The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-05-05
SOME DEFINITE
INFORM ALTON
Additional Information Relative
to the Proposed Levy for
Schools

An Interested taxpayer has very
courtcously asked for sone definite
information relative 20 scver2i mat
ters psrtainipt. 10 the proposed aGoi-
tioDal levy fo:. school purposes VI
course. Il is a real pleasure to answer
these inquiries, a:;d rs there are ola
els who arc intaretseG shaii take tIils'f
pablic means OF answering: his iette.
ri re say at the outset that expert
acoui,;ants audit the financial books
cf the schools each yea. &ls the re
per. IS Published The same practice
will BE- adhered 70 at SIC close OF esl1s
yeav. when acc,Irate reports must De
made as Away. TO our state ana Aie-
ticnal departments OF education
To pay all the expense Of the
schools. ell salaries. wages, fuel. pow
ei. lights, repairs. addltlohs' ana
equipment viii require this ....e2r a2-
nruxirnately $4,000. The .rcas':::',f-
Mr.. T.. II. Rl1ame has estinnated thaS
the expenses and income pracac&lly
balance. No surplus. Sumter Is Ee!'
fortunate in this respect. Tor A;lof.
OF. three school systems that Wal. DC
gin the neylt scholastic year vita az
indebtedness Of from $4,000 to s1a,-
eco. Thanks to Sunter's citizenship
>Sunltcr's school district has had no
indebtedness for current expenses at
the end Of the scholastic year Tor
many years.
For next year The Board OF Educa-
ton proposes by the additional levy
to- increase the salaries Of TIE teacn-
ers and principals, to remodel, moo
ernizo. and enlarge the present WASH
ington school hu;ldins and 20 give
more room at the Lincoln scaool
building. This the Board hopes to DO
without a bend issue and these I'M
movements arc TO be taken care ci
year by year with part OF tha pro-
cee6s oc the addiionai levy vi
course, by Ear tie greatest 2ropoflcn
! Of tne proceeds will be used Ter ~
cressing the salaries of me ;csie;.e..'S
and principals tas shown elsewhere
and providing tho necessary adeltlca'
- teachers. Sut Goth t.,e whit:
schools and co!orcil schools ARK
crcw:!e;, out e-f doors. Ever!' aTaii
abe square foot OF space has Beer
vtiiized. additional roor:s ;iave beer
added il basement. ana hy cutting III
the different auditoriums. Additona
space is imperative ard the Board i
obliged to provide i. Why GO an,
building now: Because tie dscreas'
cost will be so sudden IS to en-
arle the taxpayers to receive the dl
rect benefit: or the decrease viii p'
so slow that It would be entirely IN
Just to deprive cur children OF 5choo
room for SO long q tiIae.
The minimum salary fer tae whit;
schools last year. including the sos
given for tie pro!otse:1 session ant
TO meet The increased expenses. wa:
! s9fo: the standard Grade salary. in
.i:lt;:a;; The SSi,:c ;,lncU,'j -; above
i $9S5. ':il~ minimum his;, school sal.
ary. including the 500. was sl,oo'
and TIC standard salary was 5000
The City Eoard OF Education, com.
,osed OF Doc:or J. y. Mood Nj. Neil
| iO'Donne!,. Ar.. Mitchell Levi, Mr. "
PEREZ Smith, and Mr. Rartow Walsh
stueied conditions here and elsewhere
for a long tine before reaching any
conclusion. After the most carefn
consideration. the Board adopted tho
following schedule of salaries:
For grades. $1,000 and $1,000: fo,
the High School, $500 end sl,400
! The principals last year received sad
aries as follows: including the s!ot
as above, s1,10e: $1,000. $500 ant
$1,000. The Board proposes te
increase these salaries s200 Or $500
The salary schedule for the negro
school has not been arranged.
II practicable, the Board is very
desirous Of adding some men teacher:
to the faculty Of the Boys Hi5f
School.
The Schools have needed all The
money that has been provided II or
der to be Or perry maintained. and i;
would have been impossible to give
The teachers any additional amount
this year for the prolonged session
had j, not ben for She money given
&c iiish. Schools by the State De-
! partuent OF Education. The Eoard
has made a very careful calculation
as to the amount of money that Will
/! be needed for next year, and has ask
ed that this amount Of money DE vot-
ed by the people of this city. Every
community IN the State thus far,
seems to be responding admirably 70
the demands of the present crisis.
The examples oe Florence, Green
wood and Rock Hill have already