Evening star., 1950-12-18

This Is the Fourth Of a Series of Articles
About Arlington School Costs.
has to decide whether to buy al
car in the $1,000 class, the $4,000
or the $4,000. He must also de-
eide whether to pay more money
for extras, like the automatic
gear shift, seat covers and white
wall tires. To some buyers, these
seem to be worth the difference;
to others, they are unnecessary
friIls.
For following a policy Of build
ing better schools than barely
essential, the Arlington School
Board has been under attack. The
objections defeated a recent $7.5
million bond issue for more build
ings. The policy continues to be
discussed in the light OF need
for about 100 more classrooms IN
the near future.
Architect States Case.
The School Board contends the
relatively small amount OF extra
money" being spent is buying
complete plants that will serve
well, last long and be cheaper
to maintain.
"At Stratford Junior High"
said Architect RheeS Burket. none
of the materials on the outside
will ever need painting except
a few doors and door trim"
Similarly, he said, in support OF
the board, very little maintenance
money will have to be spent on
the inside in the years ahead.
"I think Stratford is building
in which the whole community
will take great pride. Further, 1t
is the type of place that school
children will take care. I doubt
that it will be damaged much by
vandalism. For only a few extra
dollars Arlington got a highly
functional school OF enduring
beauty"
Completion Expected Soon.
Stratford, which is situated
lust off Old Dominion drive at
Cherrydale, is among the more
controversial buildings. 1t is cost
ing about SIS million, equipped.
It is expected to be completed In
q few weeks.
Critics said some of the more
evident "frills" are to be found at
Stratford. In their view, one frlll
is the buff -colored exterior brick.
It cost $500 more than pink
brick. by Mr.. Burket's estimate.
The architect said the light color
was needed to give the big build
ing lift" on its low site.
One complaint involves exten-
sive use of glazed tile wainscot1ng,
In the main corridor it runs as
high as the doors and student
lockers (about feet 8 lnches),
except where there are doors,
lockers and bulletin boards. The
costly tile runs from floor to cell
ing in at least one corridor closet.
It runs from floor to ceiling In
lavatory for boys, next to the
basement shops.
The tile also runs to the CELL
ing on stairwells, even above the
level of the top classrooms.
Says Waste Is Little.
Mr.. Burket said perhaps there
had been too extensive use OF
glazed tile at Stratford. He
thought, however, there had been
remarkably little waste in so vast
a project. He said it might have
been possible to save 100000 on
this job without impairing the
educational opportunities, the
health or safety of pupils.
Arlington School Supt. William
A. Early considered the use OF
tile justified. He said mainte-
nance costs would be higher with
out it. At Stratford, however,
some plaster is used on corridor
walls above the wainscoting and
the lockers. Mr.. Early said the
plaster cost less than structural
supports for cinder blocks above
lockers. 1t will require mainte-
nance painting and patching, how
ever.
The Stars survey disclosed that
elsewhere cinder block is used
quite generally in school corri- |
dors, as we'll as in classrooms.
Walls Are AcOustical.
Stratford will have an audito-
rum with permanent seats for
almost 500 persons. Walls are
of bright blue terra Gotta and
acoustical material. The School
Board considers the auditorium
to be a definite community need.
Prince Georges has discontinued
building auditoriums in its jun
ior and senior high schools. After
finishing the OXon Hill and Fred
erick Sasscer CMarlboro) build
ings, said Thomas S. GWynn, di-
rector of planning, the county
found it could not provide audi
forums and continue building
classrooms. To add auditoriums
in the four high schools now un-
der construction, said Mr.. Gwynn,
would increase costs by 100000.
Montgomery County hasn't built
q school auditorium since Leland
Junior High was put up in Be-
thesda.
WED like some" said Richard
E. Carpenter, assistant superin-
tendent, "but we can't afford
them. We don't have the money.
It is in Stratford's auditorium
lobby that Arlington built its
much-discussed fish pond.
Plainly an Ornament.
When the bond issue was turned
down, a wag suggested that the
school construction program had
been drowned in that pond. This
may be an overstatement OF fact
but it provided critics a peg on
which to hang a damaging argu-