Milford chronicle., 1931-01-16
State Contingent Fund

each fiscal year, beginning July next
"a contingent fund of $4,000 to
meet emergencies like those of la
year among which were:-the
Brandywine Sanitarium situation
that was saved by a personal con-
tribution, failure of the water sys-
tenn at the Ferris School and a
burst boiler in the Home for feeble
Minded at Stockley. Such contin-
gencies as we'll as more serious
ones, are likely to occur any year
and a way to meet them is needed.
Expenditures from a fund of the
kind should be with the written con-
sent of the governor, secretary Of
state, auditor an dtreasurer, or the
governor and two. All Withdrawals,
l think, should be accounted for to
the succeeding Legislature and any
| balance in the account at the close
of fiscal year should revert to the
General Fund.
Department of Public Instruction 4
Delaware is to be congratulated
upon her splendid educational sys-
TEN. In no period of the States his
tory have our citizens been more
eager to provide the very best fa-
cilities and have their children take |
full advantage of the opportunity |
given them. Our schools are train
ing and equipping boys and girls
for leadership in every department |
of life. The future greatness, the
character, in fact the destiny of the
State is in a large degree in the
hands of those whose minds and
hearts are being fashioned in our
schools.
The 102nd General Assembly gem
erously appropriated $3,250,OO0 for
each of the fiscal years the then en-
suing biennium. The State Board of
Education after allOting certaini
sums to the special school districts
and the City of Wilmington, pro-
ceeded to expend the balance, ST.
3345, ,569.49 for the operation and
of the schools directly
under it's care. 1t discharged its re-
sponsibilities so efficiently that at
the end of the fiscal year, June 80,
1890, there remained a credit bal !
ance Of S56,O12.17. 4
The, School Budget as approved /
)y me in October carries an increased {
If SO in the 1929 appropriation, re- s
Iuested by the State School Board q
BECAUSE of so increase in enroll /
nent. Since the budget went to b
,ress, have further considered the 2
recommended allowance and must c
eport to you now that I believe it
o be 100000 in excess Of what Wilt f
e needed. G
wish to bring to your attention r.
ne bad feature of the School Code; b
amely, that section which fixes Fl
be terms of the members of the al
oard whereby they all expire on S!
lie same date. This is entirely too
npOrtant commission to risk the
of a complete turnover -
/ its membership; at one time, and =
would be wise precaution to e,
mend the law in such manner y
lat the terms of these officials -
ould terminate two years apart. 81 81
Payments to Special School N
Districts a,
Approximately $717, 900 of the 49, is!
0,O00 school appropriation for the HI
Ist fiscal year was allotted the spe- "
al school districts outside the City lie;
Wilmington. When disbursing be
nds of this character the State ly
by request of the State =
,ard of Education, pays stated tic
lounts to the county treasurers p.
10 pay all vouchers approved by its
2 District School Boards. Such ou
Ocedure has nothing to commend ISL
and should be changed to allow ent
: state treasurer, upon receipt of du
proved warrants from the dis gel
cts certified by the auditor, to dis 4
rse this money. Only in this way tha
l the auditor correctly classify Ger
1enditures from the school fund. red
New Schools will
wish to report that have been apl
cially informed by the school au- zen
rites that to complete the build lot
program for school, exclusive of sur
ligh school in Wilmington, will l
uire $4,125,000. Without a doubt qua
best use that can be made of a ueh
t of the surplus in the school Aiel
d is to apply it to the construc- ele'
| of new schools, and for the ueh
pose recommend that three sew
lion dollars be appropriated for geo
two-year period, that forty per Sle
of this amount be allotted to per
School Board of the City of Will siial
gton, and sixty per cent to the uUW
he School Board. any
here is one feature of the school Zen
ding program heretofore over the
led which 1 consider of such i'm sucl
.ance that l urge it be corrected now ~,
provided for in the future. re- =
to the need in a number of Desl
es of entrances or driveways to- anu
new rural schools. Vehicles way
school children should iulie 10
only be able to,-but in the in uiia'
st of safety to the pupils, be re- can
ed to load and unload within N
grounds and not on the public anu
ways. Moreover, motor cars of lace'
hers and others attending the 0CaI'
ols ought to have space to park eAGel
in the grounds and not be left nile ne
he highway where they interfere IN
the rights of everyday traffic. St Se >. .
School Investment Fund @ e. ,
lie auditors 1880 report lists Sc tenal
lies owned by the State, from ners,
h the annual income of $72,- thine
o is credited to the school fund iod n