Evening star., 1952-11-14
District Officials
Seek Advice on
Teacher Fund
Corning and Fowler
Visit Congress for
Ruling on Deficit Plan
BY jones G. Deone


By james 6. Deone
School Supt. Hobart M. Corning
and District Budget Officer Walter
L. Fowler visited Capitol Hill to-
day to sound out legislative ex-
perts on the possibility Of incur
ring a deficit to meet the Negro
teacher crisis.
The two talked with Harold
Merrick. clerk of the Senate Dis
trict Appropriations subcommit-
tee. Mr.. Fowler said Mr.. Merrick
was noncommittal. however. The
budget officer said a conference
with Kenneth Sprankle, acting
clerk of the House Appropriations
Committee, will be sought Mon
day.
Nothing is settled yet," the
budget officer said.
The officials are seeking to learn
II there is any precedent on which
the schools can hire 20 emer-
gency Negro teachers without the
money to pay for them. The
teachers would be hired immedi-
ately, and Congress later would be
asked to transfer $35.000 in sur
plus school construction funds to-
cancel out the deficit.
Alternate Proposal Studied.
Construction Surpluses auto
matically revert to the Treasury
and couldn't be used for teacher
salaries without special legisla-
ton.
Meanwhile. school officers began
studying a proposal to meet part
OF the crisis in another way.
Mrs. Frank S. Phillips, Board Of
Education member, yesterday Sug-
geSted transferring Immediately
to senior high schools those Negro
Junior high pupils who will grad
uate in February. Most Of the 20
emergency teachers are needed in
the junior highs.
DR.. Corning yesterday said the
move might help the space stu
alton. but he couldn't see how it
would help on teachers. Assist
ant Supt. Harold A. Haynes said
today he is looking into the idea
to see just what it would mean.
however.
Corning Sees Scant Hope.
DR.. Haynes said there would be
serious complications. including
re-scheduling and providing books.
The deficit-f1nancing plan has
the support of Commissioners F..
Joseph Donohue and Renah FL
Camalier. But DR.. Corning him
self told the board yesterday he
was not too hopeful of the out
come on it. He admitted the sit
uation will be awkward If the
scheme doesn't work out.
No action was taken on the
crisis by the school board, but
Vice President Albert E. Steinem
warned that he is determined to
see the 20 teachers hired, even if
it means slashing the white teach
er force again to make money
available.
Two white teachers were dis
missed and IS others were trans
ferred to lower grades to provide
money for Negro teachers in
September.
Stalling Charged.
Mrs. Velma G. Williams. colored
board member, criticized the
teacher situation at yesterdays
session. She charged stalling and
said the shortage had been known
since schools opened.
Mrs. Williams also protested
against q delay in supplying the
new Negro Spingarn High School
with books.
Oflcials reported Spingarn still
lacks many books because pub
fishers have failed to deliver them.
Assistant Supt. Harold A. Haynes
said he expects to obtain several
thousand in the next few days
from the white schools, however.
Officials said many books could
not be ordered until last July be-
cause it was necessary to wait for
the appropriation to be made.
Other Developments.
Other developments at yester-
days meeting included the fol-
lowing:
The Student Activities Commits
tee approved a plan to provide
free accident insurance for varsity
football players. and optional
group accident insurance to all
students and employees, at their
own expense.
Also approved was q cotton
khaki high school cadet uniform,
costing about $40. The tradi-
tional blue wool uniform, costing
twice as much, was made optional
with cadet units. Most units al
ready had decided on their uni
forms Informally. Board Member
West A. Hamilton. a retired Army
colonel, objected to nondescript|
uniforms.
DR.. Corning disclosed that 1880
surplus Marine overcoats are be-
ing issued to cadets who must
drill outdoors. The coats cost the
schools 81 each.
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