The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-02-13
TRUSTEES CONSIDER
SCHOOL FINANCES
SUPERINTENDENT MANN QUESTION OF CLOSING TERMS
TO MANY LOCAL OFFICIALS WHO SHOW DESIRE TO
CONTINUE SESSION IF

Meeting in the Court House Satur-
day morning approximately fifty
trustees from practically every school
district in the county considered the
grave financial condition that is
threatening to close the schools in
mid-session. The trustees showed an
inclination to do everything in their
power to prevent the curtailing Of
the sessions but all were agreed that
there was little that can be done to
remedy the situation unless remedial
Legislation shall be made. The prin-
cipal action of the body, therefore,
was the passing Of motion made
by M. J. Ashley to ask the county
delegation to support a bill to allow
the county officials to borrow money
at the request Of trustees, pledging
unpaid taxes in the particular dis
trict, to continue schools. Such a
bill, introduced by Representative
Eugene Blease Of Newberry, has al
ready passed the house and Senator
Moore says that he has no doubt it
will meet with favor in the senate.
Superintendent Mann, presiding,
explained to the assembled school
men that he had called the meeting
to see what could be done to remedy
a situation which he was powerless
alone to remedy. Most of the districts
of the county, he said, have exhaust
ed all available funds due from last
years taxes, and the school term is
only half completed. A number of
the districts have made application
for various forms Of state aid, and
have expended local fundssaeea rate
that included this state money. The
result is that all local funds have
been expended and the state aid
money has not been paid, with no
satisfactory statement from state
authorities as to whether it eventu-
ally will be paid. Mr.. Mann said that
only $4,000 had been received from
the general education fund this
scholastic year, against more than
$17,OO last year. He told of law on
the statute books which guarantees
a seven months term to schools on
condition that they meet certain re-
quirements as to teahcers' salaries
and enrolment. The superintendent
said that the legislature should eth
er make provisions for carrying out
the act or that it should be repealed.
R. B. Cheatham, county treasurer,
was called upon to explain the situa-
ton in regard to tax collections. He
explained that only about So per
cent of the county taxes has been
collected and that with the time for
payment virtually extended to Sep
tember, he believes that not more
than 10 per cent of the additional
amount due will be collected before
June. He said that many of the
school districts had already paid out
all collected and that if they could
collect the balance due they could not
continue the schools for more than
month or two. Mr.. Cheatham said
that he believed many persons were
neglecting to pay poll and dog taxes
and he recommended that the trus-
tees send in lists of such delinquents
so that collection could be made
through the sheriff.
The state superintendent of edu-
cation came in for a good deal of crit
icism for what were termed useless
assistants. Mr.. Mann told of the
numerous stenographers and assist
ants in the state office and said that