The Western news., 1941-03-27

planation of the need for and the
purposes for which the money is to
be spent is due the patrons OF Dis
trict No. 4. In 1880 the valuation
of this district was $1,826,0O0 A
10 mill levy returned $l8,26O. In
1941 the valuation has decreased to
81 400, 900 and a corresponding levy
yields $4,000 or decrease Of 81, 600
a year for operating expenses. In
1882 and 1888 the district dropped
its levy to 8 mills to correspond to
declining returns in all business.
This meant loss at the time OF
some $1,000. At the same time the
school proposed to eliminate GER
tain departments including manual
training and home economics. Pub
lie pressure, however, would not
allow this to be done and the cut
was made in salaries and running
expenses to overcome the deficit.
Since that time the district has
been operating on a limited budget,
just meeting their obligations by the
strictest economy Last year delin-
quent taxes to the amount OF $1,000
caused the district to issue war
rants to that amount with the re-
suits that such indebtedness was
substracted from the 194O-4l budget.
This compelled the Board to dis
continue one teacher in the grades
and to make cuts in the science,
music, physical education and art
budgets. Taking up the warrants
will cause further cuts in some OF
the grade departments. To clean
the slate and make up the amounts
lost by decreased valuation viii
take the $1,000. Then the regular
budget can all be applied to opera.
ton costs. Under ordinary condi-
Itions the high school budget IS nov
sufficient but all possible expendi'
lures for joint high school and grade
operations are drawn from thi!
source to relieve the insufficient
budget available to the grades.
The present year has brough
nearly a 10 per cent increased en-
rollment in both grades and higl
school. Two sixth grades room nov
enroll As pupils to each teacher
The high school has expanded it
home economies program and 1t
vocational training courses due t
the demand OF local patrons but i
has done so by adding to the loat
of the individual teacher and by cor
responding work. Uniforms Tor tn
band; much needed courses in SCI
ence and history in the high school
building improvements, especiall
an adequate lighting system IN oil
central Ca badly needed feature)
added play ground equipment;
shop for vocational education in me
chanics have been considered i'm
possible on the present budget. Th
new Central building has definitel,
and probably for long time re
lieved the housing shortage in tn
grades, the necessary number G
teachers for the large grades
now the problem In fact, it is dill
ficult to see how the same variet
and quality of service now given ca
be continued unless sufficient teach
ing force is maintained and overdu
equipment is made available.
How does the per pupil cost
this district compare with the n
mainder of the state? The Montan
Taxpayer is considered reliab
|, source and one advocating equi
able taxation. In the June, 1910, i
sue, the Taxpayer gives the averal
! cost of schooling grade pupil +
one year in Montana as $88.47. IT
same paper reports the Libby co
as 1884. In the high school Il
: state per capita student cots
: $l27.5o. The Libby High Scho
!; operates for $11l.38 for the same p
J, Rod. 1t can be seen that the loc
school is operating on lower TIL
! average cost. For the present ye
! the school will operate on the s
r budget but with the knowledge tn
it is handicapping its efficiency
it overlooking teachers and putting {
If needed building repair and equl
i ment programs. The trustees fl
e that due to the smaller returns
t. the regular levy as opposed to I
d increasing demands due to large G
rs rollment, maintenance upkeep a
IS the growing emphasis on vocation
l. training, that $1,000 will be requir
ri ~ balance the 1Q41-42 budget.