Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-10
HIGH SCHOOL BuILDINeIS
INADEQUATE, ANNUAL REPORT
BOARD Of EDUCATION SHOWS

The sixteenth annual report OF the
Board of Educatiop' of the City OF
Augusta was issued Wednesday.
This report submitted by w. s.
Thompson, chairman of the Board,
shows total receipts for the year
1922 1928 of Sl64,S15.S8 and disburse-
ments of $165.380.01.
The report shows that the account
was Overdrawn to the amount of
$564.13. yet the rolls of accounts for
February and March, amounting to
$5,616.S2. were not paid by the City
Council. Had these been paid, the
amount overdrawn would have been
$6,1S0.95. This is easily explained
by the fact that s4,O15.77 was paid
out for new work on Cony High
school building. which was not pro-
vided for In the budget. and that be-
cause OF the extraordinarily severe
winter and the poor quality OF coal
in some instances. our fuel bill has
been almost $4,000 larger than the
budget estimate. Many people were
able to economic on fuel in their
homes IN various ways which were
not possible In the schools.
The bill revising the charter Of the
Augusta School District which was
passed by the Eight first Legislature
provides that the financial year shall
coincide with the fiscal year OF the
city. This makes it necessary to
draw up a budget for the remainder
of the calendar year, to December
81, 1928. The estimates for this
have been gone over with a great
deal of care. 1t seems wise to fili
the coal bins during the summer and
fall with supply sufficient for the
winter. and we have already ex-
planned the situation in regard to re-
pairs.
The total value of schoolhouses,
furniture and land. as estimated is,
100000. The Cony High school Is
the most valuable piece of school
property, this building furniture and
land is valued at $l50,000. The total
of insurance on all buildings and
furniture is $357,550.
The School Budget for 1923 calls
for a total Of $137,276.S8 which al
lows for $5,616.82 to cover the rolls
of accounts for February and March
1928. The estimate of the resources
from April, 1928 to January /, 1924,
is $3i,330,33. leaving as the amount
to be appropriated by the city $102,-
946.55.
In submitting the list of require
ments for each school building to
make it conform to the requirements
of the State Department for standard
buildings, with an estimate of the
cost of these alterations and inn
provements, the report of the Board
calls attention to the neglect in
keeping these buildings in repair for
the past several years. The condi-
tons brought about by the Wor,u
War We're the principal reason for
this neglect. Higher. salaries for
teachers were necessary in order to
maintain an adequate teaching force.
The estimates are the result Of
comprehensive survey and call for a
total of about $4,000. Believing IT
would be impossible to devote this
sum to this purpose in one year the
Board recommends that the sum of
$4,000 to be appropriated in 1928.
In submitting his first report of
the condition and progress of the Au-
susta schools, Superintendent Fren
w. Burrill mentions the value Of the
report Of the School Survey Staff in
acquainting him with facts which
otherwise it would have taken him Il
long time to ascertain. In this con-
nection he says in part:
"One of the criticisms Of the Sur