The Forrest City times., 1908-02-14
SCHOOL NEEDS
Dr. Rush. President oi the school Board. Outlines Needs of Forrest
 City school District.

rectoTS 0f the Forrest City School District. with the assistance of num- bers of philanthropic citizens, built our present school building and for q time it was sufficient for all the needs of the district.
 Within recent years the city las in- creased rapidly in size, and many more children are now crowded into the school rooms than there is room for. Our present teaching force Is greatly oyerworked and the pupils are not re- eeiying the attention due them owing to this oyercrowded condition. Every seat in the building is occupied, and many of them having three on a seat. This crowded condition obtains in both the white and the colored schools alike.
 Three years ago it was found that the dry toilet system was unsanitary and that the old hot air heating sys- tenn had for years been insufficient and had been abandoned. The board at an expense inrouud numbers of S25oo had installed the best low pressure steam heating plant that could be bought; also tie latest improved and most sanitary toilet system ebtainabie, in- eiudiHg other minor improvements.
 The year following, owing to the extreme crowded condition ill the lower grades, il Was found necessary to provide another room and teacher. \ room in the basement was fitted up and the entire building was painted outside at cost of $500 This room has been continually used since. but Is objectionable for several reasons: has been so objectionable that certain patrons 0fthe school have taken their children from school because of their having been assigned to this base ment room Tie board regrets this very much, but we are powerless in avoiding the using of this room, for the reason that We have not the ne- cessary funds
 Every one remembers that in the midst of the last school year, much damage was sustained to tie school building by fire.
 The board collected from insurance companies some $2900 and expended for repairs s3200 during the last yaca- tion, besides s250 spent for painting and repairing the colored school.
 To those patrons and friends of our public schools who have been suhi- ciently interested to visit the school, it is needless to say even word re- garding the present condition of Crowley Ridge Institute building, for they will all take pleasure in testify l ing that it is now much better equipped, and has nicer finish than it has ever had Every improvement is of the most modern and durable type that can be had Besides. wall maps, charts and valuable and expen- siye reference books have been added
 INCOME ON WHICH SCHOOL Is
 MAINTAINED.
 The revenue from the five mills tax voted annually is 5000, and that from State apportionment was last year, $lGoo. The two previous years the in- come was not so large. Out of this in- come to the district the board has spent for improvements S340o. besides 5000 insurance collected. (See pres ent financial condition in secretary $ monthly statemeutl
 At recent special meeting of the School Board it was unanimously de- cided to mortgage the school prop erty for sufficient funds to build four room addition t0 the Crowley Ridge Institute, and one-room addition to the colored school In order that a sinking fund may be had to liquidate this loan il will be necessary for the district to vote a seven mill tax If this is done We can borrow the neceS- sary amount of money between s600O and 37000) on ten years time with an nual payments, meet these payments and still have sufficient funds with which to conduct the school for nine months in each year IS we have been doing
 This matter of improvements of our school property is entirely with the voters If the nistrict. If the seven mill tax is voted, as it is in most dis tricts of the county. and in all cities of the first, second and third class throughout the state We can have the desired improvements. The board believes 50 strongly that every citizen will willingly, and even cheerfully, vote this tax, that we have employed an architect who will be in the city on February l3 to advise with us as to plans and specifications for the con struction Of this much needed ad- dition
 l. .. RI-SH. Pres. School Beard