OUR SCHOOLS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 228, 26 September 1893, Page 5

OUR SCHOOLS.

THE FINANCIAL POSITION,

At tho meeting of the Board of Education, the following report of the Committee appointed by tho Board ab its last meeting to inquire into tho financial position of* the Board was road:—Your Committee have tho honour to report—(l) Building fund : During tho" period of five years and eight months from January Ist, 1888, to August 31st, 1593, the expenditure on school buildings umounssd to £45,532, and tho income for building purposes amounted to £41,70(5, Causing an overdraft' on building account ci £3,52 C. Tho liabilities 0:1 contracts at 3lab August, 1893, were £2,629, making B total debit balance on building account of £1i,455. The building grant for the current year will be aboub £8,000. After deducting tho expenditoro uud liabilities abovo £6,455, there remains 9, balauce available for expenditure of £1,545. Your Committee liavo had under consideration tho lisb oE buildines authorised but nafc yot begun, of which tho cost was estimated at £5,690. Somo of these works aru not immediately necessary, and in regard to whe>'C the question of site cannot yet be satisfactorily settled, your Committee submit a lisb of works which in their opinion should bo proceeded with and which are cstimatod to cost in all £2,080. To meat) this expondituro there ts-(l) balance of building grant as above, £1,545 ; (ii) available from maintenance account, £1,135; total, £2,680. Tho maintenance account was as under : 01 Durin? tho period from January Ist, ; 18S8, to August'3lßb, 1893 (five years and (eight months), tho profits earned on_ maintenance account amounted to £11,753, of which a sum of £8,000 haa been applied to buildings, leaving an unappropriated balance of £3,753 at credit of maintenance account. The present rate ot expendituro per head of average attendance was as follows :— Teachers' salaries, £3 5s Ud (including ll^d per head on surplus teachers above ucalo requirements); grants to committees, 7s 9Jd (including 2a Okl per head for echool f tationory); inspection and examinations. Is lOd ; departmental management, la lid ; total, £3 16s Bd. Your Committee offer tho following suggestions :—l. Nob to erect school buildings where there is any doubt as to permanence of settlement or position of site. 2. To reduce the scale of grants for school stationery. 3. To regulate teachers' absences as follows:—(a) Half-pay for ono month in case of teachers' illn«3S ; (b) halfpay when school is closed otherwise than during regulation holidays; (c) teachers attending University examinations to provide substiiutoa or forfeit pay. 4. To levy a contribution from teachers for repair of residences. 5. Tho revision of toacherb' salaries.

Appended to tho Committee's ropori was the following return showing tho receipts and expenditure on school buildings from January Ist), 1838. to August 31st, .1893 :— Receipts.—Balance in hand of £205. 1888—Governmenb grant, £9,137; Board fund, nil; other sources, £51; total, £9,183. 1839—Governmenb grant, £1,523 : Board fund, nil; other sources, £116; total, £1,639. 1890—Government grant), £4,568; Board fund, nil; other sources, £74; total, £4,642. 1391-Government grant, £11,085 ; Board iund, £5,000; other sources, £43; total, £16,728. 1892—Government grant, £5,845; Board fund, £5,000; other sources, £140; total, £8,905. 1893 (January to August)—Governmenb granb, £270 ; Board fund, nil; other source?, £40 ; total, £319. Grand totals :—Government grants, £33,028; Board fund, £8,000; other sources, £473; total receipts, £41,70(5. Expenditure. — ISSB : Now buildings, £3,743 ; improvements, £648 ; plans, supervision, etc., £320 ; furniture, £951 : sites, £589; total, £6,2b1. 1S80: Now buildings, £1,392 ; improvement?, £1,560 ; plans, supervisions, etc., £272 ; furniture, £374 ; sito3, £62 : total, £3,860. 1890 : New'buildings, £4,490; improvements, £3,044; plans, supervision, etc, £594; fur'niturn, £888 ; sites, £55 : total, £9,071. 1091 : New buildings, £3,709; improvements, £2,803 ; plans, supervision, etc., £495; furniture. £766; sites, £145; total, £7,918. 1892: New buildings, £5,164; improvements, £2,159; plans, supervision, etc., £757; furniture, £747; sites, £591; total, £0,418. 1893 (January to August): New buildings, £5,236; improvements, £2,02 C ; plans, supervision, otc, £593; furnituro, £643; Bites, £217 ; total, 9,014. Grand totals: New buildings, £23,734; improvements, £12,534; plans, supervision, etc., £b.0.j1; furniture, £4,574; sites, £1,659; total expenditure, £45,502.