The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1909-06-23
RURAL SCHOOLS
NOW IN PERIL
Forty Counties May Sus-
pend For One Year,
OWING TO COURTS DECISION
Unless the Fiscal Courts of
Counties Make Levy
By July LIST.

Frankfort, KY, June 1S.-Forty
counties in Kentucky are in grave
danger of having no country schools
for one year after July 1, and unless
prompt action Is taken the cause OF
education in Kentucky will be struck
a serious blow. Even though the de-
cision of the Court Of Appeals to-day
in the case involving the constitu-
tionality of the new school law was IA
vorable to the cause of education and
means a big victory for the common
schools, there is still danger to the
schools in many of the counties. IN
less the Fiscal Courts of the counties
where no levy for school purposes has
been made make levy before July /,
or suit is brought before that time
to force them to make levy,
no levy can be made in those counties
for school purposes for one year, ana
this would mean that the schools
would have no janitor service, heat
or anything else necessary to conduct
a school except teachers. They would
be in the position of having teachers
without any place to teach the chill
dren.
Three points Of great Importance
were decided by the Court of Appeals
in unfolding the constitutionality oil
the new school law and every county
in the State can take advantage OF
this decision to improve the condition
Of the county schools. Whether or
not all the counties avail themselves
Of the opportunity depends entirely
ON the counties and the time OF max
ing the levy for school purposes.
The first and most important point
decided by the court to-day was that
the law was constitutional. That, OF
course, was the basis of the whole de-
cision and everything depended ON
that one point. The second point OF
importance was the courts holding
that a mandamus would lie to force
the Fiscal Court to make the levy
and the third point was the right OF
the County Board of Education to de-
termine Just how much money was
needed by the schools. The last point
was the one on which there was most
doubt. It was coptended by those who
opposed the law that the Fiscal Court
of a county could say that the amount
fixed by the County Board of Educa-
ton was too large ana that much
money was not needed. but the Court
Of Appeals says that the County Board
Of Education has the right and power
to say how much may be needed ana
that the Fiscal Court must make
levy that will raise the full amount
asked for by the board.
Under the Law the state spends
about 100000 on schools and this
goes only toward paying teachers
None of the money can be used for
other purposes. The levy made by the
county must raise money for all eX-
penses except for teachers. Expenses
such as for buildings. light, heat, jan
itor service and all other expenses, ex-
cept for teachers pay must be met by
the counties themselves, and If the
county has no money for these pur-
poses there can be no schools in that
county unless the money should be
raised by popular subscription.
At present the school levy has been
made in about forty counties. Ac-
cording to the decision Of the courts
the levy must be made by July ! or
IL cannot be made for the next fiscal
year until another year has rolled
around.
Prof. ]. G. Crabbe, State Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, is
greatly pleased over the decision to-
day and says 1t means much to the
schools of the State. Under the old
law the total amount collected for
schol purposes. was $4,000 It is
estimated by Professor Crabbe that
under the new law $S,5OO,OOO will be
raised for school purposes by local
taxation.