The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-04-26
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Letter from the County Super
intendenG.

Letter from the county super
intendenG.
To the Editor of Hawkins County Department:
Allow me through the columns OF
| your paper to make to the patrons
of our public schools few state.
ments in regard to the financial con-
dition of the same, and our pros
poets for the ensuing summer.
The public are we'll aware of the
fact that, owing to our indebtedness,
caused by the promised payment OF
rather eXtravagant wages to teach.
ers, and the failure OF public officers
TO promptly collect and pay over the
| funds Justly due us, 1t was thought
best by the Directors and your Coun-
ty superintendent to suspend the
public schools during the past Fall
and Winter in nearly oil the dis.
trlcts, Moreover, that, during that
time, there were not more than a
dozen public schools in operation.
This Indebtedness has been con-
siderably diminished since January
1st, 1875, by the payment. to the
districts, Of the sum of six thousand
four hundred and two dollars and
thirteen cents. There are still out
standing liabilities amounting to a
little less than four thousand dollars.
The payment of this sum, unfortun-
ately, will Geyolve mostly upon a
few Of the districts, the indebted
ness of the various districts ranging
from ninety to five hundred dollars.
To meet this Indebtedness, we
have due US from the present Tax
Collector. as | am informed. the sum
of two thousand dollars, the same
being back taxes for the years 1873
and 1874. To this we may also add
the sum of three hundred and seven
ty-four dollars. il being the amount
of school funds unintentionalfy used
by the County Court for county pur-
poses, but afterwards ordered by
that body refunded. Their pro rata
share of this fund alone will be suf-
ficient to pay the Indebtedness of
the majority of the districts. If the
report is correct, we have due us, in
addition TO the above, for the years
1869, 20, III, ~, about four thou
sand dollars.
propose 10 enter into a cores
pondence with our State Superinten-
dent at once, and if any error has
been committed, to have the same
rectified.
The amount of school funds re-
celved and disbursed by the Trus-
tees is as follows:
BY &. W.Portrum -. Sc, ,sO6 75+
BY James Nugent. ...... 6,402 13
Total. ............ $13, POS ss4
or which amount $6,21I 85 was
received in the shape of State war
rants, it being the amount of poll
tax and interest on "School Fund"
Said warrants had to be eashed at
discount of five to ten per cent.
see that, in your article styled,
sour Public Schools there is an
iHtimation of probability Of the
above funds not having been dis
tribnted as they should have been.
They certainly have been justly apd
fairly disbursed by James Nugent,
as / can personally testify. In re-
gard to the actions of the other
Trustees, Ifeel it my duty TO refrain
from passing judgment till see the
Trustees personally and examine
their books; but rest assured that
each district and teacher shall get
their full dues. The manner of dis
tribution has been as follows:
First by Trustee to clerks of the
various districts, according to the
scholastic population; then by clerks
to teachers. priority being given to
teachers having the oldest claims
aud a pro rata made to those that
taught in the same year. In the
event, however. a sub-district failed
to have a public school during that
year. a teacher having taught in the
same at subsequent time would be
entitled to the pro rata of that sub
district.
Ihaye end. avored to lay before
the people the true condition of our
finances. Next week / propose TO
exhibit the bright side OF the picture.
and show what fire prospects we
have for fourishing public schools
this Summer anil Fall.
Respectfully yours,
ELLIS Cooke,