The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-01-03
pRQp0SED SCHOOL
 DISTRICT CHANGE
 GIVEN TO COUNCIL

The proposal, made by the Ju- neau School Board, to establish an Independent school district in i the Juneau area, was presented at ! the meeting of the City Council held last evening. After a full ex-
 planation of the proposal by Dr. ! James Ryan, Territorial Commis- 1 sioner of Education, the proposal
 was turned ever to the committee on schools which will recommend action to the City Council The : school committee, which is com posed of Edward Nielsen, Burr Johnson and Joseph Thibodeau, ! will meet with the Juneau School Board on Tuesday evening to take the matter under consideration
 pr. Ryan said that the Terri torial Legislature passed a statute in 1885 providing for the formation of an independent school district in the municipality and adjacent areas, providing that the school district area is not larger than 250 square miles. The purpose of the school district is to organize for adequate schooling and also to have everyone pay proportionate share in the school fund. The majority of the voters within this district must agree to the propos- al at special election to be held. In order to hold the election a petition signed by 25 percent of those who voted in the last gen. eral election must be obtained.
 Petition To Court
 The petition is then taken be- fore the District Court and the Judge examines its legality to be sure that the signatures are valid and at his discretion may hold a public hearing. The Court orders an election held and provides Tor the election. If the majority are in favor, the Court then orders the establishment of an indepen- dent school district.
 A school board of five members is elected and draws up a budget and also appoints a member, or hires an assessor, to examine the property outside the city. The tax is determined and the millage rate is established. The law provides that there can be no discrimination
 between the millage rate within and without the municipal envir- l ons. The school board of an in dependent school district has the same power as the city council to levy taxes, issue bonds, and to issue liens against property within its district but outside o1 city limits
 Districts Established
 Dr. Ryan said that both Anchor age and Fairbanks had establish
 ed Independent school districts dur l ing the past year.
 Gi. ny olii opClh14lS dS d ldhpdy-
 CT, said that he was in favor of 1 the proposed plan and said that he
 felt it was not right for the people within the city to pay for the
 schooling of children who reside ] outside of the city.
 i Edwin c. Clark, Superintendent i of Schools, spoke in favor of the plan and said that it should not be considered solely on the need i for new school buildings in this
 area, but whether it was good ] thing or not
 Mckay Malcolm, architect. was
 authorized by the City Council to make survey of the type of re- creation hall needed in Juneau,
 and also to make a preliminary 1 plan for the airport administra- ton building. Funds for planning
 are provided by the Federal Works Administration, and unless the City
 takes immediate action, the funds
 will be withdrawn.
 Other matters taken under con- sideration included the reading of the annual poice report; second reading of proposed ordinances, letter from Judge George w. Folta on the alleged laxity of Juneau law