The Somerset reporter., 1906-03-08

true with regard to the
schools We reproduce below the larger
part of the repo of the experimenting
School Committee and of d w. Colby.
OF the Skowhegan pubic
school system, trusting The same will be
read with interest both in sko~hegan
and elsewhere.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
During the past year quite extensive re-
pairs have be. n made but M, re are needed,
due in part to the deterioration OF some of the
older buildings and also to new conditions.
The largest items were the removal Of the
closets 10 the basement and the laying Of
new floor in the upper story Of the High
School building. Both Of these are great i'm
proven nts, that Of the basement closets be-
ing particularly satisfactory. Other repairs
have been made on rural schools. Early IN
the summer, in response TO a p tition from
the residents in the locality a hearing was
held at the rooms Of the board as a result of
which it was voted to divide the Blunt school
and reht the building formerly known as No
4 South ready for use in the fall, this doing
away with any conveyance to these schools.
The Lake George and Richardson schools
have been repapered and painted and are
now very pleasant and attractive rooms. The
other rural buildings should receive attention
the coming summer to put them in equally
good condition. Minor repairs were made
on the other buildings in use though much
more should be done in the coming long va.
cation.
As forecasted in the last report your com.
mittee find that despite their best endeavors
the receipts from appropriations, mill tax and
other sources are not equal TO the expendi-
lures of the year and would have been com.
PEELED to report an overdraIt had they not
met ii by drawing on the fund resulting from
the sale of the Pleasant street lot and build
ing, the proceeds OF which were voted for
school proposes al the time Of the sale, but
which has been held in reserve by your COM
mittee for use in an emergency or for some
special need, should such arise. This has
been unavoidable without decrea ing the
efficiency Of the service given or curtailing
the school year and rather than do either of
these it has seemed wiser to carry out the
plans made for the year explaining as fully as
possible to the people the conditions,
Since the vote Of the town in 1900, intro.
as required branches, no increase has been
made in the amounts voted from year to year
for general school purposes. 1t is we'll known
to all that throughout this period there has
been a constant tendency toward higher
prices both for material Of all kinds and for
service so t at this amount while fully ade-
quate to meet the demands at that time has
been &C instantly nearing the point of insutil-
cheney.
A comparison Of the expenditures OF a few
items Tor years 1900 and 1905 will be expl.n.
atoy
1900 1905
High School salaries sI,482,oo 100000
Grade 10000 4,9o7 90
Rural i,7I7oo I,989.oo
Total S745o.oo So,397.oo
Fuel I,o9o.7s I,S9o.o3
Conveyance 962.58 lagos
From the foregoing it will be seen that abb
solutely necessary expenses as for conveyance
and for fuel have grown rapidly while in the
no less necessary item Of salaries the increase
has been greatest of all, and this will increase
rather than diminish in the furture If we wish
to keep with US the best teachers or secure
II W ones capable Of ma ntaining the stand.
ards we have set.
In forecasting probable expenses for the
coming year severa important items present
themselves. During recent years the increase
in the sizes of classes is marked this being
particularly so in the upper grades. The
rooms in the Academy building are too smai
to properly accomoda the classes now at
tending without crowding and subsequent
confusion ana the S curing of proper ventia-
tion IS serious question Some way of re-
lief should be found, possibly by enlarging the
rooms y extending the building at the rear.
The furnaces 4 the Hi h School and at the
Garfield have been in service for some years
and will require extensive overhauling during
the summer. Several OF the rural buildings
have been put in fair condition but moro is
needed particularly at the Blunt and Bigelow
Hill schools
At the opening of the fall term il will be
imperative to have a sixth grade on the south
side as the classes are teo large to unite into
one school in the Garfield as has heretofore
been done. This will necessitate the reftting
of the building on Mechanic street for use
another year.
Under these condition S and in view o p. 5.
sible requirements for tac next year, your
committee feel that the amounts raised in
former years will not be sufficient and would
respectfully recommend that the following
amount raised for the purposes enumerated:
For schools, salaries, fuel, etc, $4,000
school supplies. 10000
books 10000
" High School, $500 90
repairs and furn sh,ng I.5cooo
The following are the receipt, and eHpend.
lures for the past fiscal year
RECElr1S.
UneApended balance from year 1905,
cash in bank, s5io.44
Raised by vo,e Of town for schools, 100000
repairs
and furnishings, 1900 90
Raised by vote Of town for supplies, 10000
text books, 10000
High
school, 100000
Received from State mill tax, etc, 3,So8I9
By vote of town from sale Of Pleasant
ST. school lot. I,coo.co
Received from Trustees OF Bloomfield
Academy, on account Of principals
salary, s9oo.eo
For purchase Of apparatus etc., 5000
Received from sale Of books and
supplies, 9I.oo
Received for tuition and book rent 4o.4Q
SIS,3Oo.Iz
EXPENDITURES
Principals salary, paid by trustees Of
Bloomfield Academy, 10000
Teachers salaries. SS,7o5 "a
Fuel ,8oo.o3
Copvev,uu y,pptIe 9ro =