The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-10-17
School eoard:P Purchases GROUND for
New High School.


on Water street, north of the ar
school, was announced this morning
by the board of education. The plot
has alfrontage of 231 feet on Water
street and is $50 feet deep. The price
paid was $4,000.
1t is the plan of the school board to
put up building to cost not less than
100000 and have it ready for occu-
pancy in September 1920. The board
will ask the taxpayers to authorize
the issuance of bonds to bear the ex-
pense of constructing the building.
The present congested condition of
the schools of the city, and the in
crease that is looking for in the i'm
mediate future, makes it imperative,
board members say, to have more
buildings. They have gone into the
matter thoroughly and have reached
the conclusion that the construction of
a new high school building is the logi-
cal step.
Board Gives Reasons
The board issued the following
statement giving facts and figures on
the present school situation:
"The school census taken in May
1919 gives the following school pop
ulation in the city.
First ward, 873; Second ward, 648;
Third ward, 635; Fourth and Fifth
wards, 1,040.
In the first ward last year there
was an increase Of 108; in the second
ward an increase of So, in the third
ward 81; and in the fourth ward loss
of one. This census shows the num-
ber of children between the ages of
five and twenty years. Out of this
number, some have graduated, and
others are working. This leaves en-
rolled in the schools at the pres--lt
time:
High school, 384; Central grades,
484; Washington, 361; Lincoln, 1886;
Bryant, 387; Emerson, 427. Seventy
seven teachers are on the payroll.
Point. /. Ward schools would not
relieve any congestion.
Point 2. The new high school will
take care of the congestion in the fol-
lowing way: There are approximate
ly $50 seventh and eighth graders who
could be moved to the present high
school which could then be used as an
intermediate high school.
Point 8. The Dimmick property is
the only centrally located property
without buildings that would make a
splendid site for a new school.
Point A. A high school so centrally
built would relieve all five ward
schools, which no ward building would
do.
Point 5. The high school assembly
seats 296. There are 384 enrolled,
showing nearly hundred more than
can be taken care of.
Point 6. There is no more available
space in any of the school buildings
for extra class rooms.
Point z. Better results are obtained
when the high school is separated
from the grade schools.
Point 8. Where the Lincoln 9Th
grade is at present located depart
| mental sixth grade could be estab-
| lished, which is recognized step in
advance along educational lines. 1t is
absolutely necessary to take care of
| future growth.
! Point 8. Owosso cannot afford to
| put up any more cheap structures and
portables for their schools will deter
iorate. :.
Point 10. The Dimmick property
! joining the Armory is over block in
size, being $50 feet long and 231 feet
wide. The school could be placed at
the rear toward the river while a
beautiful park site could be, made in
front of the building.
The way the board has the situation
summed up is that it must either in
vest the peoples money in high
school building that will take care
of the city's needs for years to come
Purchase more portable buildings, OF
put up ward buildings which would
not be filled for years to come. 1t is
realized, however, that the time is
coming when at least one and possibly
two more ward buildings will be nee.
essary. The boards experience with
| portable buildings is that they are not
satisfactory and are waste OF
I money.
A new school law which becomes
effective in 1920 makes it necessary
for all boys and girls between the
years Of 16 and 1S to spend at least
part of their time in school, and thi.
will serve to further increase th'
school population.
Every building is crowded this yeal
far beyond the number of pupils i
was designated to accommodate ant
unless we do something within th'
next year to relieve conditions,
don't know what we will do whel
school opens in the fall of 1920" sai'
one member of the board this morn
ing.
The board believes that the. Dim
mick property is the ideal site for
high chool, because of its central 10
cation. 1t is only few blocks fror
the geographical center of the city
1t is planned to set the building ia
enough back from the street to allo'
F. ~lootx, cf .x~o,,pJ fnr en-, oil nart \