Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-01

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general administration. said he
had not been aware Of the sit
uation. Budget Officer Walter l..
Fowler said he had known about
lit, although not in detail. but he
said no move had been made by
school officials. He indicated the
first step should be taken by
them.
Charles N. Zellers, deputy
school superintendent. said he
had mentioned the matter to
School Supt. Hobart M. Corning
some time ago. Mr.. Zellers added
that he favored taking immediate
step to bring the matter TO con-
Igressional attention. He did not
indicate whether this will be
done, however.
Suburbs Get $40 Million
Washington suburbs already
are benefiting from the i'm
Ipacted-areas program. Their ex-
perience shows the big stake
which the District has in the
matter.
In the last five years the six
major suburban communities
have netted more than $40
million from the program over
sgt million for construction and
almost $13 million for main
Itenance and operation.
In the next two years, under
the expected extension, these
six communities expect to re-
ceive between $14 million and
SIG million more.
Washington apparently was
left out of the program originally
because its finances are a part
of the Federal budget and it was
thought that its school funds
should be part of regular local
appropriations. But the District
does participate in other Federal
aid programs.
Payment Never Increased
The fact that the District gets
a direct annual Federal contri-
button to its expenses also has
been cited. but this payment has
never been increased to give the
District an equivalent of share
in school aid funds.
Federal officials now appear to
have changed their view.
Under the Governments rules,
construction aid goes to COM
munities needing help to house
substantial increases in school
enrolment traceable to Federal
employment.
A Federal official said it is
unlikely that the District, which
now has relatively small in
crease in annual enrolment
can qualify for this construction
aid money.
But the official said the Dis
trict would almost certainly be
eligible for a large amount for
maintenance and operation
purposes.
Under Public Law 874. the
Federal Government will Shout
der half the operating expenses
of practically all pupils having
parent who works on Federal
property. 1t will pay the full
cost of pupils living on Federal
land.
The District hasn't made a
survey to find how many pupils
fall into these two categories, but
the number is known to be large
High percentages of pupils in
the suburbs are drawing Federal
support, as shown by these fig-
ureS:
Falls Church, 56 per cent; Arl-
ington. SIS per cent; Fairfax, "a
per cent: Alexandria, Al per cent:
Montgomery, 33 per cent. and
Prince Georges. % per cent.
One population expert esti-
mated between SO and 40 per
cent of Washington's approx
mately 1000 public school
children are Federally connected.
If the number were 40 per cent,
or 42,80O, the city would be en-
titled under the operation-aid
program to get more than So
million annually, according to
one unofficial estimate.
The percentage of Washington
pupils could be even higher.
1t is almost too late to get the
O;ck~;ot ;ofA %loa .,rO0t.av1n fhic