Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-04
STATE SCHOOL BOARD
DISTRIBUTES FUNDS
Experienced Educators Had
Predicted Problem Could Not
b Solved Under New Law.


enly tentative draft the general
verdict OF school men to whom it had
been submitted for their Judgment was
that the proposed distribution OF the
funds to be provided could not be made
N proposed. This was also the ver-
dict OF conference OF the financial
specialists OF the United States Bu-
reau OF Education when this law was
Quomttted to them for examination
And II must be confessed that. when
the state Board of Education came
face to face with the distribution of
s2.2oo.00 upon four very different
bases. they almost said. "lt can't be
done"
The law provides that apportion-
ment OF school funds shall be based
upon 1. Total net enrolment; 2
Average daily attendance: ,, Number
and qualifications of teachers, a.
Grade and standard of school build
ings. school grounds. and school equip
ment.
done:
Before distributing any OF the un-
allotted portions, the State Board SET
aside for each district the amount
which was given that district In the
Legislative budget. In addition to that
they distributed the remainder of the
money upon what appeared to be, in
each case. the most reasonable basis
to accord with the principles laid down.
Two-thirds of the text book fund
was distributed upon the basis of the
number of pupils enrolled i'm each dis
trict. and one-third upon average daily
attendance of those pupils.
The high school apportionment. was
made to allow each school 500 per
pupil in attendance during the past
year.
The &45o,0oo supplementary fund for
teachers salaries. fuel and text books,
was first divided: $4,000 for high
schools. and s375.o0o for elementary
schools. The latter fund was then SUBJ
divided on several different basis, 2oS6
of the ss75.ooo fund for teachers" SAL
aries. fuel and text books, was allotted
the district on the basis of enrolment.
:. second 2oeo was allotted upon the
number of teachers in that district.
. This provision prevents any district
from drawing a large sum for a large
number of pupils. and then providing
these pupils with an insufficient num-
Der of teachers. In order to stimulate
the payment of adequent salaries TO
good teachers, another portion was
distributed upon a basis of teachers
salaries. For each teacher who last
year received $3.50 or more. $50 was
given: for teachers receiving from
u, -, a,
ers receiving from $500 to 500. $50
was given. 1855 of the S375,oo0 fund
for teachers salaries was allotted up
on last years average daily attendance
OF pupils.
The fund for transportation or re-
opening Of schools now closed, was
appropriated TO those districts now
having transportation. giving each
district the amount specified in it's
budget. and the remainder 20 the
State Board.
The reimbursement for vocational
work. under the Smith-Hughes Act,
will be governed by provisions similar
TO thoee of last year.
The maintenance and upkeep. which
includes repairs, was distributed 10.
the districts after a consultation had
shown the true needs of each district
The amount needed TO pay of DID
debts OF districts which had them, was
taken from the $4,000 contingent
fund. The remainder being left in the
hands OF the State Board.
The amount specified for high school
equipment has not Vet been distribut-
ed. and will be divided according to
the needs of the districts in meeting
the specifications of the law. and the
requirements Of the State Department.
SO. by using large number of diff
ferent bases in dividing the funds, the
State Board believes that il has un-
ouestionably arrived at the fairest dis
tribufion which could be made. Hardly
any district. if any, viii receive enough
10 run the schools properly without
some local assistance. but this is due
to the fact that the Legislative bud
get carried only ss,20o, 600. instead of
sass coo. which the school officials
of the State said should be spent for
effective schools next year. Ii is ex-
pected. however. that most Of the
special districts Will be glad TO lay the
slight additional tax upon themselves,
considering that their tax rates have
been reduced from amounts reaching
aln,os; to 81 to a 25 cent properly tax.
and added income tax.