The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-25
SIXTEEN COUNTIES
WANT OVER $4,000
More information Asked by
Supt. of instruction
The SECOND 500, 900
Full Explanation in Letter Sent Yes
terday to County officials
MUST USE COUNTY FUNDS FIRST
It is Feared That The Law Has Been Misunder.
stood, and Additional Blanks Have
Been Accordingly
The SECOND 100000
MUST USE COUNTY FUNDS FIRST

Issued.
| The superintendent of Public Instruc-
| tion has teen compelled to ask for .addi
| tional information from the county sup
erintendents, before he can proceed with
the work of distributing the second hun
dred thousand dollars appropriated by
| the last legislature for the purpose of
bringing up to the four months term
requirement the needy districts of the
State
| Reports from the different counties
needing a share of the money keep COM
| ing in, and in many cases the amounts
asked for are so large that it looks as if
the sum of 1000 may never hold out
to go around, if these reports are cor
I rect.
The State Superintendent fears there
has been some misunderstanding of the
matter, and consequently is obliged to-
| send out additional blanks for reports to
the various county superintendent. Yes
terday he mailed the following letter to
the county school officials of every
! county:
| To School Officials:
1.-THE State Board of Education needs
some additional information before it
can intellgently distribute the second
hundred thousand dollars to equalize
school terms. 1t is important that you
furnish the information requested at
your very earliest convenience. In the
column, District Number in the first
blanks sent out, the number of children
should have been given. 1t is important
for the State Board to know how many
months the schools have been taught
in the respective districts since July 1,
1901, and how much of the appropriation
made in July has been paid out in the
districts and how much is still on hand
to the credit of the districts, including
the apportionment made at the January
meeting. Suppose district had appor-
toned 10 it in July and January together
| $500; and school was taught two months
| before January at $500 per month
| The district has had two months school
and has $500 on hand. 1t is readily
seen that the State would have to sup
plement the $500 by an appropriation OF
$500 to enable that district to have a
four months term.
This effort to aid the weak districts
to enable them TO have four months
either the County or State Boards to
get the exact facts necessary to act with
justice to the needs of the districts. The
| county should not give one district enough
money to run a five months term. and
, to another only enough to have a three
months school. and then ask the State
| Board to supply the deficiency for the
three months school The boards may
III, To RI let or
others because one district may require
| a higher priced teacher than another. yet
the terms of the schools should be equal
( lied
THE object is to have a four months
| term in this scholastic year, and the eX-
pectation of the Legislature was that
| all available funds, meaning all the
taxes. etc. for this year. should be col
lected. paid over to the county treas
urers. and apportioned by the boards,
before it could be determined how much
the State would have to appropriate to
! help the needy districts. In many coun-
| ties however, the sheriffs are not required
! to settle before May, and hence the Coun-
| ty Board can only now make an approx
mate apportionment. 1t would not be
! just to ask the State to help your county
when you have not even made an approx
mate apportionment of the real or ex-
| pected available funds You should be
cautious not to make an approximate
apportionment that might exceed what
| the sheriffs will pay in at their settle
! ments.
| This appropriation is made to extend
| the terms of the schools during this
school year, and can not be used for any
other purpose.
"The State will be prepared to help the
needy. but the counties must collect and
| use their own available funds before they
can expect to get appropriations from
| the State Soon as this is done. and the
State Board so informed, then the amount
necessary TO enable every district in
your county to have a four months school
will be sent, at least all of the second
hundred thousand dollars will be distri-
buted 1t may be found that the amount
will not be sufficient; then it will be
| brorated as the law directs.
Lay aside every other school duty
and make this report as soon as possible.
| regret the necessity of sending blanks
! the second time. but the reports sent
in do not give all of the necessary in
| formation. so l am AUTHORIZE by the
| State Board to require further facts.
Yours truly,
| IT. II. TOON. Supt. Public Instruction"
| The following is list of the counties
whose reports have been tabulated, with
the amounts they ask for. according to
the blanks first sent out;
| Ashc.. :. .. 81, 412S4
| Davidson. 1850
Fender. 24205
:. . =. -. $4,000
g.. g.. e.. =. . 100000
=. ... =. $500
q. !. :. =. =. .. 2.7225O
T35 03