[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 42 (Monday, October 19, 1998)]
[Page 2046]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters at Forest Knolls Elementary School in Silver 
Spring

October 13, 1998

Classroom Space

    Q. Mr. President, Ashley Lewis was telling us before you came in 
that she actually likes this classroom, that it's one of the biggest in 
the school----
    The President. It is big.
    Q. Why should--can you explain to her, maybe, why you feel the need 
to spend $1.1 billion to build new classrooms when the student 
population may not always be this size?
    The President. Well, maybe I should let Secretary Riley answer that 
one, because it's going to be this size and bigger for a long time.

[At this point, Secretary of Education Richard Riley made brief remarks 
explaining the need to replace temporary classrooms that are unsuitable 
for various reasons.]

    The President. Accessibility.
    Secretary Riley. Heat, cool, it's different kinds of problems in all 
the different temporary facilities. Some are better than others, as the 
Governor pointed out, but they're temporary and it's not a permanent 
solution.
    The President. Even if it is bigger. [Laughter]

Note: The President spoke at 1:05 p.m. in a portable trailer classroom. 
A reporter referred to sixth grade student Ashley Lewis, and Secretary 
Riley referred to Gov. Parris N. Glendening of Maryland. A tape was not 
available for verification of the content of this exchange.