Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-08
Classroom Squeeze
II troubles Suburbio
Continued From Page B.

Continued From Page b.
ing its 53.162 pupils into 100
schools meant for 47.082.
Next year enrolment is ex-
|pected to jump to- around $1,000.
and the county is studying a
plan to use staggered pupil shifts
spread over q nine-hour day.
Makeshift Quarters
A recent survey showed that
1 .284 Prince Georges pupils are
on double shifts, and 4.180 learn
ing in such makeshift quarters
as libraries, auditorium stages,
health rooms and infirmaries.
Prince Georges County wants
to spend 1854 million for operat-
ing its schools next year. It
gets its building funds through
bond sales-not figured as part
of its budget-and the school
board has approved $11.5 mil
lion for two-year building pro-
gram.
Plans call for two senior high
schools. two junior highs, nine
elementary schools and 10 addi-
tons to present schools.
Since last fall, Mrs. Kreager
has become a more avid member
OF the PTA. She and many other
mothers spend their noon hours
at the school. supervising the
pupils while the harried teachers.
with more charges than they
should be handling. take a much
needed break.
Throughout Suburbia
The booming enrollments in
the public schools OF suburbia
have brought similar problems
throughout the area.
Montgomery County, for ex-
ample. opened its new Northwood
High School early this year, and
school officials predict 1t will be
too small for next years expected
enrolment.
The new Bannockburn Ele-
mentary School in the same
county has not yet been used
because it lacks access roads
and utilities. When it opens
this fall it will be overcrowded.
The county superintendent of
Schools wants $207.300 to add
six classrooms and a kitchen
for 1858.
Last fall. Fairfax County
found 1t necessary to buy q
trailer as a temporary substitute
for needed classrooms.
In the Lynhrook section OF
that county. a builder left out
the interior walls of two modern
ramblers in his new housing de-
velopment. so they could be
made over temporarily for class
rooms.
Alexandria plans to reopen
the old Lee School on Prince
street next fall to provide needed
room.
While the Districts enroll
ment since 1850 was going up
only Is per cent, Fairfax
County's jumped q staggering
191 per cent-up from 1928 in
1850 to 38.59S today. Next year.
$500 more are expected.
1.149 ClassroOms Now
Seven years ago. the county
had only 279 classrooms. This
year 1t has 1,14o and hopes to
have 1856 by the time the new
school year starts In September
In the same period. Mont
gomery County's attendance rose
from 24.533 pupils to 57.677, up
l35 per cent. BY 1852. 1t Is ex-
pected to be 86.894.
In an effort to keep abreast.
school ofiicials in nearby Mary
land and Virginia are asking
their governments for more than
$40 million to run the schools
next year.
Montgomery County, expect
ing 63.l7S pupils this fall. has
the biggest school budget request
at 1924 million. This includes
$9.2 million for building.
Arlington County feels It has
just about caught UP with its
building program. Two months
ago the county sold 81 million
in bonds out Of a $4.5 million is
sue approved by voters, and
hopes to sell the rest later this
year.