, contended the board needed
further study of the legal angles.
1t is questionable If the school
board has the right to operate
school cafeterias, Mr.. Lee declared
Building Plans Cited.
"Why does Congress build schools
with cafeterias then-to look at
them?" asked Mrs. Henry Grattan
Doyle, president of the board.
| DR.. Robert A. Maurer put in: "On
the same grounds, we should find
out if the schools can run athletic
contests and charge admission"
The board decided to study the
recommendations of DR.. Corning
and the principals committee until
the next meeting. These recon-
mendations would:
Establish a central management
to consist of director, an assistant
director and clerk; set up uni
form accounting system, arrange fol
central buying of food and set up q
percentage assessment of the gross
income of each cafeteria to meet
the expenses that will be involved.
| Profits from the cafeterias now
are placed in school luncheon func
and used to buy new equipment OF
extend the service-not to the profit
of any individual, DR.. Corning ex.
planned.
Fire Hazard Report Received.
In another action, the board re.
ceived a report from DR.. Corning
on the work done to eliminate the
430 items which the fire marshal's
office reported were fire hazards in
the public schools.
This report said that 203 items
have been corrected, 81 will be soon
and so are awaiting materials. The
other 116 items involve major con-
struction jobs, such as the inclosin2
of stairWays, which will require a
total of about 1891 900.
AS for the two third floor audi
toriums at the Hine Junior High
School and the Summer Elementary
School, which were closed last week
after Mr.. Lee had protested they
were being used in violation of the
fire marshal's report, DR.. Corning
had this TO say:
The auditoriums are not in vio-
lation of the District code, which
is now in effect-but are in viola
tion OF the new fire safety rules
enacted under the Egress Act, which
has not gone into effect as yet.
DR.. Corning said he will keer
them closed, nevertheless, until ex-
pert advice has been received, fol.
lowing an inspection by a .specia
committee of District officials.