The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-01-16
DISCARD BILL FOR
STATE SCHOOLS

Bismarck, n. D., Jan. 16.--Rep. II. G.
DISCARD of Nelson county, introduced
a measure in the house which calls for
the compilation of the school laws.
Representative Olsgards bill proposes
a complete revision and readjustment
of the states school laws. This In
cludes many Of the laws on the stat
utes at present combined with num-
Der of important new provisions. A
mber Of the old laws will be dis
pensed with in the interests Of econ
ony. The bill is broad and embraces
fully all the departments Of the educa-
tional field in North Dakota.
There are no changes provided for
In the manner of electing the state
superintendent, in his qualifications or
the tenure OF Office The state super
intendent Of instruction shall receive,
according to the bill, an annual SAL
airy of $4,000, and also travelling ex-
penses incurred in the discharge Of his
duty not to exceed $1,000 in any one
year, these expenses to be paid month
" upon the fling Of an itemiZed and
verified statement. The Office assist
ance provided includes a deputy and
an assistant, the latter's duty to be in
assisting the state superintendent in
visiting schools, institutes, attend
ing school officers meetings, and
also perform such other duties as the
superintendent may direct. Such
clerks as are necessary in carrying on
the work of the Office may also be
hired
The election of county superintend-
1E-
other county officers are named and
for term of two years as at present.
The qualifications for this position are
raised t. a slightly higher standard.
In counties having so or more schools
a deputy may be added, and in counties
having $50 or more schools a deputy
may be appointed for each 100 schools
or major fraction thereof, the salaries to
be fixed by the county commissioners.
County superintendent shall receive a
salary equal to that Of the register Of
deeds in each county, and in addition
thereto his actual and necessary travel
ing expenses.
One of the radical changes in the
laws, if this bill is passed. will be the
abolition Of the district school treas
urer, there being no such officer named
in the proposed act. His duties will be
given over to the county treasurer, who
ii is anticipated viii receive some ad-
ditional compensation.
Length Of terms of schools in COM
mon school districts and time of year
in which they shall be held is men
toned, no term to be for less than
seven months in each school year. And
it is also provided that schools may be
discontinued when the average attend
ance for ten consecutive days shall be
less than four.
The question of consolidation of ru-
raj schools may be voted upon the pre-
sentation Of a petition of one-third of
the voters in the districts affected. II
the majority of votes cast at such
election are in favor of the proposition,
the consolidation may go into effect,
and the board may provide for the
transportation Of pupils to and from
such consolidated schools. District
high schools may be established
in any district having four or more
schools, and an enumeration of sixty or
more persons of school age.
District school boards are empower
ed to expend not less than $40 annual
ly out of the funds of the school dis
trict for the planting of trees and the
cultivation Of the school yard. In
rural school districts stables shall be
provided. There is no change in the
state tuition fund arrangement.
Any city or incorporated town hav-
ing a population Of over $50 may be
constituted a special school district.
The board of any school incorpora-
ton shall employ one or more physi-
clans for the medical inspectors shall
pills, and the medical inspectors shah