SCHOOL FUNDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 46, 3 June 1910, Page 2

SCHOOL FUNDS.

ALLOWANCES TO COMMITTEES. The Education Department is' at present collecting information with regard to school committees. A circular letter addressed to the local board asks for a copy of ffie board's scale of allowances to school committees, exclusive oi grants for repairs paid out of the building maintenance votes; and full particulars of the items chargeable to school committees' allowances, the conditions upon which the payment is made, and the items of expenditure to be met by the committee out of such payment. In reply, the Department will be retYrml to clauses 70 and 71 of the | 1 loam's regulations, which provide Wat the Board shall, l)y quarterly instal-| meiits, contribute every year to the school fund of the several schools' the sums set down in the following scale:—j W hen the average attendance is 30 and under, 7s 6d on the average attendance; over 30 and not exceeding 50, 7s Od for the first 30, and 3s 'Jd each [ for all over 30; over 50 and not exceedI ing 100, (is' each for the first 50, and, 3s I each for all over 50; over 100 and not exceeding 300, 4s Cd each for the first 100, and 4s' each for all over 100; over 300, 4s Gd for the first 100, 4s each of the npfct '300,' and 3s (id each for all over 30Q.'- Where any school is connected with an efficient sewage system the rate t;o r ; li<r-piiid to committees shall be 9d per head less than the above rates. The following services are a first charge on the. school fund, viz. cleaning the school and, grounds; providing proper sanitary' -''conveniences, lavatory and suitable requirements; water for the use of the children; effecting -minor repairs to school buildings and fencing, and supplying firewood £or ( tlf? use of the schopls. ' v It will also be pointed out, that the Board has'iibw a working 'oWrseer, who attends 1 to a number of the minor rej pairs/' the' cost of- which had hitherto been borne by the committees. In addition, the Board pays water rates whenever, these are payable. A great deal of misconception in regard taTitys capitation allowance exists, | both in town and country. It may be explained that the Board receives from the Department a capitation allowance of lis 3d, and £250 for inspection. Out I of this i£jhas:to pay the committees' allowance scheduled above, the salaries and travelling expenses of two inspectors. The Chief Inspector is paid £3OO a year and travelling epenses, besides an additional '£7s from the technica.l funds; and the assistant inspector £250 and travelling .expenses, and £SO from the technical . fund. It is' out of this Departmental 'grant that the whole cost I'of administratiofi' of : th'e Board must 'be met. Thus the Board cannot pay its secretary and office staff, office rent, sta- | tionery, members' travelling expenses, and so on. Last year more (flan half of it was paid direct to the school committees, so th'at-'thc! allegations' made in some quarters that the Board pays out only a few shillings per annum to some of tl>e ; layger, schools will not,hold water.