Digest of State Laws Relating to Public Education in Force January 1, 1915

D. BUILDINGS AND SITES.

(a) General.

Alabama: See D (b), State aid, approval of plans, etc.

Arizona: Boards of trustees in school districts and high-school districts in incorporated cities and towns may improve property, streets, etc., adjoining school property; question of levying tax to make such improvements shall be submitted to vote of the people and shall be determined by a majority of the qualified electors.

See also A (c2), County officers; A (d), District boards and officers. Arkansas: See A (d), District boards and officers; A (f), Administrative units-districts, etc.

California: A civic center not to interfere with regular school work shall be established at every public schoolhouse; school board shall furnish heat, light, janitor service, and a supervisor when needed; when charge is made for admission, trustees may charge for use of schoolhouse; school board shall control center.

See also A (d), District boards and officers; A (f), Administrative unitsdistricts, etc.; C (b), Local bonds and indebtedness; N (a), High schools. Colorado: See A (d), District boards and officers; A (f), Administrative units-districts, etc.; B (a), General State finance and support; N (a), High schools.

Connecticut: See A (f), Administrative units-districts, etc.; D (c), Care, sanitation, etc., of schoolhouses.

Delaware: An annual State appropriation of $1,000 is made for the erection and repair of schoolhouses for colored persons.

See also A (c1), County boards; C (b), Local bonds and indebtedness. Florida: Whoever without cause injures any property used for educational purposes or appurtenances belonging thereto shall be punished by imprisonment of not exceeding one year or fine of not exceeding $500; misdemeanor to place any obscene word, image, or device on school property.

See also A (c1), County boards; A (f), Administrative units-districts, etc.; C (b), Local bonds and indebtedness.

Georgia: See A (c1), County boards; A (f), Administrative units-districts, etc.; C (b), Local bonds and indebtedness.

Idaho: See A (c2), County officers; A (d),

District boards and officers;

A (f), Administrative units-districts, etc.; C (b), Local bonds and indebtedness; H (c), School year, month, day, etc.; N (a), High schools. Illinois: See A (d), District boards and officers; A (f), Administrative units-districts, etc.; C (c), Local taxation.

Indiana: The title to all lands conveyed for school purposes shall vest in the township, incorporated town, or city in the corporate name of such corporation; on petition of a majority of the school patrons the trustee having charge of a schoolhouse shall permit a private school to be taught therein when the same is unoccupied by a common school; trustee or trustees may allow the use of a schoolhouse for community purposes; trustee or trustees may sell a school site and building when the same is no longer needed and when petitioned to sell the same by two-thirds of the qualified voters of the district, but such property shall not be sold for less than two-thirds of its appraised value. When it is desired to change the location of a schoolhouse

the trustee shall present to the county superintendent a petition therefor signed by himself and a majority of the patrons of the school, and said superintendent's order therefor must be procured. When territory is annexed to any incorporated town or city title to property used for school purposes within said territory shall vest in said incorporated town or city; if school township is indebted for any property used for school purposes in said territory, said town or city shall pay such indebtedness. On petition of a majority of the legal voters of the township trustee may issue bonds for not exceeding $15,000, and to bear interest at not exceeding 7 per cent, for the purpose of raising a fund to meet the conditions of any gift or bequest of $5,000 or more for erecting a schoolhouse, but bonds shall not be sold for less than 95 per cent of par value, and no bond issue shall be made until preceding issue is redeemed. School corporations may accept gifts and bequests, but the same must be used or disposed of in accordance with the terms imposed by the donor; where no terms are imposed inconsistent herewith the principal shall remain inviolate and the income therefrom shall be used for some educational or library purpose not adequately provided for by law, but the principal may be used in providing a building to be devoted to some special use of an educational or library character. When not in violation of the terms of the gift school corporation may appoint a trustee or trustees thereof; the identity of the principal of any gift shall not be lost. When any person or persons shall donate to any county any building and grounds of not less than $20,000 in value in a county having 25,000 population or less, and in counties having a population in excess of 25,000, $30,000, for the purpose of maintaining a county high school, county commissioners shall accept such donation. County board of education and county commissioners shall elect a board of three trustees for said school; term of trustees three years, one being elected each year. Duties of trustees: To levy an annual tax for the support of said school, but not to exceed 15 cents on $100; take control of all property belonging to the same; appoint teachers and adopt a course of study; admit free of tuition all pupils of the county who are prepared to enter high school; fix tuition fees of nonresident pupils. The trustees of any incorporated town or city or any township trustee may take a school site by condemnation proceedings in the circuit court. All commonschool corporations shall possess the same powers and be subject to the same duties and liabilities in respect to municipal assessments for the cost of public improvements affecting their real estate that private owners of real estate possess or are subject to.

All public buildings, except one-story churches and schoolhouses, shall be constructed so that all doors shall swing outward. Sites shall be sanitary and shall not be located within 500 feet of any railroad, livery stable, barn used for breeding purposes, or noise-making industry. Brick buildings shall have a brick, stone, or concrete foundation; all buildings of two stories or more shall have basements and all ground floors shall be at least 3 feet above the ground level; each pupil shall be provided with at least 225 cubic feet of space. All study rooms shall be lighted from one side only; window area shall be equal to at least one-sixth of the floor area and the windows shall extend from at least 4 feet above the floor to within 1 foot of the ceiling; at least 20 per cent of desks shall be adjustable; walls shall be of neutral color; blackboards shall be dead black; cloak rooms or sanitary lockers shall be provided for each study room. Drinking water shall come from sources approved by the health authorities; only glass or enameled metal drinking cups shall be used; proper drains shall be provided to carry away)

waste water. Each school room shall be provided with foul-air flue sufficient to withdraw 1,800 cubic feet per hour for every 225 cubic feet in said room; heating apparatus shall be sufficient to maintain a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of not less than 40 per cent. School corporations may establish open-air schools, in which case the provisions of this act relating to heating and ventilation shall not apply. Water-closets and outhouses shall be efficient and sanitary in every particular. School corporations in cities and towns may tear down old and insufficient buildings and erect new buildings in their place, or said corporations may sell said buildings. Township trustee may accept a school building located in any incorporated town from a private owner and use the same for public-school purposes. Every building used in whole or in part as a public building, every place where persons are employed above the second story, and every building where persons reside or lodge above the second floor shall be provided with proper and sufficient means of escape in case of fire; all outside doors of such buildings shall open outward and no chairs or seats shall be allowed in the passageways; all such buildings of more than two stories shall be provided with outside fire escapes, unless the fire chief shall deem such fire escapes to be unnecessary. In all cases where there is no fire chief the trustee of the township shall perform the duties required in this act.

See also A (d), District boards and officers; A (e), School meetings, elections, etc.; A (f), Administrative units-districts, etc.; C (b), Local bonds and indebtedness; H (e), Consolidation of districts, etc.; M (d), Vacation schools, playgrounds, etc.

Iowa: Any school corporation may take and hold not exceeding 1 acre as a school site, except in a city, town, or village, where said corporation may take one block for school site and not exceeding 5 acres for school playground or other purposes; in consolidated districts and townships having not exceeding two sites, 4 acres may be acquired. If owner fails to convey property desired for a school site or a road leading thereto, or is unknown or can not be found, county superintendent shall, on application of either party, appoint three referees to appraise the same, and it shall become the property of the school corporation on deposit by said corporation of the amount fixed by said referees, but either party may appeal to the district court from assessment made by referees; if appeal is not taken, assessment shall be final. A school site not used for two years for school purposes shall revert to the owner of the tract to which it originally belonged on payment of the purchase price without interest and of the value of improvements.

The board of school directors of any school district containing or contained in cities of the first or second class, cities under special charter, and cities under commission form of government may establish and maintain in public schoolhouses and on school grounds public recreation places and playgrounds. Said board may, and on petition of not less than 25 per cent of the number voting at the last preceding school election shall, submit to qualified electors the question of levying a tax for said purpose; if a majority of votes cast favor said tax, a levy of not exceeding 2 mills on the dollar shall be made.

See also A (d), District boards and officers; A (f), Administrative unitsdistricts, etc.; C (b), Local bonds and indebtedness; H (e), Consolidation of districts, etc.; N (a), High schools.

Kansas: See A (c2), County officers; A (d), District boards and officers; A (f), Administrative units-districts, etc.; C (b), Local bonds and indebtedness; N (a), High schools.

Kentucky: See A (d), District boards and officers; A (f), Administrative units-districts, etc.; C (b), Local bonds and indebtedness.

Louisiana: District board of school directors may condemn property for school purposes; aggrieved persons may, when price of property is deemed too small, appeal to any proper judicial tribunal, but title shall pass to school corporation.

See also A (c1), County boards; A (d), District boards and officers. Maine: State suprintendent shall procure plans and specifications for schoolhouses of not exceeding four rooms and shall furnish such plans to school committees; where committees use other plans, such plans shall be submitted to and approved by State superintendent and State board of health before acceptance by committees.

Municipal officers of any town or city shall require person in charge of steam-heating plant of any schoolhouse, church, or other public building to show proof of competence to operate such plant.

See also A (f), Administrative units-districts, etc.

Maryland: Board of county school commissioners shall select suitable schoolhouse site in each district when public necessities so demand; board may receive donations of such sites, or of a house already built, or may purchase same; in no case shall any site be built upon or any house occupied until good and sufficient title shall have been obtained; board may sell or lease school property; may condemn land for site or for enlarging site, but no lot acquired by condemnation shall exceed five acres, including land occupied by school building; sites shall be paid for as other schoolhouse property is paid for; every schoolhouse shall be built and furnished according to plans of board of county school commissioners.

See also A (d), District boards and officers.

Massachusetts: Every town shall provide and maintain a sufficient number of schoolhouses, properly furnished and conveniently located for the accommodation of all children entitled to attend the public schools; a town which for one year refuses or neglects to comply with said requirements shall forfeit not less than $500 nor more than $1,000. The school committee, unless the town otherwise directs, shall have general charge of schoolhouses. A town may, at a meeting called for the purpose, determine location of its schoolhouses, and purchase land therefor. The school committee of any city or town which accepts the provisions of this act shall grant the use of school buildings for such public or educational purposes and on such terms as said committee may determine; such use shall not interfere with the use of such buildings for school purposes, and such use shall not be granted during the regular sessions of school unless the means of egress have been approved for such purpose by the inspector of public buildings; this act shall take effect in a city upon its acceptance by a two-thirds vote of members of each branch of city council present and voting and upon approval of mayor and shall take effect in a town upon vote of a majority of voters of town present and voting at an annual or special meeting.

The mayor of any city may, upon the petition of 100 citizens or taxpayers in such city, authorize the expenditure of not more than 15 per cent of the cost of any school building for proper means of escape from fire. No building which is designed for use as a public or school building shall be constructed or altered until a copy of plans and specifications thereof has been deposited with the supervisor of plans of the building inspection department of the district police; such plans and specifications shall include those for

heating, ventilation, and sanitation, as the supervisor of plans may require; sufficient means of escape from fire shall be provided in such buildings; egress doors and windows shall open outward; such buildings shall be supplied with fire-extinguishing apparatus; no wooden flue or air duct shall be placed, or remain placed, in any such building, nor shall any pipe for conveying steam or hot air be placed within 1 inch of any woodwork unless properly covered; every public building shall be kept clean and free from any effluvia rising from any drain or privy or nuisance, shall be provided with a sufficient number of water-closets, earth closets, or privies, and shall be properly ventilated. For the purpose of promoting the usefulness of public-school property, the school committee of any city or town may conduct such activities in or upon school property under its control, and shall allow the use thereof by individuals and associations, subject to such regulations as said committee shall establish, for such educational, recreation, social, civic, philanthropic, and similar purposes as said committee may deem to be of interest to the community, but such use shall not interfere with the use of such property for school purposes. This act shall not apply to the city of Boston. The school committee of the city of Boston may use its school property for the aforesaid purposes, but no admission fee shall be charged.

Every town having a population of more than 5,000 which shall accept the provisions of this act shall provide and maintain at least one public play. ground for the recreation and physical education of the minors of the town; towns may appoint and determine the compensation of a qualified director of each playground; towns shall have the right of eminent domain in securing land for aforesaid purpose; towns may raise money to purchase lands for such playgrounds, and lands owned by towns may be set aside by selectmen for such use.

Livros