Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-20

| hers OF the local Board Ol EuucatlOn~-
Edward l.. Richards, president; +. Robert
| s. Gallaher and Harrison Gray. The
board recently held conference with
| DIR. Joseph H. Odell, director Of the
| Delaware Auxiliary Association, which
7 has charge Of the distribution of the 81,
| 100000 Pierre S. du Pont fund to assist
in the building Of new school buildings IN
the State. The auxiliary offered to give
s225, 900 toward the Newark school build.
ing, provided the special district raised
$4,000 by bond issue.
President Richards opened the meeting,
which WAS attended by sixty persons, and
said MIR. Gallaher would explain the
propositions the board had before it. Mr..
GaIlahcr explained that the board would
have 10 reach a decision soon in order TO
get the S225, 900 offered, but before reach-
ing that decision the members desired to
get the sentiment of the taxpayers. He
told of the conference with DIR. Odell and
explained the two propositions the board
has under consideration.
The two propositions follow:
No. 1.-The Auxiliary Association
agrees To furnish 1925 900 towards the
proposed new school, providing the special
district bonds TO its limit, which would be
$4,000 making the total cost of the
nNllNfnH .uOD,btt. inutF iiiiS btiitl iSsh'
the tax rate, which is now 50 cents on the
800. would have TO be increased TO 81 so
to take care of the bond issue and maintain
the school. Plans for the school have al
ready been drawn by the architect for the
State Board of Education.
No. 2.-Dissolve the special district
and go into the county system. The
auxiliary would give the S225.000 II this
is done, but instead of the district being
bonded, the county would he bonded
for the remainder, and building just as
good as il not better than the one that the
special district proposes TO build would be
provided.
Under this bond the tax rate is not sup
posed to be more than ST. This plan would
lose the Newark district IFS present
identity and also take away from the local
board most of the authority that 1t now
has.
George l.. Medill, president of the
County School Board, was asked
to explain the situation should Newark
dissolve as a special district and enter the
county system. He was also questioned
as to the possible tax rate under the
county system. Mr.. Medill stated that all
the special districts were having trouble
project that would meet the requirements
Of the State Board under the new law,
because the districts are not large enough
to carry such n financial burden. As TO the
tax rate. Mr. Medlli stated that 81 was
high estimate under the county system.
He did not think it would ever be higher,
as the people of the county, IN his opinion,
would not stand for a higher rate. Per-
sonally he said. he would never favor a
higher rate while a member of the board.
DR.. Walter II. Steel, II. Warner Nc
Neal Thomas X. Claringbold, George ".
Griffin and others advocated going into
the county system as the indications were
il would make the tax rate much lower.
while Newark would get just as good a
school, II this is done several small dis
tricts around Newark will be consolidated
and the children transported by the
county board in busseS.
Frank Collins called attention TO the
fact that the successors of the present
county school commissioners. who were
appointed by Governor Townsend under
the New Code, will be elected and he
feared politics would be sure to get into
county school matters then,
Mayor L. b. Frazer, George l.. Town
send and n number of others who dis
cussed the matter said they desired more
information on the situation before gong
on record MIR. Frazer inquired if it was
not possible for Newark to build a less
expensive school building and remain a
special district If it was thought the
present plans were too expensive. 1t was
explained that requirements of the State
Board would have To be met, and ap-
parently the only alternative was TO raise
= pAn HO,l 5ocy,O y 10 ~pDE mn
gift Is secured ard this means a s1.50
bond issue for the special district.
The fact was brought out that only
few months ago there was an urgent de
mand for Newark TO accept the code as
special district. and the question was
asked what has caused the change OF
sentiment TO 90 into the county system.
Miss Eta Wilson was asked to explain
tins Miss Wilson said the special district
Of the code was taken from the Ohio and
New ork law. II was found, however,
that il Will be too expensive to carry out
under the code, for the reason that the
special districts are not near as large or as
wealthy as those IN the States wher- they
have proved such q success.
1t was the opinion of a number that
Newark will not lose anything by going
into the county system and would have
much smaller tax rate. while Others were
of the belief that IN short time the tax
rate would be just as heavy under the
county system as the special district plan.
After more discussion the vote was taken
on DR.. Steel's motion with the result as
stated. 1t is possible another public meet
will be held in day or so, with view OF
getting larger attendance.