Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-04-02

. support of the junior high project.
| No Funds For Building
1t was after u committee from the
| Augusta Rotary Club had functioned
exhaustively and thoroughly that
| those interested in the proposal for
| the building of a modern junior high
| school were suddenly faced with the
| realization that such a program
! could not be carried out this year or
next, without special legislation, as
| the borrowing capacity OF the city
| would not permit of the necessary
! appropriation through bond issue.
Since then there have been various
| and sundry proposals as to what
could be done under the circum-
| stances, and the proposition at once
assumed the character OF a future
| possibility.
Many of those who have interested
| themselves in the matter are sincere
! in their belief that Augusta should
prepare for the establishment of the
junior high school, and it has been
| suggested that the city each year
set aside a sum of money as q sink
ing fund against the time when the
erection of the new building shall
| become absolutely imperative.
On the other hand there are many
| citizens opposed to the whole prop
osition. They do not feel that a
change to the junior high plan is at
| all advisable, and certainly would
not be in favor of the city commit
ting itself TO any program of new
! building, until the condition of the
I city's finances would warrant the
necessary appropriation to dispose of
| the project, without any material in
crease in the tax rate.
To Be Considered at School Meeting
The annual school meeting will oc-
| cur on April 20. and Chairman
Frank Hewins of the Board OF Edu-
cation stated yesterday that the call
or warrant for that meeting had not
been drawn up as yet. as the law
provides that it shall be posted only
seven days prior to the date of the
meeting. Mr.. Hewins when asked as
to the articles which probably
would be incorporated in the war
rant expressed it as his belief that
there would be an article calling
upon the meeting to decide what
action should be taken in the matter
of purchasing a lot, and calling upon
the city government to set aside a
sum Of money up to two or three
mills of the total valuation of the
| city, each year, for the erection of
the new junior high school building
within a few years.
At the annual school meeting of q
year ago, a special committee con-
| sisting of one member from. each
ward was selected and authorized to
| investigate the conditions in the
schools and to report at the annual
meeting of this year. Williams 3.
| Getchell is chairman of that commit
| tee and the other members are Mrs.
! Frank II. Southland, Judge Norman
! l.. Bassett. Elmer r.. Newbert,
! Alfred J. Lacasse. Everett Withee.
! Charles pettingill, and Mrs. Nern X.
! Pease.
| This committee. it is understood,
have as individuals several times
schools, and considerable data has
iecn assembled and summarized as
to their findings. Chairman Getchell
tated yesterday that the final report
Of the committee as a unit had not
been prepared as yet, and declared
that the nature of that report would
probably be a statement of facts,
without recommendations as to solu-
lion of problems, as the latter was
the business and duty of the school
meeting.
Rumors of Differences Among Com
mittee
Certain individual members of the
committee have been reported to
nave freely expressed their opinion in
regard to conditions at specific
schools, and it has been rumored 2
That the report of the committee
which would be submitted at the
meeting of the citizens on April 20,
would probably contain some
startling revelations. and drastic
proposals.
Mr.. Getchell admitted yesterday
that he WAS cognizant of the talk
made by some members of his com
mittee. but made haste TO declare
that they were speaking as indi-
Niduals and not for the committee
Mr. Gttchell was OF the opinion that
the committees report would be one
of absolute unanimity and did not
anticipate any minority report or any
manner of division. Further. the
chairman of the special committee
indicated that there would probably
lie nothing particularly startling in
the report of the committees find
ings.
Members Of the committee when
approached for statements have
closely emulated the we'll known
clam. so whatever their personal and
rivate opinions may be it is evident
that any real informa tion on the
matter of the report will be obtained
only when it is presented at the
school meeting.
Friction Within School Board
1t has been rumored that there
has been some friction within the
school board during the past year.
which has not been entirely ironed
out as Vet. The kennebec Journal
representative learned on very good
authority that Frank IIewins, who
has been chairman of the body since
the withdrawal of the late DR.. w. S.
thompson, Will not again be n candi-
date or accept the craftsmanship.