The morning news., 1899-04-15
WILL GO BEFORE GRAND JURY.
BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL AP-
PEAL TO THAT BODY.

Col. Mercer, President of the Board,
says That No other Course Is
open 20 lille Explains why the
Amount Asked For, $S5,00O, Is
Necded-PrOpOrtion of state school
Fund Less Than Usual Last Year
and VIII Probably BE the same
This Yenr-Mr. George Parsons
Presents the Board with n Lot for
school Purposes at Isle of Hope.
Col. George A. Mercer. president of the
Board OF Education, said yesterday that
he is favor of going before the grand
jury to secure an increase in the appropri-
alton allowed the schools by the County
Commissioners for the ensuing year.
Il do not see how the schools can be
conducted on less than Ss5, 5,OOO," said Col.
Mercer THE amount allowed by the COM
missioners would be sufficient IL 1t were
not for the fact that we still have 81, 700
of debt and the further fact that Chat
hams county's proportion from the school
fund for this year is not likely to be any
larger than it was last year, which was
on.y SS6OO0. year or two previous we
received s42. 900 from this source"
Il have already stated why we need
this amount" said Col. Mercer Besides
the regular operating expenses of the
schools, and the debt, which should be
cleared up, it is absolutely necessary thar
several new school houses be built in the
country. Several of those now used by
the schools are unfit for this purpose.
Then there are repairs and alterations
which must be made to the city schools
An no off Fort tn rnH.
more pupils at che beginning of the next
school year. With all these needs to face,
l do not see how we can get along with
less than the amount asked for whereas
the commissioners have only given S75,-
O00"
1t is understood that other members of
the board agree with Col. Mercer upon
the question of going before the grand
jury. Col Mercer said that he did not
think 1T would be necessary to call spe-
cial meeting of the Board of Education
to consider the matter. as it can be taken
up a the next monthly meeting as the
present grand jury will remain during the
following month.
The members of the board of County
Commissioners viii hardly be surprised al
the announcement that the Board of Edu-
cation will appeal TO the grand jury. They
doubtless expected as much when they fix
$50 600 asked for. In fact the County
Commissioners showed pretty plainly that
they had rather have had the whole mat
ter left TO the grand jury in the first place
no appropriation being made for the
schools when the county budget was made
up and the statement being made by the
chairman that 1t was unnecessary to do
this as the matter rested with the grand
jury anyway
Among the places al which 1t is desired
TO buiid new school houses is Isle of Hope.
Mr.. George Parsons has recently present.
ed the Board of Education with a suitable
lot at Isle of Hope to be used for school
purposes. The lot is on the east Of the pub
Tic road leading to Isle of Hope, and fronts
on the road, adjoining the present
school lot. The addition of the LOT pre-
sented by Mr.. Parsons to the old school lot
gives very desirable grounds for school
purposes.
The gift was duly acknowledged by Col,
Mercer who expressed the appreciation of
himself and the board, and stated that the
board hoped at an carly day to erect a
suitable and commodious school building
on the property and thus fulin the gener-
Gus purpose of the donor.