The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-10-05
STATE TEACHERS
GET 81 MILLION

RALEIGH, N. c., Oct. 4.@R-
North Carolina paid its school
teachers total of $31, 787, 321.94
during the 1e44-45 school year, or
82.57 per cent of the total opera
ting costs of the nine-months
school program.
This was revealed today in an
audit of the nine-months school
fund submitted to the State Board
of Education by c. D. Douglas,
chief auditor for the Department of
Education.
In all, the state spent $38, 498, 008.-
So in operating the public school
program during the fiscal year
which ended last June 80. This
was an increase of 81 ,529, 259.84, or
Ala per cent over the total outlay
for the schools the year before.
In addition. the audit showed that
for the first time in the history
of the state all salary differentials
in white and Negro school teacher
pay was eliminated. A fund of more
than $5O0,00O was used to place all
Institutional salaries on the same
schedule of pay.
There were 24,323 teachers and
principals employed in the ITO ad
ministrative units of the state, COM
pared with 24,327 the year before
On comparative basis, white
elementary teachers received $16,-
219,700.01 in salaries, and colored
teachers of the same classification
received $7,73O, 1888 or 20.O8 per
cent of the total cost of instruction.
Douglas audit showed that since
the 194142 school year, state spend
ing for public schools has increased
by more than $40, 500,0 900, much of
which went to finance the ninth
month and to pay bonus to school
teachers.
Broken down, last years total
expenditures from the nine-months
fund went like this: Institutional
service and supplies $32, 002, 289. 70,
operation of plant, $1,963, 546.19;
fixed charge. $19,O96.21; and al.
Hillary agencies, $3,501, 92162.
The schools this year are opera
ting on budget of $3S, SOC, 7O5. 40.
Comptroller Paul Reid told a
rousing meeting of the board, held
to adopt new textbooks for use
in the school system, that several
school units reported they had
enough fuel on hand to last only
few weeks.
Reid said the fuel situation "is
not alarming right now" but that
there was little. doubt that some
school units would have to close
unless their fuel supplies could be
supplemented within the next
week or so. Coal for the school
system is purchased through the
states division of purchase and
contract.
In other actions the board voted
to reconsider it's recent action re-
lating to the hauling of Mecklen.
burg and Castor county school
children to the State Vocational
Textile School at Belmont. At
previous meeting the board de-
clined to let state school buses
be used for transporting the chill
dren, on the ground that such
would be illegal.
however, the board said it now
had written ruling from Attor-
ney General Harry Mcmillan say
ing the matter was discretionary
with the board. The matter now
has been referred to the boards
committee on transportation.
A loan of $4,000 was extended
to Jackson County to be used in
rebuilding school structure de-
stroyed by fire, and also loaned
Chatham County $4,000 for use in
its lunch room program. The
money will come from the state
library fund.
The board approved the request
Of the Kinston administrative unit
to call for a vote on the levying of
a special 81 cent tax on the $500
valuation, the money to be used
in general school Improvements
and in raising teacher salaries.