Evening star., 1948-03-21
Teachers Pay Raise:
Heads School Bills
Passed by Assembly
By the Assoeioted Pres,

RICHMOND, Va, Mar. 20-Forty-
seven bills and joint resolutions re-
lating to public education in Vir-
ginia were enacted by the 1948
General Assembly and SO such meas
ures failed Of passage.
A list Of all legislation affecting
the school system introduced in the
rrecentt session has been sccanpiledI
by G.. Tyler Miller. state silperii1-
tendent Of public instruction, who
has forwarded the compilation to all
division school superintendents.
:, Meanwhile taxation and public
revenues, center Of controversy in
the recent General Assembly, will
be a top subject OF legislative study
between now and convening time Of
the 1850 assembly.
A check of studies ordered by
the 1948 session, which adjourned
q week ago. pointed to the tax
issues as foremost in public interest
among some 20 problems referred to
the Virginia advisory legislative
council and other study groups.
Miller Satisfied.
Another major study will delve
again into public welfare admins
tration and costs.
instruction Superintendent Mil
Ter expressed satisfaction today that
all measures advocated by the de-
partment of education won ap-
proval OF. the legislators, although
in the matter of school appropria-
tions the lawmakers voted consid-
erably less than was asked.
AS the appropriations bill
emerged, it carried $50, ,028,145 from
the general fund, plus $1,000 900
from poll taxes and $580,000 from
interest on the literary fund, for
school purposes in the 194S-50 BIZ
ennium.
Funds Up III Million.
Increases in funds for schools dur
ing the next two years as compared
with the current biennium totalled
s11. .309, ,45l. Mr.. Miller said the
additional money will mean an
average salary increase OF about
$3.50 for Virginia school teachers,
but emphasized that this figure Is
only an average.
Some teachers will get raise
of less than that and some Will
get more" he said. Maximum salary
increases will be from about $110 to
5000, he added.
Mr.. Miller also termed important
an act which will increase from
60 to 30 cents per pupil state aid to
localities for provision of free text
books in elementary grades. The
act provides 1862 500 for each year
of the biennium.
Important to Virginias physical
school plant is an act which will
permit localities to apply for liter
ary fund loans for alterations in
school buildings. The act was
sponsored by Senator Raymond R.
Guest of Warren County. Such
loans heretofore could be used
only for new construction or addi-
tions to schools.
Other Enactments.
Other school bills enacted in
clude those to:
| Repeal law forbidding high
school students 20 years and six
months of age to enter literary and
athletic contests. and leave age
limits to be determined by high
school literary and athletic leagues.
Provide for calling for an amend
ment to the State constitution to
repeal the poll tax and permit levy
of an annual capitation tax OF So
| for schools.
Permit sick leave without loss
of pay to teachers. within regula-
tions to be established by the State
Board of Education.
Provide for periodic surveys OF all
nonfireproof school buildings, re-
ouire correction OF fire hazards and
| institute monthly instead Of BIZ
monthly fire drills.
Bills defeated included several
sales tax measures from which the
school system would have derived
revenue; one to set up State bus
system for school pupils. another to
establish q separate school for the
blind white children Of Virginia,
and another to require driver edu-
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