Evening star., 1954-10-26
School Board
Indorses Vote
For Borrowing
Arlington Follows
Fuirfux in Booking
Proposal at Polls

The Arlington School Board
is on record in favor Of an
amendment coming before Vir-
ginia voters next Tuesday TO
permit county School Boards TO
borrow from the State Retire.
ment System without q vote Of
the people.
Fairfax Supt. w. r. Woodson
yesterday said the Fairfax Board
also favors the proposal.
The amendment Is not ex.
pected to I'LL the need for mill
lions Of dollars Of construction
In both areas in the near future.
Both boards, however, favor the
principle Of the amendment as
it would apply throughout the
State. They also believe emer-
gency needs Of Arlington and
Fairfax could be met by borrow
ing from the retirement fund.
The procedure would require
approval by the local governing
body, as well as the State Re-
tirement Board. Cities already
have this power.
Not From County Systems.
Borrowing would be permitted
from the State retirement fund.
but not from county retirement
systems.
The Arlington School Board
voted unanimous support Of the
amendment last night after
hearing the views Of State Supt.
Dowell j. Howard. who addressed
letters to all district superin-
tendents. Mr.. Howard said the
State Board. of Education has
indorsed the plan.
The State superintendent said
passage Of the amendment
/ would: ''<''' I
Increase the source Of funds
to be borrowed by localities for
much-needed school construc-
ton.
Leave with the State Retire.
ment Board full authority to ape
prove or disapprove such loans.
Maintain the same degree of
security enjoyed by the Literary
Fund since its establishment in
1910. Not one cent has been
lost through failure to pay every
obligation, MIR. Howard said.
Permits Direct Loan.
The Arlington board has sold
bonds approved by the voters to
the State Retirement Board. The
new plan, however, would pro-
vide for direct loan, without Q
referendum. !
Mr.. Woodson said the Fairfax
board had tried to borrow de
rectly from the Retirement
Fund, after the Literary Fund
was drained. He said the board
was unable to complete the
transaction because of legal OBJ
stacles.
Mr.. Woodson said the Fairfax
delegation in the General AS
sembly supported passage Of the
bill calling for a referendum
on the change. Z
e. r. Draheim, Arlington
School Board member, said the
State parent-teacher organiza.
ton is on record favoring the
new financing method.
DR.. E. j. Braun, assistant SUI
perintendent, said Arlington
probably could sell bonds for less
!; interest than the State Retire.
ment System would charge. I
Plans for More Pupils.
In other business last night.
the Arlington board announced
, plans to meet increased enroll
ment in the northern part Of
the county.
. Some elementary students will
be admitted to Williamsburg
Junior High next fall, If there
, is overcrowding at Jamestown OF
, James Madison. The School
, Board has ordered survey OF
! the area to determine what con-
struction will be necessary to
. meet the enrolment. A bond
issue is planned for next fall.
Williamsburg is tentatively
scheduled to open November Is
, ending halliday sessions al
, Stratford Junior High.
) Asst Supt. c. Glen Hass told
the board that about 750 elemen-