The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-04-12
WHY NOT CHANGE :?
Why Not Change School District No.
to an Independent District
With Six Directors?
Princeton Behind Other Less Impor=
tant Towns i'm r1atters Per-
tanning to Education.

Can any good reason be adduced
why school district No. l should not
be changed to an independent district?
The columns of the U n are open
to any one who has an argument to
advance against the proposition.
Princeton is the only village of it's
size and Importance in the state that
pursues backwoods methods in the
management of it's public schools.
We have no fault to find with the
present school officers of district No.
l, but district with the wealth and
population of this district and employ
ing score of teachers should not be
placed in the same class with districts
having valuation of a few thousand
dollars and employing a single
teacher. Some people are laboring
under the impression that if we
change to an independent district the
taxes for school purposes will be in
creased. There is nothing to that
contention. Here is the law on the
subject quoted from the revised stat
utes:
Sec. 1295.-Any common Or special
district may be changed to an indie
pendent district as hereinafter pro-
vided; but no independent district,
unless it comprise an entire township
Or municipality, shall be formed, con-
tanning less than 500 inhabitants.
Sec. 1296.-To effect such change,
ten days posted notice of a meeting
shall be given, signed by six or more
resident freeholders, stating the object
of the meeting, and notifying the
voters of said district to assemble
upon specified day, at a place in
said district named in said notice,
then and there to vote by ballot upon
the question of organization as an in
dependent district.
Sec. 1297.-At the time and place
mentioned in said notice, the electors
assembled shall appoint chairman,
assistant chairman, and clerk, who
shall be the judges of such election.
The voting shall be by ballot, and
those favoring such change shall write
upon their ballots, "Independent
district-Yes, and those against,
Independent district-No.'
Sec. 129S.-If majority of the votes
cast be in favor of the change, the
clerk shall forthwith give notice to
the county auditor, and, within twenty
days thereafter, shall call a meeting
to elect officers, upon ten days. posted
notice, and the same proceedings shall
thereafter be had as in the organiza-
ton of other independent districts;
and the officers of the common or
special district shall act as officers of
the new district until the qualification
of officers and organization of the new
board. s..
Sec. l314.-The school board of
each independent school district shall
consist of six directors. At the first
meeting of the district, six directors
shall be elected, two to hold to
August lst following the next annual
meeting, and two to hold until the ex-
piration of one year, and two until the
expiration Of two years, from said
August 1st: the time which each
director shall hold being designated
on the ballot.
The process of changing from a
common to an independent district is
very simple, as will be perceived by
a perusal of the above sections of the
code. 1t is high time that Princeton
threw off its educational swaddling
clothes and adopted up-to-date
methods in the management of it's
school affairs.