Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-09
NEWARK REQUIRES
MORE SCHOOL FUNDS
An Effort to be Made to Have
Legislature Grant Relief
Considered Necessary
srrria, Correspondent OF Every Evening

spcrial Correspondence OF Every Evening
Newark. March 9.-To enable the
Board of Education TO raise more money
hv taxation for school purposes to meet
urgent needs for the next school year,
the Legislature, when it meets in special
session next week will probably be asked
t. either repeal or amend an act that
limits the amount that can be raised IN
the Newark district In any ono year TO
Si2.OOO Unless this is done the schools,
which are now III almost deplorable
condition. Will even be worse next year
and 1t would be likely that many children
would bc placed on half time.
The matter was brought to the at
tcntIon of the taxpayers of the district
at a special meeting of the Parent
Teachers Association. held in the High
School last Thursday night, when Primer
ptl Koehler made an address pointing
out the present conditions In the schools
and telling what would bc necessary next
wear for effective work. Several months
ago committee of the Parcnt-Icachers
Association made survey of the physical
condition ut the schools and much of the
discussion last night was based on the
r'Trort oi this committee.
The mectingwaswcll attended by women
ui tho district but there were also present
school district. Professor {. 4. McCue,
president OF the Board of Education, and
l. L. Richards, also q member, were
present II was brought out that at the
present time only $4,000 Is IN sight
about the same rs this year) to run the
schools next wear. while 1t Will require
80 least So 900 to make much needed
improvements and operate them for the
year Professor Met Cuc stated that
vhle the board could get along on
$1,000 next wear what was really need
"a vas about $l25.O00 for new and
modern hulding to house all pupils.
II developed that none Of $4,000 bonds
ISSUED ten wears ago when the grammar
school was built have been paid of and
another year sinking fund VIII likely
~ created ~ take care OF these bonds.
II vas suggested that another meeting
Ie held and every taxpayer urged TO at
t,al and get acquainted with the exact
~rtaton rs 70 the schools.
Prnclp.d kochlcr. il his address, said
l f.It that the people Of the district do
u.t realize the crowded conditions OF the
~0HueIS Tor instance he said in one
ralu here have been 65 pupils and that
Il + impossible for q teacher TO do good
Wus> and HAT the sanitary conditions
vrr. not good He submitted figures to
Show that the total attendance this year
S 1t,S and that next wear Il will probably
bch45 The High School this year change
frnIn i three 10 4 iour-yCar course and
consequently there Will be no class to 20
on IN June More teachers will be need
Gland they should also have q substantial
increase III salary Home economies and
probably agriculture viii be added next
vcar under the Smith-IIughcS Federal
act tthc government paving part OF the
expense for the same With the music
teacher the principal and the necessary
division of grades for the best interest
az the schools. Mr. koehler stated that
Il teachers and Il rooms will be needed.
This is four more teachers than are now
ernploved and il will be necessary to 70
outside Of the present school buildings
to get two extra rooms.
MIR. koehlcr also stated that the sanl-
tarv conditions. as to light radiation, etc,
are not what they should be, but that
much improvement could be made by q
reasonable expenditure.
After Mr. hochlcr completed his state
mcnt. numerous questions were asked.
Those taking part in this discussion in
cluded George L. Nlcdlll, George L.
Townsend, Frank Collins. Frank Cooch,
Mrs Frank Cooch, +. L. Richards. Pro
fes>or McCue and many others. 1t was
brought out that the revenue for school
purposes from all sources this year lnclud-
ING the amount from the State was about
$4,000 and that unless the present law
w. changed there Is no more IN sight
for next yc:r This Is only SIS annually
pcr pupil. compared with S35 per pupil
expended several years ago. From figures
shown. taxes amounting 10 about 3, ,2UO
from a total possible amount from Taxa
flan r SII. 200 are still uncoIected. Many
4 $tr~a tn
uucaIlected taxes hut Senator Harvey
Hofecker. secretary Of the board, was
nat present and no one else was able TO
explain why there should be such an
apparent large amount that Is not col
l.efed The board pays q collector S3OU
Z. Ecf lr THE taxes The indications are
fia' Il ms amount Is not gotten IN the
l.aarI Vii have 10 borrow $1,000 before
g.. cnd ui the school year for current
sNIenses
i was the general opinion of those
present thar neither the amount that
CT 10 raised nor the rate should be fixed
~ legislative act and on motion OF
george / Nedill, which motion was
unanimously carried. the association viii
request the board to have the law repeal
ed during the special session. The rate,
II was pointed out, could be fixed by the
board or the taxpayers or the district.
The present rate Is 80 cents on the 500.
Residents OF the district are generally
aroused over the situation and campaign
NAV bc started soon looking toward the
raising IA some manner IN another year or
80 Sl00000 10 SI2J,00 for q modern
school building The present High School
Is ia the Old Newark Academy The
trustees OF the academy give this building
practically rent free and have made many
improvements for the board at their own
,.Npensc but il remains a fact that the
buIlding !, entirely inadequate for the
purpose and the present building could
bot Dc improved to make it modern.