Alma record., 1913-07-17

Francis Ming And ChaS. Rhodes
Reelected For Three Year Term

No alterations in the list of MEM
bers of the Board of Education oc-
Cured at the annual election and
school meeting held at the high
school building last Monday night.
Francis King and Charles Rhodes
were elected by decisive majority
to succeed themselves for a term OF
three years. There appeared to be
little element of dissatisfaction enter
ing in and some opposition was given
to the reelection of the present in
cumbents, but beyond that the meet
ing was as quiet as summer zephyr.
Before the regular business sec
tion Of the meeting was opened, Ez-
ra Smith, president of the Board OF
Education, made a few preliminary
remarks relative to the success Of the
past year ending July l. President
Smith stated that this was unques-
tionably the most important year the
school district had ever experienced.
Greater strides have been made and
more important questions decided
than during any year previously was
the opinion of the Chairman. The
erection of the new $65,000 high
school building and the addition of
much new equipment are things that
have entered into the business of the
board during the past year and have
caused such an increase in the annual
expense account According to the
report of the Secretary Charles
Rhodes the finances of the district,
even with the heavy debts that have
congregated during the year, are in
excellent shape The total resources
during the year were sos, 1882 while
on the other side of the ledger the
disbursements reach $S6,O64.54.
$4,000 was the budget that the
board presented to the voters to de-
fray the current expenses of the en-
suing year. The amount was grant
ed Immediately with very little dis
cussion This amount is slight in
crease over sthat of last year used
for current expense owing to the ad-
dition of two new instructors to the
faculty, one a teacher in domestic
science and the other a grade teacher.
The budget of $4,000 is divided into
three departments, $4,000 being pla
ced in the teachers wage fund, $1,000
in the incidental fund and $4,000 in
the general fund.
A question that has come up on sew
eral occasions during the year and
one over which the board were slight
ly in doubt, namely, the insurance
question, was present to the voters
for thorough discussion, it being
the opinion of the board that such
matter should receive the endorse
ment of the taxpayers before any
action was taken At present all the
buildings are protected by insurance.
In the case of the old building the
amount of insurance taken out is al |
together satisfactory and the same
conditions exist in regard to the ward !
building, But the question that the !
board wanted to have settled was
whether the new building should |
have more or less protection than
now.
The conditions are extremely differ
ent in considering the new building
it was mentioned The structure is
a thoroughly freproof and is supplied
with 300 feet of hose. In case fire
did occur it was stated that the dam
age caused would not amount to over
SIS, 900 which would be cared for by |
the present insurance policy. The
matter was discussed and as no ac-
ton was taken will be left to the
judgment Of the board.
The annual school census showed !
an increase for the year of 13, there
being SIS on the books two years
ago and s71 during the year that end
ed July 1st.