Evening star., 1950-05-04
Board Orders CLOSING
OF High School Center
For Veterans Aug. 80
By Colt Hendley, Jr.

The Board of Education has de-
cided to close the Veterans High
School Center at Mckinley High
The center was set up in 1945 to
serve young veterans who wanted
to complete their high school
course in hurry.
Meeting yesterday, the board
voted to put the center out of
business on August 80. It's enroll
ment has dropped from a peak of
more than 1900 veterans in 1916
to only 1873 this year.
In another action, the school
board refused to change the name
Of Roosevelt High School to Roose-
t-Central.
This means that, when eolored
students from Cardozo High School
move into the Central High build
ing this fall. the name of Central
will not be on the school rolls for
the first time in 68 years. The
Central building will be called
Cardozo.
Roosevelt Pleas Needed.
Earlier in the year. the board
had voted to discontinue Central
as a white school so that over
croWding at Cardozo could be
eliminated.
School Supt. Hobart M. Corning
proposed that Central's name be
preserved by adding it to Roose.
velt's. But the board voted hin,
down. urged on by the pleas OF
Roosevelt supporters who didn'i
want'to see that schools traditions
changed.
After the boards decision not
to change Roosevelt's name. c.
Melvin Sharpe. board president
announced he had just received a
message from Judge Brice Clagett,
Of the Municipal Court of APP
peals. on the Central question.
He read Judge Clagett's letter
which began:
Il think you and the other
members of the Board of Educa-
ton should know that thousands
Of graduates of Central High
School, including myself, will for
ever resent it If the board does
not find a way to retain the name
of Central in connection with
Roosevelt High School,"
Sees Alumni Homeless"
Judge Clagett's letter said such
a change would harm no one and
at least "be a sop" to the Central
graduates and students. If it
was not done, Central alumni
would "be left homeless" it con-
tinued.
The closing Of the Veterans
High School Center has been ex-
pected for the past year because
Of the dropping enrolment. DR..
Corning said those veterans who
remain will be absorbed in the
regular classes at the high
schools.
DR.. Robert G. Vanderlip, who
has headed the center since its
creation in 1945, will continue "at
least until January. 1884," to
handle veterans affairs for the
public schools. The center has
enrolled more than 4,20O veterans
since it started. It was at Cen
trail High School at first, later
shifting to Mckinley High School
At its peak enrolment it ex-
panded into the Park View Ele-
mentary School.
This move does not affect the
Veterans High School Center op-
Grated for colored veterans. That
center has an enrolment Of more
than 400 students and will be con-
tinued as long as there is a need
for 1t.
Park Land Sought.
The School Board also voted to
seek transfer Of park land near
Coolidge High Schoo' so 1t can
go ahead with plans to erect a
stadium there. This stadium would
replace the one lost to the white
schools when Central is trans
ferred to colored students.
The issue Of who would have
title to the land was brought up
by Adelbert w. Lee, board mem
Der. He pointed out the title now
held by the Federal Government
and that the board should make
sure it is transferred to the Dis
trict to avoid future jurisdictional
squabbles. All agreed to take
steps to see If this could be done.
even if legislation is needed.