Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-23
School Feud Erupts
Over Budget Cuts
Whittier Guide
Hit in County as
Intlummutory
BY WILLIAM DUKE
Star Staff Writer

Montgomery County'S new
School Board and Supt. C. Tay-
lor Whittier.
The cause was a priority list
of SIS million in school posi-
tons and programs, drawn up
by DR.. Whittier to guide the
economy minded board in cut
ting school spending.
The list, released late Friday,
included such items as elimina-
ton of free kindergartens, driv-
er education and foreign Ian
guage training in elementary
schools and increase in aver
age class size.
The majority Of the board
said in a statement yesterday
the list was a public relations
document" designed to "irritate
the public"
They said they will continue
our efforts in good faith to
examine all areas of the budget"
but had no intention of elimina-
ting kindergartens, some school
bus service or training for the
handicapped.
Board President Charles w.
Bell said that items which
would "inflame the public" were
included on the list of possible
cuts, but many areas where
economy is possible" were not.
Cites Sensitive Areas"
"The superintendent in his
report kept mentioning sensi-
tive areas for possible reduced
school service" Mr.. Bell said,
"but didn't even mention costs
of his administrative setup in
Rockville"
DR.. Whittier, informed of Mr..
Bells statement, said he and
his staff went through the
budget in detail, searching for
items which would be the least
! devastating to the school pro-
= gram"
4 This obviously required
:. judgments" he said, "but we
were instructed to bring a list
{ which could yield IS million in
e cuts, and had 10 consider cut
ting programs which would not
It be welcomed by everybody"
'e Miss Lucille Maurer, one Of the
d three minority members of the
Is board, said she thought the SUI
;, perintendent's staff had been
y thorough" in drafting the list.
: She noted that DR.. Whittier
= had received no advice from the
board majority on where to
D start suggesting cuts or on
/ what areas to avoid.
? Mr.. Bell said the widespread
reference by DR.. Whittier of
sensitive programs" which
could be eliminated to save
money. seems to confirm re-
ports (board members) have
received from teachers"
These reports, the board pres
ident said, indicated that school
officials told teachers and su-
pervisorS to suggest possible
economy cuts to their superiors,
concentrating on items that
would irritate the public.
"The next meeting of the
board is January g." Mr.. Bell
said. land you can be sure that
we will try to determine who is
responsible for these tactics"
DIR. Whittier said that several
faculty groups" had met to
discuss the priority list, but not
on the direction Of the super
intendent'S office. Members Of
the county'S teachers associa-
ton had also discussed the list
with top officials, he said.
He said that at one meeting
, when representatives of the
; county's Education Association
- the teachers group - were
present, a suggestion was made
by one teacher TO load the list
with items which could en-
barrass the board.
II said that this was not the
staff's intention, and that no
such approach would be con-
sidered," DR.. Whittier said.
Priority for Cuts
The list, prepared by DR..
Whittier and his staff in eight
days to meet a board-imposed
deadline, was designe dto put
the superintendent priority
tag on items that could be con-
sidered for cutting.
The action was ordered when
DR.. Whittier presented a $55.5
million budget proposal for the
l963-64 fiscal year. This was SIS
million higher than this years
budget.
The superintendent listed 80
items. giving top cutting prior
ity to limited programs which
would yield only minor econo-
mics.
Far down the list, DR.. Whit
tier placed items which could
yield the large cuts necessary
to trim SIS million and keep
next years spending at this