Evening star., 1949-05-19
County Receives
.5-Year Plan for
School Building
Montgomery Boord
Coils for S18,l20, 900
Construction Work
ey J. B. Zotmon

SOUStIu w YIN
By J. B. Zotmon
A proposed five-year con-
struction program calling for ex-
.penditures totaling sl8.l20. 900 was
released today by the Montgomery
County Board of Education.
The program represents a re-
vision. in the light of estimated
reduced building costs. OF the
$40, 900 900 capital expenditure
budget made public by the board
last December. Another factor in
the reduction. school officials said
is the Standardization Of element
airy schools where sites permit.
Assistant Supt. of Schools Edgar
M. Douglass explained. however
that the revised program contains
practically the same projects as
originally planned.
Of the total amount requested
Sc, ,406, 500 would be used during
the fiscal year beginning July /
An additional sl.725,0 900 has been
asked for the same period so that
new construction can be placed
under contract in the spring OF
1850.
Continuing Program.
Approval of this request. the
board said. would permit a con-
tinuing program Of construction
with no delay occasioned by wait
ing for the appropriations Of a
new fiscal year
The County Council is prepar-
ing to pass bill by Mrs. Ralph
E. Himstead authorizing the is
suance Of s735. 900 in bonds for
emergency school construction.
The purpose of this measure is
to expedite the start Of building
new classroom units, some of
which may be ready for use next
fall. This sum would be charged
to the schools capital improve
ment budget for next year.
Projects on which construction
is scheduled to begin next fall and
those on which work would start
in the spring of 1850 represent
the most essential needs of the
county" the board declared in a
letter to the council.
Must Be Flexible"
The board emphasized. however,
that the entire program must be
looked upon as a flexible one in
view of the uncertainties of the
future residential growth Of the
county"
It recommended that the coun-
Gil take full advantage of school
building funds which are avail
able under legislation passed at
the recent session Of the General
Assembly.
These funds total $10,l78.006. OF
which $1.260.0oo would be provid-
ed as a State grant If it is matched
by the county on the basis of So
for each 81 from the State. The
remaining $8,9lS,000 could be
used as a loan.
Included in the sl8,120,000 are
an estimated $2s2 500 for furni-
ture. $140.500 for kitchen equip
ment, $4,000 for instructional
materials. s1,30O.o00 for building
and grounds Improvements and
s458, 900 for 104 new school buses
Eight Projects by 1850.
School officials said they hope tc
have eight projects completed by
January. 1850 or shortly there
after. They are five new eight
classroom elementary schools tc
serve the Viers Mill Village. East
West highway. Homewood. Rolling
Terrace and East Rockville areas;
four-room additions to the Somer-
set and Oak View Elementary
Schools and a two-room addition
to the Alta Vista Elementary
School.
Other projects scheduled to get
underway during the coming year
include a two-story shop unit con-
tanning eight temporary class
rooms at Montgomery Blair High
Silver Spring: a new cafeteria at
Bethesda Chevy Chase High with
the present cafeteria to be con-
verted into eight classrooms.
Also, a new Gaithersburg High
School containing Is classrooms,
Offices. health clinic. library and
cafeteria: a new 18-clasSroom
junior high school to serve the
western suburban area: the first
unit Of a new Negro high school
in Rockville; six classrooms at the
Bradley Elementary School: five
classrooms. an office. library and
kitchen at the Rollingwood
Elementary School. and eight
classrooms at the Glen Haven
Elementary School.
Also. two classrooms and a
cafeteria at Sherwood High School.
a new 14-classroom junior high
school to serve the eastern sub
urban area. acquisition of addi-
tional land at the Glenmont
Elementary School and options for
school sites at Bannockburn, Twin
Brook. Rock Greek Hills, Burtons-
vile and on New Hampshire ave-
nue. extended.