Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-19
Falls Church
To Pub|icize
School Budgets
Public Hearing
On Tentative Druft
Set for Feb. II
By Harry Bocos
By Harry Bocos


The Falls Church School Board
last night unanimously adopted
a policy of publishing its tenta-
tive school operating budgets and
holding open hearings on them
before final action.
It set q hearing for 2 PM,
February q, in the George Ma
son High School auditorium. It
expects to have its tentative
budget ready by next Wednesday.
The board had been criticized
for not disclosing budget recon-
mendations presented to it two
weeks ago by Supt. Irwin H.
Schmitt. Copies were made pub
lie, however. by former Council
man Samuel E. McCrary. who
would not explain how he re-
ceived it.
Board Chairman John A. John
son said he regretted political
capital. had been made of the
boards decision. The board &C
cepted his motion that in future
the superintendent present his
recommendations in such form
that they can be made public
Immediately.
Open Meeting Tonight.
A special session to prepare
the boards tentative budget will
be held at 8 O'Clock tonight. 1.-THE
meeting will be Open" said Mr..
johnson. "Our budget meetings
have never been closed"
City Manager w. Rodes Wood
bury has asked to see the final
budget by next Monday. In view
Of last nights decision, Mr.. john
son said he hopes Mr.. Woodbury.
will consent to extend the time a
week or so to permit full publicity
and the public hearing.
The board also made public a
formal statement on its proposed
100000 school construction bond
issue which will be voted on
March 3.
. The statement sets forth school
population growth, long-range
building plans. construction
projects scheduled with the bond
money and an estimate of the
cost Tn taYnaverS
Enrolment in all grades is now
1876 ami will grow to 2073 by
September, 1856, it said. Present
school capacity is 1.430, including
space for 800 pupils in temporary
annexes and the old jefferson
School, which was built in 1877.
Cites Split Shifts.
All fi"st-graders are on half
day shifts and second-graders
will go on split shifts next year
unle',s rental space is found.
The long-range plans call for
increasing the capacity of the
tunior-senior high school to ZOO
to $500 pupils and providing
three elementary schools with
the same total capacity.
The elementary schools will be
Mount Daniel. Madison and
either Oak Street School, now a
part Of the Fairfax County sys-
temi or a new school in the
southwest section if Oak Street
School cannot be acquired from
the county. The old jefferson
School and the annexes will be
eliminated.
With the school bond money,
the board plans to enlarge Mount
Daniel and George Mason High
School. At Mount Daniel there
will be added library, a multi
purpose room, a kitchen and 10
typical classroomS. The multi
purpose room will serve as a
dining room, gymnasium and au-
ditorium.
At George Mason, there will
be a larger home economics
space, a larger shop, a multi
purpose room serving as study
hall and lunch room, a new art
room, music rooms, team rooms
and three typical classrooms.
The plan emphasizes that "spe-
cialty" rooms will be used for
other subjects during off hours.
The new construction will put
all pupils on full-day schedules
after next year.
Tax Rise Estimated.
To pay for the bond issue. the
board estimates an increase of
lat most" 80 cents in the pre-
sent real estate tax rate of $2.75.
The figure is based on present
assessed valuation of property
in the city. about SIT million.
Real estate is currently assessed
at As per cent of market value.
City voters already have been
told by City Manager w. Rodes
Woodbury. that the tax rate must
be raised about Is cents next
June to meet the cost Of a $780,
600 bond issue approved last
year to finance a public works
program.
The boards statement de-
clared that the tax rate need
not necessarily be raised 80 cents
to pay for the school bond issue
as the City Councils final de-
termination involves both esti-
mated receipts from various
sources and non-school expendi-
lures.
Figures Presented.
The statement translates an
increase Of 80 cents into the tax
payers individual tax bill as fol-
lows:
On property having a market
value Of $4,000, an annual tax
increase Of $3.50. On $4,000,
1t would be $20.25. and on $40, 900
1t would come to SGT.
The bond issue statement was
approved by a vote of 6 to /
Francis w. Trap voted no, de-
claring that while he did not
question the authors of the
statement. he considered it's con-
al a. n