Evening star., 1948-10-28

Proponents of a $4.750, 900 Airing
ton school bond issue today answered
the first organized opposition to
the proposal which will be voted on
Tuesday.
! The opposition was disclosed in an
advertisement in an Arlington news
paper signed by Mrs. J. E. Shawhan,
president of the Fact Finding Com
mittee Of Arlington.
Mrs. Shawhan said the opposi-
tion group is "nonpolitical and nom
partisan She said it has no con-
nection with the Greater Arlington
Association which opposed a bond
issue in May. 1947. The new group
was said to have about 80 members.
Stoebe Backs Need.
She listed C. E. Boldin and VIM
fred M. Brown as vice presidents
and Mrs. Faith Gardiner as secre-
tary. The latter is the daughter of
Washington-Lee High School
teacher, Mrs. Francis Bell.
! ROLAND w. Stoebe. chairman of
the Co-ordinating Council for the
Arlington School Bond Campaign,
declared that the crying need for
the additional school facilities has
been repeatedly stated before nu-
merous business, civic and educa-
tional groups of the county"
Mr.. Stoebe said the present l2,-
542 enrolment is more than 1900
over building capacity. He said that
on the basis of a special census the
enrolment is expected to increase
to 17,200 by 1851, and to 20,470 by
February, 1854. @
The proposed s4,750,OO0 bond
issue will provide sufficient capacity
only through 1851. however" he said.
The newspaper advertisement
asked: "Wny vote a s4,750.00O bond
issue to a School Board which still
has available $1,784 ,507 of borrowed
money which Is unobligated. The
School Board has purchased no
sites nor presented any construc-
ton plans involving this S1,784,507
You are paying $3,7O0 a month
interest on this borrowed money"
In reply, Mr.. Stoebe said:
The recent s1,77600O bond issue
is to provide A elementary
classrooms to be completed
for the next school year.
! THE A classrooms were scheduled
to alleviate the overcrowding as 1t
existed l8 months ago and will not
meet overcrowding today.
/ Negotiations already we'll under
way for the six new buildings could
not legally be completed until the
money became available. Obviously
no interest will be due on money not
yet received by the School Board"
Says Surplus Is Allocated.
The fact-finding group advertise
ment asked why the School Board
did not spend s221,9 surplus be-
fore borrowing more money.
Mr.. Stoebe said 10 per cent of the
surplus has been allocated, part of
which went for an eight-acre site
for a junior high school and part
for a dressing and locker room ad-
dition to the Dolly Madison Junior
High School. The site purchase was
completed yesterday.
why did the School Board hire
a consultant at $8,400 a year =
to advise them or to sell you on the
bond issue?' the advertisement
asked.
To this Mr.. stoebe declared
every one will admit that the CEN
sus and its subsequent analysis by
the consultant has been more than
worth the while"
| Mrs. Shawhan said the group will
meet tonight in Bauserman,s Hall.
Columbia pike and South Glebe
road, to hear talks by County Treas
urer John Locke Green, Lawrence
w. Douglas, former commemorative
attorney, and William P. Ames, Ar
lington businessman.
Mrs. Shawhan said 10000 cir
culars, listing 10 facts, would be dis
tributed on behalf of her group at
the polls Tuesday.