Evening star., 1954-05-06
School Budget
Cut Challenged
For Arlington
Rutter Fears
Decline in Standards
Of Present Program

tions made by the Arlington
County Boards Interim Budget
Committee would result in "a
less satisfactory school program
in the school year 1954-55 than
we now enjoy" Supt. Edward
Rutter said yesterday.
Mr.. Rutter. in a letter to Mrs.
Leone B. Buchholz, chairman of
the County Board. said.' Tt is my
firm belief that this condition,
were it to prevail, would not be
in accord with the wishes of the
vast majority of the citizens of
this community"
The committee. appointed by
the County Board. has recon-
mended reductions tota1ing
about $760,000 in the budget
proposal presented by Mr.. Rut-
ter. The committee suggested
that $4,000 of this amount
could be used for other school
purposes or to reduce the tax
rate.
Final Hearing Tonight.
A final hearing on the pro-
posed school and county budgets
for the fiscal year beginning July
l will be held at 8 o'clock tonight
at Stratford Junior High School.
County Manager A. T. Lund-
berg has proposed budget of
$12,123,749. an increase of about
SIS million over 1854. The
Interim Budget Committee stud
led a budget recommended by
Mr.. Rutter amounting to S.
1907. This recommendation
has since been revised to include
higher anticipated State reve-
nue. and to provide a pay raise
for all teachers. The new figure
is $8,150,617.
Mr.. Lundberg said his budget
will require no increase in tax
rates, now $2.91 per $1O0 of val
uation on real estate and $3.50
on personal property.
The school budget, an in
crease of about $1.3 million over
the current year, would require
a tax hike of about 81 cents, if
the full amount is approved by
the county board.
Disagreement Seen.
Mr.. Rutter said Of the Budget
Committees Recommendation to
delete the proposed kindergarten
program: "We believe the ma
jority of the people of Arlington
County do not concur with the
committees recommendations"
The superintendent said:
Elimination of the budget item
for kindergartens will prohibit
public. school education for all
children who have not reached
their 9Th birthday by October
/, 1854. This will constitute a
backward step. since, for the last
four years, a pre-primary pro-
gram has accommodated some of
these younger children"
A referendum proposed by the
committee to determine whether
county voters want kindergar-
tens. Mr.. Rutter said, cannot be
held under present State laws.
Cost Defended.
Referring to a committee COM
oarison of Arlington school costs
with those in other Virginia
counties and cities. Mr.. Rutter
cited a State Board of Educa-
ion study showing that among
he SO Virginia counties, Arling-
on. ranked 39th in effort.
The superintendent said the
committees proposals would
damage the guidance and coun-
selling programs and would re-
suit in a less satisfactory school
program through reduction in
the proposed number of teach
ers, assistant principals, clerks
and librarians.
Arlington high schools might
lose accreditation by the South
ern Association of Colleges and
Secondary Schools if there Is
any substantial increase in the
size of classes, the superinten-
dent said.
Any substantial reduction in
the funds for psychological serv-
ices would make it impossible to
carry out many activities in this
field, Mr.. Rutter said. These
include services for children with
emotional problems and psyche
logical studies for pupils enrolled
in remedial reading, remedial
speech, slow-learner classes and
physically Handicapped classes.
A proposed committee cut of
$50, 900 for equalization of SAL
aries between comparable en-
ployes of the County Board and
School Board would result in
lower pay for school non-profes-
sional employees compared with