The Bowbells tribune. [volume] (Bowbells, Ward Co., N.D.) 1899-1969, 1922-04-07
BOWBELLS FOLKS
TALK SCHOOL
BIG CROWD AT TAI4KFEsT MON.
DVENING-NEW ELECTION
MAY BE CALLED

A mass meeting OF citizens from
Bowbells School District No. II
was held at the school auditorium
Monday evening for the purpose Of
talking over and getting better
understanding Of the financial and
other problems facing the scnool
district at this time. That the OBJ
ject Of the meeting was of supreme
interest was shown by the fact that
the auditorium was crowded to the
doors and the doorways wedred
full of eager spectators.
There has been a great deal of
sentiment expressed against the
bond issue, the bond proposal being
defeated by decisive majority two
weeks ago. The reasons given by
the antis was that no publicity had
been given to the proposed election,
and so they voted against a propo-
sition that should have been thor
oughly discussed beforehand, but
was kept more or less in the dark.
Another reason given was that the
present board had run things in an
extravagant manner. Answering
these charges Mr.. Johnson, NOM
ber of the board. expressed himself
as follows in the meeting:
"Those adversely criticizing the
Bowbells school expenses have ov-
erlooked the unusual increase in
the enrolment Of our schools. We
find that in October 1919, the en-
rollment was 224; in October 1920,
297, and at this time, 344-an in
crease Of so per cent in 2k years
An increase, not due to an influx
of outside, tuition-paying, pupils
but to the normal growth Of a young
country settled not much over 20
years, by young people whose child
dren are now growing into school
age.
THE natural Or4growth of such
an increase in enrolment was an
increase in the teaching force, and
it follows that that increase must
bring increased expenses for salar-
les.
with increased enrolment and
teachers came the need for more
room. In the spring Of 1921, bonds
were voted for an addition to the
school building in the amount of
$35,000.00. Your school board
at the exorbitant rates then charg-
ed and to build On a falling ma
terial market was soor economy, SO
as a matter OF economy. expediency
| and i'm order that room might be OBJ
| tanned for immediate use the Co.
teau school building was purchased.
moved. fitted up ana made ready for
occupancy at cost of $4,913.08.
hs
and are a part of the present out
standing registered warrants. We
believe that sale of building bonds,
and building addition now could be
done for 100000 less than at
the time originally proposed.
LAS stated, the need Of more
teachers automatically increased the
salary expense. Added to this in
crease we have another necessary
increase by the last legislature,
which passed a minimum salary law,
specifically stating salaries which
must be paid. Our salaries were
thus increased through these two
causes.
''The same legislature passed
law which limited school levy to
an increase Of but 80 per cent of
the average of the three prior lev
les, which cut s5,00O.00 from the
Bowbells school district levy-and
this accounts for another $5,000.00
of the outstanding warrants. Ten
per cent discount on warrants, due
to being on a credit basis, accounts
for another $5,000.00.
However, whereas our levy was
| $22,450.00 this year it may be in
creased to $28,00o.00 for the year
coming.
Except for teachers salaries Can
increase governed by statutory laws
and school attendance) and cost Of
building and improvements, the
! cost of operating the schools are
not in excess OF prior years, as
shown in the following statement:
General expense for 191S-1919
| (Hydles last year, $3,S74.77
"Cost per pupil based on 224 en-
rolIment, $3.50.
General expense for 1920-1921
$6.746.04.
Cost per pupil based on 297
enrolment, $22.7O. EN
Addition to books and labora-
| tory. equipment represents about
| $1800.00 of this expense.
General expense for 1s21-1922,
| $4S51.91.
Cost per pupil based on 344 en-
rollment, $3.50.
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