Show disappointing but but- News last week reporting that Grand County School District would not receive 1175 thousand In Federal money promised under a Public Law 81 i preliminary survey survey sur sur- vey was Wag disappointing inting to many who had anticipated an end to double sessions in elementary school next year Loss of the expected funds was Wag due to transfer of F Federal deral lands to private ownership the land in question t f being responsible for the employment of many parents who have children in the local district school Public Law provides funds for federally im areas that areas that is areas where employment on government government government gov gov- pr property or projects creates housing problems in school facilities These funds have been bem used by the local district all during the past decade as uranium claims on families Southeastern t Utah federal land brought many to rn e-rn Oil activity and more r rt recently the potash activity have qualified the district for additional aid following the original grants during the uranium boom When announcements were first made several weeks ago pertaining to the newest grant it was hoped by school officials that additions could be made to the Helen HelenM M M. Knight elementary school o eliminate double sessions throughout the district by sometime next year Now since financing for lor the construction must bedone be be- bedone bedone done locally locally and and since bonds recently issued for construction construction construction tion of a u new hi high h school almost exhaust the possibilities of further bond bonding appears almost certain that double sessions will be with us for a few years more In some respects thus this is unfortunate Certainly maximum maximum maximum maxi maxi- mum education is not possible under such a situation and extra wear and tear on existing f facilities is magnified magni magni- fied when buildings are used twice as long each day However there are blessings involved which will begin to be felt in a few years and which will contribute to toa toa a healthy school system for many years A school districts district's real financial well well-T well being eing rests in its ability to levy property taxes on a broadened assessed valuation In areas where considerable areas of land are not privately owned undue hardships are placed on the property taxpayer And more important the money is raised locally where it is put to use A district is then not dependent on hit and miss federal payments and can plan capital improvements in a systematic method Public Law Law funds have been well wiell utilized in inGrand inGrand inGrand Grand district The loss of this years year's expected grant will vill willbe willbe be felt in the immediate future But in the final analysis this district will be in a much more independent position over the years t |