The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-11-28
THE COUNTY
unit SCHOOL
SYSTEM
BY MAY TRUMPER
State Supt. of Public instruction

Inc county unit law as IL Op-
crates in one Montana county,
Cascade, removes the great in
equalities in means for provid-
ing good school facilities in ev-
cry district by equalizing the
special school tax throughout
the third class district of the
county. The county board of
trustees of the rural school dis
trict or county unit" plan to
provide school facilities for ev-
cry child in the county, some
thing which Cascade county
has never done before.
Last year it was reported by
the county superintendent that
approximately sixty children in
Cascade county were unable to
reach school on account of dis
tance. But when the county
board of trustees and county
superintendent set to work upon
their plans for next year and
examined the budgets submit
ted by the sub-district boards,
they found not sixty, but one
hundred siNty-seven children
who had not reached school or
had been able to attend but a
very short time during the past
school year. Such a situation is
nothing short of criminal in p
great and wealthy county such
as Cascade.
But that situation will not ex-
list again in Cascade county.
Arrangements have been made
through the budgets of the sub
districts to provide school ad-
vantages for these one hundred
sixty-seven children. Some are
to be provided with tlansporta-
ton. others to have new schools
established. This latter means
is, of course, the most eNpen-
sive, but it was found absolute
ly necessary in (, few cases. In
one district the cost of trans
portation amounts to 50, 1850 TO-,
thirty-tivc children, which at
first glance seems an eNorbitant
sum. But when the facts are
ascertained it is found that
these children live in several
different communities, remote
from each other. If schools
were to be provided for them at
least two new buildings wound
need to be erected. Aside from
the cost Of buildings the MAIN
tenance Of two schools would
more than equal the $2,250 to
be spent for transportation.
Thus we see in this case where
these groups are brought to a
central school, transportation
proves to be decidedly the less
expensive course of procedure.
Careful scrutiny of the COM
plete budget for Cascade county
reveals the fact That the county
board of trustees and county
superintendent, who is ex-otficio
secretary of the board, have
spent, not a few hours, but days
studying the budgets submitted
by sub-district trustees and de-
termining the various items to
be allowed. It is interesting to
note the comparatively small
number of items in the budgets
which have been altered by the
county board. Some have been
raised and some lowered but al
ways with a very satisfactory
reason for the change. There
appears to have been almost nc
tendency toward extravaganza
on the part Of sub-district trus-
tees. In several cases adequate
salaries for securing a good
teacher were not requested and
the county board saw fit to raise
the amount allotted to te:lcher's
salary 50 that an experienced
teacher might be secured. The
excellent business methods OF
the county board and county
superintendent are certainly tt
be commended. The results OF
their labors will tell in a year OF
two in Cascade county's schools
Pleads for More Schools.
From every county in the
state pleas for schools are con.
stantly being received. Scarce
~ a day passes that we do not
, have at least one such letter, anc
during this month and Septem'
Der, in particular, when parents
are hoping soon to have thei1
children in school, it is not un'
usual to receive five or six let.
; tiers each day pleading for some
thing to be done to provide al
education for children who have
been out of school from two OF