Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-20
Hansen Seeks
SSH Million
School Budget
Increase Urged
For Free Lunch,
Teaching Stuffs
BY ANDREW BINGHAM
star Staf Writer

star SJhu writer
An operating budget Of $51.2
million for the 1960-6l school
year. including money to pro-
vide free lunches to 1000 needy
children, was presented to the
District Board of Education
today by Supt. Carl F. Hansen.
The record high figure is
about 81 million more than the
school budget recently approved
by Congress for this coming
school year. About half of the
additional money is needed to
maintain the current educa-
tional services for the expected
larger enrolment. DR.. Hansen
said, and the remainder is for
improved services.
There's not an item included
that isn't urgently needed" the
superintendent ADDED. The
board is expected to approve his
recommendations later today.
They must then be approved by
District budget officials and the
Commissioners before being
submitted to Congress next
year.
Free Lunch Request
The free lunch program for
1000 elementary school young
sters was approved in principle
by the board earlier this year.
During the first year of opera
ton it will cost $577.200 more
than the limited program for
1000 children-at a cost of
S266,000 approved for this
coming year.
The plan provides for hot
lunches for all children who at
tend elementary schools within
easy walking distance of junior
high schools, which have cafe
teriaS. Other youngsters will
get bag lunches.
Inclusion of the program in
the budget recommendation
it is the largest single new item
represents the elimination of
a year-long round of discus
Sions and reports On the subject
by school and District officials
as well as members of Congress.
The 1000 figure is the estimate
of the number of hungry chill
dren by the elementary school
principals.
The free lunch recommended
ton could cause, serious dis
agreement between school and
District officials. DR.. Hansen
has consistently said it is his
position that "the hungry child
should be fed now" The Dis
trict Commissioners, however,
have expressed reluctance to
proceed. For the 1950-6O school
year. they had recommended a
pilot program to feed 1000
children. Congress eventually
doubled this figure.
improvements Asked
DR.. Hansen also gave the
board today a proposed per-
manent Improvements budget
totaling nearly So million for
the 1960-61 school year. 1t in
cludeS $535,OO0 to start in
stallation of sprinkler systems
in the rs non-fireproof school |
buildings.
The sprinklerS will ultimately
cost more than So million, DR..
Hansen said. He has been ad-
vlsed that no more than a quar-
ter of the work can be done in
any one school year. He said
he hoped the money for the
project would be over and above
the money normally granted
the schools for permanent i'm
provementS. For this next
year, the figure is about
100000.
Renovation of the four rooms
burned out by fire last year at
the Stevens School is another
feature of the permanent i'm
provementS budget. The cost
is estimated at $64,200.
Other recommendations in
clude installation of fire alarm
boxes in certain schools, a pro-
gram to eliminate fire hazards
and improve electrical systems.
and the installation of new
boilers in four schools. Most Of
these items have been ordered
by the District building inspec-
tors. They are expected to cost
more than 100000. T.
Budget Highlights
HighlightS of the operating
budget include:
Hiring of 121 additional ele-
mentary school teachers to
handle the larger enrolment
and to reduce the pupil-teachcr
ratio to $40. The ratio for
See SCHOOLS, Page AS