Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-05-09

DIOOI 8LdlI WClA 4OI q o0AS SAAI AAoiA
the new building at Cony High as rec
commended in the recent school survey
The school meeting was called to or
der at 7.30 by DR.. w. S. Thompson
chairman Of the Augusta Board Of Ed
ucation, who then read the warrant
for the meeting.
/ Upon motion Of II. II. Stuart. super.
intendent Of schools. Mayor Sanford l.
Fogg was elected chairman of tho
meeting. City Clerk Frank e. South
ard was chosen secretary upon motion
of Frank Hewins.
Statement by Mayor Foss
After expressing his thanks for be-
| ing chosen moderator of the meeting
| Mayor Fogg stated that before pro-
ceeding with the business of the eve.
ming it might be we'll for him to state
| Just what position the Board Of Edu-
cation occupies in the city in refer
I ence to the schools, and what position
the voters as citizens and the city
| government occupy, to clear up any
Misunderstanding.
He pointed out that in 1907 II was
Thought wise by the Legislature to
create a Board of Education TO have
| in its hands the expenditure of the
money raised by the citizens at the
school meeting. The city government
has nothing 10 do with this. The city
simply raises the money and 1t goes
| into the hands of the Board of Educa-
| tion to expend according 10 their judy
mcnt. The Board of education is not
| answerable in any way to the city
government. SO that the action which
is taken at the school meetings be-
comes a vital factor in the tax rate
| for the year.e
We know that our state and
county taxes and our poor depart
ment are not matters in which there
is much fieXibility. The poor are
always with us and they must be
taken care Of This year there are
more demands than ever before,
owing to the fact that many people
are out of employment. The Police
Department is an expenditure which
is not very flexible. In this there has
been some increase owing to the fact
that there must be traffic officers TO
take care of the automobiles and
team traffic.
In the Fire Department there has
been somes increase in expenditure
for it was found that It was nee
essary, in order to get the b rating
for insurance from the New England
Exchange, to add one man TO the de-
partment. But because Of the in
crease and the new building II has
saved the people about Sl5o,o0o on
one renewal of insurance policy.
About the only flexible items the
City has are the schools and build
ings.
He said that this year in the city
expenditures is an important one.
About $4,000 must be expended for
elections. The condition OF iur In
dllstries is not wholly encouraging
now. There is considerable doubt
whether the city will lose quite a
valuation owing TO the fact that one
OF our industries is a non; oing con-
Germ. 1t is impossible now to tell
what the valuation will be this year.
There cannot be very great In
crease in valuation. So the increase
in one department must necessarily
decrease the appropriation for the
Highway Department unless there is
an increase in the tax rate which is
now SIS mills.
There is now an increased demand
for expenditures of money on the
highways and sidewalks. That is in
large measure because OF the in
crease in the automobile traffic.
The Board of Education has now
made up its budget. They under-
stand the demands OF the school
Mayor Fogg said that he could not
express an opinion as to whether the
budget is a proper one or not That
was for the meeting to decide. He
would simply state that If the meet
ing voted for the budget, then it
would be up to the City Government
to raise the money for taxation. and
the Board of Educa.ion would ex-
pend it according to their judgment.
AS an example showing that the
City Government and the Board of
Education are entirely separate
boards. Mayor Fogg pointed out that
there is gravel bank at the southern
end of Capital Park and that the
City buys gravel from the Board of
Education as from any other organ
ization.
School Report Accepted
The 18th annual report of the
Board of Education for the year
Thompson, chairman of the board
AS copies of the printed report were
distributed at the door, it was not
read by DR.. Thompson.
Upon motion of A. w. Brooks, IL
| was voted to accept the report OF the
Board of Education as printed.
Action on Appropriation
The fourth article in the warrant
for the meeting provided for the
raising by vote for the support of
the public school of this city for the
year ending on the first day of
April, 1923, such sum not less than
the amount required by the general
laws of the State, as may be deemed
necessary for that purpose.
superintendent of Schools H. H.
Stuart stated that as was shown on
| Page 16 of the report, the amount
! the Board of Education asked the
meeting to appropriate was $685.
| 57332.
Smith S. Randall then moved that
the sum asked for by the Board of
Education be raised
Judge Lancaster Makes Comparisons