The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-02-15
Report Of the Board of Education.
To the citizens of the corpo, ated VILLAGE of Rav.nna


Tbs undersigned. Board of Education oI
said Village, acting Building Committee in connection
with the erection of the Union School Building, in
said District, would respectfully submit the following
Report of their action in respect thereto.
On The 18Th day of April. A. 1857 at the annual
school meeting in said Village the Board instructed
to levy tax of ten thousand dollars upon the taxable
property of said Village half upon the duplicate
1857 snd o1e.haf upon the dupcate of 1855 for the
erection of High School Builing sufficient size to
moaae all of the schools organized in said village
In pursuance of these Instructions the proceeded
20 e prompt pr"secut on of sad work. and Of five
Thousand dollars half Of the required amount was
levied upon the duplicate of 1857 and the committee
consisting Of Spading and H c. Ranney were appoint
ed to procure plans, drafts &c. soliciting proposals
for the materials and erection OF said building; and on
the 21s day of September, 1857 after having uly dec-
ded npon tn. plan of the building
for the erection of The same the Board
tract with Messrs William and Henry W snaff of Ra-
for the entire materials. erection completion
Of said building by the first day of December 1853,
The Board. in view of the utter impractfcabilty of
erecting large and expensive structure as the one
limited size and the fee only two thirds of the land
being in this district determined change the location
of the building and on the 14h day of December 1857
entered into contract with J. L Ranney and F. W.
seymonr or the purchase of the present eligible sie
comprising nearly two fronting Chestnut street
$500 'i''0'AA ''fe''' i0f ''s sum Of
In efscng the change Of locqtion although t created
further liability On the pari of this district the Board
acted under what they considered their duty under
the circumstances. and faithful discharge of the trust
rsposed in thrm The great and increased
tho schools resulting from the change the Board believe
fully confirm their action in the matter The additional
be substaI tally removed by the several
cuped school lots and buildings and be if udcions
purchase of Of these lots, and the Board ould
recommend the immediate sale of The same and the ap
the site; the balance necessary be raised hy taxa
ton would be small that would hardly be felt by our
citizens
Immediately after the present location was secured the
contractors proceeded with heir work upon the build
embarrassnents attending their by fire. and other
causes having failed to ng the Board
under these circum extended the time for the
competition of the building TO the first day of August
H. 1903 In the mean time, however, some important
changes having been determined upon in the original de-
sign of the building, increasing, to some txeut the
amount OF work to be done by tie contractors posses
goth day of November, D. 1859. at which time fun
and sattisctcry settlement had with the Messrs
ena ef all mHtters pertaining to the erection of the
building strictly upon the terms of tieir contract
seiere n'temPtiIg to occupy the building the Board
about the grounds and uildg they conceived to he
necessary and which at distant day wonld have to be
build fences thrte sides lot charging the ad
joining propristers with their proportion the expense
Tagging The necessary walks that for number of
years very little expense will lie ry 10 keep them
Bonrd levied an additional incidental zou the duplicn
Of 1852 b only portion of it heirg collected nj this
Iieus sources in advance of taxes these purposes
hut when the entire levy shall have pnid in the
indebtedness incurred in respect All of the inn
provemenls thus made the Board have endeavored to
feet in an economical aud durable manner.
In seating the several of the new building all
of the old seats and desks thoroughly repaired
placed in the Primary and Secondary school rooms and
the approved style of desks wore procur
ed upon very favorable terms, IF Messrs w. Chase &
Son, of Buffalo, N Y, for the High and Grammar School
Rooms-the entire building beng CIV ve provided with
furniture except such additional articles may from
time to time be demanded by the enlargement Of the
Grammar and High School Departments. The Board
herewith present Statement of Receipts and Expendi
lures in thereto embracing the entire
incurred, and shrsements made in connection with the
erection of the building outbudings fencing grading
walks furniture repairing putting down the same &c
from the commencement of the enterprise Apr 1857
portion of the expenses embraced this Statement
would necessarily have been incurred had schools
remained longer in the old buildings the Board have
thus included them part of the expenses connected
with the new building. In order to show fully entire
amount of dsburss nlenis pertaining 10 the same.