Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-22
School Building
Plans Changed
For Indignation
Some Construction
Would Be Deferred,
Others Speeded Up
By james 6. Deone

soHeS Ne NeoHe
Race integration is causing
reshufling of District school
construction plans.
Because of indignation, school
officials tentatively have de-
cided to:
/. Postpone q So million re-
placement for colored Phelps
Vocational High School, which
had been scheduled to start next
year.
2. Give high priority to re-
placing the 83-year white
Seaton Elementary School. I
street between Second and
Third NV, and postpone or
drop a proposed new colored
school in that vicinity.
8. Merge the present crippled
children's schools in a new,
model" Health School.
4. Revamp and re-equip Me-
Kinley High School to house all
technical students. including
those now sent to Armstrong.
S. Postpone or drop pro-
posed third floor addition to the
colored Payne Elementary
School. Fifteenth and C streets
Sc.
To Board Aug. 9.
These decisions will be re-
flected in recommendations go
ing to the Board of Education
August 8. Ofhcials expect to in
clude the Seaton, Health and
Mckinley projects in more than
Sc million in new construction
to be proposed for next year.
The Phelps and Payne projects
and the new school near Seaton
are being dislodged from high
priority spots in the city's new
public works program.
The existence of extra space
In white schools, soon to become
available to absorb excess colored
enrolment, is enabling the post
ponements. VIZ
The Phelps replacement. cost
hest project in the entire $35
million school construction pro-
gram, was given high priority
originally because of hopes to
convert the present Phelps. at
Benning road and Twenty-fourth
street NE, into an urgently
needed grade school. This would
have relieved crowding at the
colored Young School and others.
Two Schools Available.
Under integration. however,
the white Wheatley and Kings
man Schools are becoming avail
able to eolored youngsters in
stead, and the intended CONVEX
sion is no longer urgent.
Nearby white school space also
will now become available to
pupils at Payne.
Seaton, the city's second old
est grade school still housing
pupils. isn't scheduled for re-
placement in the works program
until the fourth year. or 1873
Associate Supt. John M. Riecks
suggested, however. that replac-
ing Seaton next year will post
pone the need for the proposed
additional school in the Seaton
neighborhood. since Seaton has.
extra capacity and the new
Seaton would, too.
The deferred school, which
has been intended for some site
west of North Capitol street and
north of Massachusetts, avenue.
might or might not ever need to
be built, according to Mr.. Riecks.
If not. it win mean a saving OF
almost 81 million. Besides all
this, no site is yet in hand any,
way.
School officials had already
made known their intention of
building a single new Health
School and revamping Mckinley.
Health Annex Switched.
A s35o.000 addition to the
present white Health School at
Thirteenth and Allison streets
NV. and q new colored elemen-
tary health combination at
Thirteenth and s streets NV.
originally we're scheduled for
construction next year. The
Thirteenth and s school will
still be recommended. but the
health annex will be sliced off
and the money saved switched
to the new project.
School officials are tentatively
committed TO locating the new
Health School at Mount Olivet
road and Holbrook street NE,
formerly slated for the new
Phelps. Commissioner Renah r.
Camaliel has shown interest in
building near the present white
school on Thirteenth Street.
however.
In mind for the new Phelps
is a site once intended for a
new Armstrong High School at
Sixth street and Florida avenue
NE. Now no new Armstrong Is
slated to be built.
Here are the other projects
slated TO go into the proposed
1856 construction budget, in
addition to the Health School,
Mckinley and Seaton:
New elementary school at
Sixth street and Riggs road NE,
needed to relieve crowding at the
Keene School. Cost. $819, $50.
Addition to AnacoStia High
School, including cleassrooms,
stage dressing rooms and lockers.
Cost. $560.000.
A second gymnasium for RAN
dali Junior High. Cost, $l60. 600.
A second gymnasium. infirm-
airy, storage rooms and other
facilities for Eliot Junior High.
Cost, $658. $50.
Addition to Garfield Elemen-
tary school. Twenty-fifth street
and Alabama avenue Sc. in
Guiding IL rooms and an assem-
~. AZ1f 49, Aarn nnn