The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-26
No Part of 100000 Bond Issue
Available for Current Ex-
penses-Future Pol
icy of Board.

ICY VI oOdLus
There is now and has been~in the
recent past greater interest manifest
ed than perhaps ever heretofore by
the citizens Of Pensacola and Escam-
bia county in their public school af-
fairs.
This interest has nthe main been
brought about by the recent statement
from the board of public instruction
of Escambia county to the fleet that
funds must be provided by the pay
ment of tuition by pupils, or in some
other method, for the last month OF
the term in all of the schools of the
county; and also because of the delay
in the payment OF the current expenses
OF tho schools, including the payment
OF teachersN salaries. In order to Sc
cure a full and authentic statement
of the school affairs OF the county. a
representative of The Journal called
upon Judge e. d. Beggs, the chairman
of the board OF public instruction of
the county. yesterday afternoon and
secured the following statement:
Debt Accumulated. asl
'.As the public has heretofore been
informed, for a period covering a num-
Der Of years" said Judge Beggs, the
board has not had sufficient funds
available for the maintenance of the
schools. Consequently there has been
accumulated from year to year an
outstanding indebtedness represented
by time warrants and negotiable
notes. Furthermore, the amount paid
each year upon the principal of this
outstanding indebtedness and the in
terest paid upon the remainder of the
principal has had to be deducted from
the general school fund. Hence, to
the extent OF the demands upon our
current revenues to retire these out
standing obligations and to liquidate
interest charges, our revenues for cur
rent school expenses have been re-
duced.
Extended School Terms.
Notwithstanding this situation OF
affairs, however" continued Judge
Beggs, "the board. with the sole de-
sire and purpose in mind of improving
tho condition OF our schools and plac-
ing them upon a plane equal to that
OF the best schools, which we felt that
our children were entitled to, extended
the terms OF all of the white schools
in the county TO eight months, all of
the colored schools in Pensacola to
eight months, and the term of the Pen
sacola high school to nine months
In addition to this, the salaries OF all
OF the teachers in the county were in
creased. 1t was conceded by all classes
OF the countys citizenship that the
salaries paid the teachers were very
much smaller than they should be- in
fact. much smaller than were paid in
other counties throughout Florida
similarly conditioned TO our county ,
Together with the above were other
items of expenditure which seemed
necessary and in some instances alb
solutey required by law which had
TO be- incurred in the maintenance of
the schools. In this connection might
he mentioned the employment OF an
attendance officer, whose salary must
be paid by the county.
AS is known "a every one, the scho-
lastic term of the Pensacola high
school for 192O-1921, was extended to
nine months for the first time. This
was done in order that the school !
might be placed upon the accredited |
list of high schools of the south and |
it's graduates be entitled to admission |
to colleges, not alone OF the south, but |
10 other colleges upon their diplomas |
from our school. Having once had |
our high school placed upon this list |
II board arranged for full term of !
A.ne months this scholastic year and it |
now feels that in good faith to the !
pupils who will obtain their diplomas |
this year. as well as to the faculty, |
that the term should not be shortened |
But anticipating that there would be |
a shortage OF funds, we made provi- |
sion in our contracts with teachers |
of all of the grammar and primary
schools of the county that the board |
reserved the right to reduce the term |
of those schools ane month If neces-
sary."
Monthly Cost of Schools.
With reference 70 the monthly budg- |
ct of the board for the pay of teachers. |
the judge continued: The amount or |
the teachers salaries OF all of the !
schools OF the county for one month |
is approximately s21,s0o. and il the !
same percentage of taxes should be |
collected this year as last, there will |
be deficit at the end OF the fiscal |
year OK more than S21,s00, the cost of |
teachers salaries for one month. The |
necessity is therefore apparent that |
the board had no other alternative
than the action which it has already |
taken. 1. e., calling upon the patrons
OF the schools to bear the expense of
the extra month OF school.
Each School Separate Unit.
Another feature which the board /
would like thoroughly understood by
the patrons of the several schools of |