The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-04-20

in the way of successfully operating
the school with three capable and will
ing teachers was the fact that the
school building was constructed for
four teachers and il would proba bly,
necessitate keeping more pupils in one
OF the three rooms than could be seat
ed comfortably. \ request from the
school 10 be allowed 10 have certain
grades come in the forenoon and re-
turn home and other grades TO come
in the afternoon was sent 10 the super
intendent and agreed TO. This arrange
ment was not satisfactory TO the town
and a number of representatives came
before the county board and asked
that they be allowed an extra teacher
at $50 per month. which the county
board granted out OF county funds.
thus furnishing one more teacher than
the school was entitled TO have under
an equitable appropriation Of the
county funds.
The district trustees recommended
that a salary of $3.50 per month be
paid the principal which the county
board deemed more than necessary,
particularly when the district was in
such pressed condition financially and
when the county appropriation would
not allow a fair compensation 10 the
other teachers with this salary paid TO
the principal, so they fixed the salary
at SIPS per month for the current
term, which considering the size OF
the school and the amount OF work TO
be done, is good compensation COM
pared with the salaries of correspond
ing places in the state.
| 1t is possible that the teachers Were
worth more pay but the situation
would not Justify IL.
| In the beginning of the term. when
the district warrants were first issued
they were refused payment by the
banks on account of there being no
funds on hand, which action would
have had the effect OF putting them al
discount or out of the market al
together. but at the suggestion OF the
superintendent, the county board pass
ed a resolution guaranteeing the pay
ment of district funds for the current
year, which at once put them at par
| To show that il was and is abso-
lutely necessary to hold the expenses
of the district TO an economical basis
1t Is but necessary TO state that the
present outstanding warrants Of the
district amount to S2,135.02, and the
collections for last year weres only
s1.l03.53.
1t has been the policy of the county
board to operate the school just a
efficiently as the means at command
would allow, and We are firmly of the
conviction that every move from the
county authorities has been for the
betterment of the school. and having
in mind the protection of those whC
| in times past advanced funds TO the
district with which to partly pay fol
the building of a good school house
and TO carry the operating and Incl
dental expenses Two of the out.
standing warrants are old and beal
interest at the rate of per cent, the
face. of these alone being $1,000.
1t has been asserted that the count!
did not assist in the building of th'
schoolhouse. but in looking over th'
minutes of the proceedings of thu
board. / find that at one time they ap
propriated $3.50 for the DunnelloI
schoolhouse, and / find in the warran
Register where they issued warrant
to the contractors amounting TO 1885,
on the building
| Within a very short time j shall
send you for publication a detailed
statement of all the outstanding war
, rants showing the number, date, q
whom, for what given and the amour
of each.
The purpose OF this article is I,
show conclusively TO one who is hon
. estly seeking correct information, an
has no AK 10 grind, that the count.
has dealt not simply justly, but witt
: liberality toward the Dunnellon dis
trict in the appropriation OF count,
, school funds, and has superintendet
, with discretion the spending OF he
own funds recently. and TO assure tn
, people of the Phosphate City that w
are heartily interested in her educa
tional welfare.
II is not claimed that Dunnellon get
back as much as she pays into tn
county treasury on the general schoo
fund II she did this. il would destro
utterly the public school system. mas
, much as il is always the lot OF tn
, richer districts to pay more into tn
, general fund than they can hope I
, get back. This would be true TO
, larger extent of Ocala. II the richie
districts received back all they pay in
, to the general school funds. Their
, would be numbers of small school
that could not run a month.
Very respectfully.
, ]. H Crimson, Superintendent.