Evening star., 1953-07-09
Board Defers Action
As New School Bid
Exceed Budget Fund

last night considered new bids
for the construction Of the pro-
posed Minnie Howard Elemen-
tary School, but again postponed
final action.
The lowest of four bidders, Eu-
gene Simpson & Bro, Alexandria
contractors, submitted a figure
$4,000 to $4,000 higher than
the $580.O00 allocated for the
school in the new budget. The
board, however, agreed to nego-
tiate with the Simpson firm
through Joseph H. Saunders,
architect for the school.
Bids for the school were re-
jected last April when builders
estimates missed the budget al
lowance by some 100000. The
board then had alternate plans
drawn, using structural steel for
the building and providing for
other structural economies. Last
nights bids indicated the use of
steel would not effect a substan-
tial Saving-f any.
SH0A 900 T7;ruro
The lowest possible figure in
the Simpson offer amounted to
1924 ,339. At that price, the new
building would be without a
planned sound system and minus
a plaster wall finish. It would
include a primary wing of non
f1reproofed steel.
Citizens from the old port Sec
tion of Alexandria appeared at
the meeting to plead for the
"perpetuation" Of Washington
Elementary School.
A petition signed by 800 was
presented to the board, urging
reconsideration of the decision
to close the school. Petitioners
asked that primary grade pupils
be allowed to remain at the
school, rather than be required
to walk as much as IS or Is
blocks to the new Robert E. Lee
School. They cited the 140-year-
old tradition of the school and
its favorable effect on home
values in the old port area.
Request Denied.
But the board told the group
that planning had advanced too
far for the request to be granted.
The cost of continuing the school
for another year was estimated
by School Supt. T. c. Williams
at about $4,000.
The board also:
Raised the tuition fee for stu
dents who live outside Alexandria
by $25, bringing the annual fee
for high school students to SITS
and for elementary school stu
dents to $165.
Approved a recommendation
by Supt. Williams that garbage
disposal units be placed in the
cafeterias of 13 schools.
Described the school cafeteria
system as a "big business opera
ton" and voted to have an ac-
countant set up an accounting
system for the cafeterias.
Schools Open September 8.
In other business, the board
approved a school calendar for
1953-54 prepared by Superin-
tendent Williams. The school
term will open on September 8,
the day after Labor Day. and will
close on June II.
Five teacher appointments rec
commended by the superintendent
were approved. The new teachers
are Mrs. Sally Small an elemen-
tary speech correction teacher,
no specific school assignment;
Miss Betty Kay Kohen, third
grade, Stonewall Jackson School;
Mrs. Clara w. Marcoux, elemen-
tary art, no specific assignment;
Mrs. Mary j. Murray, first grade.
Patrick Henry School, and Mrs.
Dorothea Harrison. English and
drama, George Washington High
School.
Teacher salary raises in the
new budget. Mr.. Williams told
the board, would not be affected
by the $105 900 cut from school
funds by the city council re-
Gently. The removed funds would
be made up by $4,000 in addi-
tional Federal aid to the school
system, $4,000 due from State
appropriations based on an in
crease in daily attendance and
about $4,000 available In the
school operating fund balance.