The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1950-06-16
Continued from page one)

the county has to distribute and con-
sequently they will receive more from
State equalization. The county re-
ceiving the tuition consequently has
more loval revenue, and will receive
less from the State.
Elementary tuition between dis
tricts in the same county causes a
hardship only as respects the dis
tricts share of costs. All have the
same initial millage, 5 mills, and all
share in the county 10-mill levy on an
equalization basis. However, it takes
more mills in some districts than in
others to secure revenue over the
foundation program. Elementary tut
ton between districts in different
counties, if large number of pupils
are involved, creates a hardship on
the district paying, as they must
pay both tuition and transportation
from their own funds, without re-
ceiving state and county aid for these
pupils. 1t would seem that logical
solution would be to do away with
tuition altogether excepting for that
part which is an obligation on the
county and local district, but also
allowing the local district paying the
tuition to budget over the founda-
ton program schedule for the amount
of the tuition (if no school, then
foundation program for tuition).
JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICTS
A problem has arisen from the high
school district law wherein parts of
a joint school district operating
high school, may find themselves
taxed twice for high school purposes.
That is, one part of a joint school
district may be taxed for it's own high
school and then be taxed for another
high school in another high school
district of which it is a part. The
for this seems to be to change
the law to read that both parts of !
a joint school district which oper-
ates a high school, will be in the |
high school district of the joint |
school district only The State Board
of Education has ruled for this pro-
cedure for this year.
NEEDS
Increased enrollments and in
creased demands upon the school /
have created a great demand for
new school buildings, both elemen-
tary and high school. With build
ing costs at peak and with school
districts allowed only to bond to
3%o of the assessed valuation, many
schools cannot build the kind of
schools needed. The suggestion has
been made that the situation will
De somewhat eased if the proposed
amendment raising the
go to $50 for building purposes is
passed in the November elections.
Other suggestions have been made to :
allow school districts to build up a
building fund over a period of years,
either by levying taxes or by transfer
If cash balances. Still another sug-
yestion is that the state set aside
. fund of several million dollars for
lid to schools in their building pro-
,rams.
TRANSPORTATION
For many years transportation has
'een growing n transportation
costs have been mounting. This .
.rowth has been accompanied by
duplication of transportation routes
aused principally by an effort on
he part of many schools to secure ..
dditional pupils. Over two million :,
ollars is being spent this year for
and the Department
f Public instruction is determined t
hat this money is going to be eco :
omically and efficiently used. Under !,
resent law, school districts may fur
ish transportation to pupils living
or more miles from the school or d
lay pay transportation to another
,hool or pay for board and room in d
ell of a school. This is optional 8
n the part of school boards. We feel
should be mandatory. During the d
asst year local county committees :,
ere organized in many counties to y
Irvey their own transportation needs u
nd to eliminate duplication of trans d
services. Many such routes l,
ave been eliminated causing a saw u