Evening star., 1951-05-17
Board Defers CLOSING
OF Corcoran School,
Votes Gage Transfer

Elementary School into an anne
flor the Washington Vocations
High School on June 80.
The decision came yesterday a
1.-THE boards regular meeting. afte
School Supt. Hobart M. Cornin
recommended such changes.
The board refused, however, t.
close the Corcoran Elementar,
School, as DR.. Corning had asked
Mrs. Harriet McClemons of tn
Corcoran PTA. pleaded with boart
members to keep Corcoran open
since the pupils would have tt
cross too many busy streets i
they were assigned to othe
schools in the Georgetown area.
Enrolment at the Corcoral
School has declined to SO. TIL,
capacity of the building is 288
and DR.. Corning said it is un.
economical to keep it open an.
longer.
Will Study Closing.
The board voted to hold VI
action on closing the school a
least until it has had a chanc.
to look into the matter further
1t will come up again at the mex
board meeting. .....
Gage was transferred to coloret
students because of low enroll
ments also. The use of Slater a!
an annex to the vocational higl
school will give the nurses train.
ing program there much-needet
extra space.
The lengthy meeting was marked
by Woolsey w. Hall, board mem
ber. accusing A. Kiger Savoy, asso.
ciate superintendent, of inter.
fering with the principals right
to give efficiency ratings to theil
teachers as they see fit.
For the first time this year
teachers will be rated by theil
principals. Previously they wer,
rated by the director Of a division
of schools, a school officer higher
in rank than a principal.
MY information is that you tolc
the principals not to change any
rating without seeing you," Mr.
Hall told Mr.. Savoy. He referred
to it as a most dishonest, viciou.
thing" adding:
"The principals have the right
to reflect their opinion Of the worl
by marking their teachers without
going to Mr.. Savoy"
Might Need Guidance.
Mr.. Savoy said he thought Mr.
Hall was being a little hard or
him. He explained that. at a meet.
ing Of principals recently in the
Parkview Elementary School, HI
told them that, in case they
planned to change a rating from
that given the previous year, they
might confer with him.
He said he did this because thi.
lis the first time the principal.
have been allowed to make eff.
ficiency ratings and that he fell
they might need guidance. He
said he had not attempted te
change any ratings the principals
proposed.
The discussion came about dur.
ing consideration of the appeal oi
Miss Jessie c. Wilson, grade
school teacher. who wanted hel
rating in "tact, courtesy, self-con-
troll and poise" upgraded. The
case was continued to another
meeting.
The board appointed Albert
ILechner, 1923 North Twenty-Five
road, Arlington, Va, to the long.
vacant post Of supervisor of the
Penny Milk Program and Of sur
plus food distribution. Mr.. Lech-
ner Is assistant manager of the
Howard Johnson restaurant al
Fairfax Circle. The school jot
carries a starting salary Of $3,S25
Under Lees Criticism.
The position has been vacant
since the board took over opera
tion of those two programs last
fall. The operation of the pro.
grams has been criticized in the
past by Adelbert w. Lee, boarc
vice president. Only last week, q
clerk who has been handling the
job submitted her letter Of resig-
nation, charging mismanagement
In another action. the board re.
tired Mrs. Rosa N. Hampton, head
of the art department for the COL
ored schools. after more than 80
years service in the District
schools. DR.. Corning read a trib-
ute to her. saying she was truly
Ia gifted lady"
The board further:
/. Named Albert E. Steinem
board member, to represent 1t on
the District Recreation Board fol-
another year. Mrs. E. C. Magde-
burger was named his alternate
again.
2. Voted to call a special meet
ing soon to consider what salary
increase should be sought fol
teachers. DR.. Corning is working
now with various teacher groups
to come up with a recommends
ton that will represent the opin-
ion of all. An immediate increase
at least equal to that Federal
|employes may get, will be sought
and the whole salary scale will be
Ioverhauled.
Report on Athletic Director.
8. Asked DR.. Corning to report
on the advisability of establishing
the post of athletic director fol
the schools.
4. Heard a report from DR.
Corning in which he said the
aviation courses in the higf
schools will be evaluated by ar
outside expert. with a view to ex'
panding and revitalizing them.
5. Heard a report from DR.
Corning that, If results of tht
Ipresent experiment. of teaching by
Itelevision is successful, as it ap.