Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all
  • Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943 (26)
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Jackson County Public Schools 1853-1954

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  • The Jackson County School Building Program W. VERNON COPE, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Court Order Starts School Building Program in Jackson County In February 1948 the Grand Jury of the Superior Court made an inspection of the Sylva Elementary School building. The building was found to be in a very dangerous condition. There was an immediate danger of a complete collapse of the entire roof and also the four concrete floors of the rest rooms. The report was so serious that the judge of the Superior Court ordered the sheriff to immediately padlock all doors to this building. He also gave a written order to the Superintendent of Schools and to the principal of the building forbidding the use of the building for school purposes until repaired and certified by a reputable architect or builder of its safety. As this was a fifteen-teacher school with approximately 500 pupils, it was a major problem to find suitable or available rooms or quarters to carry on the school program for the remainder of the school year. The first idea or plan was for the two schools to use the high school building for the entire school program. The high school pupils went to school Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesday for approximately eight hours each day. The elementary pupils went to school Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays for approximately eight hours each day. This plan was not accepted by the State Department of Public Instruction; therefore, other plans had to be made. Immediate plans were then made for the elementary school to use the First Baptist Church, the First Methodist, the Episcopal Church, the Woodman of the W7orld Hall. In spite of the widespread area and makeshift conditions, an excellent school spirit prevailed among teachers and pupils, and a very high grade of work was carried on in these buildings the remainder of the spring of 1948 and until the 6th day of December in the fall of 1948. The Barker's Creek building had also been condemned by the Grand Jury of the Superior Court. The judge had ordered the building closed immediately and not to be opened until safe. On October 7 and again on October 9, 1947, the judge of the Superior Court had given the Chairman of the Board of Education a definite deadline date upon which a new building had to be started or begun for Barker's Creek. This date was April 1, 1948. Numerous loans had been secured from the Literary Loan Fund from time to time for the purpose of building a building at Barker's Creek. The procedure appeared to be a political scheme to influence the voters of this area as something was done just before each election time. However, no building had been built. Thus the school situation in Jackson County was in a very critical condition. Two buildings were condemned by court order. Many other buildings were outdated and worn out. Many were in serious need of repairs. Only one building in the county, the John's Creek building, was adequate in facilities for the number of pupils enrolled. The financial condition was also in a critical condition. The combined operating budget for the year 1946-1947 had been overdrawn approximately $20,000. The Literary Fund had been drawn upon to the limit. The county credit was practically non-existent. In fact, credit was often denied by the local business establishments or firms. The new Board of Education in the spring of 1947 began an intensive study and investigation of the overall school situation. Something had to be done immediately to relieve both the physical and the financial situations. The possibilities of a County-Wide Bond election to improve the whole school situation was introduced and discussed from every point of view. It was the unanimous decision of the Board that this was the only apparent source from which any considerable amount of funds could be secured. Therefore, the Local Government Commission in Raleigh was asked for information relative to the amount possible to borrow and the procedure to follow. It was found that the maximum amount that could be borrowed, according to constitutional limitations, was $550,000. Since there was a present loan of $75,000 from the Literary Fund, it was decided to borrow $450,- 000. This would leave a small balance in the event unforeseen emergencies should arise. An election for the Bond Issue for $450,000 was held on July 3, 1948. This issue carried by a large majority. Since the Sylva Elmentary building was the first urgent emergency, the Board decided to borrow through the Local Government Commission $40,000 for the repair of this building. This $40,000 was borrowed upon the anticipated sales of the $450,000 bonds. The State Legislature of 1949 approved a $50,000,000 School Building and Improvement Program. Jackson County's pro rata share of this $50,000,000 was $371,339.93. The $450,000 from the County Bond Issue plus the $371,339.93 from State funds gave Jackson County a total of $821,339.91. Therefore, a revised county-wide School Building and Improvement Program had to be made or planned. The following proposed program was presented to the State Survey Panel on March 28, 1949: 1. Log Cabin Association Elementary School Consolidation of Barkers Creek, Wilmot and Dix Creek Location: On right of 19A west at Barker's Creek Estimated cost—$120,000 28
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