The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-03-14
MEASURE FOR RADICAL
SCHOOL CHANGES
IS REPORTED FAVORABLY

Is REPORTED FAy0RABLY
State Superintendent Sam Bakers
bill ii substitute the county for the
school district as the educational unit
in each county, and to require the
appoirtionment of all money raised for
school purposes among the school dis
triets outside of incorporated towns
and villages, which are exempted, up
on the basis of school attendance and
the number of teachers employed,
was reported favorably by the Senate
Educational Committee last week.
This is move by Baker and other
nancial relief to the inadequately
supported rural schools, many of
which have less than $3.50 to spend
ANNUALLY for teacher and all Incl
dental expenses. 1t is planned to re-
quire the counties ii levy the mimi
mum tax of 40 cents ON the $500 val
uation up on all property outside of
Incorporated town and village schools
and consolidated districts, this mon
ey to be apportioned among the
schools upon an attendance and teach
er basis.
1t is claimed that some Of the veal
thy districts levy less than 20 cents
for school purposes under the present
law and that this would make them
come up with their end CT school tax
es for the benefit os the poor dis
tricts, hundreds of which are levying
65 cents on the hundred dollar valua-
tion and still are unabel to maintain
school because of the low fraction
al assessment of Missouri property.
Affects over 5000 Districts
Bakers measure was introduced by
Senators Harris of Boone and Me
knight of Gentry County and would
affect between 5000 and 10000 school
districts.
1t represents in some measures the
grouping of educators to get get re-
lief for the schools without demand
ing the lawful assessment of proper
ty.
The bill provides for q county board
ef education to be elected at the school
elections in April. The board is Civ
en- extraordinary powers over educa
tional mattres, school taxes and is
empowered to select school textbooks
for period of five years.
The masure provides that some Of
the most radical changes that have
been made in the school laws since
the Civil War. This. applies to the
employment of teachers, their salaries
the reconstruction of schol districts,
the consolidation Of districts and al
most everything pertaining to the
pubic school system.
The law will become operative in
April 1920, should it pass both houses
and be approved by the Governor The
| five members Of the board Of educa-
ton for every county will be elected
\ at the school elections in April next
year for a period Of fig years. They
are to be nominated by tetitions, filed
with the county clerk, and he shall
cause the ballots to he printed and
supplied to the various districts. The
first meeting of the board will be held
the last Saturday in April, 1920, and
regular meetings must be held there
after in April, July, October an3 Jan
uary. The county superintendent is
made secretary of the board. Mem
bers of the board will only receive
their actual expenses. The board is
to elect the county superintendent OF
schools and his tenure of office is fix
ed at three years. The following are
some of the powers, conferred on the
board:
Powers Conferred
To fix the salary of school-teachers,
based upon these requirements: AGA
demic scholarship, professional train
ing, successful experience in teach
ing, to employ janitors. to approve
plans for shcool buildings, etc; care
over school property, to change the
boundary lines of districts and consol-
idated districts, to transport pupils to
and from schol ct the expense of the
districts, to establish and maintain
high schools, to levy school tax OF
not less than 40 cents on the 500 val
uation, to select and adopt school
text books for period of not less than
five years, to determine the length OF
school term exceeding eight months
in the year, to re-arrange all the
school districts by February l, 1921;
to close any school where less than
twenty-five pupils have attended the
same for a period Of two months.
School districts must have a school
population of not less than $50. The
various school districts are empower
ed to elect three members of a school
board, and they will have power to
make school levies until April, 1921,
when this power will vest in the Coun-
-, poord IF Eduootiou