Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-02-25
GRAMMAR SCHOOL
WILL Be CLOSED
UNLESS FINANCED
School Trustees at End
of Resources to Pay
Expenses
PATRONS MUST GIVE IT
High School Will Con
tinue Under County
Control


public subscription by March 2
among the patrons of the public
schools of the city all grades below
the ninth will be suspended for the
remainder of the term. The $4,000
will permit the operation of the
school for one month, giving a sew
en-months term. If the school is to
be continued for the full term. of
nine months it will be necessary to
raise $4,000, the extra $500 on the
first of the three months under which
the district has to care for the school
being needed to make up deficit
already incurred. "
This was definitely accepted as the
true situation at meeting of the
trustees for the Palatka district at a
meeting last night with Couny Su-
perinendent Price. A representa-
tive of the comptroller's office was
here few days ago and stated pos
itively that former practices Of bor-
rowing from one fund, or issuing
warrants against fund in which
there is no money, will not be per-
mitted, and as tn edistrict fund is
entirely depleted the trustees have
no other alternative than to stop the
schools, The eachers have already
been advised of the situation.
1t was brought out at the meeting
last night that there still remain
! $4,000 to be collected for the dis
trict, but it was also shown that this
money is needed to pay past over
drafts incurred during the last two
or three years.
How Money Goes.
The entire income of the district is
about $4,000 per year. For three
years the district has supported the
grammar and primary departments
for three months of each year in or
der that they may have the same
nine months term as the high school.
The county pays the expenses of the
high school, composed of the four
upper grades, for the entire nine
months. The cost of the grammar
school for the three months has av-
eraged $1,000, or $4,50Uweach year.
In addition to this expense -ss dis
trict has run the colored school in
this district the extra three months
at cost of $500 per month, or 800
for the year. In addition to this ex-
pense each year, which has been in
excess of the income, and increasing
nratio, the district pays the entire
expense of janitors for both schools,
water, fuel and incidental bills.
Each year the teaching force has
been increased to take care of the
increased attendance, and all other
expenses have gradually mounted up,
with no increase in revenue. With
three mills levied for the school, the
income has not been increased for
many years as the county valuation
has remained about the same and
the board was without authority to
increased the millage to secure more
revenue. Also the school term was
heightened from eight to nine
months.
Palatka and Putnam county are
not the only communities where
schools are embarrassed for lack Of
finances. On February / schools in
thirty-five counties Of the state were
closed. Tampa, Miami and other
cities have been forced to get out
and raise money to keep their schools
from closing, and unless the same is
done here the grammar school will
close March z. The colored school
will also close on March unless the
colored patrons are able to raise