Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-05-21
TEACHERS SALARY BILL
SAID 70 BE VALuELESS

Serious doubts whether state aid
can be given TO towns under the bills
for a s. average school attendance
grant developed yesterday when the
engrossing of tbs measure showed
that it failed TO carry the Required ap
preparation OF about S1.150,0o0. With
out such a provision, the bill is be
lieved 10 be yalueless. as it gives the
state treasurer no account to draw up
on. The legislature having adjourn
ed, no amendment can be made.
Teachers salaries were at stake
while the passage OF the measure was
pending according to a statement
made TO the senate by Sen, Edward
w. Ha2en, chairman OF the commit
tee on education, which originated
the bill. Il was needed, he said, to
provide me ans for increasing teachers
pay throughout the state. Yet, Sen
ator Hazen insisted that the senate
act on the bill two days before ad-
journment, notwithstanding the fact
that it did not appear in the printed
files and, therefore. could not be ex-
amined By the members. Its absence
in the files was due to the fact that
the appropriations committee had re-
ported unfavorably on it and bills ad-
yersely reported usually are not print
ed.
If the amount involved by the bill
were not large, it might have been
possible for the board of control to
althorize the state treasurer, to draw
on its contingent fund of 100000 for
the ensuing two years, but the pay
ments for single year on the aver
| age attendance plan would wipe out
| the entire contingent fund, leaving
nothing for deficiencies in other de-
partments, and unexpected expenses
ana nothing would remain for the
| second year.
1t would appear that, if the teach
ers' salaries are to be raised, The
money will hsve to be appropriated
| by the individual towns. The bill haz
not yet been submitted to the gov
| ernor.
Following is a copy Of the faulty
! new naeaSure.:-.
| Any town complying with the fol.
| lowing conditions may secure j. statt
I grant for the schools therein for the
school years ending July IA, 1920, ana
July il. 1921, of SO per pupil in aver
age attendance during the school yea
ended July II, 1918. No town shall re
cefve such grant unless it shall havs
| raised by local taxes for the supper
OF schools during the last school yea
a sum not less than that raised in tn
school year ending July u. 1918. Th'
secretary of the board of school visi
tors, town school committee or boart
of education Of each town entitled t,
a grant under the provisions of thi
act shall annually, on or before tn
14th day Of July, certify under oatl
to the state board of education upoi
blanks to be furnished by said boar.
the average attendance in each schoe
i'll such town, and shall certify ais
that the schools of the town have bee,
kept for the period required by lay
during the year ended on the 14th da
Of July by teachers legally examine
and found qualified and not disap
proved by the state board OF educa
ton, that the amount raised by Ia
as required in this act has been ex
pended for the support Of publ
! schools and that the amount of thi
grant has been expended for corapen
T., satior Of teachers and for no othe
purpose. The comptroller, on appli
cation OF said board, shall draw hi
order on the treasurer in favor Of eac
j such town for the amount authorize
. to be paid by the provisions hereof