Evening star., 1948-03-20
|kontgonlerY's
Schools Hint at
Annual Bonding
Direct Pieu Made
For $1,000, 900 Now
For New Buildings

Issuance Of 5000, 900 In bonds
Immediately to finance school con-
struction in Montgomery County
was asked last night by the County
Board of Education.
At the same time, a board member
suggested enabling legislation to
permit issuance Of $3,000,OO0 in
bonds annually for the next few
years to meet education needs.
The request was made at Joint
meeting of the board with the
county commissioners, the county
delegation to the General Assembly
and DR.. Thomas G. Pullen, State
superintendent of public instruc-
ton. They met in the Bethesda
Elementary School.
i. After the board requested itnme-
diate issuance of the $4,000, 900 issue
already authorized by law, James
w. Gill. member, said the same
amount would be needed for "a
number OF years"
81 Tax Boost Mentioned.
Replying for the Board of County
Commissioners, its president, Brooke
Johns, and County Supervisor Irving
G. McNayr said they couldn't grant
the request without impairing the
credit of Montgomery County. The
addition of at least 81 to the present
tax rate is the only solution under
present conditions, they declared.
Mr.. McNayr pointed out that the
county's bonded Indebtedness is
limited by law to 10 per cent of its
assessed value. That Indebtedness
now is $37, 900, he declared, in
cluding $18,000,000 issued by the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission. The issuance of the
first 100000 requested, which an
ready has been authorized by the
Assembly, would exceed the 10 per
cent limit, he said. ..
An increase In the tax rate would
provide 100000 annually, he point
ed-out, but some Of that would have
to 60 to increased appropriations
for other services. such as health,
police and roads.
A possible solution to the problem
was advanced by Joseph Guandolo
representing the parent-teacher
group. He suggested that special
legislation be passed making the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission Indebtedness payable
out of currene revenues-but lover
ing the county's financial liability
for the commissions bond.
Spokesmen for the State dele
cation promised to look into the pos
Sibilities OF this suggestion.
The meeting last night was
opened by Mrs. Helen C. Walker,
president of the school board. Mrs.
Durward Sandifer, board member,
which the board considers neces-
presented the education program
Fsary to meet the neds of the chill
sary to meet the needs of the chill
countys resources from the stand
point OF population and finances.
he said the county now spends $185
per student annually for education.
$500 is considered by authorities
as the minimum, and $3.50 to s4Oo
as excellent.
There. is nothing wrong with
Montgomery county schools that
money won't cure" he declared.
Columbia Representative Speaks.
DR.. Paul Mort, of the Teachers
College, Columbia University also
spoke on the educational needs of
children. -
DR.. Pullen, acting as moderator
1or the discussion, said the State
Is prepared to give more assistance
IN the future. 1t has assumed the
responsibility of cutting down the
teacher load to 80 students between
now and 1851. At the next meeting
of the Legislature he will present a
3-point program of additional as
sistance: A teachers college building
program, increased aid to the Junior
colleges and a doubled incentive
fund.
He did not advocate that the
State take on the entire response
bility of public education. IF you
want the public schools to be re-
sponsive to your wishes, you must
assume the chief responsibility for
them - ha said