The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1914-04-30
SCHOOL OFFICERS
IN annual MEETING
QUESTION OF TRANSPORTATION
OF PUPILS THRESHED OUT
THOROLY - SCHOOL BOARD
MUST SET THE PRICE PER
ZONE.

lnONOLl - SCHOOL bOAND
MUST SET THE PRICE PER
ZONE.
The Tenth Annual Convention of the
school officers of Ward county met
in regular session in the Circuit Court
room of the county building Thursday
afternoon.
County Superintendent Warren was
chairman of the meeting.
Consolidated Schools and Transpor-
tation was the first topic taken up
and discussed informally, each repre-
sentative Of a consolidated district
giving the experience of his district.
Pres. McKinnon of Sawyer was call
ed upon to state how consolidation
stands in his district
He stated that taxation under con-
solidation was very little if any more
than under the old system and that re-
suits more than justified the added ex-
pense.
Director Wilson of Sawyer follow
ed. He went into detail and in an en-
thusiastic manner told how consolida-
ton works in the Sawyer district.
They employ three drivers who fur
nish the conveyances and are paid
$66, $72 and $50 respectively, accord
ing to the number of miles travelled.
The longest trip is IL miles, covered
in from 1-2 to hours.
At first there was some objection
but now that the greater progress of
the pupils and the many advantages
they enjoy is realized, patrons have
ceased complaining and are now boost
ing.
Mr.. Wilson said to let those who
may complain of higher taxes go
back into Minnesota, where he came
from. There he paid 800 per year
school taxes on 142 acres and trans
ported his children several miles to
school, without charge; in fact never
dreamed of charging for such service.
Consolidation meant better instruction,
more progress, no lettering and bet
ter educational tone generally. Mr..
Wilson is an enthusiastic and patriotic
citizen with the welfare of the grow
esting speaker.
Mr.. Enges of the Berthold school
board was the next speaker. He stat
sections. They have six routes. Pay
|
around $51. Longest drive about 9
miles. Drivers own the buses driven.
Cost not much, if any, more than old
system. Buses were obliged to drive
up to door if weather was bad.
Buildings and equipment represent
an outlay of probably 100000 They
have an accredited high school and
employ eight teachers.
Supt. Warren quoted decision of
Judge Goss where he stated that the
board were empowered to lay out
routes of travel but driver must cross
section line nearest house.
The suggestion was made that a
! spirit ofAtoleration and good will by
patrons and board would obviate
most of the troubles that arose.
The present zone system Of trans
portation in common districts was
here injected into the discussion. The
subject of transportation or no trans
portation was threshed out thorough
}ly.
Mr.. Warren stated that the zone
system was established more for the
purpose of forcing consolidation than
anything else.
The matter of pay for hauling
children to school was left entirely to
the discretion of the board.
| One school board in the county pays
10 cents per day per family for haul
ing in first zone and IS cents for
the second zone and 20 cents for the
third. In one district in the state
two families had drawn S576 in one
! year for transportation while the COM
bined amount of taxes paid by the
parties was but STA.
The principle Of hiring people to ed
ucate their children was giving a
thorough airing.
Some advanced the idea that the
board should employ first class in
structors, provide comfortable quar-
ters and all needed apparatus, but not
pay transportation. The discussion
waxed holly. Johnson Of Donnybrook
cited an instance where one party
only few rods inside the zone limit
sent his children to school without
pay for transportation while his
neighbor, only few rods further on,
got paid for transportation. The in
tent of the law as explained is simply
to pay transportation up to the limits
of the first zone. The announcement
of this fact clarified the situation
considerably. t.--..t
| A vote was then taken to express
the sense of the meeting for or
against transportation. 1t was almost
unanimous that transportation be paid
but that the law should specifically
state the amount and thus relieve the
board from saying as to what is
reasonable and proper. J. L. VanBush-
kirk fathered this proposition.
E. H. Ray of Surrey was called up
on and expressed himself in highest
, terms as to the benefits of consolida-
ton. He believes that various fea-
lures that were causing misunder-
standing and complaint would be grad
ually eliminated and that eventually
consolidation of schools would be the
GROWING glory of our state.
, The roll Of officers present was then
| called and as each responded he men
toned the progress and improvements
in his district during the past year.
\ Mr.. Beaver, Dist. SO, reported the
, installation Of heating plants and the
purchase of four sets of library books