St. Paul recorder., 1952-12-12
McxfieId School
In Poor Condition

Continued from Page ~
about $500 per pupil for instruc-
tion per year, Hammel stated.
Increased populations in other
sections. Hammel said, were other
reasons for the board not being
able to build the consolidated
school as the original planning
called for.
In closing he said:
ut looks extremely impossible
at this time, but 1t Is possible that
a school can be built later"
He was asked to leave the
meeting after his speech and was
thanked for coming. II was felt
that since he was employed In the
administrative staff Of the board,
that those present wouldn't feel
a. free to discuss the plans for
the campaign to get new build
ing as they might II he wasn't
present.
After the speaker left, the
group made plans for future tao
tics and strategy, part Of which
Included plans to send another
delegation to the next school
board meeting, Dec. 10.
When the meeting adjourned, a
person who asked to remain an
onymous, said that he doubted the
board when 1t said that unforeseen
population shifts caused the board
to temporarily shelve plans for
Maxfield-McKinley school.
The person pointed out that his
reasons are that the Highland
area and the housing projects
were being planned before the
survey was made by the Univer-
sity Of Minnesota bureau OF field
studies.
As further proof he pointed out
that in the original new building
plans, the building of Sheridan
school depended upon whether a
housing project was built or not.
The feeling OF those at the
meeting was that they were not
going to be satisfied with any
thing less than a new school.
Tuesday, Dec. Q, the school
board asked for a new $4,000, 900
bond issue. In listing what the
money was TO be used for. plans
call for several new buildings and
Maxfield-McKinley school was
not in the list. A $4,000 re-
habilitation Job for Mckinley was
listed, but nothing for Maxfield.
Potential Firetrap
A tour through Maxfield school
with an architect revealed that
the building Is a potential fire.
trap.
The beams and girders support
ing the building are wooden and
not encased.
Most building codes require
that beams and girders, wooden
and steel be encased, with two
inches or more Of cement or
plaster to increase the fire re-
slstance 20 an open flame.
The architect also pointed out
that the beams have been painted
which reduces their fire resis-
tance.
In the boiler room the open
beams are within five feet OF the
boiler.
The stairway Is open and not
fireproof and in the event Of fire
the children would be trapped be-
cause the fire escape door was
stuck when inspected.
One Of the members Of the
party going through the buildings
weighed zoo hundred pounds and
the door opened after several
hard shoves by him.
Also, In order to get to the fire
escape, II Is necessary to pass
through the first aid room and II
the door was locked or should be-
come stuck, In the event Of fire,
the fire escape would be Inacces-
sible.
The lighting system is less than
80 per cent adequate and as a re-
suit Is injurious to the pupils
The drinking fountains are in
adequate and unsafe and II a stu
dent is pushed while drinking he
stands q good chance of losing
his teeth.
The toilets are antiquated and
msafe
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