Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-04-13

10 me EDITOR Oh lAc rec ttrb'
III response to your request for the in
tent and understanding OF the committee
On education as to the division OF tho public
money tti' spring and the disposition OF the
surplus remaining in the hands OF the sever
al Dis tccts, would sGy that at Il meeting held
ut Montpelier, April :, at which |. Z. Booth,
L. II. Elliott, John r. Mead, state Super
interdont Mason g. Stone and Fred Arnold
were present. the above points were fully
discussed. aud ali unanimously agreed that
the law as plainly and clearly expressed.
Frst-As to the division OF the public
money. As the new law did not take
slTec. until April 1, the public money should
he dIvdod in March as usual according to
the old law.
THE selectmeu of such town shall an
nualy on the Friday neXt preceding the
last tuesday OF March divide the school
monies i'll the treasury OF sUch town among
the school districts in such town; and sucn
monies shall be Gaid over under the drec-
ton OF the selectmen to tho treasurers OF
tho several districts"
We see no other alternative but TO com
ply with the above.
Second-As to tho disposition of any sur
plus that district might hcvo on hand af-
ter paying It's legitimate school expenses.
In our opinion It belongs TO the district and
TO tho district alone.
The district may Ivy vote dispose OF the
Same rs thoy sea fit.
The above ere The main points over which
there has been much discussion, but there
are one or two minor points that have been
called to our atteaton. One is, who owns
the wood on hand April ? Section of
act No. 90 Of the new law clearly expresses
what was intended:
Tho several towns shall take chagre Of
the school houses and property belonging
thereto, within their respective limits. = ~
la our opinion wood IS not property that
belongs Thereto" within the mesning of
the law. The school furniture, maps books,
globes and the like, is property that be-
longs Thereto"
Another question-''Can tho board of
school directors appoint one Of their own NUM-
Der clerk OF the board - Under the old
law, where town had adopted the town
system the law was as follows:
The school directors shall he sworn, and
shall, en- OF before the fret day CT April in
each year, elect Que of their number chair
man, and appoint some person. not one of
their number. to be clerk OF the board. "
Under he new law, SEQ. Is, No. 20 says:
The said directors shall also appoint
clerk of the board; said clerk ahal keep IL
permanent record hook The new law
gives the directors power to appoint any
person. That part of the old law that
Is inconsistent VITA this OF course is re
peeled.
Agoin, we are asked in regard to Sec. 20,
No. 2l.-"The school officers provided tor
10y Jaw shall be voted for upon a separate
bnot, which shall be deposited in ballot
boX other tnan TINT IN which other ballots
are deposited, and women shall have the
right that men have to vote on all
matters pertaining to schools and school
officers in town, cities and graded school
districts.
1t reported that quito "A number Of towns
failed 20 comply with this secton. In case
questions arise about the legality OF the
election Of directors we would suggest that
in such cases the directors supposed to be
elected can resign. Then there will be u
vacancy which the solectnen can fill by APP
pointment. Also IN case it is claimed that
any old officers hold over by reason OF the
election Of new director or directors,
legally, then let the directors whose term OF
office should expire, resign and the supposed
newly elected director or dIesctors resign.
Then there will be a vacancy beyond a
question which the solcctmen can fill by ap-
pointment.
it was asked us in case the directors in
such cases would not resign, what then
All can say to that is, * individuals
and corporations wish for litigation, &C
tually ycarn for it, they will find plenty of
willing hands to urge them on. But for
the save CT the children we earnestly hope
that differences may be amicably adjusted
Mr. Smith Of Addison, one of the commit.
tee who unable 10 be present, also fully
endorses the above views.
FRED ARNOLD,
for the committee.
Petbei VI ADril g 1909