The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-18
SCHOOL BUILDING FUND,
STATE AID Is PROVIDED FOR 80
COMMUNITIES.
d. r.. Swcaringcn Gives Information
to County Supcrinten,Icnts of Edu-
cation.

OF the State building fund will help
nearly four score communities to
erect schoolhouses in 1914, according
to letter addressed to the county SUI
perintendents Of education by j. E.
Swearingen. State superintendent of
education. The appropriation Is $780,
900 as heretofore, and the money will
be spent In accordance with the terms
OF the school building act Of 1910.
During 1913 no State aid for
school building" said Mr.. Swearingen,
was available. During 1912 the build
ing fund was exhausted early in the
summer, leaving heavy deficit in
this appropriation.
Every county board of education
was urged to protect the building ap-
plications for 1912 by contributing the
usual amount from the county build
Ing fund and q further amount from
Its discretionary county board fund
"The carrying out OF this policy
was made possible by the second dis
tribution Of the State dispensary
money In September. 1913, and by
the setting aside for special county
purposes of one-half Of the one-mill
State school tax last year.
II hope. therefore. that all build
ings erected without State aid during
1912 and 1913 have been fully paid
for. II any district Is embarrassed
by unpaid debts arising from new
school buildings during 1912 or 1913
the status Of every such district will
be fully considered upon the pre-
sentation OF the facts
"The 1914 appropriation must be
used for the completion of buildings
already under way. or for the erec-
tion Of new schoolhouses before De-
cember 81 Of this year. Buildings
already finished or buildings to be
constructed during 1913 can not par
ticipate in the fund. The appropria-
tion Ia for current needs. Contingent
improvements can not be considered,
because they are frequently never
made. Future improvements to be
added after January /, 1913, must be
left to future appropriations.
"All school buildings erected at
public expense must be located on
land owned in fee simple by the
school district trustees. Blue prints
of all proposed houses must be sub
mi.tcd 20 IA, county board OF educa-
tion and 90 the state board OF oduca-
tior for approval before extra ale
can he legally 'r0ntod.
Prof. X. Il. Lee OF Clemson COZ
legc has rendered valuable assistance
to the schools by cooperating with
the department in preparing u bulle-
tin of school Plans and by distribut-
Ing blue prints free OF cost. Any plan
recommended by him will be approved
In this Office.
Application blanks for building aid
are inclOsed herewith. The law re-
auires the payment of these claims i'm
order Of their receipt Any board OF
trustees planning new building dur
ing 1914 OF desiring to complete their
schoolhouses this year. should confer
with you and send in both their plans
and their application at once.
IF any district or any school
stands i'm special need OF extra aid.
the local board should make applica-
tion for a part of the $4,000 re-
Gently appropriated by tho general as
sembly for needy schools. This fund
is especially designed to protect the
weak. short-term schools in the rural
districts. With 1t / hope you will be
able to run every white school for u
session Of ut least six months. or bet
ter STILL seven months.
II take 1t ior granted that each
county superintendent and each
county board OF education will have
'HPNhtCU thSii NOunty luUQ uN-
rived from the state dispensary bal
ancc. as well as their county board
fund derived from Onc-half Of tho
1913 onc-mill State school tax before
any application is made for further
state aid. Since these two county
funds may he used i'm the discretion
OF county schools officers. we can not
consistently ask for more money un-
til the amounts i'm hand have been
fully utilized. At the same time the
uses Of these two county board funds
during 1913-t314 should indicate and
should regulate i'm no small measure
the uses of the State contingent fund
recently made available.