Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-16
KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN.
no.pp or ALDERMEN AGREES TO
MAKE THE APPROPRIATION.
vR. VAUGHAN SAVES THE DAY.
Nv Changing His Vote from No TO
Ave lie Made the Twelfth Man, and
Gave the Resolution the Requisite
Tyyo-Thirds support.

JurpiH-~'
Noe--Messrs Allen, Cutchins, Hard
,,ickc, montgomery, and Zimmer-
mann--5.
by a vote OF l2 10 s, as shown above.
the Board OF Aldermen last night agreed
TO make the additional appropriation OF
5000 asked for by the City School Board,
IN order that the public schools may be
kept open during the entire scholastic
term OF nine months. The resolution pro-
yiding for the appropriation had an ex-
ceedingly narrow escape from defeat,
however. as. under the rules Of the Board
a two thirds vote is necessary on all
appropriations, and ls is barely two
thirds.
Mr.. James T. Vaughan. Of Madison
ward. is the gentleman to whom the
friends Of the resolution are indebted for
the success OF their efforts. He went to
the meeting last night determined to vote
against the appropriation, and had he ad-
hered to this determination the resolu-
t,on would have been lost but the argu-
rnents Of Mr.. Dickerson, vice-president
Of the School Board. and the other gem
flCmen VINO AQNOSditu lnt itSOiuAiSii'
converted him, and he announced his
change I'm favor Of the measure.
The interest in the matter was evil
denced by the large crowd in attendance
on the session of the Board. and by the
epplause which once or twice broke forth
as an endorsement Of some Of the utter
onces made in behalf of the appropria-
tOn.
THE PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL
Al O'Clock, the appointed hour for
couvening there was only corporaIs
GUARD present. many Of the members be-
Ing occupied in committee meetings. An
adjournment was taken for half an hour'
and when the body reassembled there
we're present all the members OF me
BOARD save Mr.. L. ID. Starke, who is out
of the city.
priation Of an additional $1,000 for the use
OF the School Board was Immediately
called up and Mr.. Burton presented the
following letter from the School Board:
Office Of City School Board.
Richmond. Va, November IL, 1897
To the City Council:
Gentlemen.-The City Schoo! Board, IN
coTnnliance with the joint resolution
adopted by your honorable body ana APP
oroved by the Mayor. requesting a state
ment of the amount expended oy me
BOARD 10 July /, 1897, sent you report Oh
which we herewith inclOse copy.
In a report to the Council, under date
Of September c, 1897, we informed you tlldt
an additional appropriation OF $5'VJV was
needed TO enable us to- PROVIDE TOT 'he
schools until December 3lst OF the cur
rent year. but an increased appropriation
OF t92S.6 90 since received from tne Stdte
reduces this amount, as below mentioned
10 IS 459.O7. The board fully appreciates the
al 0RUHftfuentS
the city government ana we nave en-
deavored so TO administer the trust COM
mitted TO our hands as 10 meet IN the
largest possible measure the wishes OF
The Council in respect TO retrenchment IN
Our expenses. X must be remembered,
however, that We received Sl2ll9.4o less
than we asked for in our estimate at the
beginning Of the year. We are glad TO
be able 10 report that in consequence OF
the increased appropriation from the
State above mentioned of $g2S.6O, and by
dispensing with night schools and COOK
ing schools, and by economizing in other
directions, amounting 10 S3,ll9.4S, we have
been able 10 effect such a reduction as
TO require only $S,459O7 TO carry the
schools until the end of the year. The
board proposes to take from the tuition
fund at its disposal $i59.O7. and 10 ask
for an appropriation Of only $500.
THOSE TO BE PAID.
We have now on our pay-rolls, for which
alone this increased appropriation Is need
ed. eighteen principals ana 25S teachers
who have under their care n,262 pupils,
whose per capita cost of tuition Is only
$40. .4O-a very small amount, when we con-
slider the deservedly high opinion in which
our schools are held not only by our own
citizens but by those in other States,
most competent 10 judge. II should not
be forgotten, in considering expenditures
by this board, that at the time the ap-
preparation was made for the schools, and
the board was requested TO live within its
n fOur months
the current year had expired and four
ninths of the appropriation had been con-
sumed, and we We're, besides, unQer con-
tracts for expenses for the remainder or
the session, which could not then be
changed.
We understood that II was agreeable to
the Council for us to change our fiscal
year. which formerly began January l5th,
so as 10 conform to the fiscal year Of the
city. which runs from January lst TO De-
cember 31st OF each year. Our school ses-
sion in reference TO the city fiscal years
is. divided into two unequal parts consist
ing Of five and a half months during the
first half year, and of three and one half
months during the last half year. The
appropriation from the state is not made
until after the opening of the school ses-
sion In the fall OF each year. making IT
necessary for us to draw for the first half
Of the year exclusively upon the CITY ap-
preparation, and making IL Practically
impossible for us to conform TO the re-
Council 10 use only one half Of the city's
appropriation during the first six months
OF the city's fiscal year, so when the lst
OF July came we found that instead OF
one half. So per cent OF the c.tys appro-
priation had been necessarily used In
meeting our contracts with teachers and
principals for work done during the ses-
sion which closed on the 18th of June.
With our estimate reduced by Sl2,ll9.4S,
which is more than per cent. Of the
entire amount expected from both State
and city we would have found IL neces-
sary. IN order 10 meet the expenses of the
remaining three and "a half months, from
September 18th TO December 3lst. 10 re-
trench more than 20 per cent. After doing
all that we could in the direction OF econ
omizng. without doing serious injury 10
our system, we have nevertheless reduced
this defnciency as already stated from
80 f1q IS 10 SS.4590, showing a retrench-
ment Of over per cent during the three
and a half months OF the present term.
WHAT THE SITUATION is.
The following memorandum will explain
our present condition, and what is needed
10 provide for the schools until December
Slst:
The amount required for pay
roa of principals and teachers
10 December 3lst is .............. $2l SO8 so
The amount now on hand ISL. 49, 449 43 |
Showing "A deficiency OF ......S S459 O7 !
We have, however. a fund known as |
the tuition fund, which we use for pur- |
poses incident TO the school work. such |
as books for INDECENT children, repairs TO |
buildings. and Ike expenses This fund |
Is derived from the charges made for tut |
lion for nonresident children, who are |
only received when there is sufficient |
room 10 accommodate them without ex- |
NnftIl UFnsr rts rh