Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-08-10
LOOKING FOR MORE MONEY
School Commissioners Would
Like about $4,000.
Could Use II for New Furnaces in Two
buildings hut Aldermen Are I'm
able to Provide II under the
Charter.

Discussion concerning the installation of
modern heating plants at the Lawrence
Barnes and Converse school buildings to
replace the present antiuuated furnaces
in those buildings which not only fail to
work satisfactorily. but also It is claimed
consume about 81 Ooo worth more of fuel
annually than modern system would do,
occupied the greater portion of the time
at the meeting of the hoard of school COM
missoners held last evening Mt the tigh
school building. a committee from the
board of aldermen consisting of J. L.
Hall G. l.. Woodbury. and c. H. Lessor
met with the board and II. 8. Peck. city
attorney. was also called into consulta-
ton.
The school commissioners. the commit
tee Of aldermen and the city attorney
we're unanimous i'm declaring that the new
heating systems were absolutely ne.rs-
sarv. but no one was able to say where
the school board could get the money to
pay for them. The city appropriation for
the support of the schools, which this year
| is $4,000 amounts to 20 per cent Of the
dollar Of the tax on the grand list, which
| is all that the city charter allows to he
devoted to school purposes. and not only
this. hut the entire budget of Slois6o has
| been utilized without providing any money
! for these repairs. There is an item of
| S. 80 in the budget which is marked for
repairs. hut all EXCEPT 500 of this amount
| has been spent in making repairs since
January !. when the budget was made up.
The adermanic committee couldn't think
of any way to give the school boa ri
more money than the city charter allows
| nd ri q think
| of any way by which the aldermen could
grant the school hoard a larger appropria-
i ton than the percentage allowed them in
the city charter without the authorization
Of the votes at n special city meeting, so
after the financial situation had been
talked over at some length and the need
of the repairs agreed upon. the aldermen
and the city attorney regretfuly said
good night
The commissioners have received bids
from nearly all of the Burlington firms
who install furnaces and some outside
ones for the work of equipping the two
school buildings with modern heating sys-
tens The bids range considerably. but
all the firms agree that between 500 and
81 on could he saved on the fuel Hill alone
In a single year with modern plants. "a
say nothing of the buildings being prop
erly heated The commissioners will fur
Their consider the bids and the pruning of
the budget to secure in some manner the
cost Of installing the new furnaces ana
probably take some definite action in the
matter within a few days. The cost will
he i'm the neighhorhood Of 5000.
4 contract to install hubbling drinking
fountains on the UPPER floors of the vari-
Gus school buildings was awarded to w.
IT, Buckley & 60. Bills amounting to 81
263. u We're ordered paid. with the approval
Of the finance committee. The resignation
Of Miss Harriet Towne as teacher of his
tory i'm the high school was accept
ed Miss Tovne has accepted a po-
sition as teacher Of history i'm the central
high school Of Philadelphia. The resigna-
ton of Miss I.eonora Collins. teacher al
the Converse school, ,vas accepted Miss
Ruth Henderson Of the high school fac
. nifty was granted a leave of absence fol
one term. An insurance policy of $i.0on 81
the high school building was ordered re-
newed.