The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-22
The School Board Secs no Neces.
sity for Closing tho Schools
Sooner.
Trustee Miller Withdraws Ills Res.
olution to Close the Term
March l.
II the High school II Not Completed
Shortly tho Trustees VIII Tlnish
1t Themselves.

fact was settled at the meeting Of the trus-
tees yesterday afternoon. The matter came
up on tho report Of the finance committee
on the resolution Of Trustee Miller. intro
duced 1t the previous meeting, to close the
sohools March J., because of the shortness
of funds. The finance committee reported
that "it was not policy to close the schools
until June. There is on hand &23,0l6,
which, with strict economy, would last
until Juns 1, with but little shortage"
Trustee Miller announced that he would
withdraw his resolution, but gave some
figures in support Of his claim that there
was not money enough to keep up the pros
emit pace. These figures were taken from
the report of tho board to tho county super
intendsnt. For 1889 and 1890 the enroll
mont Was 1,600; for 1890 and 1891 it was
l,743, an increase in pupils of lab. Tho
average daily attendance in 1889 and 1880
was 1,O12, and in 1890 and 1891 it was 1,167.
an increase OF 1855. The number OF teach
ers in 1889 and 1890 were thirty-three; IN
1880 and 1891 there were forty-three; an in
crease OF teachers in ono year Of ten. The
salaries Of teachers in 1889 and 1880 wers
$28, 44O. 80; ia 1890 and 1891 they
we're $35.576.1 6; an increase In one
year OF bI.loo.of. LIZ eve1ueo - u1. ~
The debt OF the district on Sept. !, 1891.
on account of general fund, and not in
GLIDING the building fund, was $23 ,967.87.
The funds apportioned to the district Jan. !,
1892. were $44,620. The amount left on
hand TO run the schools to Jan. l, 1893. 10
S22, 457.O6. This monthly payroll is 1890,
$3S, $50. To run the schools until the mex
superintendent the deficit or salaries alone
would be SIG, O62.9 "a, which does not include
tho salaries through vacation, at Toast
$1,000. He estimated that BY going on at
this same rate. the deficit BY next January
would be $4,000.
The remarks of Trustee Miller started
general discussion, in which the other mem.
bora of the board gave their opinions
briefly. Trustee Langhorne ventured the
remark that if the board closed up the
schools they would be taken up in Dry
guloh and hanged. He thought the board
should run the schools as long 9 sthe money
lasted. Anyhow, he didn't believe in GROSS
ing a bridge until he ca1no to it. Trusted
Guthrie thought tho member of the board
could not afford to live in this town anc
run %hve-month schools. Trustee Cans
thought the city might vote q tax OF one
mill to keep up the schools, IT there
Principal Teacher Young was called into
tho room. He thought some Of Trustee
Miller's figures were wrong. The average
of pupils on roll was forty-one to a room
and the average attendance between thirty
five and forty. The lower average was causse
by including the special teachers in the
high school. There was a small attend
anoe there, but it required just as many
teachers as if there were more pupils. II
any Of tho special teachers were dropped
the schools would 20 down. During thu
discussion the opinion was expressed BY
several of tho trustees that the incidsnta
expenses should be reduced.
1t was decided to have Principal Teache
Young find out how many children livini
outside the district were attending TIN
Helena schools. and either charge them o
have the trustees of the district from
which they came pay over to this tn
pro rata mount they received for thes'
children in the a~pportionment. The boar
expects to derive quite a revenue from thi
source.
The board had another struggle over tn
high school proposition. Several sub-con
tractors asked for what was duo them. Ih
board did not see how they could do any
thing. On the recommendation of tn
building committee, a letter wa
sent to Whalen d Grant, the contractors
calling attention to the fact that "progres
on the high school building is at a stand
STILL" Though the excuse given for thi
was want Of material, the board though
that business foresight would have ha'
plenty of material ON hand. 1.-The idel
that SUCH a building should occupy wears t
complete" the letter says, lis preposter
ous." The board further stated that if j
were not done soon they would take hol
and finish it themselves.