Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-05-24
School Board Asks Increase of
Levy for Schools

The County School Board on
Saturday met for the special pur-
pose OF suggesting to the Rock
bridge Board of Supervisors what
amount of money would be neces-
sary to successfully conduct the
district schools for the year 1905
06. After thorough canvass, it
was evident that more money was
needed to secure better teachers
at least, which meant that better
salaries mad to be paid IL they
secured them. The slogan OF
Rockbridge Educators is q better
eystem of primary education. and
especially the improvement OF con-
ditions in the rural district. In
many places in Virginia the peo-
pie have resolved to ask their sup
eryisOrs to increase the public
school tax rate. The Franklin
County Educational Convention
decided to ask for an increase OF
the levy to fifty cents on the 800,
the full rate permitted by the
Constitution of the State. which
betokens most worthy determine
tion to elevate the masses of our
citizens to a higher plane of
thinking and living. Education
ally the blood of Rockbridge and
the whole State is wonderfully in
vigorated by the May campaign
tonic.
The meeting on Saturday was
truly representative one, and
with one or two exceptions was
full board. The following were
present: Central, w. R. Humphris,
L. D. Hemric; Natural Bridge,
G. w. Efinger, G. W. Parsons;
Buffalo, w. B. F. Leech, W. D.
Deacon; Kerr's Creek, M. p. Dun
lap, James F. Harper, Charles
Lindsay; Walkers Creek, j. Sam
uel Gibson, C. C. Snider, John A.
Shaw; South River, G. j. Bell,
William G. Houston, F.L.McClung;
Lexington, F. T. Glasgow. Super
intendent Robert Catlttt presided
and j. Scott Moore was clerk OF
the board.
The County tax rate, which
heretofore has been 10 cents on
the 500 of real and personal pro-
perty, the old constitution fixing
that amount as the maximum,
Saturday last was fixed at l24
cents for the ensuing year, This
resolution was offered by one
among the largest tax payers in
Rockbridge, w. B. F. Leeeh, and
seconded by another gentleman,
G. W. Efinger, equally as large a
tax payer, neither of whom have
children to educate. There was
not dissenting vote to the pre-
position. Every one seemed to
think that we are sincere in declar
ing that we must have more money
for the schools. The proposition
WAS up to them in shape that
could not be evaded.
Superintendent Catlett asked
the boards TO be uniform in the
amounts for district purposes &.
No board could then say ave
would be glad to have better school
houses, but havn't got the money. ="
If Rockbridge expects to keep up
with the educational procession,
it must have more money for the
betterment OF the schools. A con-
sultation of the variou; boards was
held in several sections of the
Court House, and they all deter
mined that at lest 12A cents on
the 800 should be asked for. APP
plication was made out for the six
districts, representing the whole
county, asking the Board # Sup
ervisors to levy this district
tax of l24 cents for general school
purposes.
Another matter of interest was
TO fix the salaries of teachers at a
Uniform figure throughout Rock
bridge. Some districts did not
pay by nearly pne-third as much
as Central and Natural b idge dis
tricts for same grade of teachers,
The teacher was dissatisfied and
would crowd In on these rich'
districts, expecting to get schools.
Generally they were disappointed,
ard in several cases their services
were lost to the schools, How was
this to be remedied. An ex-
rerienced school nan thought it
could be solved il they could fix
upon a uniform monthly pay for
every teacher in RockbFidge. A
resolution to this effect was Of
fered, and unanimously adopted;
For first grade teachers $50. 20
second " ,,,,,.,,. 25,OO
M
principals Of graded schools, $500
This rate only applies to white
school, The pay OF teachers in
the eolored schools was relegated
to the district boards to fix at rate
they deemed reasonable.
The school population by dis
tricts, under the census OF 1900,
the last time the school census
was taken, was:
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