This Day in History: 1957-03-11

The special expediting committee, appointed by the Board of Education to speed up the construction of the New High School demanded a vote of confidence before continuing their work.  When they reported to the Board that they had recommended to the architecture that the ratio of classrooms to all-purpose rooms in the new school be raised to 12-1 instead of 6 to 1 they were accused of trying to make themselves into a design committee instead of an expediting committee.  Mr. Tibbals also questioned whether the chairman of the committee Frank Russo, was not compromising his professional standing as a builder by serving on the group.  Mr. Russo said he had not fear for his reputation and attacked what he described as “dillydallying”.  The reason why the work was not progressing as rapidly as it should toward the target of opening the new High School in the fall of 1958 was that there were too many people giving ideas to the architect so that he had to change the plans constantly.  He and his colleagues, Edward Pagels and John Lesure, then withdrew so that the Board could discuss their work.  When they returned the Board passed a vote of confidence in their work.  They stated that they wanted the job finished without second guessing of the expediting committees decisions.

(Bristow)