Evening star., 1951-10-07

tration.
Sees Need for More Funds.
IF We are to continue and if
this investigation is to continue
it will require more funds for at
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See Editorial: Whot's Wrong in FolIs
Church? Poee CA
torney's fees than we feel justi-
fled in paying from the public
budget" Mrs. Mark Regan, board
chairman. declared.
The School Board employed
State Senator Andrew W. Clarke
to represent it in the investigative
sessions held by the City Council.
One of these sessions was an open
public meeting attended by 200
persons The investigation was
begun after a request of the Falls
Church School Emergency Com
mittee was approved at the first
meeting Of the new City Council
On September /.
The emergency committee listed
nearly score of charges accusing
the School Board of including too
many frills in its school building
program and of ending a pupil
exchange program with Fairfax
County without giving considera-
tion to the lack of school space in
the city system.
No Criticism at Meeting.
No voice was raised against
School Board policies during the
open meeting, prior to an eXecu-
tive session, last night. Many
of those present had attended a
public hearing at the Madison
School Friday night to support
the School Board. School Supt.
Irwin Schmitt and board policies.
The meeting was sponsored by
the Committee of One Hundred
to Protect the Integrity of Our
Schools.
AS the board adjourned last
nights special meeting, Mrs. Re-
gan said that for the members
to continue in Office would mean
personal sacrifices in business,
health and mental strain and long
hours of work.
The question resolves itself to:
Will there be enough net return
to the children if this board con-
tinues in Office? If every ac-
ton of the board is subject to
suspicion we will not have time
to see that the children are taken
care Of"
Council Actions Assailed.
Many Of those at last nights
meeting criticized the City Coun-
ellis handling of the investigation
into School Board policies. FIRE.
quent references were made to
"undemocratic processes" "inqui-
sition," "harassment of board
members" and star chamber
proceedings" by the council.
Forty three communications
supporting the School Board and
requesting members to continue
in Office were read into the board
minutes by Mrs. Reagan. Many of
the letters were from civic groups,
PTA's and women's clubs.
The Falls Church Education
Association wrote the board, en-
couraging its school policies and
telling of an awareness of emo
tional tension" among pupils.
Dispute Blamed.
The association said the tension
sis the result of the dispute be-
tween the School Board and the
City Council"
Mayor Charles E. Kellogg.
meanwhile, denied there was any
mystery over the status of the
investigation.
I'VE are in the process of re-
viewing the testimony" he said.
1--WE prefer not to have any more
sessions, but it may be necessary
if we find some questions un-
answered as we review the case"
After testimony is reviewed, the
Mayor said, public report will
be made and transcript of the
proceedings will be available for
inspection at City Hall.
He estimated it would be from
two to three weeks before the
case is reviewed completely and a
report completed.
Denies Secret Meetings.
The mayor denied that there
had been any executive council
sessions during the investigation.
He said the council was acting as
a committee of the whole-au-
thorized in the charter-and not
as City Council, in conducting the
inquiry.
The committee actually de-
cided the other night that no more
sessions would be necessary" he
added.
He was referring to a meeting
Tuesday at which the School
Board presented it's 22-page reply
to charges against it. Mayor Kel-
logg declared that meeting was
closed at the request of the School
Board, and he later discovered a
copy of the School Boards reply
had been given tc a newspaper
before it was in the hands of
council members.
Questions raised by School
Board supporters that the inves-
tigation possibly was prompted
by a Nationwide movement
against public schools were termed
nonsense" by the mayor.
ARLINGTON Recreation Leader