Milford chronicle., 1919-07-11
P. S. DU POINT GIVES
SCHOOLS $2,OOO,OOO
ONE-HALF OF COST OF RECONSTRUCTING
PRESENT BUILDINGS OR OF ERECT
ING NEW SCHOOL HOUSES
TO COME OUT OF TRUST FUND
OTHER HALF TO BE BORNE BY TAX
PAYERS OF DISTRICTS. 100000
TO AID COLORED SCHOOLS.


Pierre S. dupont has given S2,000,000
toward the work of rebuilding the pub
lie school properties of Delaware, sup
plementing his many benefactions for
I the advancement Of public education
and the general welfare of Delaware.
This magnificent gift to the people
of the State stands out as the most
far-reaching act of philanthropy in
the history of Delaware Mr.. DUPONT
already has given an amount estimated
/ as close to 1880 900 to Delaware Col
lege, has endowed the Service Citizens
with a fund Of 81. 900, the income
of which is to enable it to carry out its
welfare program, has bought a site
costing 100000 for the new Public
Library in Wilmington, has bought the
Wilmington and Kennett turnpike to
convert it into a concrete public high
way. has widened Eleventh street and
Delaware Avenue and has made many
other benefactions.
Announcement of Mr.. duPont's lat
est gift was made at the morning as
sembly hour of the Delaware College
Summer School at Newark Thursday
of last week, with a large proportion
of the public school teachers of Della
ware present. DR.. Joseph H. Odell,
for the Service Citizens of Delaware,
made the announcement of the event
of immense Importance in the history
of the State.
1t is the most far-reaching plan
ever conceived to aid the schools OF a
State to become efficient, thoroughly
modern and seryiceable to all the peo-
pie" said DR.. Odell.
Mr.. dupont recently was appointed
by Governor Townsend a member of
the State Board of Education.
The deed of trust provides that out
OF the fund provided by Mr.. DUPONT
up to one half of the cost of erecting
a new school house or Of reconstruct
ing present buildings, may be paid,
but none of the fund shall be used for
repairs to or the temporary remodel
ing of old school buildings. The other
half of the cost of new school houses
must be borne by the school districts
in which they are located.
The new schools must conform in
location, size and plans to the rules
OF the State Board of Education To
share in the benfit of the fund, the
districts must accept the terms of the
new school code passed by the recent
Legislature AS all of the commune
ties fthe State except Newark and
Wilmington have accepted the new
code, the benefaction will extend to
practically the whole Of Delaware.
The committee that will administer
the trust fund will give precedence to
rural districts which offer to put up
approved consolidated schools.
Four hundred thousand dollars, or
one-fifth of the total fund, is to be set
aside for the benefit Of the colored
schools of the State. This proportion
is determined by the fact that seven
teen per cent of the school children of
Delaware are colored.
AS Mr.. duPont's gift must be match
ed by the school districts that desire
to erect new school houses. il means
that up to S4,000,000 may be expended
for that purpose, which it is hoped
will life Delaware from the thirty
third position it now holds in educa-
tional rank in the list of States, to the
very first position.
The deed of trust sets for the fol-
lowing:
A trust is to be formed by the de-
posit of securities, the income from
which is to be available during a
period of four years for assisting in
the building of school houses in the
State of Delaware.
1. If needed, the trustees NAV bor-
row in advance of receipt of income
or may sell portion of principal not
to exceed 100000
2. The total amount of income or
so used shall not be in ex-
cess of 100000.
3. P. S. dupont will appoint three
trustees who shall have charge of the
securities and pay over the income
as provided below
T. Any school building to be built
Or reconstructed must be operated un-
Ter the new school code of 1919 and
me State Board of Education nrga .,iz-
ed under the new school code. The
oeatlon, size, plans, etc, of the schools
must conform to the rules of the State
5oard OF Education and must be an
proved by the. Board.
.. The fund shall be usable TO not
more than one-half of the cost of anv
lew school building, or of the cost
u reconstruction of any old building;
'ut snail not be used for repairs to
'Id buildings or for their temporary
emodeling.
.; Inc amount available for each
building shall be decided by a COM
nittee composed of not less than.three
MEMBERS of the Service Citizens of
delaware, Of which the director shall
e one, to be appointed by the Execu-
i've Committee Of the Service Citizens.
ut shall not exceed one-half of the
otal cost of work done.
z. The rural districts which can
Consolidate their schools in accord
nee with the best modern school
ractices and will build a consolidate
d school such as can be used as a
ommunity center shall take prece-
ence in receiving aid.
8. Contributions to projects shall
e made IN the order named by the
Dove committee. To be classed as
roJect plans approved by the State
oard must be presented, together
'lth plans for furnishing balance Of
ne necessary funds.
3. Four hundred thousand dollars
I the income Of the trust fund shall
e set aside for the colored schools
the State, as their due and proper
roportion, furnishing as they do near
one-hfth Of the scholars Of the pub
c schools.
There is no distinction between the
rejects for high schools and elemen-
Try schools.
From reading of the trust deed
m