Smyrna times., 1947-01-16

Delaware's citizens.
State Board of Education
The State of Delaware needs a
strong central agency to direct and
control public education. This job
is assigned by law to the State
Board of Education, which is en-
powered to exercise general con-
troll and supervision over the pub
lie schools of the State" and to
determine the educational policies
of the State.
More specifically, the State
Board of Education can make
rules and regulations which are
binding on all public schools. The
Board is responsible for (1) the
hygienic, sanitary, and protective
construction of school buildings,
(2) the grading and standardiza-
tion of public schools, (3) the is
suance of diplomas and certificates,
(4) the establishment of minimum
courses of study, (5) the choice of
text books, f6) the certification of
teachers, Cd the establishment of
a schedule of salaries for teachers
in each school district Tin coopera-
ton with the respective districts) !,
81 the preparation of an approved
list of high schools, for use in ap-
portioning State funds, (9) the es-
tablishment of school hours and
holidays, (10) the enforcement of
school attendance, (1D the phys
ical examination of pupils, (12)
giving special attention to handi-
capped children, OBJ administra-
tion of scholarship plan and (14)
through special acts, provide for
commercial courses in certain high
schools and extra grades in desig-
mated schools.
There are six members on the
State Board of Education, and they
are appointed by the Governor for
overlapping three-year TENS. Not
more than three of the six board
members can belong to any one
political party, and it is required
that there be at least one member
from Wilmington, one from New
Castle County outside of Whining
ton, and one each from Kent and
Sussex Counties. The Board men,
bers receive expense money and
an annual salary of from $25.00 to
100000 depending on how many
days the Board is in session. The
only qualifications for Board MEM
bers, beyond the discretion of the
governor, are that Board members
must have been residents of Della
ware for five years and that they
must not be in any way subject to
the Boards authority. In addition
to the six regular members of the
Board, the president of the Uni
versity of Delaware and the State
College for Colored Students are
established as ex-officio members.
The State Board of Education
appoints State Superintendent of
Public Instruction (the present in
cumbent is DR.. George R. Miller)
to be its executive secretary. The
term of the Superintendent IS one
year. The only qualification fixed
by law are that the Superintendent
shall be college graduate and
shall have had at least five years
experience in teaching and admin
istration. The Board may impose
further requirements, however.
The Board of Education is re-
quired to provide free schools for
children of ages 6-21, inclusive.
Separate schools must be provided
for Negro and White children, but
no funds are to be allotted to any
sectarian, church, or denomination
al school. The Board is also given
authority to establish kindergart-
ems and Fairgrounds.
The law provides that a refer
endum is required to change the
boundaries of a school district or
to consolidate two or more ele-
mentary schools, with certain ex-
ceptions. The State Board may,
without referendum approval, con-
solidate a one-room school with
neighboring school district, if the
one-room school has had less than
twelve students for three school
years.
The Board is required to submit
to the Governor and General AS
sembly through the Permanent
Budget Commission, biennial
budget covering, among other
items, funds required for teachers
salaries, textbooks, approved state
high schools, and elementary
schools. The Board must also
make an annual report to the Gov
ernor and public. This shall in