Graham guardian., 1914-02-06
CONSOLIDATION

Chambers, member Of the board
Of trustees Of Stafford Public Schools.
sets forth clearly and concisely the
reasons why Stafford and Layton
school districts should unite in one
large school district.
Mr.. Chambers article follows:
sanford, ARIZONA.
February 2, 1914.
EDITOR GuASpiAN:--As a member
IT The Beard ot Trustees OF the
Stafford School will appreciate II II
| | may express through eour columns
my views with reference to the high
school election and the elections that
are 10 follow.
The vote uncn the high SCHOOL YVES
very gratifying. 1t shows ,hst the
citizens of Stafford are in favor Of
better schools and want higher
education. Your paper Is entitled
to M small amount of credit for the
manner in which you have presented
the question to the voters. We
have now taken the first step The
joint committee recommended five
specific things. We must not quit,
until all have been accomplished
These five things are: First, voting
high school in the Stafford District;
Second. consolidation of the Stafford
and Layton districts; Third, sale of
the Layton school site; Fourth. pur-
chase of a suitable high school site;
Fifth. voting the bonds necessary to
build q building adequate to our
needs
The next election will be the con
soidsti0n election. Heretofore,
there has been considerable opposi
ton to this part of the plan in
Stafford. Part of this opposition
came from the fact that the con.
s,lidation did not carry with it
the high school. This objection can
not now be urged, for the reason,
that when the Layton district comes
in at this time. they come in high
school and grammar grades as we'll.
Many people insisted that the Lay
ton district would not vote high
school. In order that the high school
would be assured, the committee
worked out the plan Of voting the
high school in the Stafford district
first. The members of this committee
from Stafford consisted of Messrs. z.
G. Prina, l.. j. Broshears, T. T.
Swift and Mrs. W. D. French, be-
sides the present school board. The
members of this committee. with
the exception Of the writer. have
heretofore all been either active
opponents of consolidation or neutral
on the question. / believe that
since they have given the subject
more thought. they have all come
to, see the advantages to be gained
by consolidation. At least the re-
port of the committee is unanimous,
and all were willing to eoncede the
consolidation If the Layton district
would come in on the high school.
1t has been strongly urged that
it is bad business to consolidate. I
believe that any one who will give
this subject the same consideration
that ! have given it will arrive at
the opposite conclusion. The SAT-
ford district carries a bonded in
debtedness Of 100000. At the
end Of the present school year we |
shall be at least 81, 100000 behind in
our general fund. On the other
hand, the Layton district does not |
owe a dollar. They have in their |
building fund the sum Of 81, 10000.
At the end of the present school
year, they will have in their general
fund at least $4,000. probably |
81 10000. Taking their balance Of |
100000 on hand, adding to this
our indebtedness of $4,000, gives
them an advantage Of $5,00o.0O.
This sum would build for Layton a
building of four rooms as well
equipped as the present Stafford
school building, and would come
much nearer supplying their needs,
than will the present six-room build.
ing In Stafford supply our needs in
the future. AS far as the building
Is concerned, then, we start practi.
,ally even at the end of this school
year.