The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-09-13
TRUSTEES SHOULD NOT OVER.
DRAW.
State Superintendent of Education
Writes About School Finances in
South Carolina.

district was urged today in a letter
addressed to the county superintend-
ents of education of the State by j.
+. Swearingen, State superintendent
Of education.
The letter follows:
Every board Of district trustees
in your county has probably formu-
lated by this time it's educational
programme for the scholastic year
1884. One of the most important
features OF such a programme is
clear understanding of the fiances of
the district.
AT this date it is possible only to
estimate school receipts for the cur
rent session. The cash balance or
Overdraft existing in each district on
July is the only fixed item in the
funds of the district at present I
regret to see that too large q num-
Der OF district boards, with the ap-
proval of a few county superintend-
ents, persist in the illegal practice
Of overdrawing their school funds.
can not urge too strongly the OBJ
servance Of the law prohibiting school
officers from running in debt. Con-
tracts for 1913-14 should be made
only upon the basis of cash payment
for claims to be incurred during the
session. ! recommend that the ap-
proval of the county superintendent
be withheld from all overdrafts for
whatsoever purpose this year, in or
der that tax collections during each
fall may be used in meeting the ex-
penses of the current year rather
than in paying past indebtedness.
Unless this principle is observed. the
time will soon come in many dis
tricts when their schools will suffer.
State aid for the year should be
used wherever possible. The legisla-
ture makes four appropriations for
the public schools:
Il. 100000 for high schools
"2. 100000 for lengthening the
school term.
"S. $4,000 for graded schools in
country districts.
"a. $1,000 for libraries.
Amy community with Is pupils
above the seventh grade, three teach
ers e. three-room building, a 2-mill
tax. and an eight months term, might
we'll consider the advisability Of ap-
plying for State high school aid. All
high schol applications should be
filed Immediately.
Rural graded schools receiving
State aid are Of two classes:
II. A school with Is pupils enroll
ed, 40 pupils in regular attendance,
a three-room building. three teachers.
a seven months term, a four-mill To-
cal tax, and the minimum equipment
prescribed by the State board of edu-
cation, is entitled to $500.
"2. A school with an enrolment of
so pupils, 80 pupils in regular at
tendance. two teachers, a six months
term, 4-mill local tax. and the mini
mum equipment prescribed by the
State board of education, is entitled
to $500.
This type Of State aid is especially
serviceable in building up efficient
country schools. Any community
with SO pupils and a two-room school
house can not afford to overlook this
means of improving its school facili-
ties.
THE appropriation of 100000 to
lengthen the school term is intended
primarily to help weak, one-rooIn
one-veacher schools in the country.
Any district levyi:lg 2-mill local tax,
and unable to run its sch ools Ave
months on its regular school funds, is
entitled to State aid equal to the pro-
ceeds of the tax. up to a maximum
OF $lO0. 1t is therefore, possible for
every progressive board Of trustees to
maintain session Of at least six
months, II proper use is made Of local
taxation and State aid.
THE rural graded school appro-
priation ,or 1913 was practically ex-
hauste1 in May. Every application
In excess Of the appropriation shall
be submitted to the legislature in
January. In my opinion the law
makers will continue their wise policy
of strengthening and developing these
schools. / recommended that ev ~
claim from your county be filed as
soon as the average attendance for
the first month of the session 1924
can be ascertained.
Term extension applications should
be filed as soon as the teachers for
the session 1s13-14 have been en-
MI