Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-02-09
WILLOW HIGH SCHOOL vs.. WHAT?

WILLOW HIGH SCHOOL vs.. WHAT:
Editor Askov American:
About 100 to $50 people met at the
Willow River high school on Saturday
afternoon, February 4, for the purpose
of hearing arguments for and against
the destruction of the Willow River
school district and the annexation of
the same to the ''unOrganized" terri
tory. All of the imported speakers
favored this destruction, and although
| imported sceakers discussed the sub
ject quite Indefinitely none of them
gave any definite or true reason why
Willow River at this time should
make a change.
The speakers brought out how it
helps the poor bankrupt districts to
help pay the bills If they join the
unorganized district, and yet it was
later shown that our Willow River
district has no outstanding warrants
and has money in the bank and SO far
all bonds and interest on the splendid
IL equipped building have been paid
when due; consequently. there should
be no need at this time to choose to
join an aggregation of poor and
bankrupt" school territory, morgan
lied.
1t was shown somehow vaguely by
the so-called unbiased" speakers that
possibly somehow over $4,000 more
state aid could be obtained for us by
turning over to the unOrganized terri
tory. Yet a few minutes later it was
admitted that we could get no state
aids, as it would go into the jackpot
of the unorganized debts and credits.
Even the $4,000 state aids we are
earning this year would be taken
next September by the county board
of education, and scattered at their
pleasure over their unorganized "em-
pire." This is fine wad of money
| for us to turn over to them after we
have worked hard and saved so as to
build up our present school system
and equipment, which also would be
turned over for their disposal and
management.
The imported speakers pictured the
grand situation of the unorganized
little later was forced to admit that
the unorganized district in KOOchich-
ing county is practically bankrupt and
school orders are discounted $50.
| 1t was claimed by the speakers that
the handling of the Willow school by
the county board of education would
not add anything to the salaries Of
any of the county officials who seem
so vitality interested. Yet it was
proved, and admitted a few minutes
Later, that the law provides that go
of the expenditures be paid these two
county officials for their trouble in
spending this money. For spending
the $4,000 state aids due the Willow
school next September, these officials
would get $4,000 of it. Perhaps that
is one of the good reasons why Koo-
chiching county unorganized territory
is bonded beyond the limit and has
an enormous floating debt?
1t was shown that in our Willow
River district only enough was levied
last fall to insure the payment of the
next bond and interest when due.
With a drop of about $50 in the valu
alton the rate in mills had to go up.
About 500 of the taxes are not paid,
so the amount expected will be about
100000, which is less than one
fourth Of the total budget annually.
State aids cover the remaining ex-
penditures, hence the Willow school
district is in fine shape and far from
bankruptcy.
| Our Willow River high school en-
rollment has grown from "a small en-
rollment of 35 in 1929 to the present
enrolment of 17S.
equipped and the largest high schools
in the county or in the adjacent terri
tory around. Our state aids have
climbed in direct proportion to our
high school enrolment from $4,000 in
1880 to over $4,000 for this year.
The Willow River school receives
nearly one-tenth of all the money dis
tributed to Pine county annually from
the state for roads and schools. This
no doubt is the real attraction and
motive back of this movement) Yet
a few misinformed citizens will sign
a petition to turn this state aid as
well as our splendid up to date school
and equipment over to the county un-
organized bankrupt" jackpot.
AS far as bonds are concerned, Will
low River will have to pay their pres
ent bonds when due anyway, and also
their share of all future bonds floated
in that poverty territory that some
blindly wish to join. Under the change
that is planned, they would pay for
two sets of bonds.
BY arranging to force the bond hold
ers to cut the rate of interest to q