The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1909-07-10
CITY COUNCIL AND THE BOARD
OF EDUCATION.
Health and education.

IDoSe are the TWO most important
necessities Of any community, they
are the two things which a city likes
to boast Of Find city with coed
health conditions and fine educa-
tional facilities. and you will find
good city. Brunswick, very FORUM
ateIy. has both Our death rate is
the lowest Of any seaport city on the
coast, while our public school sys-
TEN is second to none in the south,
due to the good work Of the board of
education, the superintendent and the
excellent corps Of teachers.
Therefore, with these conditions ex-
listing, it appears that the city
should, in every way possible, assist
the board Of education, and it is to
lie deeply regretted that the little dis
pute between the council and the
board has occurred just at this time.
Doubtless there is not a member of
the city council who is not ready and
willing to do everything possible to
further education in Brunswick and
Glynn county. They are proud Of the
record Of the county, which ranks
among the leaders in Georgia in edu-
cation
Members of council state that it is
not because they are not anxious to
assist the board Of education fnan-
cially, but just simply because the
money is not available at this time.
That reason is an excellent one, but
the council should put education
ahead of many other things for which
money has been appropriated. things
which should give way to education
and health.
There seems to be but one way to
settle the present dispute and that
is the remedy suggested by President
Wood. OF the board Of education-a
friendly suit, carried to the supreme
court Of Georgia and settled
In 1907 bill was passed in the
legislature giving the city OF Bruins
wick power to levy a special tax Of
one-tenth of one per cent for educa-
tional purposes. The Southern rail-
way was the first TO register a kick
against the special tax, and announc-
ed that before it would pay it they
would carry the matter to the courts.
Then IT was that the city decided
rather than to levy the special tax
and cause a battle in the courts, it
would appropriate $4,000 annually for
the board of education,
In 1908 this appropriation was
made, but was never paid, in 1909 a
like sum was appropriated and like
wise has not been paid. The board
of education, with, a. good reserve
fund, started work on new school
building, which is now nearing COM
pletion, but, not receiving any money
from council the board was compelled
to use some of the reserve fund to
pay the teachers. The board had
calculated on receiving the money
appropriated by council, but it did
not and now the board is compelled
to have $4,000, to pay the balance
on the new structure.
Some members of council claim
that the city, not leVying the special
tax, is not liable to the board of edu-
cation. The board holds a different
view, and while it will cost a good
sum to do il, the matter will no doubt
have to be settled in the courts.
1t is to be regretted that the city's
exchequer is so limited at present
that the money due the board can
not be paid Not a member of coun
ell would hesitate for a minute to
pay over the money if it were there,
but il appears that it is up to them
to devise some way TO secure the
money and thus save the board Of
education financial embarrassing
The matter has been referred to
councils finance committee, and il is
hoped by the people of the city gen
orally that some amicable adjustment
will be made.