Evening star., 1948-03-05
Washington-Lee
High Accredited
Status in Peril
Plight as Result Of
Overcrowdine Told
At Budget Meeting
By Robert c. RoIHnas


-Washington-Lee-is In "immedi-
ate danger" of losing its accredited
status because Of overcrowding,
School Board Chairman Barnard
Joy disclosed last night.
Mr.. Joy revealed the situation at
a public budget hearing at Thomas
Jefferson Junior High School at
tended by more than 100 persons,
The remark came as he explained
an item of $325,000 designated as
special capital outlay. which would
provide for an emergency" school
to relieve the overcrowding at
Washington-Lee.
I'VE must take steps to see that
there will not be additional pressure
placed on the facilities at Washing
ton-Lee," Mr.. Joy declared.
He explained that the high school
also houses a junior high school and
that there is no room in the build
ing for additional classes, even If
additional teachers were available
and present .overcrowded classes
were divided.
Other Junior Highs Crowded.
Mr.. Joy said part or all" Of the
Junior high would be moved into
temporary emergency quarters to
give the high school room to ex-,
pand. Several hundred additional
pupils are expected to enter the
Junior high school in the fall. The
county's other three Junior high
schools-Thomas Jefferson, Dolly
Madison and Claude A. Swanson
also are filled. to capacity.
Rules of the Southern Association
Of Secondary Schools and Colleges
require each teacher to hold five
daily classes each having not more
than 30 pupils. At the last check,
! a number of teachers had classes
larger than the maximum, school
officials said. Total enrolment OF
Washington-Lee is 2,267 with about
500 In the Junior high school.
The School Board has planned
junior high school in the north
section of the county for several
years and a site near the Washing
ton Golf and Country Club was
acquired some time ago but funds
are not available for the construc-
ton. -
Four Proposals Offered.
At last nights meeting, the school
board presented four budget propos-
ais for the consideration Of the
public. The first would keep school
operations at approximately the
same level as they are now and
would entail expenditures of $685.
495, as against the current budget
Of $1,726,375. The second proposal
amounts to s2,27S, ,220 and the third
s23s7,e0e. The fourth would be
Substantially higher" than the
third and would provide for estab-
lishment OF kindergartens this year.
On a show of hands, substan-
tial majority favored the third pro-
posal, which would necessitate tax
rate increase Of 45 cents per $100
of assessed valuation, under the
school boards proposal.
The S2,278,220 budget calls for a.
tax rate increase of 35 cents, while
the first tentative measure, known
as the status quo' budget, would
be realized on the present school
tax Of Sl.25.
The County Board sets the tax
rate which is divided into amounts
for general and school purposes. The
present rate is 1925, with the gen.
eral fund receiving revenue from 81
of the whole figure.
May Keep Present Rate.
It is possible that the County
Board might decide to retain the
present tax rate but to give the
schools a larger part Of it. In that
case 1t Is thought the county would
make up the difference in its needs
from other revenues since State law
requires that school funds come
from the property tax.
School Board Member o. Glenn
Stahl estimated that homeowner
with a house which would sell for
$4,000 on the present market would
pay about $18 additional annually
In taxes if the present rate were in
creased As cents. He said he had
found that last years reassessment
valued most homes at about one
fifth of their actual market value.
The School Board will reach de-
cision Monday or Tuesday on the
size of the budget they will submit