The Arvada enterprise., 1919-05-08
School Election;
Building Needed

School election day passed off as
quietly as any election day Arvada
has ever known. Az was announced
last week, only one candidate, Mr..
Webber, was on the ticket, and the
indications were that this school cleo
tion would be free from political
scrap. We are glad to be able to re-
port that our predictions proved cor
rect.
Altho the afternoon was perfect,
the voting was very light, as could
have been expected with no contest
on. When the ballots were counted
it was found that sixty-one ballots
had been cast out of which Mr.. Web
ber got fifty-seven. There were four
ballots cast with names written in,
and apparently not in good faith,
but with the idea of being facetious
SO it is not necessary to mention the
names.
At eight o'clock the annual meet
ing was called at the High School
building, and It il a regretable fact
that only a bakers dozen were pres
ent to hear the report Of the past
years work Of the board, which is
without doubt the best ever record
ed from an economical and effective
standpoint. One prominent member
Of the district and heavy taxpayer
remarked that he thought it was re-
markable how the board had man
aged to get along with the old build
ings for q year for 10 small sum
for maintenance expense.
Another very gratifying thing is
that the bonded indebtedness has
been reduced in the past three years
from $4,000 to only 5000, and the
registered outstanding warrants are
merely nominal, and the funds are
forthcoming to wipe them out.
But the most discourazing thing in
the report was the terribly crowded
condition in the school, in every
quarter Of the school from the first
grsde rooms to tAs high school. The
conditions are deplorable, and even
dangerous. Only on one Of the win
iy days last week. school was dis
missed in the first-grade rooms for
fear that the inside wall would col.
lapse IN the old brick building, as it
was swaying several inches when the
wind rocked the building.
Aside from this, the ventilation is
not what the laws of the state re-
quirs and the light is very poor, also
in violation of the health rules.
In the High-School, there is no ac-
commodntion for near all Of the de-
partments being taught in the up-to-
date high-school Of this modern date
and the pupils are huddled together
with not half the desk-room they
should have. to say nothing Of the
inconyenisnce Of moving from post
to pillar to make room for class-rec-
itations, which must be held in the
scms rooms used - study-rooms tht
same ~ the fathers and mothers of
these children had to contend with
In the old district schools of forty
years ago. When the commercial
class attempts to work, they must
carry the typswritcrs out into tho
Railways 10 ~ to annoy the rest Of
the pupils ~ little ~ possible. The
superintendent's room IL used for .
recitation room, during which time il
10 necessary for him to hunt some
other part Of the building to stay
until the room 10 cleared.
Tho basement is being used for
manual training. = very much praised
department. but it is dark and dingy
to ray nothing Of tho atmosphere be.
irE contaminated with coal dust and
the attendant unwholcsomo odor Of
the nearby lavatories.
More than year ago Labor Com.
missioner ". l.. Morriscy sent his in.
spcctor to inspect the Arvadn school
buildings, according to his prerogu-
tive and duty and his report was
anything but favorable ms TO the re-
quircmcnts Of the state relative to
schools being complied with. He
stated that new high.school build.
ing should be built before tho be.
ginnig Of school In the fnli Of 1918.
President DR.. T.. l.. Foster made =
few remarks at the meeting In which
he regretted that there was not full
representation Of the Taxpayers at
the meeting In order that these mat.
ters might be discussed. He said the
Board had almost reached the end
of their resources In coping with the
conditions A. they are and pointed
out the fact that Arvsda In far be.
hind almost any other district Of IL
size In school equipment. lie an.
nounced that the Board had decided