Litchfield enquirer., 1866-11-15
PUBLIC ACTS. X. I-----. l. PASSED MAY SESSION, 1866

PUBLIC ACTS gi gi@@ 1 PASSED MAY SESSION, 1866 L.. ts' CHAPTER GIT.
 An Act in alteration of ..An Act concerning Educa
 Be # e,.ctoa < , hv tna tsion.s sol,.to - . ,. n .
 sentatiyes in General Assembly convened i : =
 SEC ]! That every town in this state shall assume ana malntain the control of the common schools
 its hits subject to such requirements and
 @ as are or may be imposed by the Gen.
 eLsi 1T G@ assembly; and for this purpose syery town
 sliat constitute a union school district as new
 statad hy law with the exception hereinafter
 sEo. Said union districts shall elect by ballot
 o tne tnird Monday of September next, six. twelve
 or eighteen male residents of the town as a school
 cHeSe ciaas Mho shall divide themselves into three
 classes, hoidng offce one, two, and three wears
 respectlyeiy and at every subsequent annual cleo
 ton, two, four or six members Of the committee
 as the case may be, shall be elected by ballot for term 0f three years; but no elector shall at any
 election vote for more than one.haf of the nnmbes 5 9I persons to be elected, and the candidates having tne henest number of votes shall be declared cleo, Sao 3, 1nsaid union districts the school commit tee shall have in general the powers and perform 1 the duties which are now devolved upon district committees and boards of school visitors and es- Reclaliy they shall maintain in the various parts of the town for 2 period of not less than six months annually good common schools of the different grades; they shall appoint one or more acting visi- tors or superntendants under their direction to ex- amme teachers and visit schools; they shall have tae care and management of the property and funds of the district; they shall lodge all bonds leases, notes and other securities, with the treasurer of said district, unlesa the same have been intrusted O G1her Dy the donors or grantors or by the Gen efai assembly; they shall pay into the treasury of the district all moneys which they may receive for tho support of schools; they shall determine the number and qualification of the scholars to be ad- noNt.o ,l.
 quisite number of qualified teachers; they shall designate the schools which shall be attended by tue children within their jurisdiction and may ar- range, they see fit, with the committee of an ad- 1acent district for the institution therein of such children as may attend there more conveniently; 1; they shall fill any vacancies which may arise in ther own number; they shall annually, during the nrst two weeks af the month of September, ascer ram the expenses of supporting and maintaining the schools under their superintendenco during the year ending the thirty day of the previous August. and report the same, together with the thereof to the district at meeting to be held on the thrd Monday in September in each year; and shall at the same time, make full report of their domgs, and the condition of the schools under their superintendence and all important matters concerning the same, to the district, and shall per form lawful acts which may be required of them by the districts or which may be necessary to carry into effect the powers and duties granted by this
 SEC. 4. Said union districts shall assume the property and be responsible for the debts of the districts now existing within the limits of the sever al towns. The property So taxen may be appraised under the direction of the town, and at the next annual assessment thereafter, tax shall be levied upon the whole town, equal to the amount of said appraisal and there shall then be remitted to the taxpayers of each district the appraised value of its property thus taken less tho amount of the in debtedness Of the district; the difference in the value of the property of the several districts may be adjusted in other manner agreed upon by the n in towns shall remain heretofore in charge of the school fund treasurer of said towns. Schools or ganized or maintained by towns shall be under the Jurisdiction of the union district committee in the same manner aS schools of . lower grade.
 SEC. 5. The comptroller of public accounts on the application of the school committee of such district shall draw an order in favor of such district on the such district may Dc Entitled of all moneys g appro @ priated by law for the benefit support and encour- agement of common schools, as is provided in res pect to towns. A'''
 SEC. 6. The annual meeting of said union dis trcts for the election of oicers receiving the re- port of the committee laying the tax and transact ing other school business, shall be held on the third Monday of September, at place to be deter: hereafter by the school committee. Special meet ngs of the district may be called by the school com mittee at any time, and shall be called at the re- quest Of twenty voters.
 SEC. 2. The necessary funds for the maintenance of the common schools, beyond the income of state and local funds, shall be provided by a property | tax to be levied on the grand list of the town by vote of the school district in lawful meeting con- vened.i 'j '..r 4f@ t' ."t> .f- ''t"'
 SEC. 8. All provisions of the Act concerning Edu- cation, inconsistent with the foregoing provisions arc hereby repealed.
 SEC. 9. This act shall take effect only in such towns as shall by 8 majority vote in legal town meeting warned for that purpose accept of the pro-
 Approved Jund 30, 1866. ' l. "