Evening journal., 1917-01-12
AGREE On THE FIVE
MAN School BOARD
Chairman Warner WillName
Committee to Prepare Act
For Legislature
DR.. SCOTT REPORTS
ON CITY SCHOOLS

the joint committee of representa-
tives OF the eighteen different citi-
zens' organizations of the city ana the
board Of directors of the General Ser
vice Board has been completed and
the proposed changes will be embod-
led in a bill to be presented to the
General Assembly,
Final decision IN these matters was
reached at a meeting OF the Joint
Citizens Committee last night. With
few exceptions all changes are al
ready drafted and the final form OF
the bill was voted on last night
Charles Warner, chairman OF the com
mittee. was authorized TO Apo Mt a
committee TO get the bill in shape and
have it introduced. Mr. Warner an
nounced that he would select three
members of the committee from the
Joint Citizens Committee, three from
the General Service Board and act ex-
ofiicio as a member himself.
The legislative and publicity COM
mittee was authorized to go ahead
with legislative work on the bill and
the educational campaign. Many Of
the organizations have already in
dorsed the principles adopted by the
Joint committee, and the delegates
will now report to these organizations
the final form in which these princi
pies have been embodied
The program of the joint committee
as adopted by the members at differ
ent meetings and accepted in final
form last night is as follows::
A five-member board of aducatiOn
nominated at large by petition and
empowered TO issue bonds for new
buildings within specified statutory
limits; a maximum limit of annual
expenditure fixed by law but sufficient
to cover all operation and mainten-
ance expenses together with interest
on bonds and specified retirement of
bonds within which limits the Board
OF Education shall have power to fix
It's budget without revision by the
City Council.
The changes in the methods of pre-
pairing the annual budget for school
purposes and raising money to provide
the necessary funds are embodied in the
report of committee appointed at a
previous meeting and comprising George
\. Elliott w. j. McCorkindale. a. ID.
Warner, Jr, and Caleb T. Burchenal
This report was adopted by the Joint
committee last night and follows:
AbNA hNlihiAANANN ANZhAnc IL as NetIs-
sary, in order to develop and modernize
the school plant of Wilmington within
reasonably safe limits. that the Board
of Education he permitted 10 issue bonds
Tor school buildings and equipment not
to exceed two per cent. of the assessed
valuation of the city, provided that the
net debt on school property shall at no
time equal more than seventy per cent.
of the valuation of school property as
appraisedb the city beard of estimate.
and that in no one year shall the bonds
ISSUED for permanent improvements ex-
coed one-tlnrd OF one per cent. on the
assessed valuation of real property in
the city foi that year. 1t is recon-
mended that school bonds be serial bonds
running one to forty years. The two
per cent. additional bonding power of
the Board Of Education on the assessed
valuation would be separate from the
city's present bonding limit Expert
ence OF other cities shows this would not
affect the city's credit.
The checks against the amount to
be raised for new buildings each year
would prevent extravaganza and yet
allowed the board to provide enough
room for the pupils
report Of the present condition
Of the public schools Of Wilmington
was presented TO the joint committee
by c. J. Scott, superintendent Of
schools.
The report follows:
In response to your request. I
willingly send you a statement of the
needs and deficiencies Of the VIII
mingtOn public schools. In spite of
excellent features in some phases Of
the work. our schools have many
shortcomings which make them in
adequate for the service which a
school system should render its com
munity. Good schools cost much
more than mediocre schools. but they
are worth to the taxpayers all and
more than they cost. For this reason
have upon frequent occasions urged
larger expenditure of money for
our schools than the sums which
have been available in the past in
order that we may secure more and
better educational opportunities for
our boys and girls. The following
is a brief convsrsative statement OF
several of the larger defects of our
school system:
1. Inadequate buildings-Our pres.
ent school buildings do not permit OF
the modern organization OF our school
work They have not the capacity
10 enable all Of our pupils of school
age to attend all the time. there beine
at present nearly 500 pupils on part
time. They do not permit the assign.
ment Of less than forty pupils to one
teacher. Most Of our schoOlrooms en-.
roll more than forty pupils aud thus
create a condition which does moi
permit the teacher to give sufficient
individual instruction.
Our buildings do not have facilities
for dndergartens. directed educational
recreation, manual training shops, as.
sembly rooms and special classes fol
exceptional children.
They have not the kind and number
of sanitary conveniences which al
schools should possess. They do NO
receive the necessary care and atten.
ton in the way OF interior decoration
and exterior painting. constant repair
and replacing of window shades anf
unhygienic desks and other worn-ou
furniture.
2. Inadequate janitor Service
larger appropriation for janitors' sal
aries is necessary in order to employ
for all buildings janitors who will b,
In the buildings throughout the day
giving them their full and constant at
tention, and for the employment Of
q sufficient number of janitOrs ant
for the furnishing OF sufficient sup
plies to keep the buildings in tn,
proper sanitary condition.