Evening star., 1954-05-12
Use Of School
Cafeterias for
Opposed
Plan Impractical,
Says Montgomery
Superintendent

DR.. Forbes N. Norris, Mont
gomery County school superin.
tendant. yesterday labeled az
Impractical a plan to increase
high school capacity by using
cafeterias as study halls.
The proposal, aimed at cutting
over SIS million for three new
schools from the upcoming cap
ita1 budget for schools was made
recently by Montgomery County
Taxpayers, Inc.
Discussion Of the controversial
recommendation arose at the
County Board Of Education's
meeting as Morris Allen, execu-
tive director of the taxpayers
group. told board members how
the plan would work.
CafeteriaS in five county Sec
ondary schools, Mr.. Allen said,
could be used for study periods
attended by $50 students five
times a day. A sixth class period
would be added to each school
day.
Specifies Schools.
Mr.. Allen named Richard
Montgomery Junior Senior High,
Takoma Park Junior High.
Montgomery Hills Junior High,
Eastern Junior High and
Wheaton Junior-Senior High as
the schools where the plan might
be put into effect. The proposed
new schools are planned for oc-
cupancy in 1956-57.
Although the school board did
not take a stand on the plan
during its open session, the pro-
posal was bitterly opposed by at
least one board member.
Mrs. John G.. Scharf said post
ponement of the three schools
would mean a lowering of county
educational standards. % ur
parents" she said, did not move
here to give their children q
second-cTass education"
In his statement opposing the
plan. DR.. Norris called it admin
iStratively unworkable. He cited
the extra work load on teachers
and declared some of the cafe
terias are presently used for band
practice and other extra-curri-
cular activities. The Superin.
tendent said the plan would cause
transportation difficulties, discip-
linary problems and lower teach
er morale.
Television Fund Asked.
The board, in other business,
asked the county manager to
include a $1,000 request in the
general county budget for edu-
cational television.
The action followed a report
by board member H. Stanley
Stine. on the legality Of contri-
buting Schol funds to the Great
er Washington TV Association.
He said legal opinion on the mat
ter holds that the board may
not "spend its funds for other
than educational purposes over
which it maintains complete
control"
The board also:
Agreed to sell school property
formerly used for the Rockville
Elementary School for colored
children. The abandoned school
has been used for storage pur-
poses in recent years. School
officials, however, said new stor-
age space will be available next
fall when the Wheaton Junior.
Senior High School will be com.
pleted.
Architect Plans Accepted.
Accepted architects plans for
the new Clarksburg Elementary
School. The school, according to
Dana B. Johannes, architect, will
cost an estimated $4,000 and
will have four classrooms. toilets
and storage space. Bids are be-
ing asked Immediately and will
be opened by school officials on
May 81
Amended bylaws affecting
board meeting to limit the num-
ber Of last-minute requests from
persons who wish to address the
board. AS a general rule, the
board agreed such requests shall
be made on or before noon on the
Thursday preceding the board
meeting. The board also reserved
the right to limit time given, but
made provision for later requests
under emergency conditions