The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1922-07-07
SCHOOL BOARD HAS
A LIVELY SESSION
Superintcndent's Salary and FOrma-
tion of New School Board Dis
triCtS Casus Belli

lively session was the last yegu-
lar meeting of the county school
board, discussion of the superinten-
dents salary developing considerable
warmth, and later there was some
discussion of the proposed redistrict-
ing of the county as to school board
districts to comply with the law on
this subject.
The budget had been made up by
the superintendent and presented to
the board for approval, and it was
the item of the said superinlendent's
salary that prcciptated the discus
sion. Mr.. Knight objected 10 paying
him $4,000 a year, contending that
the law provided for a salary of ST.
500 year. Superintendent Bell
stated that the salary of $4,000 COW
cred the cost of an attendance officer
and boolkeeper, as he performed
the duties of superintendent atten-
dance officer and bookkeepCr for this
sum, and that the law required that
the board employ an attendance Off
Ger and were he not capable of keep
ing the accounts the county would
have to employ bookkeeper for this
purpose in which case the expense
would probably amount to more than
$4,000 a year. There is 10 Occa-
sion for a rumpus being raised over
this matter here today" said Mr..
Bell. when making my campaign
| stated emphatically to the people
that | could not and would not ac-
cept the Office for less than this
amount. and when the people elected
me they settled the matter of my sal
cry, and | am tired OF being bounded
and prosecuted" Mr.. KNIGHT con-
tinued for sometime to contend that
the law should be strictly observed,
or that he was in favor of complying
with it, but finally said that he would
consent to allow the salary to stand
at $4,000, after MIR. Cantwell had
expressed himself as favo"ing this
course, but expressed misgiyings as to
the outcome of the matter If the le-
gality of their action were brought
into question.
Then, in an informal way, he mat
ter of re-districting the county as to
school board districts was brought
up, the law requiring that the coun-
ty board of public instruction in 90,
county shall divide their respective
counties into three county school
hna rJ hi ict fiafc In al in,
district, as nearly as practicable, the
same number Of qualified voters"
1t was stated that the present dis
tricts had never been legally estab-
lished, that there are 9SJ voters in
one district, 11S in one, and 169 in
the other, or in terms of percentage,
one district has II 1-3 percent Of
the voters, of the county, while the
other two districts have 8 1-3 and
9 1-3 percent respectively, and that
letter and spirit of the law. At the
same time the district having II l-3
percent of the voters pays Is As per-
cent of the taxes and has g. 1-3 per-
cent of the representation; the dis
trict with 13 1-3 percent Of the vot-
ers pays II percent OF the taxes and
has 33 1-3 percent of the representa-
tion; the district having 1-3 per-
cent of the voters pays 13 1-5 per-
cent of the taxes and has 33 1-3 per-
cent of the representation. Mr..
Knight said that he did not favor re-
distriCting the county. nOtwithstand-
ing the mandate of the law and gave
as reason that the people in his dis
frict were well satisfied with the pres
ent status Mr.. Cantwell said that
he favored re-districtiDg the county,
the fact that the
people of his district We're well salts
fed also, but the law and justice de-
nanded that the districts be changed
20 as to place within each district as
nearly as practicable an equal num-
Der of voters, and he said that while
1e had received no complaints from
he people of his district he had re-
,eived many from the people of dis
rct number one, which is the large
district having II percent of the vot-
RS and paying rs percent of the tax
,s In effect he stated that he did
lot look upon his office as belonging
o him and his power to be used for
he furthering of personal ambitions
IT the ambitions of any small group
# people, but regarded himself as an
instrument in the service of all the
Icople of the county.
The board will meet again July
5th when the matter of re-district-
ng the county will be taken up for
ction.
The annual club camp was held az