The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1920-01-08
WILL VOTE ON
SCHOOL BONDS
Board of Education Decides to Put
It Up to the People at n
Special Election
OLD STRUCTURE INADEQUATE
Friday, January %, is Day Set for
Deciding Important Issue

After lowering in the distance for
years like q mirage, or dream that
was too good to come true, at last it
promises to become reality. The
only thing that can now prevent is
an adverse vote in the special election
called for the 23rd Of this month to
vote the bonds. And that such q ca
lamity should befall 10 unthinkable.
For years the building situation In
Cakes has been the nightmare Of the
board Of education. With their hands
tied by the legal restrictions that
made it impossible for the district to
raise the money to erect . structure
that would be . At place to send their
children, or in keeping with the good
name and character Of the city, the
rapidly increasing number Of children
has put herculean task on the shout
ders Of the board that is little appre-
ciated by those who have not been in
touch with their deliberations.
The constitutional bonding limit of
S per cent, applied to the assessed
valuation Of about $450,000 gave the
district the power to raise only about
$4,000 in bonds in addition to the
$4,000 outstanding. The pitiful in
adequacy Of this sum made it neces-
sary to resort to the granaries that
constitute part of the building equip
ment Of the city schools at present
as a temporary makeshift, that the
children Of Oakes might not be de-
MED entirely the benefits Of an edu-
cation.
None Of our buildings have fulfilled
any Of the requirements Of the state
laws for several years. The state de-
partment Of education, however, rec
ognizing the utter powerlessnsss Of
the board to work out better solu-
tion under the circumstances, has
been lenient and has overlooked our
shortcomings. We have been contin-
ued upon the list as a high school Of
the first class, and have also been
honored by being accredited by the
North Central Association Of Colleges
and Secondary Schools, thus ranking
our school as being as good as the
best in the North Central states in
the matter Of the quality Of work
done.
Late developments have entirely
changed the situation. The new tax
laws raised the valuation Of our dis
trict to $1,112, ,743.OO and the special
session Of the legislature last month
empowered the district to bond to the
limit Of s per cent Of that amount.
The board was not dilatory in maxi
ing the most Of the opportunity thus
created Of taking definite steps to-
ward q new building. Their first step
was to invite A. L: Schafer, the state
high school inspector, to come to
Cakes and go over the situation with
them and give them his advice. As
was mentioned in the Times last
week, Mr.. Schafer came, and not only
conferred with the board, but also
delivered an address at the CONNER
cial club luncheon that was both in
spring and straight from the shoul-
der.
Acting upon the suggestions made
by Mr.. Schafer, the board at their
meeting Tuesday evening called a
special election for Friday, Jan. %,
for the purpose Of voting $48, 100000
bonds toward putting up new build
ing. The matter is now put squarely
up to the citizens Of Oa1kes, and the
responsibility is theirs.
We quote below a portion Of the
statement Of State High School In
spector Schafer's recommendation to
the voters Of Oakes. It. gives the
reasons why it is imperative that this
bond issue should carry % clearly %
It 10 possible to state them. If any,
one can read this statement and then
vote against the bonds, that person
is not to be envied in the day Of reck-
oning: f: -
"This will notify you that recon-
mendation will be made that your
school be stricken from the list Of
classified high schools and that the
aid incident thereto will be cancelled,
also that your school will be stricken
from the: list Of schools accredited
by the North Central Association Of
Colleges and Secondary Schools. The
reason for such Recommendation 10 as
follows:
"First. Fire hazard. In case Of
fire, loss Of life could be prevented
only by . miracle, dus 70 tbs arrange.
ment Of your boilers, corridors, exits,
combustible fire escapes; lack Of fire
prevention apparatus, and the over
crowded condition Of your buildings.
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