Smyrna times., 1925-02-18
P. 5. DUPONT EXPLAINS HOW A
DISTRICT CAN GET new SCHOOL
MUST RAISE 2Oae OF THE TOTAL
COST BY A BOND ISSUE
Mr.. dupont Answers a Number Of
Questions About the Bills Now In
trOduced in Delaware Legislature

trOduced in Delaware Legislature
At a number of the meetings held
recently to discuss the school build
ing program suggested by Pierre S.
dupont, people in the audience have
asked Mr.. dupont who would decide
what schools were to be built, the
kind to be built and whether a school
district could be compelled to erect a
new building if it did not desire to
do so.
In each case Mr.. dupont has replied
that the State Board of Education,
outside of Wilmington, would decide
what schools were to be built and that
the State Board of Education would
also require the schools to be built
under plans and specification as APP
proved by that body. No district
could get a school until it had pro-
vided twenty per centum of the total
cost by a bond issue and no bond is
sue can be made without it is ap- |
proved by majority of the people of |
a district at an election held for the
purpose.
The question was no doubt prompt |
ed by the fact that there is a bill in
the legislature to create a non-parti-
san commission to erect the school
houses under the plan. 1t was only
intended however, that this commits
sion should have charge Of the actual
building and thus leave the State
Board of Education free to look after
school administration. The commits
sion could only build schools after the
plans, the site and other necessary
matters had been approved by the
state school board and the districts
had provided for their share of the
money. Those interested in the mat
ter have always understood this but
Judging from the questions asked
some of the general public did not.
Those who asked the questions ap-
peared pleased with the answers Of
Mr.. dupont.
Other questions which have been
asked at times appear to indicate
that there may also be a misunder-
standing in some places over the mat
ter of the districts issuing school
bonds. The proposed plan is that the
school districts shall furnish twenty
per centum or one fifth Of the cost Of
the buildings and the state shall furn-
ish the remainder.
A portion of the present law pro-
vides that the bond issue shall not
exceed in amount five per centum of
r~a1rra Of kho III %
estate. There appeared to be an inn
preston that if a district desired a
new school house it would be neces-
sary to issue bonds to the amount OF
five per centum of the assessed value
of the real estate in order to raise
twenty per centum or one fifth of the
cost of the building. This would, Oi
course, depend wholly upon the as
sessed valuation in the district or in
the consolidated district in case a con
solidatiOn should be made. In Othel
words the per centage Of bond ISSUE
to the assessed value would depend
largely upon the wealth of the dis
trict.
Smyrna furnished 81 per cent Of tn
cost Of its new school house and tn
bond issue Of $4,000 was only 90
per centum Of the assessed valuation
of the district. Dover issued bond
to the amount of $4,000 and bull
its own school house and the amour
of the bonds was Al per centum 0
the assessed value Of the real estat
in the district. Claymont furnishe
S275,OOO, the total cost of its ne
school house and the bond issue wa
4.67 per centum Of the assessed valu
Of real estate in the district. LewC
furnished twenty per centum, Il
amount provided by the new plan, t.
ward the erection Of its $25O,OC
school house and the per centage
bond issue to the assessed value
the district was A. In no case has Il
amount Of bonds issued reached Il
full five per centum allowed under Il
present law which viii remain u
changed. The average has been a..
per centum.
Those interested in the plan a
glad that these questions were ask
so that they might be answered al
the plan be fully understood.