Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-11-18
THE NEW SCHOOL LAW
Establishing the Town System of Schools
in Vermont.
Full Text of the Measure rs II Passed
the Legislature,

Sembly Of the state Of Vermont:
SEC. /. After the date on which this
act shall take effect, each town in this
state shall constitute a single district for
school purposes, and the divisions of the
town into school districts, heretofore ex-
listing, shall no longer exist, except for the
settlement of their pecuniary affairs.
But school districts organized under
special acts of the legislature, and school
districts in unorganized towns and cores,
shall in no way be affected by the provis-
ions of this act, unless, at meeting legally
warned, they shall vote to become part
of the town district system.
SEC. 2. The several towns shall take
charge of the schoolhouses and property
belonging thereto within their respective
limits, and all debts outstanding that have
accrued for the purchase of land, erection
of schoolhouses and repairs on school
houses shall be audited and paid by the
respective towns. All other Indebtedness
of any school district shall be paid by said
district in the settlement of their pecuniary
affairs.
SEC. 3. In case of fractional districts,
parts of which belong to different towns,
the selectmen of such towns shall appraise
and adjust such school property of such
provisions of this act, and shall make an
equitable apportionment of the property
and debts of such district, and find the bal
ance equitably due from either of said
towns to any of said towns, and order such
balance to be paid within time to be by
them limited
SEC. 4. At the annual town meeting in
March, 1898, there shall be elected board
of three or six school directors, citizens of
the town, one-third of whom shall be elect
ed for one year, One-third for two years,
and one-third for three years, and at every
annual town meetings thereafter, one-third
of whom shall be elected for three years.
A vacancy in the board shall be filled by
appointment, by the seleCtmen, until the
next annual town meeting, when the town
shall elect director for the remainder of
the unexpired term. All directors elected
or appointed shall hold office until their
successors are elected
SEC. s. Said board of school directors
shall have the care of the school property
of the town and the management of its
schools, determine the number and location
of its schools, employ teachers and fix their
compensation, examine and allow claims
arising in school matters, and draw orders
upon the town treasurer for the payment
thereof, and shall, in general, have the
powers and perform all duties heretofore
devoving upon the prudential committee
and clerk of a school district, and may
make regulations not inconsistent with the
law for carrying the powers granted them
into effect.
SEC. 6. In every town there shall be
kept for at least 26 weeks in each year, at
the expense of said town, by teacher or
/ 49, oh ovI 0f
morals, a sufficient number of schools for
the instruction of all the children who
may legally attend all the public schools
therein; and all pupils shall be thoroughly
instructed in good behavior, reading, writ
ing, spelling, English grammar, geography,
arithmetic, free-hand drawing, the history
and constitution of the United States, and
in elementary physiology and hygiene, and
shall receive special instruction in the ge-
ography, history, constitution and princi-
| pies of the government of Vermont.
Said schools shall be within the limits of
said town, and at such places and held at
such times as in the judgment of the
| board of directors will best subserve the
| interests of education and give all the
scholars of the town as nearly equal ad-
vantages as may be practicable; and said
school board may use a portion of the
school money, not exceeding % per cent
| thereof, for the purpose of conveying
scholars to and from such schools.
SEC. T. The board of school directors
may provide for the instruction of advanc-
ed pupils in the higher branches of Eng
lish study in one or more of the graded
schools of the town, and may establish
central schools in said town.
SEC. 8. The board of school directors
may receive into the schools under their
charge pupils residing in other towns, in
the same manner and under the same re-
strictions as provided in the case of school
districts and moneys received for the in
struction OF nonresident pupils shall be
paid into the school fund of the town.
SEC. Q. Said board may provide for the
instruction of any legal pupils of the town
in the public schools of an adjoining town
and may pay for such instruction from the
school moneys of the town.
SEC. 10. The board of school director,
shall, at each annual town meeting, pre-
sent to the town full report of their do
ings, with an exhibit of orders drawn by
them for the use of schools.
SEC. II. The compensation of schoo
directors shall be such sums as may b.
voted by the town at their annual Marcel
meeting for time actually spent in the per
Torrance of their duties, and the same
shall be paid out of the town treasury, bu
their account shall be audited and allowed
like that of other town officers.
SEC. u. The board of school directors
shall, on or before the first day of April il
each year, appoint town superintendent
of schools, whose duties shall be the sam,
as now required of town superintendent
but whose compensation shall be fixed b,
said directors.
SEC. 10. The said directors shall als'
appoint a clerk of the board; said clerl
shall keep permanent record book ant
record therein the proceedings of the board
and he shall make registration returns t,
town clerks required to be made, and tax
the school census required to be taken b,
school district clerks, and he shall receiv
the same compensation therefor.
SEC. IA. The school directors of eacl
town shall annually, in writing, rcommen,
to the selectmen of said town, the amour
of money necessary for the use of schools
and said selectmen shall annually apprO
pirate for such purpose sum not exceed
. ing one-half nor less than one-fifth of tn
grand list of such town, and shall assess
tax annually, to defray such appropriations
Any town by special vote may raise larg
er sum for school purposes.
SEC. 10. The treasurer of such tow
shall keep a separate account of the mon
eys appropriated or given for the use Q
schools, and shall pay out of such money
orders drawn by the board of school d
, rectors for the use of schools.
SEC. 10. The records of the district
! hereby abolished shall be preserved by tn