Newport Voters Reject School Addition, 139 to 30
With classrooms filling and no fireproof building in sight, District No. 115 voted down an addition—leaving the board to rent rooms around town.
By a vote of 139 to 30 the voters of School District No. 115 turned down the proposition to build an addition to the present school building. The election was held at the school house Tuesday, and although but little discussion had taken place previously, opponents of the building proposition had no difficulty in rallying forces against it.
The result of this election cannot be construed as significant of the attitude of the people towards the schools. Many opposed the erection of an addition on the grounds that building should be delayed until the district was able to put up a fireproof structure on a different site. A majority of the board favored building the addition at this time because of their opinion that the district was not in shape for a greater expenditure, and as they were up against the necessity of providing more school room by the opening of the next term, the proposed addition seemed the only feasible plan.
It is hardly probable that any other method of supplying additional school facilities will be tried this year. If the schools become too crowded the board will likely rent rooms about the town and do the best it can under the circumstances.
“Many opposed the erection of an addition on the grounds that building should be delayed until the district was able to put up a fireproof structure on a different site.”
School bond and levy votes still turn on the same questions: overcrowding, fire safety and whether to patch the old building or build new. District No. 115’s 1909 vote shows that a lopsided defeat can be less about rejecting schools than about disagreeing over the plan.
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