The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-06-13
STAMFORD
Especial to The Timeso


 Stratford, June 13-Congested con- ditions in the schools of Stratford are much worse than in the city of Bridgeport. according to Superintend-
 ent of Schools c. c. Thompson. who appeared with the members of the school committee or the town before the Board of Finance last night, ask ing for an appropriation to relieve the half-tirne sessions. The sum of s250,- 900 was asked by the school commit tee in this amount the s100,0O0 for which the town IS to bond. Additions to schools already built and a High school is desired. MT. Thompson said l that in September there would be 579 young people ready for junior high school.
 Chairman of the Board of Finance Elliott W. Peck said there must have been a misunderstanding as no agree
 ment had been made rhat part of the sewer money received for assessments could be used for the schools. He said that the school committee would
 have to wait two or three years until the sewers were completed and then the town could have a High school and some other money for the needed
 expenses of the school system. pr.
 DeReyter Rowland chairman of the
 school committee did not take very
 kindly to the remarks of MT. Peck,
 saying that he felt the education of
 the future citizens of the town was
 of just much importance as the
 sewers. In answer to a question the doctor said that in some sections of the town the sewers were very badly needed but he did not believe after that part of the town had been taken care of where the need was so great that the town should go on and spend the money for sewers at the expense of the young people. Dr. Rowland said: Do you believe that if some of the recent purchasers of property in this town had known of the school conditions they would have moved here, or do you believe that the hold ing back the schools Is doing anything to help build up the community"
 It was told by Supt. Thompson at this meeting that 4S per cent. of the school children in Stratford were now on half time and that in September over 50 per cent. of the children would not be getting the proper edu- cation.
 MT Taylor of the school commit tee. was told by the finance board that a town meeting to. vote on the borrowing of the s100.000 authoriz- cd by the legislature could be called this summer. The voters of the town, according to the bill authoriz- ing this borrowing must vote on 1t before the loan can be made.
 Elliott w. Peck. in speaking of the finances Of the town, said that at the present method of assessment by the assessors, it would be necessary for the next five years for a tax rate of l. T-s1 the running expenses of the town.
 While no action on relief of the school situation was taken last night a number of the members of the board of finance feel that the chfl- dren of the town should not be sac- rifced for the sewers. It is felt that with the section of the town that was so badly in need of a sewerage sys- tenn now being satisfied. the balance of the town could wait a while longer so that proper school facilities could be had
 It was the plan Of the school con- mittee to build if the money had been for them a new high school which would contain an audi torium able to seat 800 This audito- rum could be used for town meetings. the present first floor of the town hall having been proved time and again tCtally inadequate. The present high school rooms in the Center school would be turned over to the grades. giving much help to the housing of the pupils of the lower grades. A site fo ra high school will probably be looked after now and some way found ! to purchase it so that when the money ] for the building is secured work can | be started at once.
 Edwin B. Floyd was elected presi- l dent of the Epworth League of the |, stratford Methodist church at the | meeting of the society held in the | Sunday school room one evening this week. In accepting this office MT. Floyd states that he will do all in his | power to build up the league to be as | great power in the church and com- | munity as possible.
 Elmer Cavelti of South avenue is to