The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-11-17
BETTER SCHOOL FACILITIES.
Committee Submits Report--Two
Plans Suggested-Something
Must be Done.

District:
At II meeting of the citizens Of
Newberry held in July, Messrs. John
Nj. Kinard, Geo. S. Mower, Geo. B.
Cromer, o. B. Mayer and w. X.
Sligh were appointed committee To
cooperate with the board of trustees
in formulating plan by which the
permanent equipment of our schools
might be enlarged. This committee
held several meetings with the school
board and the whole school situation
was thoroughly considered by the
joint body. Certain facts were as
certaincd and conclusions reached.
The undersigned were appointed to
present these facts and conclusions to
you. Your most careful attention is
earnestly invited to the following
statement of the joint committees
findings:
l. That the city of Ncwbcrry has
spent no money in permanent school
equipment in nearly twenty years.
,. That our buildings are altogeth-
or Inadequate to our needs.
3. That Ncwbcrry is behind other
towns Of like size in school facilities,
being very far behind most Of them.
+. That Newberry's levy for all
school purposes is less than that of
other towns with which the commit
&c is acquainted, being much less
than many of them
.. That the population and wealth
of Newbcrry have about doubled since
our main building Wa. erected.
6. That the $l5,000.00 2O-year
school bonds issued for the erection
of this building will be paid off with
in year. thus leaving us no bonded
debt for schools.
T. That we arc now paying a one
mill tax on these bonds which are
about to be retired.
s. That petitions be presented to
the free holders for their signatures
| asking the city council to order an
lr'j..:H II the earliest possible date
| upon the proposition Of issuin" $50.
000.00 30-ycar city bonds, bearing not
exceeding S per cent interest, tie
ceeds from the sale of part or all Of
which to be used in erecting and
cquipping an additional school build
ing or buildings.
, 9. That the lot now owned by the
city is not suitable for an additional
building.
| 70. That to retire the proposed $30-
10000 30-ycar bonds at maturity, it
Will not be necessary. to increase the
present levy of onc-mill. The practi-
cal eff ct of issuing these bonds 50
far as he bonded debt is concerned,
will be % retain the onc-mill tax in
stead of discontinuing it after this
year.
II. That in determining the charuc-
ter and location Of any new building
or buildings, reference should be had
not only to our present conditions
and needs, but also the requirements
OF the future. In other words, any
building or buildings put up now
should be SO planned and located that
they will fit into harmonious sys-
ten when our population has increas-
ed sufficiently to require a school fol
the lower grades in each ward and Il
high school for the city at large
II. Two plans have been discuss
ed BY the committee, the one, to erect
building large enough to accommo-
date the lower grades for certain
wards and also the high school de-
partment at large; the other, to cree,
two smaller buildings in different
parts of the city, one for the lower
grades and the other for the high
school. The latter is the ideal az
rangement. 1t will take the plans of
an architect and the bids Of builders
to determine whether it is within our
reach. This much is certain, the first
plan can be carried out with $780,
10000 or even less. And it is be-
ieved that the second one will not
cost more. The committee had no
funds to determine this point.
The committee wants it understood
that if the needed improvements can
be made for less than 100000, then
the whole amount Of the issue will
not be sold but only such a part as
will be necessary. The committee
through a subcommittee is adserLls-
ing for proposals for sites.