IMPORTANT TO SCHOOL BOARDS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 80, 7 March 1885, Page 2

IMPORTANT TO SCHOOL BOARDS.

A circular on the uubject of the school buildings' vote has just been issued. The following are the leading statements of the circular: — "lam to take this opportunity to press* upon the consideration ot the board the representations ' marie by the Minister of Education m his sixth annual report, to the effect that the boards shall, out of the ordinary Board Fund, make payment for purchases, renting, erecting, fitting up and improving school buildings, just as much us for payment of teachers' , salaries and hoards' departmental or other expenditure. As you sfte aware* the boards have been informed nn several occasions that the Government cannot defray out of special vote the entire cost of providing and repairing school buildings, and that it is incumbent on the boards, m conformity with the spirit and letter of the Education Act, to devote as large a proportion as possible of ordinary capitation grants to this object, and to regard special votes as merely supple* mentary. Jam further to refer the Boards to sections 42 and 80 of the Act, which clearly shows that the Legislature contemplated board funds and school committee funds being made up to some extent' from donations and subscriptions, and also to point out the great advisability of effect being given to the practice which obtained very generally m formeryearn:. of the boards making it an essential* condition of tin: obtaining of a grant by a school committee, more especially for painting, fencing or repairs, that residents and those interested .m the school contribute a fixed proportion of the cost. The Government expect the. board's contributions towards such expenditure, (which strictly speaking is to be regarded as curient expenditure) shall he defrayed out of the board's ordinary funds, and that special grants out of loans shall be devoted solely to the legitimate purpose of providing new school building and enlarging existing ones. — John Hislop.