Evening star., 1943-01-02
School Board
Scores City for
Fund Refusal
Alexandra Faces
Short Term Threot
From Lack Of Gosh

Having voted to abandon q gen
tlemen's agreement" with the Alex
andris City Council, under which
any differences were to be discussed
with that body before they wore
aired In the press, the Alexandra
School Board has made public q
letter to the Council protesting the
allotment for operation Of schools
IN the 1o43 budget.
The Council appropriated $34o, 900
tor operation Of schools this year
The School Board had asked $360, ,761
The letter, signed by Leroy Bend
helm. chairman of the board, asks
the Council for a public hearing
February to reconsider the matter
Pay Boost Approved.
The board advised the Council
that 1t will grant $50 increase In
salary to the teachers in view of
the fact that all other departments
In the city have been granted sal
Rry raises to meet rising living costs
and because failure to grant the
false would result in "a Wholesale
exodus of teachers from the public
school system"
1t further stated that it cannot
iorego the employment of additional
teachers, whose services are essen
tial, especially in the operation Of
the new Janney's Lane School, which
Is expected to open In February to
gAruo fha roeidayte ~ 70 -, oroy, Wal
ley and Chinquapin Village.
The only alternative remaining
y to shorten the school term, and
Mr.. Bendheim said that in 50 doing
the schools would lose accredited
ratings with the State Board Of
Education and the Southern Asso-
eiation Of Colleges and Secondary
Schools. which require a session of
not less than 180 teaching days.
The School Board has expressed
its willingness, in the event that
the additional allotment is granted,
to return any unused portion If
more Federal funds are received
than are pow anticipated or If the
school enrolment decreases due to
l8 and 19-ysar-old youths being
taken for military service.
Mayor William r. Wilkins had
previously expressed the opinion
that the increase in enrolment for
1942-S over the previous year did
not justify the appointment of ad-
ditional teachers. He also said that
the schools were granted $25, 900
more than proposed In the city
budget as originally drawn and
claimed the amount should more
than take care of the increase in
salaries for the present teaching
staff.
Superintendent Answers.
In answer to this, T. c. williams,
superintendent Of schools, said that
although the increase Is enrolment
Of 267 pupils actually justified eight
additional teachers, the School
Board was not seeking to increase its
btaf Of grade teachers.
Two additional physical education
teachers are needed to comply with
new State regulations calling for
four years of physical education in
high school instead of two; one
home economies teacher is needed
TO instruct pupils In nutrition, home
conservation methods and other sub
sects directly related to wartime
education; two music teachers and
two Librarians are needed also in
order to maintain the high stand
ards set for the schools, according
% Mr.. Williams
Although the School Board states
N its letter that it would regret
shortening the school term and
thereby losing accredited standing
because this loss would undoubtedly
result In a less desirable community"
members Of the board have stated
definitely that the term will be cut
10 absorb the deficit If the council
boes not grant the additional sum
requested.