The people's voice., 1958-10-24


each of which require special legisla-
ton for it's control. The result is a
confusing, complex structure Of over
tapping Jurisdiction, conflicting au-
thority, and duplication of function
in a given area.
2. The law makes it possible for
two boards Of trustees to thwart each
other in establishing a desired junior
high school.
3. The state discriminates between
districts in the autonomy and dis
cretionary powers delegated to the
local schools.
q. Present law permits parts Of a
school district to be annexed to other
districts, thereby reducing its valua-
ton to as little as SIS, 900. A school
district could be emaciated by such
a maneuver.
5. A few school districts in Mon
tana are properly organized on the
basis of sound criteria. However,
their boundaries can exclude areas in
which sound organization or annexa-
6. At present, dissolution of a
county high school district reduces
borrowing capacity to the limit in
the local district. Also, levies are now
divided in part with other districts
regardless of need. Some opposition
to the elimination of county high
school districts is natural conse-
quence.
z. Montana has numerous school dis
tricts which operate no schools, and
provisions for closing them are len
lent.
8. The only discernable trend in re-
ducing the number of school districts
over the past twenty-five years is a
slowing down of the rate during the
asst decade.
8. Local boards of trustees vary
oroportionally in size more than do
he population groups they represent
some trustees are nominated at poor
y attended public meetings, and may
lold office without popular election.
others are required to have nomina-
ion and subsequent election. Still
'thers are selected by the county
10. Vacancies on school boards are
'eing filled by appointees of the
ounty superintendent or the county
commissioners. Additional high school
rustees are chosen by trustees.
IL. The status Of board members
a tsIn t1yIdn aIl 1fl
oint boards may vote. The terms of
chool trustees in Montana vary be- I
ween range from two to four years.
IL. Some boards have authority to !
urchase only property that is ada S
ent to existing school centers. AL
lough the citizens already have con-
'ol over capital outlay through the $
ote on bonding, the purchase Of non I
djacent property also must be sub l.
lifted in referendum.
13. The most heavily populated n
ounties are reported to have the S
reatest number of excessively small e
gh schools. The staff visited one a
,unty in which not more than three t.
enters could serve adequately for II
lie six small high schools now being
)erated n
ID. The states definition of it's a
solated" schools reveals two funda- )
entail errors: truly isolated small IL
hools may not be eligible for this b
assification because the 1920 en- 81
'llment limits are so low; and the II
w limits permit unnecessarily small a
hools to exist without having to cl
tablish their remoteness. o.
15. Attendance area reorganization W
now permissive or discretionary m
,wer of local authorities. Progress
Is been slow because of he lack of 81
Iequate state standards while at la
e same time state aid helps to per- te
tuate the status quo. bt
16. In a given community element re
Y school teachers have been given &c
deserved salary increase by a vote eN
the board; yet the high school tn
achers in the same town were de- IT,
ed an equally deserved raise when tr
e board was reconstructed by adding sh
ur rural members and twenty-five re
ditors (board chairman from other en-