The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-03-19
BILLS IMPORTANT
TO SCHOOL SYSTEM
Educational Affairs Given AT.
tention by Members of
Both Branches.

Important legislation affecting the
school system was enacted at the ses-
sion OF the legislature just closed One
act relating to schools is that which
provides permanent maintenance
fund for the University OF Utah, the
branch Normal school and the Agri-
cultural college. In all of his recent
biennial reports the state superin-
tendent has recommended the enact
ment of such a measure. The institu~
tions named may now operate on safe
basis, as they will know just what
funds may be expended. The new law
provides that these schools shall re,
ceive 2S per cent of the entire annual
revenue derived from the general tax
levy for state purposes, exclusive OF
state school and state high school funds;
the university. including the school of
mines, school of arts and science and
the normal school. is to receive 64.43
per cent of this fund, while the Agri-
cultural college is to receive 1884 of
it, The branch normal is given 7.23
per cent.
Appropriations were made by the
legislature which will enable the Agri-
cultural college to erect one Of the
finest gymnasium buildings In the west
and which will enable the state uni
versity to construct a central admins
tration building of a superior order at
cost of 100000.
Important bills pertaining to the es
tablishment and maintenance of public
high schools were passed. One of the
measures provides for the distribution
of the state high school tax which is
half mill of the eight-mill state tax.
The state board of education is charged
with the duty of distributing this fund
and with fixing the standard required OF
high schools in order for them TO par
ticipate in its benefits.
Another high school measure pro-
vides for the establishment of one or
more high school districts in all of the
counties of the state. 1t is left with
each county to determine the number
of high school districts it may create
or the number of high schools it may
organize.
Ten thousand dollars was appropri-
ated to aid school districts unable to
maintain their schools twenty eight
weeks during the year after exhausting
their revenues. Such district, how.
ever. can participate IN the benefits or
this fund onlv after the county com
missioners of the county in which it is
situated have levied the maximum
school tax permitted by law, and after
the district school board has done like
wise.
The qualifications of county superin-
tendents of schools have been in
creased. Eligibility to this Office now
requires FIVE years of teaching expert
ence and in counties of the first, sec.
ond and third class educational qualifi-
cations represented by a state high
school diploma. In the counties of the
fourth to twelfth class, both inclusive,
the applicant must hold a life gram
mar grade diploma. and in the other
counties state certificate valid for
five years.
Educational in its purpose, also, is a
measure which makes it the duty of
the state board of education TO pro,
mote the establishment of Libraries and
ovmnasiums throughout the state. The
board is empowered 10 call TO its aid
expert help in this work and to appoint
secretary who shall work under the
direction of the state superintendent of
public instruction.