The Penn's Grove record., 1913-04-25
SCHOOL BONDING VOTED DOWN
Larger School Ground Wanted


The proposition offered by the Board o
Education to bond the Borough for $50,
900 with which to build a new schoo
house was vo:ed upon last Wednesday
evening and defeated by a vote of 81
against to 80 in favor.
William P. Denny was chairman Of the
meeting, Edward Nj. Munyan, secretary
George H. Elkinton, ESQ.,, judge, and
Warren Risner, teller.
lev. E. A, Miller and former Mayor f
A. Gentieu asked for information as tc
where the building to be erected with the
money asked for and if there was any
other plan proposed other than the one
\ exhibited at the annual meeting.
Mr.. Denny had another plan exhibited
of a two-story building to have a three
foot foundation above ground aud a heat
| er put under one corner. The first story
| contained four call rooms Of legal size and
two smaller rooms, together with two
cloak rooms and two toilets. The second
| story contained five class rooms, two
cloak rooms and All assembly room % by
| 81 feet. Mr.. Denny said the Board Of
Education had no other site than that
purchased two years ago, II some who
favored that site two and II year ago
were opposed and favored another now.
Messrs. Miller and Gentieu expressed
opinions u%nfavorable to the present site,
and mentioned the possibility of the
burning of both buildings if one caught
fire.
w. A. Summerill stated that he was a
member of the Board of Education two
years ago and was probably favored and
agitated as much as any II purchasing
the Cunningham lot, but his opinion had
greatly changed in a year. A garage had
been erected opposite the school house
where automobiles frequently stop. There
has been enrolled in the PRESENT building
the past year 1913 pupils. There has been
enrolled l19 in the chapel and annex OH
State Street. The erection of a building
on the lot opposite the present school
house will provide for 612 present pupils
and an increase of more than 200 more,
making over 800 OH ali acre and a half of
ground in the W buildings thereon.
Many children were on the streets at the
school and the increasing automobile
travel will increase the peril to their lives
by the congregation of 30 many at one
center.
The Board OF Education controls the
lot now paid for, and if the $50, 900 re-
ceived a favorable vote they had a legal
right to erect the building thereon.
He wal all advocate of large school
grounds what other parts of the country
was providing for children. The extern
sion of State Street thru W. A. Sacks
property to Beach Avenue would develop
the center part Of the Borough where the
best land is. Between State Street
o,Aoroo, o,,l Tho roilrooI o,I bkoos~
the meadow and Beach Avenue there is
between three and a half and four acres
of land. II that be purchased for a school
site it would be ample ground for play
ground in school time as we'll as vacation
time. Other places are having summer
play ground schools.
With a larger school ground a building
could be erected on the block system,
giving ample room for extension.
Some put a high value on the land. 1t
is unimproved farm land with little
rental value nov and a prospect OF sales
residential purposes nearest the rail-
road not the most desirable. What ever
value the people who create the value
have to pay, the adjoining property
should be as valuable Tor taxing purposes. |
Procuring all this ground will give
ample room, not only for a school house
and play grounds for the school boys and
girls, but there will be room for base
ball and foot ball for mems athletic sports |
which are now held OH low and rented
private property.
Voting at began s Al and the polls were
open one hour. Of the 85 ballots cast 4
were cast by s~ufragettes.
AS soon as the Board of Education
meets they can present a proposition to
vote OIL the purchase OF another site and
OH another proposition to bond for build
ing purposes.
LIFTING THE LID
Some citizens became so rude at a pub |
lie school meeting as to pat such pointed
questions that it seems to others like car
rying a jimmy to pry off lids. Some who
have paid little attention to school AZ
fairs may not he aware, until they be-
members of the Board, that such an
honor is considered a private trust. Prob
ably many have never noticed that all
itemized account of school moneys has
not been published for years, such as the
County Board of Freeholders and Bor-
ough Council publish every year. The
State school law chapter 80 says: "Such
Board of Education shall, as soon as prac-
ticable after the close of each school year,
cause to be printed and published a re-
port of the condition of the public schools
under its charge, OF all the property I'M
der its control, and ali itemized account
OF the expenditures of the ..;oard and of
the finances of the district"
The editor of the RECORD while a men,
Der of the Board, became awful naughty
by asking impertinent questions and tell
ing tales out of school. He got turned
out. By continuing to cause trouble the
Board thinks it time to administer pun
ishment by taking public printing out of
town.
Curious citizens are requested to leave
their jimmies at home hereafter and not
20 to prying into matters not presented
tor direct consideration.