The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1948-03-25

forum Friday night, sponsored by
the educational committee of the
Chamber of Commerce, o. L. Gill
Iespie, chairman The meeting re-
suited in a united request to the
school board of District 4, and the
Libby High School, that a new
bond issue be submitted to the
qualified voters of their districts.
The proceeds of the bonds, if ap-
proved would first, provide funds
for additional grade school facili-
ties, and secondly additional funds
of approximately $3.50 for the
gymnasium auditorium Sup't Gil
lespie explained that the $115,000
approved for that building at the
bond election in 1916, has not been
used because of unsettled market
conditions, rising costs of building
and insufficient money to complete
the project according to plans
The meeting was opened by
Paul Church, president of the Lib
by Chamber who announced that
the sustained yield plan for use of
the forests would be completed by
the middle of April, also that the
charter for the golf association has
been received by w. J. Anderson,
chairman of the committee He
further reported a meeting of the
state chamber, recently held at
Butte. He stated that o. L. ShreVe,
president of the National Cham
Der, was present and stressed edu-
cational progress in the nation,
calling attention to Bill 472 in Con-
gress which if passed, will provide |
S300.000,000 federal funds for dis
tributiOn to the states for children |
between the ages of 5 and II: and /
no state will get less than S. per
pupil. The fund will be used for |
maintenance instruction. books, |
etc. Disadvantages of the plan are,
a tendency toward federal gov
eminent control of schools. and
possible RECOMMENDATION. he said. A
complete explanation of the sub
ject may be found in the February
issue of The American Mr. Church
urged that all persons interested
pro or con, write to our congress-
men, Senator James Murray and
Representative Mike Mansfield in
Washington, D. c. The bril- will
come up in April
At this point music was furnish
ed by the high school girls Choir
us. directed by Dean Vinal
Mr.. Gillespie, program chairman
introduced members of the panel
as follow: Willard M Hiatt pres.
p T. A.. Mrs Louise LeDuc, Lib
by Woman's Club: Miss Josephine
Octabec, principal grade schools;
Mrs. F. c. Robertson, secretary of
the Kootenai Valley Grange: Mrs
Owe Larson, Modern Arts Club;
Ed Dutton. Labor representative;
Sherman Noel, school maintenance
man; W. c. collars, Pres School :
Board; Paul Church. Chamber of !
Rep c. d. Rowe, and I
Fred Brinkman, Kalispell archi-
.ect. The audience also participat-
ed freely in the discussions.
Miss Octabec stated that a ser 7
Gus grade room shortage will exist !
next fall when two more teachers
Will be needed to handle the in q
,reased school population in Lib =
by with no classroom space avail =
lble. She reported that in the old +.
trade building the classrooms are =
90 small in proportion to number 7
# pupils Accommodated to satisfy =
he State Board of Health which =
equires that each child have 21O !,
ubic feet of air space Also cloak Il
ooms, WorkroomS for teachers, II
railways and storeroomS for sup =
lies are inadequate. Eighty child y
en- must eat lunch in the base u
nent with poor accommodations. \
he building presents fire hazards =
lSo, with present crowded condi- A
ions, she stated This fact was en- r
arged upon by audience partici- p
ants. During the discussion Sup't \
gillespie mentioned that the build
1g is in better shape now than it
yas several years aio but now -
ouses about 300 children.
Fred Brinkman, architect ans
Jered questions submitted by the c
ublic regarding possible building SC
lanS, types of building materials, re
osts for both grade school and Oh
auditorium He dis tt
outraged the idea of erecting tenn OF
orary buildings, stating they are in
OF sanitary, are a fire hazard, and al
ley do not bring out the best eff l.
)rts of the architect They are not m
ppreciated by the public, and af- tn
sr construction are apt to become tn
Brinkman said, adding
lat maintenance, heating and jan SO
orial costs would be high. Mem M
ers of the Morgan Construction E.
O., who were present, questioned &C
rinkman regarding materials to FL
e used in construction of the M
YIN auditorium, the comparative M
lerits of wood and steel trusses, HI
nd the method of arriving at the te
mount of bids. They offered to D.
rovide the school board with oh
emized lists of costs of materials Pl
to Brinkman's plans. 81:
An interesting sidelight was pro- Pi
0sed by L. A. Bower of Meadow -,
fountain Ranch, who suggested III
lie possibility of securing an arm
~ for Libby, rs per cent of the f.,
)stS to be met by the federal III
and having a posi- -
lie payroll of $4,000. This, he be- M
eyed, could take the place of a NJ
auditorium for school NJ
nd community purposes. Addi- M
onal information on this subject M
being sought.