Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-06
Citizens Offer
Funds toSpur
School
Bethesduns Seek
$500 Incentive
For Contractor

VI GUuCdbIOu, Ilduutcu w LLic
threat of widespread double ses-
sions in county schools next Sep
TENDER. today has before it an
offer from a group of Bethesdans
to raise $500 by private sub
scription to spur the construc-
ton of Walter johnson High
School.
The offer was made last night
by John Roper, Washington ac-
countant and president Of the
nt-Teacher Association of
Western Junior High School,
which will be crammed next fall
awaiting the opening Of the new
high school. now under construc-
ton on Old Georgetown road.
On November IA the board
voted, 4-3, to reject an offer
from the william e. Cramer Co.,
which had proposed an incentive
plan awarding 1t $500 If II
completed the $2.2 million high
school by September ], 1856. SO
days ahead of the scheduled
completion date In late NO
|vember.
Willing to Pay
Mr.. Roper declared that the
private bonus plan "is not the
way to do it, but the citizens
|are willing to raise the money
II it has to be done that way,
|it win be done"
He scoffed at the boards ar.
gument that the bonus system
would set a bad precedent
When precedent is given as q
reason. then you don't have q
reason" he said.
The board then backed down
from its blanket opposition to
bonus payments and voted to au-
thorize DR.. Forbes H. Norris
superintendent of schools, to ne
gotiate with the contractor tc
find reasonable and necessary
methods of insuring occupancy
|of the high school by September
Il.
John Mcintyre. president Of
the PTA at Bethesda Chevy
Chase High School, whose pros
pective overcrowding the new
high school was designed to re-
lieve, warned that double ses-
sions at B-CC would affect the
generalization Of the school.
Shift Not Solution
He called o school administra-
Ition plan to prevent double ses.
sions at B-CC by shifting high
school classes TO existing junioi
high schools "the lesser OF two
evils but not q real answer"
Under this plan. North Bethes.
ida Junior High School woult
Iget 1.140 pupils. against a capa-
city of CTS. Western. with a ca
Ipacity of 875. would take 93(
pupils, while Leland Junior High
would enroll 952. two over ca.
Ipacity.
The crisis in secondary schoo.
facilities in the Bethesda area
was set of originally by pro.
ltracted negotiations for the
Walter johnson School site.
Similar delays In acquiring ar
elementary school site threaten
to cause extended double sessions
lat four schools in the Wheaton
larea.
Willard @. McGraw. chairman
of the board, announced he viii
attempt today to speed hearing
of a condemnation suit in Circuit
Court in which the board /;
seeking to acquire land fol
building the projected 24-roon
Aspen Hill Elementary School.
At stake is a construction con.
tract which the board approved
on November is, subject to rati-
f1cation by December 16. The
condemnation suit was author
lied in July. but not filed by
the county attorneys Office until
three months later.
The board gave a go-ahead
signal to Johannes & Murray,
architects, to draw final plans
for the Bannockburn Elementary
School in Bethesda.
Other Pleas Heard
The step drew protests from
Mrs. Helen Scharf, a board men,
Der, who said its building would
open up vacant classrooms in
the adjoining Radnor and
|Brookmont school districts. She
said other areas of the county
needed schools more desperately
The board also heard these
pleas:
Benton B. Westfall, chairman
|of u special committee Of the
Germantown Parent Teacher
Association, said that school
needs four classrooms to avoid
double sessions.
Arnold Ruegg, jr., trustee Of
the Bradley Elementary School,
warned of an impending space
crisis" In that area.
Francis A. Royce. chairman
ot the School committee of the
viers Mill Elementary School,
foresaw continued double SEES
sions in the Viers Mil section
for the next five years and urged
the board to build a l0-class-
room addition TO the school.
Awarding of a contract for the
Washington Grove Elementary
School was delayed when all bids
exceeded estimates Of cost for
the project.
District Ann Hold