Evening star., 1952-06-25
Bold Plan 10 End Prince Georges
tuberculosis in Board Told Of
D. +. AdvocatedNeed Of Schools
Enrolment Cited
In Move for Another
Construction Program

Construction Program
First-graders are enrolling in
Prince Georges schools in such
numbers that the problem of class
room space is becoming increas-
ingly acute, despite expenditure
of nearly $40 million in the last
three years.
This situation was pointed up
yesterday for the distraught
county commissioners, who also
were told that new, and prob
ably huge school building proposal
will be placed before them by the
end of the current year.
Civic leaders of the densely pop
ulated area surrounding the
j. Enos Ray Elementary School
at New Hampshire avenue and
Ray road described the difficulties
at the commissioners meeting in
Upper Marlboro. They asked for
of one or two new
buildings.
The delegation was sent to the
commissioners hearing room by
parents whose feelings are run
ming high about overcrowded con-
ditions.
Double Shifts in Prospect.
William Schutt, president of the
Carole Highlands Citizens Asso-
citation, and other delegation
spokesmen said the Enos Ray
built for 500 pupils, had
an enrolment of more than 600
last year and will have 700 when
it's doors open in September.
The first grade was on double
shift last year and present pros
poets are, they said, that the first
three grades, and perhaps the en-
tire school, will be on such a
schedule next fall and winter.
AS an alternative, the schools
excess enrolment would be sent
to Hyattsville or Greenbelt, the
latter 10 miles away. Parents
view this proposal with disfavor.
The delegation asked for a new
school on the county-owne IL
acre FRANKIE tract in Carole High
lands. halfway between the Enos
Ray and Langley Elementary
Schools. If their request Is ap-
proved. the school would be sched-
lled for completion by September
Of next year.
Funds for the project could be
obtained, they suggested, by SELL
ing $1.2 million in bonds still re-
naming in a $40 million authori-
zation of the 1949 Legislature.
Pressing Needs Elsewhere.
Supporting their request, Coun-
ty School Supt. William S.
Schmidt said the need for space
Is pressing in the Chillum and
Oxon Hill sections. He recon-
mended sale of the remaining
bonds to clear out the 1949 au-
thorization before the new pro-
gram is submitted for action of
the next Legislature.
Mr.. Schmidt expressed the opin-
ion that the county will receive
$2.1 million impact" money from
the Federal Government within q
year, but he added that the ex-
pected grant already has been ear
marked. Other legislation pend
ing in Congress eventually may
give the county another IS million
or more.
School authorities are compiling
figures on the number of first
graders who will answer Septem-
ber opening bells, Mr.. Schmidt
said.
Already" he observed. lit looks
like a banner year and it may be
necessary to build not only the
school under discussion but also
another one nearby"
All the county heads were SYM
pathetic to the delegations plan
Commissioner Edward j. Waters
remarked, however, that the
county now has a $21 million liza.
bility for school construction ano
a total bonded indebtedness of $24
million.
New Plans Asked.
The commissioners asked Mr.
Schmidt to prepare plans for new
schools to be financed by the pro.
posed $1.2 million bond issue. They
indicated his proposal will receive
prompt approval.
Other members of the delega.
tion included Ellery Denison
chairman of a joint committee o1
five citizens units of the Takoms
Park section; Albert E. Smith
president Of the Lincoln VALLEY
Citizens Association; Miltor
Kramer, a Takoma Park Council.
man who represented the Hamp-
shire Greens Citizens Association
and Charles Ravitsky and Massey
Volk, both of the Carole Highlands
ASS0cia fi0n