Evening star., 1950-10-29
School Issue
Tops Politics
Arlington Engrossed
In Bond Referendum
By Robert G. RolIinqs

more than 5000 voters, the ref
erendum is creating concern
usually reserved for campaigns
for public office.
There is contest this year for
the County Board. Voters also
will ballot for Representative
from the 9th Virginia district.
But the referendum is far and
away the chief attraction. Bond
issue proposals are not new
thing in Arlington. Twice in the
past four years they have been
before the electorate. On both oc-
casions they were authorized. The
proceeds of $6,526.000 have Ell
ther been expended or allocated.
The need for additional school
construction appears to have
countrywide acceptance. But
there are residents who oppose
financing it by bond issue, al
though only few have made
their stand known publicly.
To the five members of the
only elected School Board in Vir-
ginia, such opposition is hard to
understand.
Funds Earmarked
THE need for the classrooms
Is fact" asserts Mrs. Elizabeth
Campbell, School Board chair
man. 1.-The children are here to
support it. "a census showed
more Arlington children in the
5-and-under group than enrolled
in the entire system.)
IF we get behind even one year
In our building program, I think
we are lost as far as catching up
in the next 10 years is con-
cerned," Mrs. Campbell says.
1T just scares me to death.
1.-Two years ago we said we
would have to have another bond
issue because the children are
here. If there had been any other
way to finance the construction. if
anybody had any really good ideas,
we should have been working on
them.
"If any one can think any up,
then we don't have to sell any
more bonds than we need. We're
not going to sell all of them at
once. Well simply sell what we
have to as we have done before.
IF we get additional funds, or
we find that the cost isn't as great
as we have estimated, then we can
extend the program we have
planned as a two-year one"
Under the proposed bond issue,
school authorities plan to finance
the following:
A new senior high school and
a new Junior high school sharing
a site near the Four-Mile Run
playground in South Arlington.
To cost a total of $3.5 million, the
two plants would share a cafeteria
and auditorium, as an economy
measure.
Three new elementary schools
(Claremont at Chesterfield road
and South Buchanan street; Not
tingham at Little Falls road and
North Nottingham street, and Fill
more in the Clay School area.)
Other Projects
Additions to six other schools
(Barcroft, Jackson, Kemper, Lang
ston. Stewart and Woodlawn)
Replacement of two page and |
Wilson, with modern schools to
serve 800 more pupils each than |
the present old structures do.
Facilities for 200 to 800 pupils |
at locations still to be determined. |
(The above four items are esti-
mated to. cost $3,220,000D
Additional sites and remodeling
in IL schools Iee. James Madi-
son, Marshall, Woodmont, Mon
roe. Madison Junior High, Henry.
darlington, Gusts, Clay, Cherry
dale and Maury), to cost $3.50, 900.
With more than $4,000 children
in the 5-and-under group
against $4,000 enrolled in school
now, school authorities expect an
increase of at least 1900 pupils
each year for the next four years.
They base their calculations on
the census experience of the past
few years.
Schools Supt. William A. Early
reports: Even when we finish
construction authorized by the last
bond issue, We will have 49 Sec
tions of pupils going to school in
quarters not designed for school
use"
The most vocal opponent of the
bond issue referendum is John
Locke Green. the county treasurer.
Mr.. Green has not limited his op-
position to school bonds, however.
Last week he succeeded in having
a $500,000 issue for swimming
pools, voted in August, voided by
the court.
In brief. Mr.. Green says he is
against the bonds for two reasons:
Il. I don't believe we need to
pay for such Improvements with
bonds.
80. The School Board is build
ing coliseums. causoleums and
cathedrals instead of building
school rooms"
Green's Proposal
Mr.. Green would finance the
construction from State grants
and current taxes.
THE schools will get $3.50, 900
under Gov. Battles program this
year and 100000 next year." Mr..
Green asserts. That's $3.50, 900.
We've got a property reassess-
ment coming up which will in
crease taxes 20 per cent for next
year. This will amount roughly
to So million, of which the schools
will get half. That'll give them
$1,9500o0 right there and if they
build classrooms costing $25 900 a
room instead of 100000, they'll get
78 schoolrooms. At 80 pupils per
room, that would take care of