Evening star., 1950-11-01
Arlington Ridge
Group Assai|s
School Costs
Board Says Green's S
Figures on Outlay
Are Inaccurate

fI9ureS on Outloy
Are Inaccurate
The battle over Arlington's
school construction costs gained
momentum today as new organ
ization got into the fight with
accusations of "extravagance"
and the school board defended its
expenditures.
The new criticism of school
board finances is contained in the
report of a special schools COM
mittee of the Arlington Ridge Civic
Association, signed by the follow
ing committee members: Leon K.
Bryner, chairman; A. N. Leggett.
Virginia Clifford, Alice Campbell
and Emma Johnson.
The 24-page report, which has
been approved by the association S
executive committee for publica-
ton, gives a detailed comparison
of area school costs to show that
Arlington's current school building
program is costing more per pupil
than that of any other suburban
district in the Washington vicin-
ity, except Alexandria. The re-
port states that the costs per pupil
average about the same in Airing
ton and Alexandria. but that Alex
andria's construction costs pei
cubic foot were much lower.
The school board, meanwhile
defended its financial policies ir
a reply to recent criticisms by
County Treasurer John Locke
Green, who is the leading op-
ponent of the proposed schoo.
bond issue.
In an open letter Ito the citizens
of Arlington" Schools Supt. VIII.
liam A. Early denies that schools
are costing 100000 per classroom
Mr.. Early says the actual cost PEI
classroom has been $37.753.67.
Mr.. Early's letter also states:
THE County Treasurer says the
Arlington school operating budget
in 1948 was $1,285,975. This /.
not true. The official records show
that the operating budget that
year. as approved by the County
Board. was $2,218,750 or 1892, LITE
more than the figure stated by Mr.
Green.
Official Report Cited.
"The County Treasurer says
that the educational cost per pupi
in 1948 was $98 and that in 1856
it was $232. He is in error as te
both figures. The official report
of the superintendent of schools
shows that the per pupil cost ir
1948 was $164.06. In 1850 this
per pupil cost is expected to be
S205. which will still be below the
National average"
The Citizens Committee fol
School Improvement, which is
campaigning for passage Of the
school bond issue, also claims Mr.
Green's figures about Arlington
school finances are inaccurate. A
statement issued by the chairman
Reed K. Pond today says there
is no excuse in any campaign fol
falsifying figures. We regret that
Mr.. Green has taken so much o1
everyones time with his mac
curacies."
The Arlington Ridge committee
said 1t did not question the sin
cerity or the personal efforts OF
the school board to build the best
schools possible for Arlington" but
expressed concern about the
boards judgment in flnancia,
matters.
Although the report is critical
Of school construction policies, it
does not directly call for defeat OF
the $7,450.00O school bond issue
which will be the subject of a
referendum vote Tuesday. It esti-
mates the new proposed construc-
tion program could be carried out
however, for s5.833, 900.
Four Points Raised.
The report attributes Arling-
tons high" school costs to four
major causes:
l. The insistence in Arlington
for individual planning of each
building and each room; con-
structing single story schools re-
gardless of terrain: over sized
classrooms above State require
ments.
2. The most expensive type of
heating systems are being used.
Radiant heating which is used by
Arlington requires installation Of
a separate ventilating system,
while most Maryland schools use
ventilation heating which gives
both ventilation and heat with
one system.
5. The excessive use OF glass
block, which will create high
maintenance costs. It is costly
to replace, and does not obviate
the need for lighting systems.
4. Inclusion of many items
which may be desirable, but
which are not necessary such as
all metal windows, showers in
elementary schools, private teach
er kitchens. fish ponds, individ-
uals classroom toilets, and expen-
sive plumbing equipment.
School Costs Defended.
In reply to the committee's S
report. Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell
chairman of the Arlington School
Board, said:
1--WE are perfectly aware that
cheap schools are being built in