Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-03
SCHOOL EXPENSES IN SUSSEX.

Editor Every Evening. In last week s
issue Of the Sussex Journal, published at
Georgetown. there appeared an editorial
touching on the pending annual school
election at which will be chosen three
members of the County Board OF Educa-
ton. The writer made m attack on the
present members of the County Board
of Education that can truthfully be char
acterized as almost libelous
Ono of the statements made was that
Through the dastardly provisions OF tho
School Code, the Taxpayers OF The special
districts, I'm which are located George
town. I.ewes. Milford Laurel and Seatord,
arc not permitted to vote Tor the three
County Commissioners, though these
same three commissioners absolutely
control the affairs OF the same special
districts" Even a superficial reading of
the School Code would show this rs not
true. In fact. the taxablcs in the special
school districts vote for members of a
Board of Education, who have charge
of the affairs Of that district just as the
County Board has charge of the schools
outside of the special districts. In other
words. the County Board Of Education
has nothing whatever to do, either direct
" or indirectly, with the control OF the
schools in the special districts.
4 further charge was made that the
present county board has been disre-
gardful Of the people interests that they
have been "shamefully cxtravagant III the
expenditure or rather waSte-of the
peoples money An examination ct the
County Board of Education will show tho
money has been carefully and economical
" expended We have il on good author
ltv that up to date there has not been a
single person ask for permission TO sec
tho books of the county board. These
books contain n careful statement at all
expenditures made up 10 the present tune,
and an examination of these books viii
show that the charge of waste and OK
travagancc is not only unjust, but en-
tlrelv unwarrantcd
Another charge was made that the over
head expenses were more than the actual
cost of teachers salaries. This also Is a
gross misstatement Of facts. The books
of the County Board of Education and
the accounts Of the treasurer OF Sussex
county will show that out Of every dollar
spent during this school year 6S cents
will 90 for teachers salaries, l9 cents Tor
fuel, books and supplies, repairs TO school
buildings, lanltors salaries, equipment
for the schools. insurance and operation
Oh NElDfl D'UHlHtSS. ttiiAS lNi AAtt hfttiNAA
and transportation of rural pupils IN
higher schools, and the interest on the
bonds taken over from the various districts
Of Sussex county NJ the time the law went
into operation. and G cents for salaries and
expenses of the County Board Of Educa-
ti0n. salaries and expenses Of the superin-
tendent supervisor and attendance
officer, office help and Office expenses
including printing and supplies for the
office. These last items are the so-caied
overhead expenses mentioned IN the
article. BY paving salaries Of the above
officials, il IS q noteworthy fact that the
State pays onc-half Of these overhead
expenses.
The reader viii note that while 6S cents
out of the dollar goes for teachers salaries,
hut cents is for overhead charges. This
has been higher than il ordinarily would
he. owing to the fact that furniture and
All office equipment had to he purchased
for tho first year.
We have under tho control Of the Coun-
~ Board Of Education nj least $50 teach
ers. and the aggregate amount Of their
salaries will total nearly $4,000 more
than the taxes collected for school pur-
poses id Sussex county outside Of tho
special districts. The taxes collected tins
| wear amount to SI35.S00. OF course the
remainder Of the necessary funds comes
from the State appropriation.
T.. J. Hardcsty
Secretary County Board Of Education.
Georgetown, June 3, 1920.