Evening star., 1954-04-09
Record School
Budget Urged
In Montgomery
Public Hearing
Set Wednesday
On Proposal
By ChorIes [. Hoffman

Oy SuObbSS h. ttOtIUUUU
A proposed rec6rd breaking
$11 1922 operating budget for
Montgomery County schools was
in the hands of residents today.
The proposal is .$2.3 million
higher than the budget appro-
priated for this year.
The proposed budget calls for
a "a per cent increase in expen-
ditures. while school enrolment
jumps about IL per cent Per
pupil cost of education would in
crease $21.
Residents will get their chance
at 8 pm. Wednesday to air their
views on the proposal in a hear
ing before the School Board in
the County Building auditorium
in Rockville.
200 New Teachers.
The budget calls for the hiring
of 200 new teachers at an esti-
mated 100000. 1t also provides
another $270,000 for putting the
new teachers salary schedule
into effect. Teacher salaries
would cost $8.1 million, some 81 4
million more than this year.
Instruction services, including
teachers pay, books, libraries and
special provisions for handi-
capped children, account fol-
nearly -fifths of the budget
These services would cost $9.2
million, some SIT million more
than this year.
The budget also proposes a
per cent acroSs-the-board pay
raise for clerical workers, jani-
tors and maintenance men.
Also proposed are 26 additional
supervisory staff members, in
cluding nine general area super
visors, five for music, two for
physical education. one for art,
three for library work, three for
special education and three for
pupil personnel work.
In submitting the proposed
budget, School Supt. Forbes H.
Norris noted the "county's bur-
den is becoming more difficult" "
Some way must be worked
out for the State and Federal
Governments to help share this
responsibility" he added.
DR.. Norris noted that "a con-
struction projects are underway,
and most of them will be COM
pleted by December 81. Some
208 new classrooms are expected
to be opened during the year.
This means more fuel, light,
janitors and janitors' supplies, -
he said.
The cost of these items will
Jump from $875, 900 to $1.1 mil
lion. Maintenance of school
grounds and buildings will rise
from $44O 900 to $3.50, 900.
Transportation Factor.
School transportation will
cost 1924 900, some $87 900 more
than this year. About IS per
cent of the student body uses
buses.
Provision is included for re-
placing II worn-out buses, all
at least eight years old, with
more than 100000 miles each
on their speedometers.
The supervisor of transporta-
ton asked for 10 additional
buses to haul an estimated 1000
more pupils next year, but this
was reduced in the superin-
tendent's request to five "in
anticipation of lengthening the
walking distance for secondary
pupils where road conditions
permit"
The sharpest increase in the
budget breakdown was for "other
school services, which includes
an additional retirement bene-
fit for retired teachers and sal
aries and travel expenses for
health and pupil personnel. This
item jumps from $22 1856 to $685.
370.
General management expenses
would rise from $230,642 to $685.
403. Provision also is made for a
$1,500 increase in the Superin-
tendent's $11,5O0 salary.
The proposed budget is in line
with forecasts of Morris Allen,
executive director of Montgom-
cry County Taxpayers, Inc.
who had predicted a SIS million
to $2.2 million increase in re-
quests.
Just what share the county
will be asked to pay has not yet
been announced.
The school board already has
adopted a $9.2 million capital
budget request for submission to
the county council.