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Show The Financial Aspect ofi Consolidation Set Forth Supt. R. V. Larmen Shows That .The Gost of Educating Children Has Materially Decreased During Last Year That tho financial stdo of consolidation consoli-dation is a success, Supt. R. V. Larson of tho county schools essays to show in this Issue. Last issue ho showed that tho enrollment of students had Increased greatly, that tho number of teachers employed had gono upward, and that tho conditions so far as attendance at-tendance is concerned havo materially mater-ially benefitted undor consolidation. Supt. Larson now points out somo of tho financial advantages that consolidation consoli-dation has brought to tho schools. It has been charged that under consolidation con-solidation taxes woro hlghor, however, an examination of tho records show that tho avorago tax preceding consolidation consol-idation was Vj mills. Of courso some districts with much railroad or othor corporato property, and a small school population ran their schools on a much lowor tax levy. Tho aorago total expenses of tho Bchools of tho county for tho years i C, '00 and '07 were $93,000, tho principal prin-cipal Items In this expenditure wore na follows; j Teachers salaries $35,000.00 Now buildings 1C.000.00 . Text books 3,000.00 I Curront Expenses 4.C00.00 Trustees salaries 2,200.00 Janitors' salaries 2,500.00 ! Other disbursements . . . . 7,500.00 To compnfo with theso figures wo present thoso of 1910, which wa3 tho most oxponslvo year of consolidation: .Total oxpcnse3 $103,000.00 Toachors' salaries 50,000.03 , For now buildings, 1910 . . 12,000.00 ( For now toxt books 1,700.00 School suppllos 3,500.00 Current expenses . , . . . . 4,500.00 For payment of board mora hers ;., 1,900.00 For Janitors 4,000.00 Other disbursements 8,000.00 Cost per capita, studonts enrolled, 1006, $24.25; 1910, $24.20. Cost por capita per day, 1900, lGc; 1910, 14c. Uy theso figures ,2c por day is saved for every student enrolled which shows a saving to tho county of $83.00 por day undor consolidation. Noto that wo Increased tho numbor of teachers from 81 to 99 nearly 23 por cent. Salaries Increased from 1900 to 1910, 17 per cent. That Is certainly a conservative In-cicnso In-cicnso when wo consider what the lncrcaso of wages has been in nl other lines of work during tho same ' period. Tho number of teachers has been increased in-creased 25 per cent, tho length of tho school year 10 per cent, and tho numbor num-bor of children attouding school in 2-3 per tent, whllo tho lncrcaso In total expenses lias been only ten per cent. Tho reports for tho past 20 years are on f Ho in tho superintendent's office, of-fice, and evory facility for tho study of thoso roportB will ho given tho school patrons. Ily tho economy tho board hns practised prac-tised this year, wo hopo to materially lowor tho deficit wo had at tho com luencomont of tho presont term. Abovo facts nro submitted without comment ns v o feel assurod that an unbiased study of thorn will con-vlnco con-vlnco nil that consolidation is succeeding suc-ceeding nnd It glvon tho support of tho school patrons will bring ovnry result claimed for It by Its frlonds, Yours respectfully, R V LARSON |