New Britain herald., 1925-02-04
FIRST HEARINGS
 ON CITY BUDGET
Department Officials Explain
 Request for Appropriations

Blanket fire insurance on the local public schools would cost more than the present system of insuring each school separately, Superintend- ent of Schools Stanley II. Holmes told the board of finance and taxa ton at the hearing of the school de- partment before that body last eve ming. Chairman E. r. Hall and A. x. Abbe of the finance board sug- gested a blanket policy but MT. Holmes said that he ,had already looked into the matter and it would be inadvisable, inasmuch as the in- surance companies would insist upon the policy covering all school prop erty.
 At present, several of the newer buildings, such as the Washington and EIihu Burritt schools, are con- sidered tircproof and are not COW cred by insurance, this effectng considerable saving. No fire insur- ance company, Mr. Holmes said, would grant policy covering only the poorer risks, and policy cov- ering all school property would con- sidcrably increase the premiums, which are now being paid on $1,300,- 900 worth df property.
 President P. F. King of the school board asked the board of finance and taxation if 1t cared to say whether it agreed or disagreed with this policy of exempting certain schools, and after some discussion the board said that it found no fault with the plan The school depart ment asked $6,500 for insurance for this year.
 President King, Superintendent Holmes and J. NJ. Halloran, chair IT an Of the committee on school &C., commodations, presented the case of the school department. An appro- priation of S2.000 was asked for va cation schools. F. A. Searle asked how many children attended these and Mir. Holmes put the number at 700 pointing out that every time attendance at these schools allowed q child to advance an extra half grade or prevented one from being held back a half year 1t saved six months cost of education.
 When the fuel item came up. George Levitt questioned whether the department was using the most suitable coal and asked if il had eyer tried New River coal. Mir. Holmes replied that'it had not. Mir. Ahbo said that this was used with great success for steam and power purposes.
 An appropriation Of sr69,6 was asked for teaching day schools. this being an increase of $54.630 over last year. A question being raised over this increase, it was pointed out that $1S.00O of the increase was caused by the graded system of pay, while the remainder was due 10 the opsniug of new schools and the con- sequcnt need of additional teachers.
 Tuition Is estimated at S58, 8,G0O, an increase of $500; for janitors' sal aries, $42,So0, an increase of s2,- 500; for janitors' supplies. $2,5o0, an increase Of $500; for open air school supplies. $3,uO0. an increase. of s2OO. An increase of s3.452, making to- tai of S14452, was asked for medi- cal inspection and nurses, Superin- tendent Holmes saying that the de- partment cared for more than 16,VOO public and parochiaI school chi- dren and there is need for two full-timc physicians.
 Other items were: Attendance bu- rcau, S6,O6o, an increase of $SGO to cover salary raises; for school cen- sus, s900; an increase of S100; for clerks, $1O,300, an increase of $500; for printing, $3,GOo, an increase of S500 for evening schools, Sl2,O0O; an increase of S1.000; for supplies, 1,500, an increase of $2,500: for text books, S1S.op0. an increase of SG,OO0 caused by the department $ proposal to replace all music and rithmctic books now in use: for li- brary and apparatus, S2,200. an in crease of S7O0; for repairs and grading, s40.0G0. an increase of s5.- on0; for miscellaneous items, Sln,- 900, an increase of s2,000. The budget totals $9s9,S42. ~