The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1929-01-02
RAISE in COST TO
TEACH IS REPORTED
State Commissioner of Educa-
ton Shows Maintenance Av-
erage was $SO.62 in 1923

Taxpayers of Minnesota paid
$80.42 as maintenance for each school
pupil in Minnesota the last school
year, compilation made public by
j. M. Mcconnell, state commissioner
of education showed.
The average maintenance cost for
each pupil in the 514 high school and
graded elementary districts was
S94.13, while in the 1920 rural dis
tricts the average maintenance was
$55.
The average maintenance cost per
pupil is steadily mounting, the report
shows, for in 1927 the average for
the entire state was $79.43 and in
1926, $3.50.
Mr. McConnell's report, which in
cludes a financial statement for all
public schools of the state, shows
that:
More than $2S,OOO,O0O was paid in
the form of salaries to teachers the
last school year.
These, together with payments for
textbooks, library books and supplies
used for instruction, amounted to
6S.7 per cent Of the total cost of
maintenance.
The next largest cost of mainten-
ance was janitor's salaries, repairs
and upkeep of buildings and equip
ment, amounting to $8,662,891, or
1875 per cent of the total mainten-
ance.
Although local districts bear the
heaviest burden of school costs, the
state contributes a generous portion
toward maintenance and more in the
last two years than ever before, or
approximately 20 per cent.
Total revenues of schools the last
year decreased, amounting to $685.
O6O,997, of which $10,814,469 was
contributed by the state. In 1927
total revenues were $54,320,157, of
which the state contributed $10,891,-
679, and in 1926, total revenue was
55,649,354, of which the state fur
nished S10,081,6 SIT, or Is per cent.
At the same time, Mr.. McConnelPs
report showed, enrolment has in
creased steadily, total enrolment in
1928 being 552,794.
By far the largest share of revenue
is raised for graded elementary and
high school districts, amounting to
S41,679,343 in 1928, while rural
schools required S11,3S5,657 for their
operation. Proportionately rural
schools receive more aid from the
state, their aid being 26.8 per cent of
their total revenue, while state aid is
1876 per cent of the revenue of the
graded elementary and high school
districts.
According to an analysis made by
Christopher Lindahl, chief account
ant in the state department of edu-
cation, each rural school pupil was
represented by state aid of 1858
paid the district while the high and
graded elementary school districts,
received S2103 per pupil. Although
the percentage realized by rural dis
tricts was HIGHER, the actual per pu
pill contribution was smaller.
Mr.. Lindahl also found that the So
payments for lands, buildings and
equipment showed a decided decrease
from 1927 to 1923. He said this
could likely be accounted for by the
fact that many localities have fur
nished extensive building programs in
recent years. In all, there are ITO
school districts in the state.
For land, buildings and equipment
S4,677,473 was spent in 1923. More
than twice this amount, $9,434, 842
was expended for this purpose in
1926. In the meanwhile, however,
school districts are paying more each
year representing principal and in
terest on bonds issued for improve
ments now enjoyed. For this pur-
pose, $4,017,644 was spent in 1925
Marshall News-Messenger.