Arizona republican., 1919-05-23
The High School Bond Election

The High School Bond Election
 The defeat of the high school bond issue had at least three contributory causes of them was there q sentiment of hostility to the schools or any change in that disposition of the people, which has been so frequently manifested, not to question the wisdom of any proposed appropriation for the schools of Phoenix Hitherto in school bond election cam paigns the voting of bonds regarded as so much of foregone conclusion that people rule did not go polls. They gave their consent by silence
 Bond elections generally had brought out large number of though they always brought out those who for any reason might be opposed to the bonds and generally this number had been small.
 At the late school district election for bonds in the sum of s1OoOOO only fifty-one votes cast, only five we believe, against the bonds The county road bond campaign proved awakening of the voters in the matter of bond issues The election followed vigorous campaign during which voters were stirred and left ready to take part in an other bond election four days later
 That awakening would have augured well for the high school bonds thing. While the voters were thus aroused story started that the high school trustees had entered into real estate deal from which great profit was to accrue the owners of the property. That alone had dampening effect and the belief that property had already been se-
 
 duced geographical opposition. Then again, since the voters were aroused many thought that the proposed amount of the bond issue, s7OOOoo unnecessarily large.
 All this opposition might have been met and overcome by publicity, the lack of which gave an im- presson in some quarters that something was being done under cover. As a matter of fact the school trustees had followed the course in such cases TThev had ared at of at aSt five civic bodies; had explained the needs of the school had told what they wanted to do and why they wanted to do it.
 They had stated that they were considering a certain of ground price It was the only of sufficient acreage available within school district No l. They not, however, bound it; they might select smaller tract but force alteration of their plans for expansion and for building for the future. The trustees these meetings with impression that their plans had received endorsement.
 But the great of the people probably never heard of these plans until they heard of proposed real estate deal and it then to get befoe the voters the explanations that had been made to the civic bodies.
 The question, told, will be brought up again with better understanding. President Orrne of the board will, it is stated, call another meeting q ment again. It will probably be insisted that bonds of not less amount than $7OOOO0 will be actually needed. It will be shown that that additional indeb- edness will be only 90 on each 5000 of valua- ton in the high school district that the high school Indebtedness is very low; that the objection to the purchase of a site in school district No may be overcome by extension of the boundaries of the district so to take in site that may bs chosen adjacent to the district
 It will be shown that there are at present accom- modations in the high school group for only 500 pupils; that there about HOO pupils whereby has been created impossible situation which can be overcome only by the plan proposed by the board else by small appropriation for the erection of temporary buildings the present high school grounds. The board does not believe the people of this high school district the kind of advertise ment that would be.
 Nor does the board favor the construction of costly permanent buildings the present site. That would only add to the growth of what has be- come something of an embarrassment The present high school group beautiful, it is, has been out grown and any addition to it that may be possible will not meet what all will be the early needs of the district Within five years the attend ance of the school may easily reach 2ooO.
 What is to be done ultimately with the present group is question frequently asked There has been no definite answer. That, we think should be included in the publicity attending the next bond campaign It has been suggested by some men, bers of the board that might be used by the con- mercial department which has been ridcuousl handicapped by lack of and some of the build ings might always be used for unit of the high school system.
 It is the belief of members of the board that 2 high school group should be constructed on tho basis of city of not less than 100000 that there should be for athletic fields and for the appur tenances of modern high school system, and tha