New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-06-29
WARM APPROVAL
OF COUNTY UNIT
AND RECENT LAWS
SCHOOL MANAGEMENT IN
NEW MEXICO Is IN AD-
VANCE OF MOST OF THE
STATES AND EDUCATION
AL PROGRESS RAPID

we feel that New Mexico rs
to be heartily congratulated on the
character of the men and women
w.o have been appointed by our
district judges as members of the
county boards of education, under
the recently enacted law making
the county the unit for rural school
ad '.inistration." sale J. Fl. Wagner
state superinte nden: of public in
struction today, in a statement an
nouncing completion of the appoint
ment of these boards for the twenty
eight counties. "In all cases." said
Mr.. Wagner, "the judges have
chosen men and women of high
standing and recognized ability and
these appointments supply the final
assurance that operation of the new
county unit law will be successful.
This law is recognized by education
al authorities as a noteworthy
piece of constructive legislation
which places New Mexico in the
front rank in efficient and econo-
micai school administration"
For school taxation purposes the
county has been the Unit in New
Mexico since 1915. The 1917 iegis-
lature, at the instance of the state
educational authorities, went further
and made the county the unit also
for administrative purposes. Under
the new law the district judge ap.
points for each county four men,
bers of the county board of educa-
tion, the county school superinten-
dent being the fifth member and
ex-officio chairman of the board.
Two of the four of these first ap-
pointments are named for two years
and two for four year terms. In
future two members will be named
every two years for term Of four
years each, thus giving each board
at all times two experienced mem-
bers. The new county board Of
education does not displace the dis
trict school board nor usurp its
functions. The district school direct
ors are continued as heretofore,
with full charge of the admins
trative detail of their districts, in
charge of formation of budgets or
estimates for school expenses tcon-
tracing with teachers, etc. The
estimates, however, and selection Of
teachers are subject to approval by
the county board, which is charged
with general administrative super
vision of all county schools, being
the link in the educational system
between the district school direct
ors and the state board Of educa-
ton. The new county board has
in in
corporated towns and cities, but has
full authority over all rural districts.
It has authority in matters of policy
and its work will tend to concen-
trate for economy in operation. It
will unity county rural school ad-
and work directly to-
ward greater harmony and efficiency.
That it is constructive legislation
Of the highest type is evidenced by
letters of warm approval reaching the
state department of educate from
the foremost educational authorities
Of the nation. One of the first to
.o;ce approval was H. w. Foght.
specialist in rural school practice of
the United States Bureau Of Educa-
ton at is bound to mean very
Material progress in an educational
way for the state of New Mexico"
writes this we'll known authority,
"and you are certainly to be con-
graduated on the advanced steps
taken"
The members of the new county
school board for Santa Fe county
are Mrs. Nina Otero Warren, Coun-
ty Superintendent: Ramon Sandoval,
N. NJ; DR.. c. o. Harrison,
Santa Fe; Mrs. Ella c. Weltmer,
Santa Fe; Benigno Romero, Nambe,
N M