Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-08-04
Local Parents Urged to Tell
Superintendent Their Views
BY ELAINE WOJTANOWSKI
GA. 4-8S98

nothing so Venal as a proWler
Summer vacation and tropical
heat wave Notwithstanding, this
weeks mystery concerns the
school situation.
Specifically, who told Dr.
Norris, 'Twinbrook people prefer
double sessionsn?" The combined
efforts of many individuals who
responded Immediately to the
news released by DR.. Norris last
week has failed to find any Twin,
brook people who prefer double
sessions"
DR.. Norris based his opinion on
the fact that he had received a
variety of objections TO the use of
the mansion on the Lyons estate
which would make double sessions
unnecessary, and on DR.. Larri-
more'S report to him that the pro-
gram for next year was all set UP
for double sessions and that the
parents were satisfied.
A misunderstanding regarding
the permanency of the proposed
arrangement was responsible for
some of the objections. The use
of this building to relieve crowd. !
ing at Twinbrook this year will
have no effect on the construction
of the addition TO Twinbrook Ele-
mentary and the new Twinbrook |
Forest School. The architectural
contracts for both these buildings
are already underway
Other objections to the use OF
the building repeatedly stem from
fears that a building so old would |
not meet our ultra-modern stand. |
ards of utility
A meeting was held by the
elected officers of the P-TA last
Thursday and the psyical handi-
caps of the building as well as
the administrative hardships were
discussed. This committee the
decided to make its own inspec.
ton Of the building.
The lease for this building was
signed only a day or two before
this inspection and no alterations
had been made in fact, the de !
tailed plans for bringing tho
building up TO County standards |
are not yet blueprinted.
On the basis of this inspection
the committee informed DR.. Nor. |
ris that "Twinbrook people would
not want their children to 90 to
school in that building" Their in
tention was TO inform DR.. Norris
of all the changes they felt would
be necessary to make the build
ing uSable-not to reject the offer
of extra classroomS, or to pro
claim themselves in favor
double sessions.
Last Friday night, after the an
nouncement of DR.. Norris inter
probation of the preference Of.
Twinbrook people" another meet |
ing was held by some officers of
the P-TA and some of the Twin
brook people who were ardently
opposed TO double sessions, and |
whose recommendations made |
through the P-TA planning com
mittee last Spring were largely |
responsible for the School Boards
considering the building in the
first place
The opinion was expressed al
this meeting that the majority Of !
the people of Twinbrook were in
favor of avoiding double sessions
by using this building.
AT the time of the great push
FOR restoration of the County bud |
get everyone was aware of tho /
fact that new schools could not |
be completed in time for this fall. /
yet they urged the School Board |
to do whatever was possible to
ease the crowding at Twinbrook /
elementary
Early in July the availability of
the Lyons mansion was announce
IN the press as being the answer |
to our fervant prayers and most
people were only too glad to put
school affairs behind them for a
few months.
II was argued that people had |
accepted the building without see. |
ing how old il was and that they
would not be willing to send their
children into building which was
unsuitable.
IL now becomes necessary To |
define suitability" DR.. Norris
has allayed all fears that the
building might he a fire hazard |
because il was not built TO house
children. lie assured the commit.
tee that before any building can
be used as school, it must be
approved by the Fire Marshall. |
who will personally supervise the
changes in lighting, wiring, heat |
ing and exit doors (which must |
open out and have a panic barr |
We went TO a panic bar the
other night, but that's another
story.
A few parents felt that the 10. /
cation of toilets upstairs was q
doh la 4 4. 4.