Smyrna times., 1957-08-01
PLAN SCHOOL
REFERENDUM
School Board Authorizes
S360,000 Building Referen-
dunn to Be Held Oct. 5
CITE PRESSING NEEDS

The Board of the Smyrna Spec
ial School District authorized a
local building referendum to be
held on October 5, 1857 at spec
ial meeting on Wednesday, July
25, at 8 pm. The board decided
to have this referendum as soon
as possible because of the press
ing need for this construction.
Following the referendum, bonds
must be sold, plans for the addi-
tions drawn and approved, and
bids advertised before actual con-
struction can begin. This process
usually takes 5 to s months. The
local referendum will authorize
the sale of $36O,OOO worth of con-
struction bonds, the local dis
trict's share in a 100000 build
ing program. The state will pay
for the other so percent. In addi-
tion, the board approved action
on the $4,000 for the Thomas D.
Clayton School. The state will pay
the total cost of this construction.
The growth in the teaching staff
in the district points up the
growth IN the district. In 1954-55
there were 48 teachers in the dis
trict, last year there were 81
teachers. The district has been told
it is now allowed SO teachers, and
probably September enrollments
will increase this number. The
district had new units last year,
the same as the growth in Caesar
Rodney School District. Net en-
rollment during 1956-57 was 1888
pupils. This figure does not in
clude pupils who transfer from
the district to other districts in
the state during the year. Next
years first grade enrolment is
expected to make this grade one
of the largest in the school. The
proposed construction will consist
of additions to all schools of the
district. The elementary school
will be enlarged to total of %
rooms, library, an adequate
cafeteria-auditorium, a teachers
room, necessary storage room,
and the present Office rooms and
nurses room. This building will be
able to accommodate 640-660 ele-
mentary pupils. The present ele-
mentary enrolment in the dis
trict is SAT pupils. All elementary
pupils would be housed in this
building. Additions to the high
school would provide for its use
as an all secondary school build
ing. Many areas which were ade-
quate when the building was US
ed as a combination elementary
secondary building are now made
quate. Additional construction will
include gymnasium, additional
industrial arts facilities, and GER
tain renovations to science and
academic facilities. With all the
elementary pupils transferred to
the new elementary school, it is
estimated that the high school
will accommodate about 675-700
secondary pupils. There are now
$50 secondary pupils in this dis
trict, and this number seems to
be increasing rapidly. The Thom-
as D. Clayton addition will pro-
vide necessary classroom space.
At the present time, two grades
are being taught in one room, and
one class is meeting in the cafe
terra. The present building has 5
classrooms. During the recent at
tempt by the State Legislature to
reduce the size of the construc-
tion bill and defer passage of a
portion of this bill until January,
Smyrna's part was considered of
sufficient Importance to be includ-
ed in the reduced bill slated for
immediate passage. Following gen.
eral opposition to reduced bill,
the legislature passed the entire
construction bill in it's original
form. A special meeting is being
planned so that all residents of
the Smyrna Special School Dis
trict may be able to hear first
hand the details of the proposed
construction. Much of the pro-
posed high school construction
grows out of recommendations of
the evaluation of the high school
by the Middle States Accrediting
Association. The district must re-
port before November on any
proposed changes which are being
made in accord with recommen-
dations of this committee.