The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-04-15
An Act for the Public Instruc-
ton Of the State Of Iowa.


Assembly Of the State of Iowa., That each
civil township in the several counties Of this
State is hereby declared school district for
all the purposes Of this act, the boundaries of
said Township beirg the boundary of said
School District, and every township hereafter
laid out and organized, shall become also
School District and each district as at present
shall become a sub-district for the
purpose herein ,fter provided. Propided, That
each incorporated city or town including tie
territory annexed thereto for school purposes
and which contains net less than one thou
sand inhabitants, shall be and is hereby crea-
ted separate school district, which shall e!ec:
its officer In the same manner that off icers are
elected in other school districts, and the elec-
tors and officers Of said district, shall possess
and exercise the same powers, and perform
the same duties as are by this act required of
like officers in other school districts, and said
district shall be in all respects subject to the
provisions of this act so far as the same are
applicable, and the remaining part of such
township or townships shall each be consider
ed as a separate township as provided in this
act.
So. In each sub district there shall be
taught one or more Schools for the instruc-
ton of the youth between FIVE and twenty-one
years of age, residing therein for at least six
teen weeks of Eve school days each, in each
year, and IN case Of failure 40 to keep up such
school unless the County Superintendent shall
be satisfied that there was good and sufficient
cause for such failure, or in case of failure or
neglect to make the proper returns to the
county superintendent, as provided in this acr,
such district shall receive no part Of the school
money which shall be apportioned among the
other districts Of the sam. county for that
year. ....
5 3. Whenever persons can be better ac-
Lommodated at the school of an adjoining dis
trict township, the board of directors OF the
one in which such persons reside, with the
of the board of the district to
which it is proposed to attach them, snail
them for educational purposes TO
such adjoining district township, and when
persons have been so transferred, the board OF
directors of the district in which they reside.
shall pay 10 the treasurer of the district town
ship to which they have been transferred, the
proportional of the public school money to
which they may be entitled for their use.
5 4. In case any township shall become
organized IN CO nty not organized, it shall
be attached to the county which lies contgn-
Gus to it. and whose county seat is nearest to
said township, aud 1t shall be included as a
part Of said county, and be subject to taxation
for school purposes, and shall receive its pro-
portion cf school money, in the same manner
as if it formed a part of said county. until the
county in which said township is situated
shall become organized under the laws of
This State, at which time it shall, for all school
purposes, form district in the county in
which it is situated. .....
5 5. Every school district now or which
NAV be hereafter organized in this State. is
hereby made body corporate by the name of
District Township of in the
county of of---, aid State of Iowa,
and in that name may hold property, become
party to suits and contracts and do other cor
porate acts.
5 6. 1t shall be the duty of the trustees of
the several townships in the State to give ten
days previous notice of the first meeting of
their respective district townships herein au-
thorized, to be held on the first Monday of
May next. by pos ing written notice specify
ing the time and place Of meeting, in five diff.
ferent conspicuous places therein, and when a
new township is organized, or in case dis
trct should at any time be left without officers,
it shall be the duty Of ;he trustees thereof,
Immediately TO give the like notice of the first
meeting Of the school district.
81. The electors of the district township,
when assembled in accordance with the no.
tice required in the foregoing section, for the
purpose of electing district officers shall or.
ganize by appointing President and Secreta-
ry, who shall act as judges Of the election.
s s. TIE qualified voters at such reeting
and annually thereafter at the regular meeting
on the second Monday in March, shall elect
BY ballot one President, one Vice President.
and one Secretary of Il e District. who, togeth-
er with one director from each sub district, to
be elected as hereinafter provided shall con-
stitute board Of directors for the district. and
until their successors are elected and qualified;
they shall also at the same time and place
cleo. one Treasurer of the district, who shall
hold his Office for the term above provided.
and shall perform the duties hereinafter spec
ifed.
Q. The regular meetings Of each district
shall be held on the secocd Monday In March
in each year.
10. The electors Of the district, when
legally assembled at district school me ting.
shall have the following powers, viz:
First, To appoint Chairman and Secreta-
ry in the absence of the regular officers.
Second, To adjourn from time 10 time as oc-
casion may require.
Third, To levy snch fax, not exceeding one
per cent. in any on. year, on the taxable prop.
erty OF the district as the meeting shall deter
mine sufficient to purchase or lease suitable
site for school house or school houses and to
build, rent or purchase a school house or
school houses, and to keep in repair and fur
nish the same with the necessary fuel and ap-
pendages, and for compensation Of teachers,
and for proc urng district Libraries aud appa-