Evening star., 1955-01-17
D. c. Schools Budget
Cut A.5 Million;
4 Projects Dropped
By james G. Deone

by James y. Ueone
A slash Of almost $4.5 million
! In next years proposed District
public school budget was re-
veaIed today.
Chopped out Of the school
budget by the Commissioners
were 1873 Of 1893 requested addi-
tional teachers and other per-
sonnel. Dropped also were four
school construction prof ects cost
| ing more than So million.
Included among the deletions
were all so special teachers asked
BY school officials. mostly for
slow learners and other children
with physical or mental handi-
caps. Also deleted were % junior
high librarians and 81 assistant
principals for elementary
schools.
Further Cuts Loom.
Further cnts are probably in
store even though the budget
has been placed in the hands
Of Congress. Commissioner Sam
uei Spencer told reporters the
school operating budget which
takes the biggest single share Of
the Districts revenues-will be
reviewed along with the rest Of
the city estimates In a further
pruning which is needed to fore
stall q deficit.
Mr.. Spencer said no further
cutback in school construction
| is contemplated. however. since
the District Is committed to
carry out such construction
under the Congress-approved
public works program
Despite the Commissioners
cutback, the school operating
estimate is $569, 900 greater than
! the current operating budget.
The total school estimate sent
| to Congress is $3l. .264.400. OF
this. the operating budget is
$28, ,1gl 900.
Four Projects Abandoned.
Construction funds took the
brunt Of the Commissioners
slash. The city officials dropped
outright q proposed new ele-
mentary school at Thirteenth
and S streets NV. and a re-
placement for the old Seaton
Elementary School, I street near
Second NV.
Deleted also were construction
funds for q new health school
for crippled and an addition at
Eliot Junior High.
The Commissioners did allow
small amounts for preparing
plans for the health school and
Eliot projects, however.
The approved construction
projects are these:
New elementary school at
Sixth street and Riggs road NE.
Cost. $7l9.850.
New furniture and equipment
and a shower and dressing room
addition at Mckinley High
School. Cost. $960.800.
Addition to Garfield Elemen-
tary School, Twenty fifth street
and Alabama avenue Sc. Cost.
$427. $50.
Addition to Anacostia High
School. Cost. $662.850.
Addition to Randall Junior
High School. Cost, $l44,500.
New school to replace the Ami
don and Greenleaf Elementary
Schools in the Southwest. Cost.
| $769. 500.
The Arnidon- Greenleaf project
technically has top priority.
School and city officials recently
agreed to defer it, however. and
use the funds to buy some tenn
/ porary demountable buildings to
| meet emergency crowding next
fall. The new Amidon- Greenleaf
school actually cannot be built
Immediately because Of delay In
settling Southwest redevelop-
ment and highway plans.
Deietion Of the SO requested
special teachers is q major set
back to the school system. They
would cost $225, 900.
School officials this year, be-
cause Of racial irltegration, did
not have to seek additional reg
lilar teachers to meet growing
Negro enrolment. But they
hoped instead to take important
strides toward improving the
attention given children with
learning handicaps. as well as
augmenting the number Of spe-
cialists in some fields.
Funds for IL Clerks.
Granted, however. was q re-
quest widely supported by
teacher and parent organiza-
tions for IL elementary school
clerks. ThisN-if Congress grants
the recommended funds - will
leave only 10 elementary prin-
cipals without clerical assis-
| tance. School officials plan to
ask for the remaining clerks q
t,nn,. f,.n,.. .1s,x.,