The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-13
FREE TEXTBOOKS
FOR CHILDREN IN
FIRST FIVE GRADES
Board of Education Also
Places Higher Charge for
Nonresident Pupils At
tending Local Schools

At special meeting OF the board OF
education, held IN the office OF Com
missioner Ward yesterday afternoon, it
was decided to continue the policy OF
providing free text books for children
| in the first five grades
Children between the ages of and
Z years will be allowed to attend school
provided they pay an incidental fee of
$3.50 per month.
tuition scale for nonresident chill
dren whose parents were not tax pay
ers in the city of Birmingham was fixed
as follows: First and second grades,
s150 per month; third, fourth and fifth
grades, ST. sixth and seventh grades,
$3.50; High school, IS per month This
schedule does not change the original
incidental fee of rs cents per month
for all children who reside in the city
and DC cents per month for high school
children who live in Birmingham.
| Commissioner Ward. who is president
| of the board of education. stated that it
was absolutely necessary to place the
additional fees upon the nonresident
children to raise sufficient funds for
the running of the schools for the COM
ing year. 1--WE wish to urge the West
End parents to send their children 10
the Ensley High school instead of the
Central High school, to prevent over
crowding," said Mr.. Ward.
| This year any child who is not
years of age but is qualified to enter
the first grade will have to pay a fee
of s1.50 per month. Formerly child of
Is years could attend school provided
he was qualified to enter the primary
grade.
| 1t is thought the passing of the high
| incidental fee for nonresident children
win materially cut down the attendance
of the school children during the COM
ing scholastic year. The exact number
of nonresident pupils who attended
school last year could not be ascer-
tanned but it is thought several hum
dred came into the city daily for the
purpose of receiving the additional adj
vantages of the Birmingham school sys-
| tenn.
If the decrease in attendance is very
great the expense of running the
schools will be decreased The budget
for the coming year was discussed. al
| though no action was taken. The fiscal
year ends on the 31st of September. The
city schools open Monday.
DIR. Phillips Talks
DIR. J. II. Phillips. superintendent OF
| city schools, who attended the meeting
of the board of education said: lit was
decided to maintain the policy of the free
| textbooks for the first four grades The
fact that there are on hand in school
| old books that cost originally $90.OOo
rendered this necessary. In Orderly to
use these books, the board appropriated
about $500 to provide new books in place
of those worn or lost in the year. Par
ents who are able to purchase new books
are advised to do so.
1.-THE incidental fee of % cents for the
elementary department and so cents for
the high school will continue in force
for the first half of the scholastic term
| A resolution was passed requiring all
principals to keep strict account of all
expenditures made by themselves and
the School Improvement association for
| the benefit of the school and report
must be made semi-annually The books
OF the school principals, supervisors and
heads of departments will hereafter be
audited by the board of education"
i October IS was authorized by the board
of education as a school holiday in order
I to enable the school children and teach
ers to attend the Alabama State Fair.