The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1919-10-17
WHERE ARE FUNDS
FOR SCHOOL Use?
CITIZENS VOTE MONEY
THAT'S SIDE-TRACKED
Not Fair to School Board to Load
individuals With Burden In
defnitely-Pare Budget

Committees from the Board of Ed
uctaion and Council met with the
County Auditor Monday evening to
canvas the financial situation which
confronts both these bodies in Medina.
There were reports of the inadequacy
of the funds made possible by present
tax levies, with\ a discussion as to
what each of them should and could
do in the matter.
The schools asked for $43,O0O for
the current year. With such an
amount, school officials insisted, they
could meet maturing obligations. In
the past the officers have found it
necessary to grab on-grab is the
proper word-to any and all available
funds just as soon as the law would
release them to the schools. Instead
OF using moneys that are set out for
September obligations to cover Sep
tember obligations, it has been neces-
sary to anticipate these funds for June
payments of obligations maturing at
that time. With $4,000 given for
the current year it was thought that
it would be possible to, within a short
time, catch up with these bills so
there would be no necessity of "an-
ticipating."
But this sum was at once pruned
to $4,000. School officials say that
with such small appropriation it
will make retrenchment necessary all
along the line, with no opportunity to
"catch up," as it were, with past an
ticipations. g..
Then, at this time, an effort is be-
ing made to hire more experienced
teachers rather than young men and
women just out Of school. That re-
quires more money for salaries, but
the results warrant this increased ex-
pense. More teachers, too, are need
ed. Medina teachers are required to
instruct 80 per cent more pupils than
experience shows is wise. But with a
cut in the budget no relief can be ac-
corded scholar or teacher. and too
great a load must be continued for
another year.
Parents naturally look for the
greatest efficiency in the schools. And
Medina parents, who recently voted
tional purposes, are led to wonder
tiona purposes, are led to wonder
why, SO soon after voting this in
crease, there is complaint of lack
of funds. Few understand that while
they voted this increase that Ohio
statutes are such that under existing
conditions Medina schools cannot be
given the additional sum so granted.
But this is the case; instead of re-
ceiving the $4,000 asked for, which
is within the sum so granted, they will
get about $4,000.
All betterment of the teachers list
must stop it is said under such an
apportionment. Any increase in the
number is impossible. 1t matters moi
that the rooms are all crowded in the
Grammar school, the teachers over
loaded, and needed accessories taboo
under present financial plans no ex-
pansion can be attempted but the
strictest economy must be practiced.
Perhaps it is not generally known
but it is fact that to keep the
schools moving in the past members
Of the board have often been called
upon to do things not contemplated
by the school laws of the State, things
that were not palatable to the indi-
vidual, but the exigencies of the 6c-
casion seemed to make it wise for
these board members to cake chance
and they did Sc
But as one taxpayer has said, it is
not fair to these men who have done
more than they should do to expect
them to continue such tactics in
definitely. 70 do so is to ask them
to continue to jeopardiZe their own
financial welfare. If there should ever
be slip in school finances these men
might be caught and forced to should
er the liquidate obligations for the
school from their own personal fl
nances. This would not only be un-
fair to them, but might lead to en-
barrassing criticism-criticism that
would be unfair from any point Of
view. .....
Medina citizens cannot afford tt
place her public servants in bat
light. Plans should at once be set or
foot looking to system of sensible
finances, and one that will permit he1
public and salaryless officials to con
duct school affairs without recourse tt
methods that are bad financially ant
liable to strip them at any time.
The claim is made that the Medina
schools have always been operated
carefully. 1t is said that the natura
growth of the school roll, coupled with
constant cutting down of school ap
preparations, has let the school finance!
drift into present lack of funds. Their
has been no considerable waste at an!
point in the school development. But ;
lack of funds, coupled with health!
growth of the school roll, has led II
an inevitable debacle in school affairs
The claim is made, along with othe
charges, that the present housing ia
cilities are insufficient for healthfu
educational advantages. Rooms tina
can conveniently accommodate 35 pu
pills must give seating capacity fo
so or even 81 to SO. This makes i
hard work for the teacher, hard worl
for the pupils, and it makes it i'm
possible for students under these con
/, ditions to get the maximum of goo
from their study and recitation per
iods.
What the outcome is to be time onl
can tell. One thing is certain, tn