The Natchitoches enterprise., 1921-08-04

III VI tilio ycdl. AllcI ttSCct't.
ing the gratis honor, | called on the
Superintendent for statement Of the
parish school affairs so as to acquaint
myself with the true conditions, as |
had no occasion before to know this,
not being the boards president, secre-
tary ard treasurer or a recognized
auditor or accountant. Mr.. HUDSON
prepared this statement and presented
1t to the board and somc other business
men of the parish who " re present at
the 1920-2l Sc ssion we aid owe about
The Board became alatmed at this
some way Of relief, fl ally deciding,
in the parish for one month. BY doing
this We would save about twenty-five
thousand dollars, which would cut our
Indebtedness down to sixty or sixty
five thousand dollars when the session
closed.
l furthermore want to say that after
the death of Mr.. Hudson, the State
sent man to audit the books (the first
time since 1916 ana that his findings
were as great surprise and shock to
US as to any man or set of men In the
parish. would not believe these con-
ditons could be true until after
received copy Of the report from the
State Auditor.
| also wish to state that the Fresi-
dent, Mr.. Levy, and MIR. Hudson, the
superintendent, had all the authority
that the Board could invest them with
to borrow and pay out any money that
they saw fit for the interest of the
schools in the parish, thinking any aw
violation in this respect would be look
ed after by our State Auditor, this
duty being to see after all public funds
p9ets \ 9 sn:sss.s "a tha ko.rd:
been made Tor Emergencies, but tke
only thing that could be found was
that we spent more money on schools
than we had.
Now as for myself, and think | can
speak for the Board, we had no idea
that such conditions existed. After
stating this. We have no further apollo
gies to offer.
If there is set of men that want
this job, the present Board will gladly
accept the relief to help the schools.
Now, for having schools if the tax
is lost, do not know cf any set of
men that is willing to put up the
money to run our schools from Septem-
ber to February 1st when we have
pledged more already than our rcve-
nues will be for session 1922. If
we can get corps of first class
teachers that will work on a credit io.
the next session the schools might 1
open. But think this very doubtful. '
and So do you.
Defeat the tax, and the only wa
see will be to form districts and vC:e
a special tax to operate your scht /.
until the Board can get on a cash basis,
and you can't do this in time to ge. ~
he assessors rolls.
Some say we will have schools any
way, claiming the State Department.
It Education will see that we do have
hem.
The State Department says run your
chOols within your revenues and when
our revenues play out close your
chools.
With our present budget, after cut
ing it down and down to where we
re ashamed to compare with other
our revenues are not as much
8 the expenditures. Say we started
he schools in the fall, not owing che
ime, we could not come out even with
ur present budget and revenues to
perate on.
We have lost some of our best teach
rs on account of the cut in salaries.
nd some of our neighboring parishes
re voting the extra taxes and hiring
hem.
We still have men among US who
elieve that teachers should get $35. 90
r 600 per month to build the very
Oundation or mould the characters Of
ur children. But these same men, go
1g out to buy horse or COW, will
urely want to see their pedigree. And
! order to save few dollars in taxes
re willing for your children or their
wn to walk in the cold and wet 4 or 5
lilies and stay in this condition all day
nd expect that child to make all
lades put on it. If not, the teacher
J no good.
No doubt there will be schools, if the
Ak is defeated, in some places. Cor
orations or private individuals will be
,illing to advance money to have the
ind of schools that they have been
'anting and one where they can have
run just to suit themselves. The
,untry boy or girl that is not able 70
ay board and dress as some do will be
ne ones left out.
Parents, be careful when this ve;y
nportant question is put right up to
ou. Shall the schools close for the
itiful sum of three mills and because
'me men say vote it down? Can you
. it? Place the little helpless child,
ho is not responsible for being here,
head of the dollar, and if you will GO
lis the schools will not close.
The present School Board STANDS
eady at all times to take advice from
ne loyal and patriotic school man but
ill not tolerate the man that is an
nemy to public schools and goes about
rying to fool the people at serious
me like this.
Yours respectfully, :.
~ T. 3. SELLERS.