Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-06-26
BOARD IS PEEVED
over BUDGET Slash
Educational DEPARTMENT. Cor
rected Appropriation is
Not Sufficient
TALK 1T OVER AGAIN
ON THURSDAY NIGHT

we're somewhat peeved last night by
the manner in which City Council had
slashed the school budget for the ifs
cal year, beginning on July 1. and by
letter from the finance committee Of
Council, calling attention TO alleges
over appropriations for certain items.
A board committee will meet with
Council on Thursday night to dis
cuss the budget.
A report submitted by DR.. Victor D.
Washburn. chairman OF the finance
committee. expressed dissatisfaction
with the way in which Council had
slashed the appropriations made in
the budget, and stated why these ap-
propriat'ons had been made. The re-
port also showed that DR.. Washburn
and Charles A. HagnerN members Of
the committee, are opposed 10 giving
too much power TO Marine s. Thomas
the High School engineer janitor.
The budget had formerly called for
an appropriation of S431 .704 25 and the
amount allowed by Council is only
S362276. meaning a cut OF S59,42S. For
the fiscal year just ending the board
had asked Council for S460,120 and
Council had slashed this to the extent
Of s11O120.
Among the items on the budget was
one of $50 600 for new buildings
Council slashed this. and in the COM
munication. mentioning this matter
the finance committee OF the Council
sad:
I'VE do not think it advisable under
the condition OF labor and material
markets to do any new work that car
be eliminated or held up until condi
tons improve
DR.. Washburn and Mr. Hagner
members of the finance committee o
the Board Of Education, presented {
minority committee report in refer
ence 10 the manner in which TN
budget had been cut. Their repor
read as follows
"To the President and Members O
the Board Of Public Education. vii
mington, Delaware.
Gentlemen: Your finance commit
tee begs leave to submit the follow
ing report.
S431, 70425. and Council appropriate
70 it the sum of S362,276.
when II is understood that Their
are but three items in our budget ca
-pable OF variation. !. e.. expenditure
Of up-keep Of properties. supplies
possible augmentation Of the teach
ing force. salary increases ano ne
equipment. IL will be clear that cur
- a al
Of necessity calculated to seriousl
cripple the efficiency Of cur schol
system.
I'm estimating our resources fC
1917-191S, we have included an une'
pended balance from the sale
bonds. appropriation from City CouI
Gil and from the state. We have NJ
figured IN an item Of expected II
ceipts from the lunch department an
incidentals, because the amount is
best uncertain. 10 will be seen thi
our total income and resources WI
be S433.OO0.55. In setting up budg'
based upon this figure. we have re'
soned that II is OF vital important
that the recommended ons OF IN
board in the matter Of increases
both the teaching force and salari'
So far as possible-be carried on
n follows that we have been force
70 make very small appropriations 4
such items as books and supplies, r
pairs to buildings, new furniture al
new plumbing. - ,,.;l n
have performed its full duty II II ca
ene. itself to working within the I'm
If The budget Of this board. IL IS !
function. nav it is the duty, OF q
hoard no cnly 10 see that the people
the CITY of Wilmington receive /
value for every dollar expended, but
study tho needs Of our schools, so u
they may point ont the course Tor Us
follow in terms that are az once el'
and convincing
Sour teachers have unwieldiy class
many of our boys and girls are on p
time. our supply of text books Is insu
cient many of our buildings are na'
in need of repairs. our toilet iaeili'
are i'm many instances disgraeetul,
saw nothing Of our many protessio
shortcominns. We recommend then q
n commemorative and exhaustive ana
sis Of conditions be made and that
program be outlined whereby the INN
diate and more pressing needs be lis
and an estimate of the cost OF such
movements be made up and to be kno
az n supplementary budget; and IN
dition TO this. let rs have plans m
for development Of those features WI
should come in the not-distant tut
Having adopted such program. Il
obvious that the public must be II
informed. sentiment crystalized and
necessary funds provided.
"In making up this budget, we W
compelled TO eliminate the approp
ton for cleaning the new high sch
Item No. providing for supervi
of heating. plumbing and janitors
been set up. but two OF US (Hag
and Washburn). are not altoget
convinced that such a position she
be created. or that the plan Of max
Mr.. Thomas the supervisor is the
rect one. We (Hagner and Washbu
are of the opinion that a better I
would be to employ a business m;
ger. and make him responsible for
purchase OF supplies, repairs TO sci
property and the supervision
janitors.
I'VE have made no provision
paying the manager and helpers
the lunch department We bel
that the department should be en-
ly selfsuppcrting No one groui
citizens should have its children
at the expense OF another grouI
citizens unless it be as a definite
anthropic procedure and such a
cedure has no place in our high sci
ut does not appear whether Go
his infinite wisdom gave the mem
OF City Council ability TO know