Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-02-24
WILL GIVE
DECISION MARCH )
ON SCHOOL BUILDING
Board of Education Appears
Before Aldermen in Final
Plea for Definite Action

Members of the Board of Educa-
ton again appeared before the
Board of Aldermen last night in an
effort to secure from the council a
definite statement as to whether or
not the Board of Aldermen intends
to finance the building of the new
Hall avenue school this year.
President A. Clayton Clark, ont
lined the steps which have been
taken by the school board in order
to secure new school. told of the
delays which have taken place, If
the promises of Boards of Aldermen
to supply the necessary funds, bnt
their failure to keep them and e.l-
planned the conditions existing IN
the Perth Amboy public schools to-
day, where more than 1000 pupils
are attending only one-half time
sessions and practically the same
number of pupils are forced to at
tend classes held in basem ant
rooms.
After long discussion, during
which members of the school board
answered questions put to them by
Alderman n-at-Large Richard j.
Calvin and other members of the
council, Mr.. Calvin assured the
school commissioners that the
Board OF Aldermen would act upon
khe resolution now before them. cer-
tf1ed to by the board of school cs-
Ftinlate calling upon the city to IL
nance the school project, and make
a report at the next session March
s.
President Clark explained that the
school board must know definitely
whether or not the city is to finance
the new school prop osition so that &
report might be m de u the Com
missioner of Education Enright who
has requested some definite informa-
ton as to the intentions of the city
to furnish the necessary school
rooms.
The old question of the city's bond
limit and the relation the school ap-
preparations have to this INIT again
came up for discussion last night.
President Clark told the aldermen
that the opinions of the State Attor-
ney General, Commissioner Enright
and former City Attorney Leo Gold
berger were to the effect that the
school bonds be issued at this time
lawfully. Alderman-at-Large Calvin
replied that the city is gu: ed by the
opinion of State Commissioner of
Municipal Accounts Darby in max
ing expenditures and that Mr..
Darby's opinion in the matter was
that the city could nor acquiesce to
the school boards demands for a
bond issue sufficient to build the
school as it would boost the city's
debt to a point above the seven per
cent mark.
Although the new school would
cost $450,000, the school board does
not ask for that amount right away"
President Clark said. 1T will take
more than a year to complete the
erection of the building as proposed
and $225,000 would be amply suffi-
cient to cover the cost of the part
Of the building which could be butt
this year. The balance Of $225,000
could then be forthcoming from the
city next year"
'~The appropriation of three per
cent of the city's total assessed val
Nations, both real and personal. for
pol purposes is mandatory upon
the CITY," Mr.. Clark continued. "A
further three per cent may be voted
by the aldermen for school purposes
il the board cares to. But. we have
not vet received the initial three ner
cent which is mandatory upon the
city. The total assessed valuation
in this city is $36,500,000 of which
three per cent would be $1,096,000.
The school appropriation has been
only $799, 900 which would indlcare
that balance of about $297,000
still due the school board under the
initial three per cent appropriation.
We are not asking for the add
tionai three per cent, but merely
two-fifths of one per cent more
which would provide the balance
necessary to provide the $3.50 90O.
1.-The aldermen had only $17O,0Oo
at the first of the year to pay for
the many improvements which have
been requested" Alderman Waters
said in explaining the large demands
upon the city for various kinds OF
improvements. IT do not want TO
appear as opposing the new school
proposition as do not object to it.
the chairman of the finance COM
mittee said, but l want the school
board members to realize what the
aldermen are up against in trying
to meet demands for improvements
which include additional fire protec-
tion, street improvements, garbage
collection, electric light extensions,
police and fire alarm call system re-
pairs. We must spend more money
CONTINUED on paeA two'