Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-17
NEW SCHOOL PROJECT
PUZZLE TO CITIZENS
Newark Considering Whether to
Remain Special District or
Go Under County Board.

Special Correspondence OF Every Evening
Newark, Feb. i7.-To get the sentiment
of the taxpayers Of Newark special dis
trict on the project of building modern
school, members of the local Board OF
Education probably will ask school tax
PAYERS to confer with them in q short
time They held conference IN Will
mngton, Yesterday afternoon. with DIR.
Joseph III. Odell of the Delaware State
Auxiliary Association, which has charge OF
the distribution OF the L. ). du Pont fund
Members Of the County Board of Eduoa-
tinn and some members Of the State board
also attended that conference.
Two propositions have been put up TO
the local board on which the memnerH
are anxious TO hear expressions from the
taxpayers. The auxiliary agrees to allow
Newark S225, 900 from the du Pont fund
towards the proposed school. This offer,
however, is based on the provision that
the special district bond TO its limit to
raise additional funds TO provide the class
Of building that would be approved by
the State Board, and for which plans have
already been prepared by its architect.
Ii is estimated that such building, in
cluding the ground and fully equipped,
will cost S365, 900 This would leave $lso,-
600 for the district TO raise by a bond
issue-which is its limit under the law.
This amount would make necessary tax
rate of 81 so. This tax rate Is the stumbling
block.
The second proposition is for Newark
TO 20 into the county system, the reby doing
away with the special district feature.
Ii this should be done, the auxiliary would
still he willing TO give the S225, ,00o~ to-
wards the building, but the bond issue
would fall on the entire county and not
on the special Newark district Some men,
bers of the county board have expressed
the belief that If Newark should come into
the county system with the S225, 900 gift
and a bond issue on the county, Just As
good. if not a better, building could be
provided and the tax rate would not ex-
ceed 81 on the 500.
Should the offer OF the county board be
accepted, IL Is understood that five small
school districts around Newark, would be
consolidated with Newark. This would
increase by considerably more than 100
the number of pupils for the school and
many of these would have to be transport
ed by the county board busses.
There are several features of the county
board proposition which do not appeal 10
a number of taxpayers of the present
special district and who would probably
oppose any such move. 1t Is pointed out
that Newark would lose its identity as a
special district and slso considerable
that the local board now has
as special district would then go to the
county board. The county board would
have practically entire charge of the hiring
and dismissing of teachers, whereas under
the special district scheme the local board
has the appointment. of the teaching
staff, subject to approval by the State
board.
II it could be guaranteed that if New
ark should go into the county system the
school building would be provided and the
tax rate would not reach more than 81,
it is argued by some taxpayers that it
would be great incentive to give up any
now enjoyed by the special
district, but this, they say cannot be
1t is reported that at least
two members of the county board say
they would not favor the rate being more
than 81. To this argument the reply is
that these members are only appointed for
q term of years and their successors might
feel differently about it. 1t is also pointed
out that if to conduct the schools prop
erly it would be found 81 was not sufficient,
no matter how they might feel about
it, even the present county board members
would be compelled to raise the rate.
The entire subject will be thoroughly
discussed at the proposed conference, if
neld.