Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-12
CITY SCHOOLS.
Augusta Holds Town Meet
ing Monday Evening.
Votes to Raise $4,000 For
Educational Purposes.
Question Of Addition to cony High
School Yet Undecided.


In response to a call issued by the
mayor and board of aldermen meet
ing of the qualified voters of the city
of Augusta was held at City nall last
evening for the purpose of acting on
several articles relative to the public
schools of tine city. The meeting was
well attended, some 800 or more being
present, and while devoid Of anything
Of the nature of excitement it. was
characterized by marked degree of
earnestness. The articles contained in
the warrant We're as follows:
!. To receive and act upon the report
of the board of education.
2. To raise by vote for the support of
the public schools Of this city for the
year ending on the first day of April,
1909, such sum, not less than the
amount required by the general laws OF
the State, as they may deem necessary
for that purpose.
g. To consider, and take any action
deemed proper in relation to, a certain
bill in equity now pending in the SUI
preme judicial court within and for the
county of kennebec, which was return
able at the May 1908 rules Of said
court, wherein the trustees of the Cony
Female Academy, a corporation, is
plaintiff, and the city of Augusta and
others are defendants, the full text of
Which bill is to be found in. the Daily
kennebec Journal of April q, 1913. Said
bill, among other things, asks the
court, in substance, to order the pres
ent trustees of the Cony Female Acad-
envy to convey to the city Of Augusta
all the property now held by said trus-
tees, the same to be held by said city
in perpetual trust for the purpose of
maintaining the Cony Free High school
under it's present name. A copy of said
bill will be produced at the meeting.
T. To consider and act upon the
question Of repairing, improving, en-
larging or rebuilding and equipping
the present Cony Free High school
Building, or any other school building
in this city; and of building and equip
ping any new school building or build
ings whatsoever; and of purchasing
any real estate deemed necessary or
advisable in the premises; and of rails
ing money for any or all of said pur-
poses.
5. To transact any other business
per tanning to the public schools of this
city which may lawfully come before
the meeting.
The meeting was called to order by
Chairman Brooks of the Board of
Education, who read the warrant, af-
ter which Mayor Plaisted was chosen
moderator. In taking the office Mayor
Plaisted made a brief address, during
xvI; oh, ba h1y, Of 40
that whatever the citizens present
saw fit to carry by vote was not Of
an advisory nature, but was a final
action. The oath was then administer
ed to him as moderator of the meet
ing, after which E. E. Newbert was
chosen secretary of the meeting and
was duly sworn.
The report of the Board of Educa-
ton for the past year was then pre-
scented by Chairman Brooks and after
some little discussion as to it's ac-
ceptance and as to whether or not it
should be referred to a special COM
mi:tee it was finally decided that it
be accepted. This was the decision re-
garding Article l of the warrant.
Previous to the acceptance of the
report the mayor read a portion there
of, the financial part of which was as
follows:
The income of the public schools is
derived from two sources: First, from
ar appropriation made by the city of
Augusta; second. from an apportion-
mert of the State school fund.
Under the organization of the Board
of Education an estimate was made
of the amount required to cover the
expenses of the fiscal year. The
amount estimated was $52,S25. The
amount of revenue received from the
state for the year ending March 81,
1868. was $10,075.1S, leaving according
to the estimate of the board the sum
of S4n,749,S2 as the amount it requested
to he provided by the city. This latter
sum represents a tax of 5.S mills upon
the total valuation of the city for the
year 1907
Total approved bills April 1, 1907
March 81, 1908. $5l. 332.O2. The principal
expenditure Of the public schools is for
teachers salaries. There are 60 teach
ers employed and their wages, includ-
ing salaries of superintendent, janitors,
etc. amounted during the year from
April /, 1907 March 81. 1908. to $780,
O7351 in the aggregate.
The next important item of eXpendi-
ture is the cost of reconstruction and
repairing of buildings. The expendi
ture for this purpose was $4229.25 dur
ing the fiscal year.
EXPENDITURES OF THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
tFrom April l. 1907 March 81. 1857
Salaries of teachers and super
intenlent $27.612 IS
Salaries Of janitors 2.4l6.3
Renair. md reconstruction 4,229 Is
School furniture 1SG.
Text books, stationery and sup
plies 3,357.2 p
Fuel 3,292. 70
Insurance $500
Printing and binding 612.S3
Transportation 1.4l %
Reduction of debt 3,34 20
Reuel Williams Athletic field 3,612. %
Miscellaneous S2.64
Total s51 ,332. OF
ESTIMATE OF EXPENSES FOR YEAR
190S-190S.
Salaries $50, 90
Census 10000
pisinfection 10000
Euel g. 700 90