The San Francisco call., 1908-04-07
RONCOvIERI WOULD
SAVE CITY'S MONEY
School Superintendent Favors
Special Tax in Place of
Bond Issue

Recommendations for insuring the
school children against the danger of
fire, plea for the payment of the
maximum allowance for teachers PEN
sions and the advocacy of a special
school tax instead of a bond issue for
school building purposes are the salient
features Of a communication made yes
terday to the board of education by
Alfred Roncovieri, superintendent of
schools. The board of education will
submit its budget TO the board Of
supervisors today or tomorrow. Ron
covieri's report in part follows
/ have frequently shown, and reiterate the
point now, that bond issue for school building
purposes is a bad policy. We should build our
tchools annually as we need them the pay as
you go along" plan. The annual interest on the
proposed issue Of S5 600. 900 of bonds for school
purposes st per cent will necessitate an average
tax levy each year of s1I5. 900. AS the bonds are
payable in 80 years. the average annual tax for
sinking fund would be nearly SI70, 600. Thus
average annual tax of $2S5 600 or more viii
end county for these bonds. In 80 years this
would cause every dollars worth Of improvement
70 cost $l6e or, in other words, schoolhouse
that cost the city 100000 to construct would
cost the people $3.50 COO.
Why not levy such an annual tax under the
emergency clause Of the charter to amount In 10
save the interest7 Or else levy an annual tax OF
s2S5 900 year for 30 years and secure $3.50 00O
SeCUTl0K
-. 100000 of improvements under the bond issue
for cost Of IS, 400, 900.
PLEADS FOR FULL PENSION
Although a pension of $50 month is
allowed by law to teachers who have
been in the service of the department
80 or more years, Roncovieri points
out that the teachers on the list are
only receiving half of that amount
The pension fund is made UP of the
:
from every teacher and by the contri-
button of half of the money de-
Quoted from teachers salaries because
of absence or suspension The present
income is but $15,300. The demands or
the board are $4,000. To meet this
deficiency Roncovieri recommends
That the board of educati appropriate all the
absence money. that is, all noney deducted from
teachers salaries by reason of absence from duty
TO the retirement fund.- and that the board Of sn
the retirement fund That efforts be made al
the next session OF the state legislature to sc
amend the Law as to permit of appropriations
inadequate TO pay pensions now specified by law
MAKE SCHOOLS SAFER
The recent horror at Collinwood, O.
eThere 167 school children perished in
fire. demonstrates the necessity, Ron
covieri says. of providing all possible
means to insure the safety of the chill
dren. He makes recommendations foi
an auxiliary fire alarm system connect
ing every school with the central sta
tion, for large fire gong to be placed
in each school. for at least two fire ex-
tinguishers to be placed on. each floor
Of every school and an appropriation
to widen all staircases sufficiently tc
permit four children to walk abreast.
He also recommends the acquisition
of more lands for school sites and thai
more extensive buildings be construct
ed. not to exceed two stories IN the
budget prepared by the board Of edu-