To proceed with this ongoing saga of history, an official notice of the changing of Dist. #14 - Common School to a Union School copied directly from the proceedings of the school from April 1870 to August 1913. However, since this is a rather lengthy documentation (it covers 7 pages) this writer will attempt to consolidate the important segments of this documentation for which credit must be given to the late Walter Uebele for his extensive research.
Beginning the proceedings to change from a Common School to a Union School was consummated by an affirmative vote and the electors in Dist. #14 and a special meeting was called for this purpose.
Charles Clinton, School Commissioner of the Second District of Chenango County did hereby designate a new said district #14 as Union Free School this date August 9,1899. As was related in the article of January 26, 2012 plans had been made previously for a new schoolhouse in Dist. #14. The concept was to build a new consolidated school, however, IT DID NOT WORK OUT THAT WAY. There had been no particular site chosen, no cost given, and in spike of the vagueness, the idea of building was OBJECTED by many members of the community. These procrastinators argued “Taxes are high enough already,” “What do we need a new school for as registration is declining in the school” and so and so on.
At a special meeting of the voters of #14 held June 18, 1900 was called to determine by vote the following questions:
First: Shall tax of $3,500 (voted on a special meeting April 25, 1900) be raised for the purpose in meeting?
Third: Shall old building and site be sold and for what price? This special meeting was dated May 18,1900 and signed by the District Clerk - V. C. Herger,
After one year’s delay of arguments, protests the election was finally taken to build. The readers of this article may assume that throughout the course of these meetings, that many ANGRY WORDS were said, and as an observation, a true statement of one our freedoms; FREEDOM OF SPEECH! However even then the matter was not settled, protests continued, however the old creed “Educate” won as a majority of the voters foresaw the necessity of a good education in a more modern learning atmosphere. Finally on April 8,1897 a meeting was called to vote on the erection of a new school. The final tally was 45 for and 18 against, as was documented in the minutes, not a close vote.
The bad news of this vote to erect a new building to the taxpayers in the outlying districts was that they were to be subjected to paying school taxes. Many of the voters in these small districts were vehemently opposed to that prospect! At local school board meetings, at times, these meetings raise the anger of voters, accusation, charges are brought up and TEMPERS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO FLARE, (what is new?) This situation 80 to 100 years ago was no different. At the December 1897 meeting Mr. Fleming and Mr. Burnell objected to every move taken by the Trustees relative to a new building. Old site had not been condemned, old building had not been condemned, and the purpose of meeting being called was illegal. These caused a RUCKUS in the meeting and more objections were raised by the opponents. Finally after arguments and defeated motions to adjourn, a motion was made by resolution to keep the old site that was in the center of town. Finally a vote was taken among 48 voters was taken and this resolution was defeated by 35 to 13. Mr. Burlison (Clerk) announced the vote and Chairman N. D. Bartle announced the defeat. ,
Additional information (normal school board proceedings) from the June 18,1900 meeting was the following: motion made and 2nd that money for District Clerk be made with E. H. Burlison and W. P. Shelton nominated - 45 ballots cast - Burlison - 24 - Shelton -19 - Bert Dorman - 2 - Burlison declared Clerk. Ballot taken for tax collector - 45 ballots cast - Joel Dorman - 24 - J. K. Albert - 21 - Dorman declared collector. Appropriate for school expensed of $541 - voted by aye and nay - motion to adjourn and seconded. However motion was made and seconded District build new school, question of District building new school taken out, roll list total vote of 63 - 45 ayes -nays 18 - appropriated $3,000 to build school house. Additionally motion was made and seconded the trustees have power to hire Pearl Delevan to teach primary department if they so desire.
Continuing this history, various local districts had to be combined into one and the approval of the Board of Education was required. Charles Clinton was the representative for the State Board and after a special application had been made, voters agreeing, Mr. Clinton, as written previously issued the formal document.
More consternation, as this move did not meet with unanimous support. Several district elected to remain independent of this new Union School, and a portion of them would send perhaps their children to the new Union School, but not the lower grades. They felt their school was under their control and they were DEFINITELY GOING TO STAY THAT WAY!
Such was not exactly the case as the local districts were under the control of the Superintendent and he was required to visit each school at least once each semester. Teachers, though hired locally by the Trustees were sill under the authority of the Superintendent, licensing was in effect and it was not a true consolidation.
With the expanded Board meetings still continued to be discordant, even as today. A gentleman, B. A. Fleming continued to object to all that was said, done or proposed. He went so far as to DEMAND a vote on each item of the annual budget expenses used for the normal operation of the school. With the tactics used by Mr. Fleming and others it took FIVE years from the original proposal to the final approval to build!
Of historical interest a special meeting April 25, 1900 was called and three tallies were necessary of the voters to reach a decision on a building site. In spite of objections, it was voted to build school as originally planned.
Once again, dissension, one person split meeting by taking objection to ruling of the Chairman, William Jewel;. J. A. Buckley insisted on amendment that would effectively block new school. This amendment was defeated 60 to 40. Mr. Burton then rose and made motion Board be authorized to spend $3,500 constructing new school, site to be determined by Board.
Common sense prevailed, with the motion being voted on, after yet another FIERCE DEBATE, tally showed 97 votes cast - 66 for-31 against. New school assured or was it!
They did not give up without a fight! The same group, dead set against new school, was still trying to block erection of new building. They stopped at nothing to keep piling of restrictions. June 18, 1900 the opponents forced the Board to make two proposals to the meeting to be voted on. Trustees wanted to erect school on hill on Winsor Avenue. Dissidents tried to force Trustees to build new school on old school site, middle of town. This is the building described in last week’s article. This site was much too small for a larger school!
This latest move to kill the school proposal was stopped short by a vote of the citizens present. Of the 50 votes cast - 35 against old site -15 voted for old site. Additionally the Board’s decision to build on Winsor Avenue was passed by a large majority. Also the Board was authorized to sell old school site no less than $500. School furnishings and bell were not included. This final resolution passed 31-6. The difference in the total votes cast was not accounted for in the minutes.
As an observation in this the twenty-first century - they did not give up without a fight. Thus we close this installment of “the village schools” to be continued.