Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-09-16
ARTICLE

tlOus IOllONIIiS 10 tIlC oAteAo SecAA''NN
by the committee on educational depart
ment:
ARTICLE -
EDUCATION.
SECTION !. A general diffusion Of
know ledge and intelligence being essen
tal to stability of government and the
Liberties OF the people, ,the legislature
shall as soon as practicable provide by
law for the establishment and mainte-
nance of a thorough and uniform system Of
common schools throughout the state,
wherein all The residents OF the state be-
tween the ages OF + and q years may be
educated gratuitouslE, One or more pub
lie schools shall be maintained in each
school district at least three months in
each year; any school district failing. to
have such school shall not be entitled to
receive any portion OF the general school
fund for that year. The public school
system in addition to the common
schools shall include such high schools,
normal schools and technical schools as
may hereafter be established by law.
Sec. 2. The legislature shall by law
provide for the organization of school
districts of convenient size, in each OF
which shall be established board Of
education OF three or more directors, who
shall be citizens and have such control
OF the affairs of the district as shall be
authorized by law.
Sec. 3. The legislature shall provide
by law for levying and collecting taxes
variously from the state, county and
school districts, to the end: First, that
the annual three months school pro-
vided for in section shall he paid for
by the county. Second, an annual tax
OF 29 mills on the dollar of assessed
valuation from the state ior the general
common school fund for annual dis
bursement. Third, that school districts
municipalities may at option levy
such additional school tax as shall be nee
essary to maintain their schools during
the school year. Also, taxes not exceed
ing 212 mills on the dollar of assessed
valuation in any one year, for the pur-
pose OF erecting school buildings.
Sec. 4. Each county collector of taxes
shall collect all school funds, general or
special, belonging to this county and to
the several school districts therein, and
pay the same over without delay to the
county treasurer, who shall disburse the
same to the the proper school districts
upon warrants drawn by the district
superintendent, or by the proper school
district authorities, as may be provided
B. law.
Sec. 5. A superintendent of public
instruction shall be appointed by the
governor biennially. by and with the adj
vice and consent OF the senate, o majority
OF all the members elected concurrng.
He shall reside and keep his Office at the
capital, and shall have the general super
vision OF public education. There shall,
in like manner, be appointed and con-
tiImed district superintendent of schools
for each judicial district; such apIointee
shall be resident of the district. The
terms of office of the several officers pro-
vided for in this section shall termin. lie
with the sitting Of the legislature, or at
such time rs their respective successors
shall he appointed and qualify. Their
duties shall be designated by law.
Sec. &. The governor, superintendent
Of public instruction, secretary of state
and attorney general shall constitute the
state board OF land commissioners, who
shall have the direction, control and dis
position OF the public school lands under
such regulations as may be prescribed by
law. They shall likewise make All ill.,
vestment of the perpetual school fund as
hereinafter prescribed.
Sec. Z. The perpetual public school
fund OF the state shall consist Of all pro-
ceeds from the sale OF public lands grant.
ed by the United States for educational
purposes; the net proceeds OF all sales of
lands and other property and effects that
may come to the state by escheat; from
unclaimed dividends of all corporations
doing business underline laws of the state
distributive shares Of estates
of deceased persons ;all donations and be-
quests such per cent as may be granted
or may have been granted by congress to
the state on the sale OF lands in this state,
and all other money coming to or appro-
priated for educational purposes, the dis,
position OF which shall not otherwise be
provided for, shall be made perpetual
fund, to be paid into the state treasury
and sacredly preserved as public school
fund. The investment OF said perpetual
fund shall he as follows: In bonds OF the |
United States and the state OF New Mex.
leo, or school district bonds in q sum not |
exceeding 81 900, for the purpose of build
ing school house in the district issuing
he same, provided that no other bonded /
shall exist or be incurred |
until said bonds shall be paid. Provided |
further, that the assessed valuation OF the
school district in which said bonds shall |
be issued be not less than SIC, 600. Loans
Or investments OF such funds in other !
than United States bonds shall draw in.
terest at rate not less than per cent |
per ahnum. After fifteen years lower
minimum rate of interest may be fixed by
law No devise, bequest, gift, grant Of
money or other property for the support
Of sectarian or church schools of any de-
gree shall ever be received by or disbursed
under the direction OF the state or by any
public corporation under the state.
Sec. 8. The perpetual public school
[nnd OF the state shall forever remain in
violate and intact; the interest thereon
only shall be expended in the MAIN
tenance of the schools of the state. No
part OF this fund, principal or interest,
shall ever be transferred to any other
Iund or used or appropriated, except for
publi: schools. The state shall supply
oil losses hereof that may in any man
ner occur. The state treasurer shall be
he custodian of all educational funds
The treasurer shall credit said funds to
he several purposes for which they were
granted or donated, or as shall be deter
mined by this constitution or by law.
The county treasurer of each county
hall be the custodian Of all public school
unds to be disbursed in his county. He
hall credit all said deposits to the proper
und, keeping separate account Of the
anne.