Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-09-07
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OPENED TUESDAY
Largest Enrolment That
The Alma Schools
Have Had.
ALL ROOMS ARE CROWDED
VIII Need New Building in Few
Years for Which Ground
is Offered.

On Tuesday morning the tolling of
the bell, and the pattering of feet told
Alma people that the public schools
Of this city were again open for an
other years school year, and it brought
to the public schools on the first day
the largest enrolment that the schools
have ever enjoyed.
The total enrolment for the first
day was just one hundred and thirty
larger than was the case a year ago
on the first day of school. Last year
the enrolment on the first day was
sol, while on the first day this year it
was 93l. Last year the enrolment
was the largest in the history of the
schools for opening day, making the
enrolment this year the largest.
In the high school 21s students were
registered the first day, as against
lSS the first day last year, an increase
of thirty. Since Tuesday a few more
have entered and there are prospects
for a number more before the month
is over. Last year at the end of the
first month of school twenty three
more had entered high school, making
the enrolment at the end of the first
month 2ll, or less than the first day
for this year 1t is probable that the
end of the first month of the school
year will see a health increase over
the number now in high school.
In the union school on the east side
of the river, there are 355 students
for the first day of the school year as
against 303 the first day last year an
increase of 81 in the number attending
in this building by the close of the
school month.
In the primary building there are
357 students who were entered the
first day against $40 last year an in
crease of nearly half hundred. Other
young tots will be entering in the
primary building for some time and
will greatly increase this number.
The school rooms are all crowded
4 school teacher is supposed to have
from thirty to thirty-fve students,
whereas now i'm the various grades the
teachers have from forty to forty-five,
as the increase in students is spread
fairly evenly in all the grades. If
much greater increase comes during
the next month in attendance it is
very probable that a couple more
teachers will be needed In this case
there are two rooms in the basement
of the primary building, which will
probably be called into use. These
rooms have been finished up for this
purpose and can be used in case of
such a need.
1t is almost a certainty now that if
Alma continues to enjoy as fine
growth in the next three years as it
has in the past three years, that a
new school building will be a crying
need. Right now is fine time for
people to consider such thing, as
ground has been offered to the school
board for Sch a purpose. One-half
acre of ground on East Superior, and
east of Grover avenue in the new
has been offered to the
school board by p. w. Creaser for this
purpose. One-half acre would not be
enough for a school building, but it is
believed that Mi Creaser would make
the lot an acre. by some in a position
to know, and this would be sufficient
for a school building. The school
board has the power to tentatively ac-
cept such an offer, pending its ac-
ceptance by the school district at the
next coming election. As yet the
board has not accepted tentatively,
but will probably do so.
The natural growth of Alma is to
the east, in the district wherein are
located her factories, and where sub
divisions abound, where workmen can
get lots at all kinds of prices, and
which are located somewhere near the
factories where they are employed.
This means that a school will sooner
or later be needed in this district The
school district can get at least a half
acre, possibly more by accepting the
offer. 1t would save the district mon
ey as a school will be needed, and the
school is bound to come in a few years.