Evening journal., 1923-01-10
stan Correspondent.

tendent or Public Instruction, in
statNment to members OF the Hous'
while\th body was in session yes
terdsy\afternoon denied a published
statement appearing in a Whining
ton newspaper on Monday TO the
effect that there was a deficit o.
S732.17S.3O in the State School fund
Representative Holcomb address
ing the members of the House said
there had been some discussion
relative TO a so-called deficit in the
school fund and asked that DIT
Holloway be granted the privilege oi
the floor to explain the matter. Dr
Holloway said
"If I had been a member OF this
House today and had read in Every
Evening the article which APP
peared to the effect that there
vac a deficit Of S732.17S.SO in
The state school fund ! should have
been anxious TO have an explanation.
The finances OF the State are
among the most difficult problems
YOU will have to deal with, and the
finances of the school board are no
exception 10 this rule. We may eX-
pect many errors TO be made by var
ious people and this is one OF those
errors. The state education law sets
mp the sources OF revenue for the
schools.
One Of the agencies for the col
lection OF moneys for schools is the
state school tax department. This
department turned in something over
S1.400.0 900. Two other sources set
up were not taken into consideration.
such as the income from thes944.OO0
i've the school fund which in 1920
amounted 10 s42.299.1O. The other
was the county school tax OF 25 cents
on each 500 OF real and personal
property. and which in the last six
months OF last year amounted 10
s436,S34, and which should have
amounted on a basis of assessment
valuation at the end OF the fiscal year
10 approximately $4,000 for a full
year.
This with the $4,000. makes a
Total OF S5S2.OO0 for schools which
was not taken into account in re-
porting a deficit Of s732,17s. and
which reduces the amount. to about
S15O.O0O.
This s15OOOO is a shortage in in
come for school purposes only. and
not a shortage brought about by
over expenditure on their budget by
the State Board OF Education.
In the article referred to. the in
ference is there Is a deficit of {346.
400 shown by the Governors budget
due 70 over expenditure by the state
school board. but no such deficit
Cxists.
The school term begins in Sep
tember and the main income is not
due until the following March. To
run the schools during this interim
The State treasurer must draw on
the general funds which he is au-
'horized by law TO do. and he has
drawn on this fund to the extent Of
S346,O0O TO meet current school ex-
penses until the school fund be-
comes available.
The school department last year
spent less than was appropriated
TO Il TO the extent Of $4,000, and Il
m Ist be remembered Il cannot spend
more than is appropriated to &.
Il believe there has been some ex-
have prepared for you because the /
total does not include the items Of /
expense and costs for travel These |
latter items were put in gratis /
simply so you could check up. and !
there was no idea or thought OF try
ing to deceive you. The grand total /
given is only, and was meant to be /
only. a total OF salaries paid by the |
state alone.
Il want you TO feel that you are /
free 10 come to our department at
90 any time for any and all informa-
lion you desire. We have in view
lnly one idea. and that is to give
The children OF our State the best
education it is possible to give
hem"
Talk Of supposed high salaries
paid from State funds has been
favorite complaint Of Delaware Leg
islators for many years and ii is
generally the Educational Depart
ment OF the State. where trained
experts are needed to take charge
of the education Of the thousands
OF children, that most OF the COM
plants are aimed at. The present !
Legislature seems to be on excep-
ton. There have been rumors
around the corridors that some Of
the members considered too high
salaries were being paid in the State
Educational Department and that
some OF the present jobs in the de-
partment are unnecessary although
no one has explained just how these
conclusions are reached.
or ha ]
DIR. Holloway has had prepared "A
Est OF all employees of the State De-
partment of Public Instruction with
salaries and It was this list that he
had reference to in his statement in {
the House. The list shows the
salary pay roll OF the department TO
he S5l'56O year July /. 1921. to
June 30. 1922. as follows:
state superintendent Of in
SlFuctlon .s................S 1000 90 /
Assistant Superintendent In
charge OF high schools. 5 500 90
Business Manager ...... 5000 OO
Director and Statistician. 5000 90 /,
Secretary to State Superinten-
dent. $40 per MONTH. / $50 90 '
s. 70 500 per mOnth..'... $40 90
Two clerks at $50 and $50 i''OV W t
, per month ...;.,;,......:. 2,OiO 90 '
AZ sSistant Superintendent in
charge Of elementary schools 3 500 90 z
Total Annual Cost. $50 90 I
Expense and travel OF state
superintendent and assist
ants 1S2l-2s .................S2.546 80 v
County offices: E
New Castle county. 500 per p
month,
Dover Clerk, 500 per month q
Clerk. 500 per Il
month .