The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1913-01-31
Continued from first page)
SCHOOL BOARD OPINION.

might be divided or placed to suit a
majority of the pupils.
The one central building should for
many years accommodate all pupils
from grade 6 to IL inclusive. The ad-
vantage of centralizing these grades
is evident For example, the sixth,
seventh and eighth grades will use
much of the school equipment required
for the high school, as manual train
ing and agriculture supplies. Some
physic apparatus can be used to advan-
tage by these lower grades at times.
To have the lower grades in a ward
school building would necessitate the
purchase of two sets of equipment or
the transportation of the same from
one building to another or the trans
portation of the pupils to the central
building to do this work.
We need at the present time four or
five additional rooms-two school
rooms, laboratory, manual training,
gymnasium, auditorium, etc. Antici-
pating our wants for next year, say
for the next five years, We should have
at least an additional eight room build.
ing and the modern school plant, since
the Introduction of agriculture and the
practical subjects, and SO much stress
Is placed upon games when under the
supervision of a teacher, requires at
least five acres of ground. BY using
fiat roof plan of construction eight
rooms can be added without altera-
ton of the first building.
In selecting central site the rail-
road crossing-notice the singular
form is used-determines in large
way the location of same. To place a
school building near the switch yards
would be too noisy. Pupils having to
cross the tracks would not 90 by way
Of the crossing, which Is at the ex-
IRENE west part of town, but would at
tempt to cross where most convenient,
thus endangering their lives. The
board made an effort early In the
spring to get site from DR.. House ON
the tract where his home Is but this
could not be purchased. The Wells
tract comprising fourteen acres could
not be subdivided and to purchase the
whole would require more money than
the people would probably stand at
this time, besides there is no public
street or roadway into this tract from
the south side. The site selected by
the board and for which we ask IA
vorable consideration by the electors
OF this district is just west of the pump
house in Grand View addition to Oro-
Vile. There are fifteen lots-about
six acres. a part of which. about two
acres Is on the hill A flag marks the
building site. Below the hill to the
south and lying along the railroad
right-of-way are two and one-half
acres of fertile, level, arabic soil for
play grounds and gardens. The price
Is $4,000, or about $500 per acre. This
land extends to the end of Railroad
avenue. is nearly surrounded by four
avenues, Railroad avenue on the south,
Similkameen on the east. Ridge and
Deerpath on the north. 1t Is entirely
out of the business section of the town
and has a healthful and slightly loca-
ton. 1t Is hard to md a better and
more central school location in the
county or in the state for that matter
AS to our finance, will say that the
assessed valuation Of our district is
$631.574, that, besides the small levy
upon this amount, we draw from the
state and county fund nearly $4,000
per annum. Likely the expense item,
high taxes, ETC., will be the paramount
issue with a great many of us whose
valuation sometimes exceeds our $500
exemption, in fact we have heard for
two years complaints Of high school
taxes. Take note. Last year we were
levied total Of 8 mills, this year we
have total levy of mills. Now amt
1t ridiculous, mill levy for educa-
tional purposes? If there are any who
think that we are not getting value
received we might suggest to them
that we are paying about three times
this amount for improvement on our
public roads and 1t seems to us then
that we are "stung again." Oroville
pays 7mills to meet the requirements
of the public schools, LOOMS pays 20
mills, Oroville pays mills, Riverside
pays 20 mills, and Omak pays % mills
We wish to add that of our mill tax
only 6 mills is for running school
expenses, l mill is for the payment Of
Indebtedness and of the mill assess
ment last year, 2 mills was used to pay
$1,000 bond.
Saturday is the day, the school house
is the place, l to 8 p. m. is the time
and good or bad schools for Oroville
the issue. The people rule and the
school board awaits their verdict.
Signed:
DOOLEY p. WHEELER,
Mrs. w. B. SEXSON
l.. F. POURTALES
School Board. District No. II.