Show What's Happening In Our Schools By EV EVART ART J. J JENSEN School Board Member The data herein presented has been taken from school board audits and obtained from South Sanpete School Board Office and is isas las as near correct as I r h have ve b been en able bl to obtain PROPERTY TAXES AND TEACHERS TEACHER'S SALARIES IN SOUTH SANPETE SCHOOL DISTRICT Property tax collections for public schools for the school year 49 1948 was on onan onan onan an assessed valuation of 5 Property tax collections collections collections for public schools for fo the 61 1960 school year were on an assessed valuation of 00 This is an increase increase increase in in- crease of on practically practically practically the same property Atthe At Atthe Atthe the same time the average daily attendance ranged from 1909 in the 49 1948 total to 1696 a decrease of stu stu- stu-i stu dents In the 49 1948 school year the total salaries paid teachers teach teach- ers principals and supervisors was In the 1960 61 61 school year the total salaries salaries salaries sal sal- aries paid teachers principals and supervisors was or an increase of For the 63 1962 school year the budget for teachers teacher's salaries is I have been unable at the writing to obtain the number of teachers principals and supervisors su suo supervisors for each of the years from 49 1948 to For the school year 63 1962 there is a total of 80 comprised of f teachers principals and supervisors supervisors supervisors super super- visors pa part of which are non- non teaching personnel These are teaching an n estimated average daily attendance of 1746 pupils for the 63 1962 school year Taking the figure of 80 forthe for forthe forthe the past years which very likely was less we get an average increase in each teachers teachers teachers teach teach- ers salary of about from 49 1948 to 1960 As property taxpayers school supporters parents grandparents and board member member member mem mem- ber we now have the right to ask how much improvement we have had in our public schools for this large increase in salaries of average average average aver aver- age during the past 13 years Do our children and grandchildren grandchildren grandchildren grand grand- children read write spell figure figure figure fig fig- ure and know more about sciences and other subjects th- th than n. n children graduated in 49 1948 Are our children taught respect for public property property property prop prop- erty Are their characters improved improved improved im im- proved over children who attended attended attended at at- tended our schools all these salary raises It is claimed by numerous school teacher organizations and others that continually pour more money into our schools makes better schools What have the teachers teacher's who have taught for years especially especially especially espe espe- the past thirteen done to improve their teaching One school administrator said in a public meeting that this could not be determined without without without with with- out a survey Maybe it is time for such a survey It seems that this continuing continuing continuing ing unrelenting pressure for increased teachers teacher's salaries placed upon legislators the legislature and school boards should be measured in the light of improved teaching rather than using the thread threadbare threadbare threadbare bare argument of dumping more money into the schools so as to Keep up with the J Joneses The pressure of the argument argument argument ment that other districts and other states pay more therefore therefore therefore there there- fore we have to have more money It appears that the present legislators and legislature legislature legislature legis legis- lature should stop this vicious spiral and stop the yearly pressure and demands on school boards for annual salary salary salary sal sal- ary increases by enacting legislation legislation leg leg- patterned after one of the southern states by setting salaries for teachers for the entire state based on economic and other conditions If the present legislature does not do this where will this unrelenting pressure for higher salaries ever stop When will the teacher groups ever be satisfied Where will all this money come from as property taxes on many farmers farmers farmers farm farm- ers whose income is down 18 to 20 per cent most of the years since 1947 based on parity parity parity par par- ity ratio Property taxes are almost on small farmers in our area at present During my tenure on the board I have advocated and now advocate salary increases of quite an amount on teachers teach teach- ers from the first to the seventh seventh seventh sev- sev year tenure none beyond that except on the basis of improved teaching That no nomore nomore nomore more property tax increases be allowed That increases in income tax carry the bill so that many of these persons who have moved into the state and others locally who have a number of children in school but own very little property and draw big wages pay their then just share for educating their children |