Evening star., 1949-01-10
$2,4SO,250 Budget
For Schools Calls for
End Of Fire Hazards

asW W - VAa WsS
Correction of known fire hazards
In the older school buildings was
called for today in the 1850 budget
estimate for District schools.
The "austerity" budget recon-
mended for the schools seeks s., ,48O,-
$50 for construction, all on previ-
ously planned projects.
1t was recently that DR.. George D.
Strayer, who is conducting a Con-
gressional survey of school needs
here, reported that nearly $38,000,-
600 should be spent on the District S
schools Immediately to get them in
shape to meet current demands.
The first legs of programs to cor
rect the fire hazards. subject of
much debate over the past year, as
we'll as correct bad lighting and other
conditions in the schools are pro-
vided in the budget. DR.: Strayer
emphasized these shocking needs
in the schools in the first part Of
his report and condemned many a
SCIlOOl dS d 4IIC lAoP'
Total Put at S23,323,450.
The total school budget recon-
mended was s23 3,323, ,45O 1t is $1,779,-
233 short of the $25, 5,102, ,683 Con-
gress appropriated last year. The
construction funds are $2,485, ,433
less than last years.
School officials asked for $23,746,-
$50, the first time since 1884 that
a school budget had been lower
than the previous year. The COM
missioners chopped s422,790 off this
figure even.
The schools have more than
$4,0Oo,00O on hand which was ap-
propriated for construction in
previous years.
The budget recommends money
be appropriated to complete con-
struction on six projects. Plans and
specifications for additions to seven
schools were recommended as well
as for replacements for two junior
high schools Hine and TerrelD, =,
for a new elementary school near
River Terrace NE. and for new
Junior high school near Pomeroy
and Stanton roads Sc.
Fire Hazard Program.
Fire hazards in the schools
would be taken care of by a five
year program running more than
s360,OOo. The budget recommended
an appropriation of $4,000 for the
first year.
This s36O.0O0 estimate was made
last year on the basis of reports
from the fire marshals office.
Since then the Board of Education
has been told by School Supt. Ho-
bart M. Corning that the new fire
prevention regulations which went
into effect on January for existing
buildings would cause this sum to
Jump substantially"
This new estimate of what work
is needed will come from District
Director of Construction Archie Hut
son in the future.
For improving of the lighting sys-
tenn in the schools, $4,000 was rec
commended as the first leg of a IA
year program School officials esti-
mated 1850 classrooms need addi-
tional lighting. The program is
expected to cost about 100000.
Dunbar to Get Floors.
To put the third-foor auditorium
at the Sumner Elementary School
back into operation, $4,000 was
recommended. This auditorium was
closed last year after the fire mar
shall reported it had insufficient
exits among other things.
Dunbar High School will get new
floors and blackboards under a $35,-
500 item recommended.
A 10-year program for replacing
floors in schools is provided for in
the budget by a $4,000 item. The
program will total more than $780,
900 and includes new floors in 2,744
classrooms, 900 special rooms and
las gymnasiums and assembly halls.
For completing construction of
six school building projects, the
budget recommended as follows: Re-
placement for Walker-JoneS Ele-
mentary School, s159,00G Ctotal cost,
s730,00O); new Sousa Junior High
School, 100000 total cost, 81 1885,
000); replacement for Birney Ele-
mentary School. S65,000 Ctotal cost,
S7900O0); replacement for Stanton
Elementary School (both permanent
and temporary buildings, S517,440
(total cost, s825,0O0,; new elemen-
tary school in vicinity of Oxon Run
Sc, S625,000 total cost, 1926, 5,O00b, =,
and 15-room addition to Banneker
Junior High School, s195o00.
Planned Projects Listed.
Plans and specifications for the
following projects were recon-
mended: Completion of second floor
OF Burdick Vocational High School;
eight-room addition to Davis Ele-
mentary School; eight-room addi-
ton to Keene Elementary School:
new eight-rpom elementary school
near River Terrace NE; 10-room
addition and gym to Browne Junior
High School; replacement for Hine
Junior High School; new gyms and
remodelirg of Dunbar High School;
cafeteria and new gym at Francis
Junior High School; new junior
high school at Pomery and Stanton
roads Sc: completion of second
floor at Slowe Elementary School,
and replacement for Terrell Junior
High School.
; The budget also recommended
that 100000 previously appropri-
!ated for transfer of the old Bell
Vocational High School into Gen.
,tral be shifted so the transfer could
be made to the former Powell Junior
High School (now called BelD.
The limit of cost for the proposed
Spingarn High School, for colored
pupils in Northeast Washington
was raised to s3,60O,0O0. More than
S1.8000,o00 already has been ap-
propriated for this building but the
cost limit had to be raised before
the contracts could be let.
Lewis Reisner, A, Dies;