The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-07-08
NEW SCHOOL LAW
Measure Explained To County
SuperintendentS.
THE DIVISION OF COUNTIES.

|
In answer to questions concerning the
new school law which was passed by
the last Legislature, Prof ]. G. Crabbe,
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
sent out circular letters to all the county
school superintendents in Kentucky.
The circular letter answers questions
which has been asked the educationa
department, and the answers, which
we're prepared bv Prof. Crabbe, after
consultation with James Breathitt,
| Attorney General, will give the people
Of the State generally better idea Of
what the new law is and how it will
work. The circular letter is as follows:
Kentucky Department of Education,
J. G. Crabbe, State Superintendent,
Frankfort, KY, June 24-Dear County
Superintendent: A bulletin giving de-
tailed information and suggestions con.
corning the operation Of the new county
school district law" will shortly be is
sued. Numerous inquiries and sugges-
/
reached this department and will have
most careful consideration. To-day
this circular may be helpful to officers
for immediate needs.
First-the county is the unit. The
school boundary must coincide with the
county. The law recognizes no "frac-
tional districts" However, | think
that conditions may make necessary
convenient arrangements" locally.
similar to the old law in Section IS.
Such arrangements csunot be effected
by this Office, but must be perfected by
local authorities. OF course, the re-
districting will have no effect concern
ing the operation of schools for the year
1oO8-O9
Second-The county superintendent,
the County Judge and the County At.
to ney shall divide the county into edu-
cational divisions, and they shall subdi-
vide each educational division into
school subdistriets Boundaries are to
be based on white children, but when
ever these boundaries are fixed by these
officers above named the lines Of white
and colored districts shall coincide.
Third-Paragraph 2 above indicates
that the officers above named are the
absolute authority to fix and change the
educational division. But Section 10
of the new law directs that the County
Board of Education shall have full
power to establish new school subdis-
tricts aud to change the boundaries of
school subdistricts. The trainers of the
act, however, had no intention of ultra
rigid boundaries. A wise pro ision OF
the act, see Section II carefully, has
reference to consolidation of school sub
districts. Two or more white subdis-
tricts may unite for the needs of the
whi'e children; vice versa, several sub
districts may unite for the needs of the
colored children. These are called
consolidated schools" Section Il is to
the superintendent, who is a real states
man. a sufficient safety valve" Look
out for the needs of the schools, not for
the needless Fiction!
Fourth-About numbering education
divisions and subdistrict' For future
convenience number the educational
divisions aud the school subdistricts in
the following manner: Beginning in
educational division No /, with Cedar
Valley subdistrict NO /. Oak Hill sub
district No 2 AMI so on through the
whole number OF subdistricts in this
division. Then educational division
No 2, with Collett subdistrict No l,
Powell subdistrict No. and so on
through the whole number Of subdistricts
in this division. Tnen in the same way
number each subdlstrict in the other
educational divisions.
Fifth-The question is asked: Is it
possible to make Lebanon (for example)
an educational division by itself? Re-
fer to the new law bulletin No. 81,
Section 2, which says: "The County
Judge, the County Superintendent of
!
Schools and the County Attorney shall
then subdivide each Of the said educa
tional divisions into school subdistriots,
following as nearly as practicable the
boundaries of existing school district for
white children If the educational
division (Lebauon) can be subdivided
into subdistricts, and If the trustees
can organize a division board as noted
in Section 4, such possibility may be
contrived. The matter is scarcely prac-
| ticable.
Slxth-About questions concerning
election of trustees;
(a) Trustees are elected by ballot.
Boxes are to be used and the secret
ballot is to be used as at all regular
elections.