The Punta Gorda herald., 1922-09-08
co. SCHOOL BOARD
DISTRICTS COUNTY
Districts Now Conform as Near
Possible to Letter of
the Law

After debating the matter for
more than two months, the County
Board of Public Instruction divided
the county into three school board
districts, Monday, a description of
the boundaries of the new districts
being published in the legal adver-
tsinS section of this issue of the
Herald. The boards action was TAX
en- in obedience to an alternative
writ of mandamus issued by Circuit
Judge Whitehurst August 18th COM
manding them TO either establish the
districts according to law or show
cause for not doing so, and a notice
that such action had been taken was
filed by the board with the circuit
clerk as the boards reply to the writ.
In anticipation of the likelihood
that no action would be taken, Chair
man Cantwell had prepared state
ment as his individual reply setting
forth briefly the facts and that he
had endeavored to bring about the
action finally taken a considerable
time before the petition praying for
the alternative writ was presented,
his first action being taken in May
of the present year. In concluding
his statement he deplored the fact
that ii was necessary to appeal to
the court ito force the Board of
Public Instruction to perform that
urhi ipl &c %Zs
Mr.. Knight, who opposed the ac-
tion finally taken. demurred to the
last, but as he had agreed that if
Mr.. Mason favored establishing the
districts he would capitulate, and as a
letter stating that Mr.. Mason regard
ed the proposed action favorably had
been received, Mr.. Knight finally
signed the various documents neces-
sary. He reiterated his assertion
that the action of the trustees was
inspired because of opposition to
teachers employed by them, but Mr..
Cantwell states that there is no basis
in fact for such an assertion or be-
lief, since he took the matter up him
self, early in May, a month or more
before there was any disagreement
concerning teachers or any other
matter, and that this statement may
be substantiated with correspondence
on the subject. ri
The new districts, which divide the
number of qualified voters as near
as possible to conform to the law,
embrace the following territory:
District number two: All of the ter
ritory west of the bay and river. with
the exception Of Gasparilla island,
and the northern tier of townships
on the eastern side of the bay and
river. District number one: All of
the southern tier of townships and
the southern portion of Punta Gorda,
the lines of this district following
those of the commissioners district
District number three: Gasparilla is
land and the middle tier of townships
east of the river.
AT the meeting Monday Mr.. Knight
suggested that the books should be
taken away from the agent and suit
brought against him. In addition,
so the reporter was informed by
Superintendent Bell and Chairman
Cantwell, Mr.. Knight intimated that
his program included the closing of
the school and bouncing of the local
trustees if they don't change their
ways. Supt. Bell and Mr.. Cantwell
said that they had no information as
to when they would have the skids
put under them but wouldn't be sur
prised if it happened almost any
time. I