The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-02-21
TOWN MUST WAIT
FOR THEIR MONEY
FROM STATE
BIunder in School Law Is Re-
spOnsibIe
WILL GET MONEY LATER
School Directors To Be Elected at
Coming March Meeting VIII Not
Take Office Until July

School directors throughout the
state are in receipt Of the following
circular from the state superintend-
ent of education:
Department of Education, State OF
Vermont, Montpelier:
To the Members of School Boards
Dear Sirs: On account of an I'M
certainty arising in Nos. 50 and 6S
of the Acts of 1910, the auditor OF ac-
counts does not feel warranted in
drawing orders on the state treasur-
er in favor of such towns as paid tu-
itions for advanced instruction dur
ing the school year ending June 80,
1911. No. 6S, by amending Section
1923 of the Public Statutes provided
for the payment of rebates on or be-
fore the first day of September annu-
ally. No. 65, which was a substl-
tute for a prior measure introduced,
amended Section 1923 in the same
manner, but it also contained an adj
ditional section which repealed Sec
ton 1923. No 6S preceded No. 60 in
passage and, as Section 1923 had been
amended by No. 6S, the identical sec
ton of No. Go was stricken out In It's
passage, but the section repeating
Section 1923 was apparently retained
by mistake. On account of a decis
ion of the Supreme Court, " Vermont
Reports, page 451, Brattleboro Town
School District VS.. School District
No. 2, No. 65 was allowed to go into
effect In the form in which it passed
both Houses.
In all probability the general assem-
bly, did not intend to create an uncer-
tainty and thus retain in the state
treasury funds intended for rebate
| for advanced instruction. and II no
town brings a case before the Su-
preme court for the purpose OF dis
solving the uncertainty, the matter
will have to be left in allegiance I'M
til the next general assembly, as the
auditor cannot consistently draw or
ders for rebates until the uncertainty
is dissolved.
AS the school year, ending June 30
1911, was fifteen months in length,
more than the usual number Of towns
became entitled to share in the $45.'
900 and $4,000 reserve funds and In
the $4,000 transportation fund
hence the rate was somewhat lower
than for a normal year.
The foregoing reserve and trans
portation funds are distributed &C
cording to percentages of grand lists
expended. In order to find the per
centage a town actually expends
there should be subtracted from the
current school expenses (which in
clude everything except moneys paiC
for new buildings) the moneys re
ceived from all sources except loca
taxation and the surplus from the
preceding year This remainder div
ided by the grand list OF the sam,
year on which the local tax was rails
ed will give the per cent actually ex
pended.
II Is not necessary for schoo
board to make a school report t
the town at the annual March meet
ing, but IL is incumbent upon thu
board. according to Section 992 p. S.
ito recommend annually in writing
to the town meeting the amount o
money necessary to be appropriated
for the use of schools" The super
intendent should submit to the schoo
board an estimate of the probable eN
penses for the maintenance OF school
for the following year The auditor
should examine the accounts Of tn
school board and report to the tow
tho amount ~ nrdaro drotun and IN
amount OF money remaining in tn
treasury of the school board, but IN
auditors should not include In thel
, report to the town the various item
I OF expense or orders drawn. AT IN
end of the school year, the account
, of the school board since Marc
meeting should be submitted to On
\ auditors for examination and certli
I cate, although the law does not r,
! quire the auditors to pass on the a.
counts OF the school board at thI
j time.
Il The reports of the school boar,
4 which should be printed and distribl
y ted on or before July 10, should col
J tain an exhibit OF the orders draw
III III Ant VI CAMN0tcf VI
4 certificate of the auditors concernin
/ the correctness of accounts, a stat
l ment by the board OF It's official act
and the reports OF the town superb
tendent.
I In accordance with Section $40
I s., the school boards OF a SUPERVISE
Il union shall meet annually on N
1 first Tuesday In April for the transa
l ton Of such business as may proper
\ come before It." II there ia no Il
4 gent business, the annual meetir
I may be adjourned until some conye
L lent date. II will not be necessal
to re.eloct Union superintendent
he continues In Office until succee
4 ed by another. In case OF confer
4 plated change, the present inoumbel
\ should be informed at as early da
I as possible in order that he may s
Z cure another position II he desires.
i A school director elected at Mar,
meeting for three years does not e
! ter upon his Office until July first I,
i lowing, but director elected to 7
vacancy enters upon his duties
soon as he qualities. According
i No. 1O7, Acts of 1910, the school a
Il eetor Is elected at March meeting II
medlately after the election OF me
II | prntnr and CLARK