Smyrna times., 1925-03-04
COST OF RUNNING SCHOOLS
AGITATES DELAWARE S0LONS
WISDOM OF CONSOLIDATION is
QUESTIONED IN LEGISLATURE
State Board Education Wants $780,
900 for Transporting Pupils Next
Year-On One Room Schools

John Shilling, assistant superinten-
dent in charge of high schools, again
represented the State oBard of Edu-
cation in a continuation of the hear
ing last week of the board on its
school budget. Mr.. Shilling explain
ed the various items in the school
budget and why they are needed, par
ticularly large item under the head
of operations, which he explained is
for coal. He said the board finds it
impossible almost to set an exact fig
ure for fuel, partly because many of
the schools are a great distance from
railroads and the hauling charges
sometimes are as high as SIS a ton.
Senator Mcdowell asked what pro-
portion of money Wilmington gets,
and was told this year the State
Board allowed Wilmington $744,000,
but explained that was not enough for
the instructiOnal costs alone in Will
mington and the remainder required
to run the schools there is raised by
extra tax.
Mr.. Shilling stated the State Board
has done very little repairing in an
ticpatiOn of the building program.
When asked about the fire hazards of
the Townsend school by Senator Nc
Dowell, Mr.. Shilling said the condi-
tiOns were not good but added that
most all the old school buildings of
more than one story are fire traps.
Always Short of Funds
Chairman Drexler inquired if the
State Board had urged, where those
fire traps exist, that those districts
take some action to remedy the mat
ter. He added that the policy had
evidently been to allow the plants to
run down, anticipating the building
program.
Mr.. Shilling explained that there is
never money enough to make the re-
pairs that the board would like to
make.
Mr.. Shilling told of several districts
one of them Delmar, where the peO-
PIE want better schools but could not
legally bond for enough to provide
them.
Mr.. Drexler stated that IF local
sentiment is not ready in a district to
spend more money to get better
schools it does not seem to me we
have a right to drive it on them"
Chairman Drexler then went into a
lengthy statement relative to the
school building program, and stated
that he was not personally opposing
a program, but did not think it should
be forced on districts where the SEN
timent was not ready for it. He said
he lived in a district where they prob
ably pay a higher school tax rate than
any other place in the State outside
of Wilmington, but that was no rea-
son why he should force a higher rate
on others.
He said that he did not believe there
woud be as many petitions sent to the
Legislature for the building program
if the people knew what it is going
to cost them in dollars and cents.
Mr.. Drexler said he felt that "this
propaganda coming down should carry
the idea that it is going to cost them
more money"
Senator Mcdowell remarked that
the chairman was going into big
question which is really under the
school building program. 81 do not
agree with some of your statements,
but l don't think this is the time to
discuss it," he said. Senator Mellow
ell contended that Mr.. Drexler's dis
cussion was away from the subject
under consideration by the committee