Evening journal., 1923-02-07
CITY SCHOOL
NEEDS TOLD
BY DIR. ward


share Of the school tax. The general
school fund is made up under vari-
Gus bills such as income tax. fran
ohise tax. filing fee, property tax,
etc and with all OF these combined
il is said to be a fact that Whining
ton Pays at least 20 per cent.
3 Or. Ward told the committee
that Council OF Wilmington
the past year had voted 100000
for the public schools OF that
city. He said the Wilmington
Board OF Education is asking for
S1343. .00O. for the next year and
Sl,44S.000 for the following year
from the state. He said this was an
Increase above what was received the
previous two years and when asked
by Chairman Collins as to what the
increase was for said it was largely
for the increase of teachers salaries
and for equipment, etc.
DR.. Ward told the committee there
were two high schools in Whining
ton under the city Board OF Educa-
ton. one for white and the other
Tor colored students He said the
high school for white students was
greatly overcrowded at this time
It's maximum capacity, he said was
1900 and there are now 2200 stu
dents in the school
Dr. Ward explained in some detail
fhe work OF the school system in
Wilmington relative 10 the finances
Ind explained that Il IL necessary to
secure more teachers for higher
salaries 10 maintain the standard OF
ihe schools.
Chairman Collins inquired as TO
the increase of teachers salaries
and asked. do you give them an
Increase because they ask for il"
NO" replied Mr.. Ward 1T Is
because we can't get them unless we
do give them the money. We have
Vacancies now which it is hard for
us 10 fif'
Chairman Collins wanted to know
II there was any way TO lower the
grade Of a teacher as to salary with
out hurting the efficiency OF the de-
partment.
b DR.. Ward replied he knew OF no
such way.
Representative Little, inquired
why IL the city was paying teach 5
ers more than they were paid in the
rural sections the city did not go out !
into the state and get teachers. S
Dr. Ward explained that two years ,
or advanced work is required for .
city teachers.
II was brought out that the salary /.
of teachers in Wilmington range $
from 81 900 TO $1,000 a year DR.
Ward said the average pay was
$500 year.
Representative Little said the aver
age pay for teachers in the State
outside OF Wilmington is $500.
Z Senator Murphy. told DR.. Ward
he had heard the Wilmington Board
or Education would not employ
married woman as a teacher. DR. ,
Ward, explained that the board had 7
no such policy but that everything 1
being equal single women were given
The preference. S
In discussing the matter OF voca- r
rional education DR.. Ward. told the I,
commitee that ne thought it very II
important. He said from 400 to
500 were enrolled in the Trades and 9,
Industries school course and he !,
thought a good work was being ac- -
word had been received from Fed
eral authorities that unless better :,
equipment was provided some Dor- =,
ton OF the vocational training from -
which Federal aid is received would ~
be abandoned. r.
Chairman Collins asked Dr. Ward
Il Wilmington pays anything direct
for schools in addition to the 25 1
cents general property tax which is
paid throughout the state. DR.
Ward said there was a special prop
erty tax OF II cents above that.
''You are not hit very hard yet
then" remarked" chairman Collins
I'VE ought to be hit harder" replied
Or. Ward hut some property own
srs think otherwise e
DIR. Ward went into detail on some a
other matters relating to the public b
schools including that OF defective n
children. 9,
At the close OF the hearing Mr. "
ittle asked DR. Ward what his sal II
zry was and he replied $4,000 a o
wear. That amount he explained
was fixed by the city board OF educa- o
lion. Il
Robert Adam. superintendent OF Ia
ihe Harrington school district told il
the committee that his district is s.
asking for $50, ,9s5 in the budget. a
He explained that the present s,
schools are crowded and that the o
figures in the budget are as close as 81
they could be to get by on. 1t was
brought out that the State is not Il
only paving the interest but is also v
taking care of the sinking funds to (,
pay for the building OF a school at 81
Harrington about eight years ago. a
In most districts it is just the re- Z
verse, the district looks after such
charges. p
Move This School C.
Mr.. Adam told OF having to move F
a school about two miles and 81
Chairman Collins Of the Legislative a
committee remarked, that was a o
new proposition for the committee. ST
He said I'VE have been confronted 81
with the proposition of transport
ing the pupils to the schools but
fnis is the first case we have had
of the school being moved to the P
pupils" This sally caused general "
laughter. C
Parks Needs. Il
Henderson Smith, president OF the
Richardson Park school district,
urged favorable action on the pro- S
posed building program because his
district is in urgent need Of a new Z
school. The building being used T
was constructed in 1888, he told the 0