Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-02-16

Is over $70,0O0,OO0 and has its source
in the following items: Sales of state
lands, sale of timber, mineral per-
mits and leases, royalty OH iron ore,
occupation tax on iron ore, etc. This
money is invested in the school build
ings of Minnesota. Over 500, zoo, 900
is loaned to school districts for build
ing purposes This is one of the SAT-
est investments possible. The annual
interest on this money forms the prin-
cipal source of our state aids to
among all the states in the Union
in the amount of available school
funds.
3. Please note that whatever this
district receives through state aids
has nothing to do with local taxes, but
comes as a gift from the state of Min
nesota whose founders had vision
of the educational advancement of its
people.
4. The public in general is prob
| ably not fully aware of the fact that
the Willow River high school state
aids and expenditures have now this
year reached point where they meet.
In other words the operation of the
high school here is a gift to this COM
munity, from the state. 1t is certain
that when all facts are presented and
understood, that no loyal citizen or
booster would harbor thought for
the discontinuance of our Willow
River high school, one of the largest
and best in Pine county.
5. Our high school enrolment has
grown from 30 in 1929 to 17S this
year. This increase in high school
enrolment has increased our state
aids over eleven thousand dollars
| (S11 ,00O) annually. The total state
aids for last year (recived this year,
amounted to over sixteen thousand,
five hundred dollars, and the total ex-
penditureS last year for operation,
supplies, additional equipment and
books to take care of increased en-
rOllment, etc., amounted flor the
graded school and the high school
here at Willow River) to less than
nineteen thousand dollars. We are
now on a cash basis.
| 6. This school year we are spend
| ing the same amount as last year and
we are taking care of fifty per cent
| increase in our high school enroll
ment with the necessary additional
state aids, however, for this year
| (Which will be due us next Septem-
ber) will amount to over $4,000.
Which is even more than we are
spending this year to operate and
maintain both our high school and our
graded school. We will have money
left over for much needed extra
teacher next year.
7. Surely this $4,000 is not only a
splendid gift from the state, but also
should be appreciated by every citi-
zen in this community. With this
money we are making a bigger and
better school and have now reached
a point where our equipment, etc., is
up to the state requirements in every
sense, and we are now able to serve
a wide territory.
8. This is not only an advantage
to each and every voter, parent, and
businessman in our school district
but also a direct advantage to most of
the people in our surrounding terri
tory. who send pupils to our state
operated high school, Yet there are
a few misinformed citizens who would
insist that we Join the semi-bankrupt
schools now already in the morgan
lied territory. AS any one with fair
intelligence and fair mind can see
it would not possibly help us, but
within a few years most people in this
whole territory would most certainly
be sorry.
9. Indications also make it very
clear that our high school enrolment
would no doubt drop back to where
it was few years ago. We would
lose our present classification, and
even the unorganized territory would
thus lose this rich harvest of state
aids now earned by our school, at
which certain outside" politicians
now seem to look longingly.
10. There is no one that could pos
sibly manage a growing, self-support-
ing school system any better than
your present local control. Study it
carefully and look before you leap.
A. E. GUSTAFSON.