The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-04-24
Reasons For
Increase In
School Levy

JOlUU LCVY
An explanation should be made
to the taxpayers of this community
as to why an increase in levy is
necessary. The additional levy would
provide for increase in teacher g
salaries, to hire an additional teach
Ter to care for increased enrolment,
to buy furniture, books and sup
plies for this increased enrollnanG.
and additional cost of student trans
portation. This increase in levy
would also take care of the pw-
chase of all supplies and equip
ment not bought during the years
of shortage. The public should be
aware that the enrolment this year,
1946-47. has increased IL per cent
over that of 1945-46. Conditions
point to an increase the next year,
as more than Is students are m
school this spring than last fall.
The reason for salary increase IS
that the cost Of living has advanced
much more rapidly than the teach
ers' salaries. In 1889 teachers sal
aries trailed industry by is per
cent; in 1916, 48 per cent Teachers
salaries always trail those of in
duStry9 but never so much as now.
The teachers have been faithful and
willing to accept what the COM
munity offered to people profession
ally prepared in the task of edu-
eating the children. The compen-
sation offered the teachers in the
past is no longer sufficient for them
to maintain a standard of living
comparable to the average COM
standard. The average in
crease may seem little high, but
it should also be remembered that
the average salary of the Libby
is somewhat below that
of the average for the rest of the
state.
Many communities in Montana
were unable to get qualified teach
ers last year and had to employ I'm
trained persons in their schools.
thousand teaching jobs
were untitled last year in the ma
ton II will be worse this year.
The teaching profession is dying
because the mass exodus
that has been going on for the past
several years leaves few competent
teachers. Montana ranks thirty
fourth in the average salary paid
to teachers. The legislatures IN
states have sought 10
make the profession more atkrac-
tive; whereas, the Montana legis-
lature has done little. Libby teach
ers are already being offered at
t--otsrya .npfraCfc IN ufnfar alive IN
The situation. The cream of the
crop is leaving the state.
The support of education in Mon
tana has always been borne to a
great extent by the local district.
This year when it was known edu-
cation expenses were increasing
greatly, our legislature tossed the
financial burden more than ever
into the laps of local taxpayers.
Teachers and friends of education,
including our local legislators,
worked diligently for legislation TO
relieve local districts from carrying
the large burden of financing the
schools, but to no avail. Unless
legislation is forthcom-
ing, local districts will be faced
with the same situation every year
The Trustees of School District
No. Four, at their meeting April IA,
accepted the Montana Education
salary schedule as pre-
sented to them by a committee OF
the Libby School faculty. This
schedule has been accepted by the
majority of the districts of the state.
The Libby teachers delayed action
in order to study the various sched-
ules and to fall in line with the
other communities of the state.
Returns from other communities
show that Montana has SUPPORTED
Missoula voted ia
vorably on a 1874 mill levy by 1923
to 30I; Belt agreed to a Is mill levy
by "a to IA; Big Sandy favored a
5 mill levy by 107 to 10. The ele-
mentary levy at Havre for 1l.3
mills passed GIL to 38, and a similar
levy for high school by 638 to IL.
voters approved 6 mills
when only % opposed and 83 IA
vored the levy. Highwood, Butte,
and Billings approved their special
levy. Billings voted z mills for
elementary and mills Tor high
school, Great Falls favored a
mill levy, voting to /, and Living
ston voters agreed to 1876 mills,
272 to SO. Bozeman favored an ID
mill levy by 688 to 119. Lewis
town, Belgrade, Manhattan, Three
Forks, and Gallatin Gateway ap-
proved special levies. Troy voted
a special levy of 20 mills and Eur
eka Is mills.
It is hoped that Libby parents
will be Just as eager to have their
school open in the fall as the a
bove votes indicate the wishes or
other parents.
The third play is an adult comedy