Milford chronicle., 1921-01-14
SCHOOL LAW TO Be
PRESENTED NEXT WEEK
ENTIRE SYSTEM OF TAXATION CHANGED.
WITH UNIFORM TAX RATE THROUGH
OUT The STATE.
GRADUATED INCOME TAX AID
The SCHEME SEEMS TO LEAN ON STATE
AID-WITH POWER In HANDS OF
LOCAL DISTRICTS.

In this weeks issue of the State
Sentinel, of Dover, of which State SEN
ator James Alice is editor, appears an
article which forecasts what may be
expected in the new school bill to be
presented to the legislature. The Sen
tinel's item follows:
The Executive Committee, cOmpos-
ed of Messrs. Cooper, Houston and
Hughes, chosen by the Citizens Com
mittee of Thirty-Five as committee
to draft a new school law for Della
ware, has been working diligently,
day and night, since it's appointment,
and now has ready the draft of new
school law for Delaware, which it is
thought will be satisfactory to most
Delawareans. The Committee has kept
well in mind the needs of our chill
dren, but in their analysis, of which
the new law is their conclusion, they
have borne in mind that the parents
also must be considered. They have
put the conduct of the school affairs
in the parents hands, but have lean
ed more to the State maintenance pro-
gram than to the local district main
tenance. They have relieved the load
on real estate and have more equitab-
ly distributed the school burden,
which has reached enormous proper
tions on account of the increased cost
of teachers salaries, etc., on all kinds
of wealth.
Under the new law the State Board
of Education is composed of seven
members, three being the chairmen
if the County Boards, who are elecs-
ed by the people, and four members,
no more than two from any county,
appointed by the Governor and con-
firmed by the Senate. There must be
an agreement between the State
Board and the County Boards on prac-
tically all matters, especially on the
compilation of the budget which dis
tributes the funds, which in turn is
submitted to the Legislature and must
of necessity have its approval. The
State Board picks an executive sec
retary who must be confirmed by the
Senate. He is merely an employee of
the State Board and removable by
them, and charged with those duties
which they may direct.
County Boards elected by the peo
pie same as old law. Teachers pick
ed by local boards but must be up to
salary fixed in budget, ap-
proved by Legislature. No consoli-
dation until question first submitted
to districts to be consolidated and ap-
proved by a majority vote of each.
No hauling of pupils except in remote
instances where a hardship has been
worked on account of change of dis
trict boundaries, and then only upon
the recommendation of the County
Board. Same tax rate-25 cents per
hundred dollars on real estate in the
Special Districts as well as county.
Uniform rate on real estate through
out the State. Conduct of schools, at
tendance officers and supervisors up
to the County Boards entirely. Coun- |
try schools maintained in country up
to the eighth grade. High schools con-
with it incumbent on the |
parent to furnish transportation for
own child if he wants it to go to high |
school. Graduate income tax to make |
up difference necessary to support |
our schools. A Five Dollar minimum |
dollar exemption for single man and !
TWO thousand dollar exemption for
married man. 1 per cent tax on in
come from one thousand to two thous-
md above exemption. 2 per cent tax
IN incomes from two thousand to five |
thousand; per cent tax on incomes
rom five thousand to twenty-five
4 per cent tax on incomes
rom twenty-five thousand to five hun
lred thousand, and 5 per cent tax on
over five hundred thousand.
Besides the State maintenance pro-
yision, it is understood that there is
o be embodied in same a State build
ng program, where the State is to
,e bonded for school house construc-
ion, and the Sinking Fund to retire
aid bonds, and interest on same is
o come from State funds. In fact,
he whole law seems to be based on
he State unit plan, with the popu-
arly elected County Boards inter
-ening as a check, and the local dis
rict control embodied to inject into
he schools that local interest and
ride so necessary to the well con-
luct of same.
Of course, there is no certainty that
his law will be passed as it is under
TODD that it is merely a working
Ian which is to be submitted to the
for it's consideration and
ubject to it's amendment, adoption or
election, but it seems to be the con-
ensus of opinion that the law is so
that it will be almost I'M
adopted, since it relieves
he load on real estate and still keeps
modern and efficient public school
ystem for the State, free from many
f the ridiculous features of the 1919
ode, which this new law, drawn for
by Delawareans, at an
stimated cost equitaDly distributed I
n Dalawara waaIth which Wa can |