The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-13
Another Statement from Trustee l.. l.
Eptlng.


According to Patrons article it
seems that the trustees are not patrons
of ST. Paul's school. The three trus-
tees send 10 children to said school out
Of al enrolment Of 80 pupils. l will tell
why 81 closed the school in January"
The board so decided on account OF insult
ficiency Of funds. Afterpaying present
| obligations there would be but SIS left.
affairs to Superintendent of Education
and he Immediately sent me the amount
| of poll tax for this district, it being
nearly per cont. moro than last year,
| enabling us to run our school one month
| longer. superintendent OF Education
| has never ordered me to open tho
| school at any time. "Scnt for Epting,
II written invitation" Here is copy
of written invitation:
"Fcbruary 81. 1897.
"Thc patrons and trustees of ST..
| Paul's Academy arc requested to meet
there at o'clock p. H., Friday, Goth
| inst. "Patrons.h
| am not Il trustee of said Academy,
| but of District 81. AS a patron could
not attend-was from homo attending
to contract. | must say did receive
| advice from Mr.. Higgins the day before
| our school closed, and although it was
a personal note, placed it before the
| board of trustees for their consdcra-
| tiOn the day after received it. There
was no action taken. l will say that
| Mr.. j. w. Wicker did not offer to show
me the proceedings of patrons.
| The board of trustees met at school
house on 9Th March to consider some
| needed repairs, ds was our duty under
Sec. A of school law of 1885, The Board
| decided to have work done and to let
to lowest bidder. We gave public no.
tice Of 2 weeks. They authorized me
| to write specifications of all needed re-
pairs, which did, and they were ap-
proved by the chairman OF tho board
before being read to the public. Why
did not Patrons mention all work done
on school house? The work consisted
of pillars under house, foundation to
| chimneys, some wcathcrboards, 4 desks,
backs in chimneys, plastcring fireplace,
glass in windows, locks on doors, shut
ters fixed and chimncys painted. /
must say that the little land | rent has
never been occupied by any white per-
son to my knowledge. Therefore I have
not deprived our school OF one single
scholar. Besides am not obliged to
rent land at all as | have some to rent.
l have never asked any one to vote for
me to be a school trustee.
Mr.. Editor, do sincerely thank you
for giving me space in your columns to
make statement Of facts, hoping that
| St. Panls school and patrons will be
benefited by same, regletting that |
had to resort to newspapers ITO make
statements. But | am not to blame.
"Patrons" desired it for they live near
me, yet they have never come to me
for information. a few more words and
/ an done. The County Board of New
berry has appointed and commissioned
me trustee Of District 81 for two
years. I shall in the future, as in tho
past continue to discharge the duties
| imposed upon me to the best ofmy abil-
ity and strictly according to school
law. | am in the noble cause OF educa-
ton, and shall stay in until the County
| Board sees cause to remove me. | must
| say | never mcddlcd or interfcrCd with
trustees business in my life when was
| no trustee. i. |. FITING,
| Clerk Of Board of District 81.
| April IL, 1897.