Evening star., 1950-07-30
School Officials
Welcome News
.0fU. ). Aid Bill
Measure Would Help
Nearby Areas Meet
Construction Needs

School superintendents in near
by Maryland and Virginia were
enthusiastic last night about the
prospect of Federal funds, but
none had calculated how much
their systems could benefit under
pending legislation to help areas
crowded by Government workers.
We'll take all we can get," was
the expression of DR.. Edwin w.
Broome. Montgomery County su-
perintendent. and Supt. G. Gard
ner Shugart of Prince Georges
County.
In Virginia, Supt. William A.
Early of Arlington, T. c. Williams
of Alexandria and Irwin A. Schmitt
of Falls Church greeted word of
the pending bill as good news. "
The proposed Federal assistance
for school construction is in a
committee-approved bill which
awaits House action. A similar
measure has been approved by
the Senate. Federal assistance
would be based on a formula in
volving the number of children
whose parents work for the Gov
ernment. and the amount of Fed
eral property in the area.
Tax Revenues Lost.
School populations near Wash
ington have been swelled by chill
dren of Federal workers, snd most
of the areas have lost some tax
income because of Federal install
lations located in them.
The nearby areas estimate that
the percentage of their residents
who work for the Government
runs from 40 to SO per cent.
Montgomery County is in the
midst of a 81 million school
building program, and expects an
other $14 to SIS million will be
needed for school construction
during the next five years, Mr..
Broorae said. He estimated that
about 40 per cent of the students
were children of Federal workers.
45 Pct. of Population.
Mr.. Shugart said Prince
Georges County could use $40 mil
lion right away for new schools
in addition to the So million build
ing program already started.
And we expect to need an
other $40 million in the next five
years" he added.
Prince Georges County's popu-
lation has jumped from $4,000 to
1890 in the last decade.
Mr.. Early estimated that Fed
eral workers make up As per cent
of the population in Arlington
During the last 10 years, the
county's population has more than
doubled and totals 5000. A 16,-
600 school enrolment is expected
this fall.
Since 1948, Arlington has built
or planned $6,750,0O0 million in
new school construction, and still
more claSsrooms are needed, Mr.
Early said. He estimated that the
many Government installations in
Arlington accounted for nearly 10
per cent of the county's total area
Finishing One Program.
Mr., Schmitt said Falls Church
already has 100000 school
building program planned, but
needs larger one. He estimated
so per cent of the city's $500
population is Federally employed.
Mr.. Williams said Alexandria is
just finishing a SO million school
construction program, and has
plans for another that would cost
about the same. The Alexandria
school population has increased
about 1000 since 1910.
School Supt. w. T. Woodson of
Fairfax County could not be
reached. The population boom in
Fairfax, however, caused the
county to put up cinder block
emergency school buildings. A
$40 million bond issue recently
was approved for school construc-
ton. but legal red-tape has de-
layed its sale,