Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-09-01
BUREAU FAv0Rs
COUNTY UNIT FOR
RURAL SCHOOLS
Commissioner CIaxton Writes
Superintendent Montoya
Setting Forth Views Of De-
partment on Question.

OF special interest to all educator
are the suggestions made by the Unit
led States bureau OF education with
reference to the adoption Of the coun'
ny unit plan In the management oil
rural schools. County Superintendent
Atnnasio Montoya has received from
Commissioner r. =. claxton a letter
enclosing bulletin of the department
on the subject. which Is as follows:
The United States bureau of educa-
tion suggests the following essentials
of the county unit basis OF organiza.
ton for the administration Of rural
schools. They result from studies Of
the various regulations IN the states
now organized on that basis:
sIt The county, the unit of taxa
tion and administration of schools
tcxcept that In administration, inde-
pendent city districts employing a SUI
perintendent would not be included)
90 A county school tax levied on
all taxable property In the county. COW
cred into the county treasury. and d.
vIded between the Independent city
districts and the rest Of the county on
a basis Of the school population.
CD The county school funds. In
Guiding those raised by taxation and
those received from the state. expend-
ed In such a way as would as nearly
as possible insure educational oppor-
tunitics IN all parts OF the county. re-
gardless OF the amount raised in any
particular part. (Any snbdistrict
should be permitted 10 raise by taxa
alton or otherwise additional funds to
supplement the county funds provided
the subdistrict desired better school
plant. additional equipment. or a more
efficient teaching force than could be
provided from the county funds
fIvc-year Terms.
a. A county hoard Of education In
which IA vested the administration OF
the public schools OF the county ex-
cept those in Independent city dis
tricts. composed OF from to per-
sons. elected or appointed from the
county at large: the board To be non
the term OF office TO be at
least five years. and the terms arrang-
ed so that not more than one-fifth
would expire In any one year.
tb) A county superintendent OF
schools. professional educator. Sc
lccted by the county board Of educa-
ton. from within or without the
county or state. for long term at
least two years. who shall serve as the
secretary and executive officer of the
county hoard and as such he the rec-
ognized head Of the public schools in
the county texcept those In indepen-
dent city distriets.)
fe1 District trustees In each sub
district Of the county. one or more
persons. elected by the voters Of the
district or selected by the county
board. 20 be custodians Of the school
property and TO serve In an advisory
capacity TO the county board. The
expenditures OF local funds raised by
the subdlstrict would rcst with the
trustees subject TO the approval OF the
county board.
ca The powers and duties OF the
county board Of education: (a1 To
FNiSNt a county superintendent VINO
would be its secretary and executive
officer In the performance of all Of
It's other functions. and to appoint as
sistants as required. tb) To have gen.
erai control and management OF the
schools of the county. tc) To submit
estimates to the regular county tax
Ing authority OF the amount Of money
needed to support the schools (dl TO
regulate the boundaries of the school
OF the county. making
from time TO time such alterations az
In is Judgment would serve the best
interests Of the county system. lei 10
locate and erect school buildings. co
TO supply the necessary equipment.
CD To fix the course OF study aud Sc
cct text hooks tusing the state course
and state adopted text books in the
states where actIon has been taken
(h) To enforce the compulsory educa.
lion laws. "a To employ teachers. fix
their salaries and the salaries OF 9TH
Pr employees.
A Quarter Saved. Etc.