Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-22
Annual School
Outlay Put at
$40 Million

the next five years for school
construction.
Before it starts on the big
spending program. it had better
take a hard look at its recent
construction record-a record
marred by cases of almost
lavish" facilities, inconsistent
standards and a hand-to-mouth
scheduling of projects. according
TO the McKinsey Report.
The management consultant
firm found these shortcomings
In the Board of Education sys-
tenn Of building schools:
l. Lack of Standardization of
school equipment and building
materials.
2. Inadequate long-range plan
lining.
8. An abundance of change
orders"
4. Expenditure during the last
five years of 50 million for archi-
tects' fees.
Different Standards
Equipment and facilities pro-
lvided certain schools reach al
most lavish proportions" the re-
port said.
Some clasSrooms are provided
separate facilities such as wash
basins, some get twice the num-
Der Of electrical outlets of others,
items such as book shelves and
hardware are left to the discre-
ton of architects. the report said.
A minimum standard Of class
room equipment should be es-
tablished, the consultants added.
Building specifications vary
widely and In some instances.
materials Of unnecessarily high
quality are used. In others sub
standard materials have resulted
In maintenance problems.
Lack Of planning has resulted
in additions to so per cent Of all
new schools.
Succession Of Additions
Twenty-six schools have addi-
tons. some as many as 1--WE.
Such additions cost the school
board a 90 per cent premium,
with square foot costs running at
SIC compared with $3.50 for
new schools.
Fund limitations have necessi-
tated some of the additions. In
one situation. the second adci-
ton to the Glen Haven Ele-
mentary was started within q
few weeks after the first was
completed and the fifth addition
started only three months after
the fourth was started.
The hand-to-mouth basis Of
construction had not been based
ON q long-range plan and has
proven to be expensive. the re-
port said.
Lack of planning has also re-
suited In q large number Of
change orders. North Bethesda
Junior High School had Is
major changes after construc-
ton had begun.
Architects fees are now being
paid out at the rate Of $500. 600
a year and the consultants feel
the school board should consider
setting up Its architects office.
Repeat Awards
Arguments against the pro-
posal which assert that it dis
courages new ideas and designs
are Offset by the fact that In
the last 10 years three firms got
66 per cent Of all architectural
assignments In Montgomery. the
report says.
They included Ronald Sense
man, 35.5 per cent: Mcleod d
Ferrar. 17.6 per cent. and RheesI
Burkett. 1873 per cent.
The consultants suggested 81
centralized vocational high
school.
During the last i've years. the
board has spent SIS million on
vocational classroom space du-|
plicating facilities throughout
the high schools and still Is not
providing full vocational train
ing in each of the schools.
The consultants also urged the
board to study the potentialities
of prefabricated school construc-
ton, a device expected to be in
augurated shortly at the Viers
Mills Elementary School. u
Boqqs Will Address