Evening star., 1947-01-20
Virginia 10 Pay
Teachers Raise
Atkontl1' SIND
Some Moy Receive
Lump-Sum Checks;
Labor Fund Planned
BY the Assoeioied Press

BY the Assoeioied Press
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 20. - TIE
State Department Of Education re-
ported today that many of Virginia s
1900 public school teachers may
receive their bonuses" voted by
the extra session of the General
Assembly, at the end of this month.
G. Tyler Miller, State superintend-
ent of public instruction, said ac-
countants were busy drawing up
final allotments of supplementary
funds which the various localities
will receive for the July
period this year under provisions of
the $7,500,000 supplemental school
appropriation bill. The increased
compensation for the initial six
months was authorized to be paid
in a lump sums instead of being
prorated over the monthly salary
checks.
AS soon as local school officials
certify that the locality has appro-
priated sufficient funds to match at
least 80 per cent of the State sup
plement, the Department of Educa-
tion will ask the State controller to
send out the check. Most of the
localities, it appeared, would be able
to pay their TEACHERS Immediately
from local funds and reimburse their
treasures from the State funds next
month.
$2,166,000 for This Year.
The sum of $2,166, 900 was set up
for Increasing the teachers pay dur
ing the rest of this school year, with
an additional $3,675 900 set up for
regular increases next year. Another
$1,000. 900 was appropriated condi-
tionally for 1918.
The appropriation bill, signed by
the Governor Saturday, has no pro-
vision for the manner in which local
authorities may pay the bonus. In
dividual school boards may pay it
out as lump sum now, or at the
end of the school term, or in
monthly amounts.
Mr.. Miller said the Department
Of Education was suggesting to local
boards of supervisors and municipal
councils that sufficient local funds
be set up in budgets for 1947-8,
either conditionally or uncondition-
ally, to match 80 per cent of the
81 100000 in State money which may
be forthcoming. 1t is expected that
most local authorities will draw up
teacher contracts for 1918 to in
clude full share of the State funds
now in the "conditional" category,
with clause permitting reductions
In the contract figures should the
Governor not release the funds.
Additional Taxes Proposed.
Meanwhile, the public school
teachers turned their eyes toward
the regular session of 1948. Robert
r. williams, executive secretary of
the Virginia Education Association,
the State teachers organization, is
sued a statement expressing the
teachers appreciation for the extra
funds voted for schools. He de-
clared, however, that it is apparent
that continued educational advance
ment will not be possible without
additional taxation" He pledged
support to such a program in 1948.
The extra session voted to create
a nine-member commission to study,
before the regular session, the prob
lem of school financing. 1t will give
special attention to the sales tax
and has broad instructions to look
into the whole program of public
school costs. Included is the ad-
visibility of the State taking over
the full cost of instruction and pupil
transportation.
Senator Charles T. Moses, patron
Of the resolution, told the Assembly
that the State should determine
where it was headed in the field. of
public education and that study
OF costs and revenues would pro-
vide information upon which the
1948 session could take affirmative
action.
Labor legislation also came in for
immediate attention.
Labor Fund Planned.
About 200 leaders and members of
the State Federation of Labor met
here yesterday and proposed the
creation of legal fund to be
used for protecting labor organiza-
tions against "infringements" and
ABUSES" caused by two labor bills
approved.
The meeting was concerned also
with mapping the federation's iegis-
lative program for the year-one
item of which was an appeal to or
ganized labor groups throughout the
State to qualify themselves ana their
families for voting in this years
elections. General Assemblymen will
come up for election during the year.
The question Of the legal fund
will go before an early meeting of
the federation's executive board.
Oficials said the collection of the
fund from all labor groups may
begin in the near future.
Other objectives Of the labor group
include increasing the minimum
wage from 80 to rs cents per hour,
free text books in public schools,
and an appeal to members of Con-
gress to stand firmly on the side of
wage earners" by opposing antiiabor
legislation.
IF0fher Delivers