The daily sentinel., 1909-06-03
COPY OF
BILL RECEIVED

+ Many Grand Junction aud +
+ Mesa county people have been +
+ anxious to secure copies of the +
+ important measure passed by +
+ the last legislature providing +
+ for the consolidation of country +
+ schools proposition that is +
+ being seriously considered by +
+ many of the rural schools of +
+ this county. +
+ Secretary Mahoney of the +
+ Chamber of Commerce today, +
+ through the efforts of Repre- +
+ sentative william Weiser. Sc 1.
+ cured what is in all probability +
+ the first official copy of the bill +
= received here. +
+ + 4. + + + + 1. + + + +
Owing to the widespread Interest
in the matter The Sentinel publishes
the bill in full. showing what steps
must be taken and what plans fol-
lowed in consolidating rural schools.
The text of the bill follows:
A bill for an act for the consolida-
tion of adjoining school districts, and
for the transportation of pupils in
such enlarged districts and to pro-
vide for courses of instruction in the
same.
Be it enacted by the General AS
sembly of the State of Colorado:
Section / For the purpose of this
act the word consolidation" is here
by defined as providing for the
abolishment of certain adjoining
school districts and the organization
into one special school district, and
for the conveyance of pupils to one
consolidated school.
Sec. .. The school boards of two
or more adjoining school districts
may submit the question of consolida-
tion, and upon the petition of not
less than one-fourth of the qualified
electors of such school districts, must
submit such question to a vote of
the qualified electors of such dis
tricts. For the purpose of determ-
lining the question the secretary of
the school board in each district af-
fected shall. by giving legal notice
call a special meeting to be held at
the usual place of holding school
district elections The legally quail
fled electors when assembled in ac-
cordance with the notice above spe-
Gifted shall vote by ballot for or
against such consolidation. Those
in favor will vote For consolidation
Yes. those opposed, For CONSOLE
dation"-No. If at said election
more votes are cast against the prop
OSlllOn IOT CoilSOliudllOIt imam ioi ~
the question shall not be again sub
mitted to the electors of said adjoin-
ing districts for period of one year.
Sec g. If a majority of the cleo
tors vote in favor of consolidation 1t
shall then be the duty of the school
board in the district affected which
has the largest school enumeration
to call union meeting by giving at
least twenty days public notice in
each district affected, at which meet
ing the organization of the consoli-
dated district shall be perfected by
the election of officers and other
necessary procedure. After the or
ganization of the union meeting is
completed by the election of a chair
man and secretary, IL shall proceed to
elect by ballot a board of directors
for such consolidated district con-
sisting of president, a secretary and
treasurer who shall be held to con-
stitute the board of directors of such
consolidated district until the next
annual school election: at which
election one president shall be elect
ed for a term of three years. one
secretary for two years and one
treasurer for one year. and annually
thereafter person to fill the vacancy
occurring. Provided that when a dis
trict of the first class is joined with
a district or districts of lower class
the board of directors of said first
class district shall be held to be the
board of directors of the consolidated
district and shall serve out the term
for which they were elected.
Sec A. AS soon as the organiza-
ton for a special school district as
herein contemplated shall have been
perfected and its officers elected. II
shall be the duty of the school board
of such consolidated school district.
if necessary. to purchase a site and
erect suitable building thereon, and
said school board is hereby required
to maintain and support graded
course of instruction, and may in
clude high school course of not less
than tive wears. Ind are also re-
quired to furnish transportation to
and from school to all pupils living
one mile or more from the consoli-
dated school or bIilding said dis
tance to be measured from the en-
closure Immediately surrounding
their residence to the school house
property along the public highway.
provided, that the person or persons
employed for the purpose of trans
porting the pupils 10 and from school
shall be required to give a reasonable
bond for the faithful performance of
duties as prescribed by the school
board
Sec. ). Emergency clause.