Evening star., 1953-05-10
School Board
Challenged at
Arlington Meet
Budget Referendum
Can Be Sought in
June, Speaker Says

budget proposed by the Arling- |
ton School Board yesterday were
challenged to put their case be-
fore the public in a special ref
erendum if an anticipated fund
cut by the county board mater
ializeS.
The challenge was made by
Harley M. Williams. the only one
of As speakers at school board
meeting who indicated opposi-
ton to the $7.285,995 budget
requested for school operations
in the year beginning July l.
The meeting. held at the STRAIT
ford Junior High School, was
attended by about $50 persons.
Many large civic and school
organizations were represented
by those who spoke in favor of
the full budget including a $500
salary increase for teachers.
Warning Against Cut.
Most speakers warned that ap-
prevail by the County Board of
the 100000 cut in the school
budget suggested by its Interim
Budget Committee would mean
a return ito the horse and buggy
days of public education"
The County Board said it
would consider the committees
suggestions along with other
recommendations on the school
budget made by citizens and Or
ganizations in recent weeks. The
boards denial of a request by
School Board Chairman Barnard
Joy for a public hearing on the
committee report resulted in the
three-and-a-half-hou hearing
yesterday.
Sees Referendum Possible.
Mr.. Williams said the Circuit
Court can order a referendum in
June to raise either the tax levy
or cash grant made available to
the school department, if the
County Board pares the depart
ment's request. Twenty per cent
of the qualified voters, about
5000 persons, would have to sign
the petitions, he said.
THAT gives you the chance to
put your case before the public"
Mr.. Williams declared to board
members and school budget sup
porters. Il challenge you to do.
So"
A critic Of school board poll
cies, Mr.. Williams said low
salaried Government employees,
retired Government employees.
Social Security pensioners and
other low-income groups are be-
ing "burdened by high rates Of
taxation"
Cut in Salary Raise Hit.
Most frequent target of criti-
cism by school budget supporters
was the interim committees
recommendation that teachers be
given 500 salary increase in
stead of the $500 proposed by
school officials.
An increasing teacher shortage,
the present low-salary scale as
compared to pay for nonpro-
fessional employment, the high
cost of living in the Washington
area and competition from higher
paying school systems were
among the reasons cited for the
larger increase.
Eric Rhodes, vice president of
the Arlington Education Associ-
alton, an organization of county
teachers, read three letters from
local teachers who have resigned
to accept employment elsewhere.
Each of them declared the low
salary paid in Arlington was the
principal reason for leaving the
school system.
Mr.. Rhodes said 81 teachers
now in the school system have
already indicated they will not
return to the Arlington school
system in the next term. In ad-
dition he said II new teachers
must be employed to fill new po-
sitionS.
One speaker, James R. Miles, a
Navy Department engineer, Of
fered the board a plan for teach
er tenure which he said would
soften the blow Of lesser pay
increase If the County Board
cuts the school budget.
Teacher Trial Board.
The plan calls for creation of
a Teacher Trial Board, composed
Of two classroom teachers, two
representatives of the school ad-
ministration and a fifth person
elected by the first four, which
would have the final authority in
dismissal of teachers. At pres
ent, he said, teachers have no
assurance of job security but are
subject to dismissal as though
they were probationers even
though they have been in the
school system for many years.
The County Board is expected
to take final action on the full
Arlington budget of $17.1 million
at its meeting at 8 pm. tomor-
row in the Courthouse.
The school board voted to
change the date of it's next meet
ing from May % to May Is at
pm. in the school admins
tration headquarters.
Virginia u. Student Buys