The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-03
ROW over TAXES
Parent.Teachers Assn. of Van
Buren, School Makes Protest.
Board of Education Criticised
for Lowering 1922 Levy.

Mayor Herbert J. Corwine told the
members of the Parent-Teachers' as
ISOLATION of Van Buren, school Monday
evening to close the streets at Six
teenth and Van Buren, during recess
periods and thirty minutes before
school in the morning and thirty min
utes before school at the noon hour,
if they SO desired, in order to protect
the children from accident hazards
and to give them more playground
space.
This question is one that has been
up before the Parent-Teachers' asso-
citation at Van, Buren, school for some
time and the matter has been before
the board of education several times.
Following the address by Mayor
Corwine a discussion followed in
which several members of the district
criticised the board of education and
the city commission for not taking
some action on the matter. Mayor
Corwine stated in his address that it
was a matter for the board of educa-
ton to take care of, and that it did
not come under the Jurisdiction of the
city commission.
Mayor Goes to Salina.
Mayor Corwtne was obliged to leave
immediately after his address to catch
a train for Salina, where he today is
to address the members of the State
Fire Protection association.
Following the discussion resolutions
were passed criticising the board OF
education for lowering taxes at the
expense OF not taking care of adequate
needs of the schools of Van Buren,
and Sumner, the latter also needing
more playground space, it is said.
Representative of the school board
express the belief that this matter
cannot be taken care of at present be-
cause the budget for the year has
been made up and it is too late to
make arrangements to take care of it.
The recommendation of Harland
Bartholomew, city planner, call for
$50 square feet of space Tor each child
at all schools. The grounds at Van
Buren, school are 135 by 200 feet in
size and there are 45U pupils, approx
imately. attending the school. accord
ing to Paul Sherman, president of the
Parent-Teachers ASSOCIATION. The
school building takes up-about half of
the grounds, so it is figured that the
space for each child is much less than
the recommendations csii for.
+ j. H. Lee, member OF the finance
committee of the board of education,
said he believed some of the persons
at Van Buren, school did not realize
that these things cannot De taken care
of at a single meeting OF the board,
nor can it be taken care OF in one
day.
1T takes time to do such things as
that, and I personally, as member
of the finance commirree, try to take
care of the business of the school
board in the same manner and as
carefully as L would my own bust
ness
The RESOLUTIONS.
The resolutions passed by the Par
ent-TeacherS' association were, as fol-
lows:
Whereas. in the August 23rd, 1922 Issue
OF Topeka newspaper there appeared
statement Of committees effected by the
school board and the announcement of a
reduction in school taxes, and
Whereas, the Parents Teachers associa-
ton OF Van Buren, school has appeared be-
fore the board of education prior to fixing
of the revised budget with urgent requests
for relief from congested school room and
play ground conditions, as well as for fl
nancial assistance to purchase necessary
school fixtures and were unsuccessful, the
reason being given that the school board
had no funds and could not secure funds
because at that time it was levying the
maximum tax rate, and
Whereas, temporary wooden shell struc-
lures have been erected at Van Buren, and
other schools for the housing of overflow
students instead of permanent quarters be-
ing provided. s
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the
Parent-Teachers' association of Van Buren,
in reducing the school levy in the face of
its failure to provide adequate facilities and
equipment: including necessary grounds on
account of lack of funds, does not meet
be it further
Resolved. that u copy of this resolution be
to the school board, and the Topeka State
Journal
Parents Teachers Association of Van Buren,
School.
By PAUL SHERMAN,
Attest: Mrs W. H. Luellen, Secretary.