Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-29
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Authorized in Augusta More
Than Sixty Years Ago.
Acts Which Formed the Basis Of the
Present System.
creed School Fund" Neuctus az the
Village District.

4
Sc lccted in each district to take charge
of the schools. Ten years later a new
apportionment had to be made on ac-
count OF the growth of the scholars on
the west side, and six districts were es-
tablished on this side of the river while
TWO only remained on the east side The
schools of the town were managed I'M
der the district system until 1912, when
the Village District was established. A
law was passed by the legislature of
1893, entitled AN act further to pro-
vide for the education of youth" and
it was this act which permitted the or
ganization of this district. At the time
there We're many more children of
school age on the west side of the
river than on the east side. In reality
George Reed was practically the father
of the Village District. as the law
passed in 1884 by the legislature, crea-
ting the Reed School Fund" will
| show.
A persual of the following laws, pas
sed in 1923, 1894 and 1885, cannot fail to
be of special interest to Augusta read
| erS.
There was approved February q.
1883, IAN act further to provide for the
education of YOUTH" adopted by the
legislature of that year as follows:
Sect. 1. BE it enacted by the Senate
and House of Representatives, in leg
| islarure assembled, that any school
| district in the town of Augusta may,
at a legal district meeting, elect by
ballot in the month of April annually
seven school directors to remain in
|
| stead, with power to fill any vacancies
that may happen in their number, who
shall be sworn to the faithful perform
ance of the duties of their office, and
said directors shall have all the rights
and power. and perform all the duties
not inconsistent with the provisions
of this act now enjoined and pre-
| scribed by law to be performed by
school agents and the experimenting
| school committee of the town, in said
district. And said directors shall have
power, and it shall be their duty,
within 80 days after their election, to de-
termine the number of grades of schools,
| and the number Of schools of each
grade which shall be kept; classify the
scholars according to their attain
mentS, and direct at which of the
| schools they shall be allowed to attend
respectively, lay out and eXpend the
school money raised by town and as
signed to the district, as it's proper
ton, in the support of schools thus es-
tablished. giving to each school in pro-
portion to the number of scholars as
signed to it, And said directors shall
make report of their doings and of the
& 70 nf fhn ut
the annual meeting held next after
| their appointment.
Sect. 2. Be it further enacted, That
any two or more districts in said town
may, by vote in legal district meet
ings, called for the purpose, unite and
form themselves into one district, and,
when so united have all the benefits Of
this act
Sect. 3. Be it further enacted, That
this act shall not be binding upon any
district. until accepted by them in legal
district meeting.
Sect. 4. Be it further enacted, That
all acts and parts of acts, inconsistent
with the provisions of this act, be and
| the same are hereby repealed, so far as
relates to the school districts in Au-
gusta. which shall accept this act
The legislature of 1884 passed law
entitled IAN act to establish the Reed
School Fund" which was as follows
Sect. /. Be it enacted by the Senate
and House of Representatives in legis-
lature assembled, That Luther Reed,
John Brinkman, William Briggs, Lem
uel Woodward, Bartlett Lancaster Will
| liam Saunders and Elkanah Miller, and
their successors, be and they hereby
are made a body polite and corporate
| for the purpose of establishing, aiding
and supporting a school, for the use
ard benefit of children of families who
| may, for the time being. reside within
| the town 70 Augusta, included within
the following limits, to wit: Beginning
| on the west side of the Kennebec river
at the northerly line of Luther Reeds
land. thence running down said river
| to the south line of Elkanah MillerS
| land: thence running westerly by said
| Miller'S south line to the county road
and thence continuing in the same
course to the eight rod road, at the end
of the first mile; thence running north
erly by said road to the northerly line
of Luther Reeds land: thence running
=,
which said corporation shall be known
by the name of the Trustees of the
Reed School Fund in Augusta, with
power to prosecute and defend suits at
| law: to have a common seal; to make
bylaws for the management of their
affairs not repugnant to the laws of
this State: and said trustees or per-
sons named in this act, or a major
part of them, shall be vested with
power at all times to use. manage and
improve any property which has been
or may be given to them in their said
| capacity as trustees for the use bene-
fit and advantage of said school, with
power to appoint instructors and all
officers which may be deemed need
full for the management of the same,
and to fill all vacancies which may oc-
eur.
Sect. 9. Be it further enacted, That
said trustees shall have power to take,
hold and possess real and personal es-
tates by gift, grant or otherwise the
annual income Of which shall not ex-
ceeo $500, and shall annually elect a
chairman, secretary and treasurer for
the due management of this concern;
| tho Socrof shall no Su,orp fa Z 1v