Evening star., 1952-09-17
Prince Georges
School Plan 10
Cost $1.8N Million
Commissioners Ask
Board to Open Way
For Bond Issue

A new $1.8 million school con-
struction program, financed by q
county bond issue and a Federal
grant. today has the tentative ap-
proval of the Prince Georges
commissioners.
The county heads. in Upper
Marlboro yesterday, asked school
authorities to prepare resolution
authorizing sale of $12 million
in bonds. At the same time, they
were informed by School Supt.
William S. Schmidt that the
county probably will receive an
additional outright grant Of $685.
|232 under Federal law which
provides relief for areas affected
|by an influx Of Government work.
erS.
Previously the Government, un-
der the same statute. had allotted
$1.9 million to Prince Georges.
The $l.2 million bond issue pro.
|posal. due for q final vote soon,
would exhaust existing bond sale
authority granted the county by
the General Assembly. But it
would be expected to relieve acute
overcrowding in the 1854 school
year.
No Negative Vote.
Final approval of the bond Is.
sue was forecast yesterday when
the commissioners voted 80 in
favor of the directive to the
School Board.
Commissioners Edward J. Waters
and Mrs. H. Wilson Spicknall did
not vote and Mrs. Spicknall did
not take part in preceding debate.
Mr.. Waters said he felt that the
$1.9 grant, all earmarked for q
school at Cherry Hill and Powder
Mill Roads. should be used to
build a number of schools in
crowded sections of the county.
MIR. Schmidt pointed out that the
Federal grant was approved spe-
ciflcally for the Cherry Hill school
and said he believed it could not
be reallocated.
The $593, 900 grant will finance
"a start" on a new junior high
school in the Lanham-Landover
area which would relieve over
crowding at Bladensburg and
Laurel.
Projects Involved.
Final approval of the $1.2 bond
issue would enable an early start
on these projects:
A 12-classroom and multi-pur.
pose room school on the county,
owned FRANKIE tract near Riggs
road and University lane, to re-
lieve crowded conditions at the j.
Enos Ray and Langley Park Ele-
mentary Schools.
Ten clasSrooms and q multi.
lpurpose room at Temple Hills on
an as yet unsolicited site.
An eight-classroom and multi.
purpose room school on the
Poretsky tract at Riggs and Ray
roads. West Hyattsville, to relieve
the j. Enos Ray and Chillum
Schools.
All of the new buildings would
be elementary schools.
OF the remaining funds, $685..
600 would be spent for a gymna-
SUM at the Cherry Hill School
and $4,000 for school sites In
various sections of the county.
Assurance Asked for Gym.
Mr.. Schmidt said the Govern
ment has asked assurance that
the gymnasium will be added to
the Cherry Hill School. None Of
the allotted Federal money has
been received
A total Of 2,014 pupils are on
double shift. Mr.. Schmidt said, at
j. Enos Ray. Thomas Stone, Ager
Road, oxon Hill, Langley Park.
Suitland, Silver Hill and Fair.
mount Heights schools.
Construction under way at the
Thomas Stone School, Mount
Rainier, is expected at midyear
to relieve crowding there and at
Suitland, Silver Hi and Oxon Hill.
No reief can be provided this
school year for J. Enos Ray, Lang
ley Park or Ager Road Schools, it
was said. An addition to the
Fairmount Heights (colored)
School will provide relief there in
early spring.
The county's total school en-
rollment Friday was 37,549. It's
total indebtedness for school con-
struction is $20.6 million.