Evening star., 1953-06-10
County Urged
loco Slow on
School Plans
Tuxpuyers Caution
Montgomery Against
Rapid Expansion

A showdown in expansion Of
the Montgomery County School
system was urged yesterday be-
cause Of the high cost of bond
issues and the uncertainty Of
future enrollmentS."
The advice came from Mont.
gomery County Taxpayers, Inc,
as representatives Of the group
met with the county council.
Conservatism in budgeting for
and school construc-
ton was recommended by the
group in an hour-long session
10 them by the council
on the eve Of the public hearings
on the school budget.
The session followed an an.
nouncement by the council that
1t may have to split tonight's
hearing in Rockville into two
sections.
Big Crowd FOreseen.
The council is apprehensive
about the ability of the Circuit
Court room to handle the crowd.
II all cannot get in, three coun-
cilmen may move to another
room to hold q simultaneous
hearing.
Such a move is expected to
draw q bitter reaction from resi-
dents who had hoped to present
their remarks to the entire coun-
Gil. A full report of both hear.
ings will be made, however, for
the benefit of the council, Presi-
dent George F. Nesbitt said.
Morris Allen, consultant for
the taxpayers group, indicated
yesterday his group saw poor
planning and padding in the
school board budget requests.
The taxpayers organization
urged the council to stick by the
81 million cut recommended by
former County Manager Irving
G. McNayr in the school board
operating budget and the $3.2
million slash in requests for
school construction funds.
Pay Rise Favored.
The group, however, recomA
that the council hike
the teachers pay schedu:e in the
first three grades and allow six
or seven years service instead
of the present maximum of five
for experienced teachers enter
ing the county's system.
Mr.. Allen said the recon-
mended increase in the starting
pay from $2,940 to $3,O45 for
bachelor degree holders and
from $3.50 to $3.255 for teachers
with masters degrees would cost
only about $4,000 next year.
He added the School Board
would have more than this
amount available in its budget
because Of "okerestimates" in pay
requests for handling the antici-
pated teacher turnover.
The taxpayers group also hit
at what it inferred was padding
of teaching stations required in
the capital budget. BY October,
1855, the school would need at a
maximum 236 new classrooms
based on its own standards Of
pupil-teacher ratios. the group
said.
Would Trim Request.
The School Board had asked for
356 new rooms, some 162 too
many, the group said. Allen add
ed the boards request for Sta
should be cut in half.
The financial consultant also
the expenditure of some
SIG million in architects fees in
the last three years. He suggest
ed that present plans be reused
to save money. The group also
said the school board should at
tempt to consolidate vocational
classes in one school as another
economy move.
Mr.. Allen scored the rise of
per pupil costs for overhead and
transportation and said both of
these averages should decrease
as the school population rises
and more schools are built. He
also hit at the allowance of 2
rcr cent ot a buildings cost for
Mr.. Alton asked the council
II tho county were going to ex-
frcmeS in giving each commun.
lty Z "uni0Ue school," He sug-
rcStcd better planninG and
scheduling OF classes to effect
economies.
The county's credit rating is
mot, too gOod,' Mr.. Allen said.
II" said The bonded indebtedness
por pupil in the county was $721
IN 1851 while the average for
tno State was only 1920.
The council is being pressed
by the County Council of Parent
Teacher Associations to adopt
the School Boards recommended
budget.
Yesterday, the council re-
ceived a resolution from the
Sandy Spring American Legion
Post blasting the PTA groups
circulation Of a petition which
the Legion charged contained
an abundance Of false and
propaganda" The
post condemned the sponsorship
Of the petition and the reported
circulation of it in the schools.