Evening star., 1954-05-05
County Praised
In Construction
OF Schools
Montgomery Study
Lobels, Program
Satisfactory job

Satisfactory Job
The Montgomery County Board
Of Education. in recent years,
has done a satisfactory job with
"commendable economy" in its
school construction program.
That is the finding of a H.
man School Construction Com
mittee, headed by David Scull.
The committee. after more
than year of study. yesterday
submitted a 20-page report to
the county council and the
School Board.
Makes Suggestions.
Although pralsing generally the
work Of the board, the commit
tee made several suggestions for
further economies. Among other
things, the committee suggested:
/. The Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning
Commission and the School
Board work out a master plan
of school sites and the planners
be given the job of securing
school sites.
2. Plans be refused for schools,
especially when they can be tied
into multiple bidding with which
Prince Georges County has been
able to get good prices.
3. Adoption of a graded set
Of architects fees replacing the
present fiat 6 per cent.
4. Adoption of construction
standards and an end to expert
mentation with Schoolhouse fix
lures.
5. Allowance to builders of a
reasonable time in which to
complete a school to stop pad
ding of bids aimed at covering
penalties imposed for failure to
meet completion dates.
6. Charging off-site improve
ments to the Washington Sub
urban Sanitary Commission and
the county.
7. Closer cooperation between
school construction. officials and
the educators and between the
schools and other government
agencies.
Rentals Approved.
Although rejecting cottage
schools. ."-houses used tempo
rarily as schools during periods
of excessive enrollments-the
committee urged continuance Of
the present practice of renting
church halls and the like to meet
temporary crises.
The committee noted that the
largest single area of possible
savings is in program curtail-
ment," which it said could in
clude elimination of kindergar-
tens and specialized shop
areas" The committee said the
county could not afford to con-
slider pre-kindergarten instruc-
tion as is being done in some
areas.
The committee said the school
board should make sure that
the elaborate size of shop rooms
and quantity of facilities is not
out of proportion to the number
of pupils using them"
The. committee urged contin-
uation of the practice Of omit
ting libraries, kitchens and all
purpose rooms from elementary
schools with fewer than eight
claSsrooms.
Savings Possible.
The committee recommended
that libraries, gymnasiums and
cafeterias be provided for Sec
ondary schools. CafeteriaS and
all-purpose rooms can be justi-
fled in the larger elementary
schools. the committee said, but
recommended against the inclu-
sion of libraries. Elimination. of
all three could save more than
$4,000 a school. the committee
said.
In the last seven years among
the five areas building the most
classrooms in the State, Mont
gomery and Prince Georges
Jared best, with average costs
of $36,562 and $35, 1908, respec-
lively, the committee said.
In terms of cost per pupil, in
the 1947-1950 period, Montgom-
cry spent $1.171. while the aver
age for all counties was 81, ,426.
On a Square-foot basis, Mont
gomery spent $16.74, about the
average for the State, while
Prince Georges County has
spent only $12.36.
During the period, 1951-1953,
the committee said, Montgomery
Ios~I-