CHAPTER II

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT

General Statement. For the convenience of administration, the state has been divided into various districts. Concerning each of these we are to learn in turn, as we study the work of each. The first form of organized government with which we have to do as soon as we are old enough to leave the home is that represented by the school. The school district is a certain territory set apart by law enacted by the state legislature. The number of these districts in the towns of the state in 1915 was 10,498. This, however, is not a fixed number, since the law permits two or more of these country districts to unite, and a united district to break up into its original parts. The law establishing these districts charges those who live within each with the duty of maintaining a school at least thirty-six weeks during the year and of authorizing a property tax for its support.

Officers of the District. The law provides that there shall be one or three trustees, as the voters of the district may determine, a clerk, a collector, and a treasurer. If the district is known as a "union free school district," the number of trustees may not be less than three nor more than nine. Every school district officer must be able to read and write and must be a voter of the district. The term of office, where there are several trustees, is for three years. If there is a single trustee, the term is one year.

All other officers are elected for a term of one year. Any officer of the school district who refuses to serve shall forfeit the sum of five dollars, to be used for the benefit of the district.

Duties of Trustees. The trustee (or trustees) of the school district has charge of all property belonging to the district; calls special meetings of the voters of the district; gives notices of the annual or of adjourned meetings; makes out the tax list, apportioning to each taxable inhabitant his share of the school tax voted by the district; purchases or leases property as the district directs; insures the school building, library, furniture, and apparatus; employs a teacher and determines the salary of such and the length of term to be taught; prescribes the course of study, the rules for governing the school; engages a janitor; attends to the minor repairs; and may expend twenty-five dollars for necessary dictionary, maps, or other apparatus.

Duties of the Other Officers. The duties of the district clerk, collector, and treasurer are indicated by their titles. The records are kept and preserved by the clerk in a book provided for the purpose. He gives the required notices for all special and annual meetings, notifies persons of their election to office, etc. The treasurer has charge of all moneys belonging to the district, and pays out the same upon a written order from the trustee or trustees. He must make a detailed report of receipts and expenses at the annual meeting and to the trustees whenever directed. The collector collects the school tax as per list made out by the trustee. He is required to give a bond for the faithful performance of his duties. He turns over to the treasurer all moneys collected. In case the district has no treasurer, the collector performs the duty of the treasurer. Where

CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY (below)

The city hall in many cities is where the common council, or board of aldermen, meet. The city departments usually center here. Either by public taxation or private philanthropy most cities have a free public library

there is a separate treasurer, he is also required to furnish a bond for the faithful performance of his duties. In union free school districts, boards of education may appoint one of their own number as clerk, and must also appoint a treasurer and a collector. These officers are paid for their services either by vote of the district or by vote of the board of education.

Annual School Meeting. The annual school meeting of each school district shall be held in the schoolhouse the first Tuesday of May of each year, at 7.30 P.M., unless the hour is otherwise changed by vote of the previous meeting. Special meetings may be held as called by the trustee. Due notice of all annual and special meetings must be posted in at least five different places in the district, one of which must be upon the door of the schoolhouse.

Business of the School Meeting. The business of the school meeting is to elect officers; to vote a tax to pay the salary of the teacher, for the care and heating of the school building, and for the salaries of district officers in case such officers are paid; to take under consideration needed repairs or changes in the school building, or the need for a new building or a new or enlarged site, and such other matters as pertain to the general educational welfare of the school district.

Who may vote at a School Meeting. Any person shall be entitled to vote at any school meeting for the election of officers, and upon any and all questions which may be brought before the meeting, who possesses the following qualifications: (1) is a citizen of the United States;1

1 One must first be a citizen of the United States before he can be a citizen of the smallest unit of state government; thus it is seen that the foundation of all our government is citizenship according to federal law. It is not necessary to be a citizen of the state to vote at school meeting.

(2) is at least twenty-one years of age; (3) has been a resident of the school district for a period of at least thirty days immediately preceding the day of the meeting; and who in addition to the above qualifications is described in one of the following: (a) owns or hires or is under contract to own or hire real estate subject to taxation for school purposes; (b) is a parent of a child of school age who attended school at least eight weeks the preceding year; (c) has permanently residing with him (or her) any child of school age (five to eighteen years old) who attended school at least eight weeks the preceding year; (d) is the owner of personal property exceeding fifty dollars in value and assessed upon the last assessment roll of the town. Both men and women who meet the above qualifications are eligible to vote.

Political Independence of a School District. The state through its legislature has created a school district a corporation for the purpose of looking after the affairs of education within the district, and has given it full power in all matters pertaining to education. While it may be a part of a town or village, it is quite independent of these larger units of government in matters pertaining to education within its limits. The idea has been to remove as far as possible all restrictions upon the will of the people in matters of education. The form of government represented by the school meeting is a pure democracy, that is, one in which all the voters meet to transact business.

Union Free School District. Union free school districts are organized under the provision of the education law 1 and by special act of the state legislature. These districts have a board of education, clerk, treasurer, collector,

1 See education law, 1914.