Evening star., 1951-03-27
Citizens Group
Opposes End Of
Pupil Exchange
| Falls Church Decision
| On Fuirfux Trade
| Called III-Advised


The Falls Church School Boards
decision to end a pupil exchange
agreement with Fairfax County
"was ill-advised" and should be
reconsidered," a citizens associa-
ton spokesman told the City
Council last night.
Mayor Albert M. Orme replied
to 10 residents of the Greenway
Downs area that the decision was
a School Board affair. The reasons
for the boards action. the Mayor
said, will become clear" He did
not elaborate.
Edgar H. Boyd of 122 West
Greenway boulevard, vice presi-
dent of the North Greenway
Downs Citizens Association, said
IT think we ought to go to the
county and see what we can work
out"
He added that "a number Of my
neighbors" protested the prospects
of children living near the coun-
tvs Oak Street School, boarding
buses to attend the city's new
elementary school in the county.
while county children living near
the new school will pass them on
their way to Oak street."
Annexation Suit Pending.
The exchange policy should be
continued, Mr.. Boyd said, until
the city's annexation suit against
the county is settled. The city's
claim to 10 square miles of county
territory is now before the State
Supreme Court Of Appeals.
The Falls Church School Board
plans to provide bus transporta-
tion where necessary"
Robert B. Mcdowell, 215 West
Cameron road. a former president
|of the same citizens association,
agreed that the boards decision
|"could have been postponed until
annexation is decided"
Mr.. Mcdowell said, however,
that he "sympathizes" with the
boards position. He said the
board failed to realize the pos
Isible political import" of the de-.
|cision, and should have consulted
the Mayor and Council before an-
|nouncing it.
The end of the pupil-exchange
agreement will ease crowded con.
ditions at the county's Falls
Church High School but county
officials are still studying where
they can find room for $50 ele..
mentary students who will be dis
placed by the change. i
The elementary students now
attend the city's Madison-Jeffer-
son school.
Record Enrolment.
The county high school has
been using a room in the Hil-
wood Square community house
land another in a private home
to take care of a record enroll
ment, including 270 students liv.
ing in the city.
Fairfax Supt. w. T. Woodson
said that when the city pupils
move to the new school, the tenn
Iporary classrooms will be aban-
doned.
About 260 city elementary stu
dents attend Oak Street School,
operated by the county in Falls
Church. When these students
are withdrawn, their places will
be taken by some of the county
students displaced from Madison
Jefferson.
Plans Made For Some.
Some Of the 800 elementary stu
dents with mo place to go" may
be accommodated at the Willston
elementary school, now under
construction at Seven Corners, Mr..
Woodson said.
At present, sessions are being
held in Willston apartment
building. The structure now being
now being built will have eight
large classroomS, three more than
the temporary quarters. It may
be decided to cut the large rooms
in half, Mr.. Woodson said, making
Is smaller rooms. This procedure
has been followed at the nearby
Graham Road school.
Another prospect, according to
the superintendent, is new
school which will be built at
West Lawn, between Willston and
Graham road. Part of the pre-
ceeds of a SOS million school
bond issue. tied up in litigation,
will probably be needed to build
this 10-room structure but the
board is making plans so that the
contract will be awarded as soon
as the bond issue is cleared.
When this money is available.
additions to Willston and Graham