St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-01-31
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT QUESTION.

| THE SCHOOL DISTRICT QUESTION
EDITOR CALIFORNIAN: Herewith ssub
mitted the following statement Of the
condition of school district No. 10 in St.
Johnsbury.
At the session of the legislaturein 1892,
they changed the system OF schooling
from the district to the town system
The law was very ambiguous, and we
were uncertain in what manner to pro.
ceed-there being so few districts--but
ready to do what was right. The law
yers disagreed as well as the district
committees.
In our district we appointed two men
to consult with Lawyer Stafford, as he
helped make the laws we considered him
competent to tell us what to do. Ellery
Potter and 4, A. Luce paid Mr., Stafford
one dollar for his advice, which was
that we pay all outstanding bills and if
any money remained we could do what
we thought best with it.
We had $26S in the treasury after pay
ing all outstanding bills, Of which $225
was raised by direct tax on the tax pay
crs of school district No. 13, and kept as
sinking fund with which to pay the
teachers salaries and board, purchase
wood, make repairs, etc. This fund was
kept in the treasurer's hands so that
when called upon he could pay all bills.
1t was no school money, no United
States deposits, no Huntington fund,
but regularly raised school tax. When
the year ended our money was pretty
well distributed
In March we rcplenishcd the treasur-
er's fund and were year ahead. Under
these circumstances we felt that the
money was ours. We paid all our bills,
called our annual school meeting the last
Tuesday in March, and voted to divide
the money among the tax payers OF
school district No. 13. We chose a new
treasurer, and called on Ira 6. Smith, the
former treasurer, for the funds in his
hands, but he would not give them up.
We therefore sued him for Withholding
the same.
We consulted Harry Blodgett, and
Judge Bingham of Littleton, N. H., both
Of whom said it rightfully belonged to
us. Judge Bingham argued the case be.
fore Judge Tyler who rendered a verdic t
in our favor. The defendants took ex.
captions which they carried to the su.
preme court, where Judge Tylers decision
was reversed.
The question for the town to decide is
Will the town pay us back our money, OF
make the districts, who have divided
their money on the grand list, raise tax
on the district and pay theirs back tc
the town?
Waterford districts divided their surplus
in the several districts on the grand list
of each district, and the town decided
that it was the fairest thing to do.
have nothing to say in regard t.
town systems or district systems, excep
that the town system is much more ex
pensive. Whether it is enough better t.
pay remains to be proved.
In our district during the last 81.
months that we ran the school, we hire,
Miss Mabel Pope as teacher. When tn
town system came into existence the
also hired Miss Pope for another 81
months. We have used the district svs
TEN for about ten years, at the rate G.
ten or twelve cents on a dollar of tn
grand list of the district. The rate az
cordng to the town system of last yeal
was forty.five cents on a dollar; thi
year it is forty. Krby's rate is fit
cents on dollar.
Time only can tell whether the tow
system is enough better to pay the extr
expense. SIMEON HUsE.
East St. Johnsbury.