evidence and arguments against the wisdom of the proposed changes, and those in favor may also present evidence and arguments in support thereof.

After all evidence and arguments have been presented, the board must decide by vote either to affirm or vacate the order of the superintendent. Each member of the board is entitled to a vote, and a majority desides the action to be taken. If the board decides to vacate the order of the commissioner, the matter is ended and the changes cannot be made. An appeal from such decision may be taken to the Commissioner of Education, who may affirm, modify, or vacate such order. A record of the action of the board must be filed in the town clerk's office.

If the board votes to confirm the order of the superintendent, a final order must be made by the superintendent and members of the board, directing that the alterations be made.

This final order must recite the first order and all the proceedings taken thereafter, including the action of the local board.

Consolidation of School Districts. The law authorizes the voters of two or more districts to convene in a joint meeting for the purpose of determining whether or not such districts shall be consolidated into one.

The object of this statute is to enable several weak country districts to unite into one strong district so that more pupils, more taxable property, and more public money may be brought to the support of a single school. The theory is that one strong school may be maintained at less expense than three or four separate schools, and that better school facilities may be provided.

The law encourages districts to consolidate by providing that when two or more do determine on consolidation, the enlarged district shall receive in public money from the State an amount equal to that which would be apportioned to the several districts in the aggregate on the present basis of apportionment.

The law defines a regular method of procedure in such matters, and this procedure must be strictly followed.

Notice of a meeting for this purpose must be given as provided in the law, and copies of such notice, of the proceedings of the meeting, and of the order made by the district superintendent

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NEW YORK SCHOOL LAW

must be filed in the office of the town clerk of the to such districts are located.

After the order of formation is duly executed by superintendent, such superintendent shall, if the d solidated are common-school districts, prepare a not ing the enlarged district, and designating the time a holding the district meeting to elect school district o

The officers chosen at such special meeting serve u Tuesday of May next thereafter, when officers should at the annual meeting pursuant to the provisions of tion Law. (See sections 130-134, Education Law.)

In furtherance of the general policy of strength schools and providing better school facilities the Legi: provided for the establishment of Central Rural Sc article 6-B of the Education Law, added by L. 1914, c Central High-School Districts (see article 6-C of the Law, added by L. 1917, ch. 137).

REVIEW QUESTIONS

What is the number of school districts in the State? What in relation to the division of all territory in the State? What ar classes of districts? When was the district system first in How? What change was made in 1812? When were union fr authorized? Define each. What is a public school? What are of a school year? Who are entitled to attend a public school? period may such persons attend? When was the free-school a Who may attend a kindergarten? How may non-resident pupils be to school? Who determines the conditions upon which they are What is the law in relation to charging such pupils tuition? W law regulating the attendance of Indian pupils upon a public schoo Where should a description of each school district be filed? Wh be the character of this description? How should districts be n When may a joint district be dissolved? How? When may the b of a joint district be altered by a special meeting? How is suc meeting called? When may a school district be dissolved by a super Iwithout the consent of the trustees of such district?

Who calls the meeting for the organization of a union free school When? How should this request be made? How should the re made when two or more districts are to be united? When such re properly presented to the trustees what should they do? What fact the notice contain? At what time after the notice has been given n

meeting be held? How may the meeting be called when the trustees refuse to give the required notice?

What is the method of giving notice in a district whose boundaries correspond in whole or in part to those of an incorporated village in which there is published a daily or weekly newspaper? When is a personal service of notice not required? What method of giving notice in all other districts must be pursued? How must notice be given when two or more districts are involved? What should all notices state? What is the effect of a failure to notify all voters? How are the expenses of publishing notices, etc., paid? If the district is not formed, how are they paid? Can compensation be allowed for personal service of notice?

How does the meeting organize? What is the next proposition to come before the meeting? When may a vote be taken on this proposition? How may the meeting adjourn? For what period? If affirmative action is taken on the proposition, what is the next step to be taken? When one district is involved how many voters must be present in order that a vote may be taken? How many voters must be present when two or more districts are involved? What vote determines the question? When affirmative action is taken what papers must be filed? With what officials? If the proposition to organize is defeated, what further business may be transacted? When may another meeting to consider the matter be called?

When may the district superintendent annex the territory of a commonschool district to a union free-school district? A district superintendent may alter the boundaries of what union free-school districts? After a union free-school district has been organized what time must elapse before it can be dissolved? How may a union free-school district which has been established for more than one year be dissolved? How is such special meeting called? When should it be called? How should the vote on this question be taken? What vote is necessary in order to change to a common-school district? When a proposition to change from a union freeschool district to a common-school district is defeated, what period of time must elapse before another meeting may be called to consider such proposition? What must be done with all papers in the proceedings when a union free-school district votes for a change? What should the superintendent do if he approves the change? When does the dissolution go into effect? If the superintendent fails to approve such action, when may another meeting for the same purpose be held? When may a superintendent make his approval conditional? What is done with the territory of a union free-school district when such district has been dissolved? When a district is thus dissolved and it had contained an academy which was converted into an academic department of such union free-school district, what must the board of education do with such academy? When a district is thus dissolved and there is any money in the hands of the treasurer of such district, what disposition must be made of such money? To whom should it be paid? When does the annual meeting of the districts formed from such dissolved district occur? What papers relating to such dissolution must be filed with the Commissioner of Education? What appeal may be taken in these matters?

When two or mort dissolved districts are consolidated into a new district, what becomes of the property of such dissolved districts? What becomes of the property when such districts are attached to other districts? What notice of such sale must be given? How are the expenses of such sale met? What disposition is made of the remainder of such fund?

How may the outstanding money of a dissolved district be collected? What is done with money thus collected? What is the duty of a district superintendent in relation to such matters? What powers does a dissolved district possess as a district? What disposition should be made of the books, papers, and records of a dissolved district? Who should direct this? What is the penalty for failing to comply with this direction? What are the two methods by which a school district may be altered? If the boundaries of one district are changed, what must follow? In what form should trustees' consent be given? What is done after the consent of the trustees is given? What must be done with the superintendent's order? What facts should the order of the superintendent recite? With whom should copies of such order be filed? Can a trustee consent to transfer his own land from one district to another?

By whom is a preliminary order issued to change the boundaries of a district when the trustees will not consent to such change? Where must such order be filed? What must it show? When must it take effect as to the dissenting districts? What notice must the superintendent give to the trustees dissenting to such changes? What must such notice contain? What officers may be associated with the superintendent at the hearing upon such order? Can these officers act if not requested by the trustees? What must these officers do to establish their jurisdiction to act? What would be the effect if either of these officers should act without being properly requested to do so? Can these officers be required to act in this capacity? If only part of the officers requested to act in this capacity should appear at the hearing, what should be done? If none of such officers requested should appear, could the superintendent legally act in their absence? If the superintendent should fail to appear and the other officers should appear, what could be legally done?

Can this board adjourn? For what period? What should be done at the hearing? What must be done with the records of the proceedings? If the affirmative action is taken on the original order, what is the next step? What must the final order contain?

CHAPTER VII

DISTRICT MEETINGS

I. FIRST MEETING IN NEW DISTRICT

[Article 7]

By Whom Appointed. When the order forming a new school district goes into effect the district superintendent having jurisdiction must appoint a time and place for holding the first district meeting for the purpose of effecting a district organization.

Notice of Meeting. The district superintendent must prepare a notice which shall state the time and place at which the meeting will be held and the object for which it is called. This notice should be explicit in this respect and state that the meeting is called to elect officers, vote taxes, and transact any other business permitted by law. The notice must also include a description of the boundaries of the district, which must be the same as that contained in the order forming such district and must be given in metes and bounds. This notice should be delivered by the district superintendent to some taxable inhabitant of the district, who is directed to serve such notice upon every qualified voter residing in the district for which the meeting is to be held.

Service of Notice. It is the duty of the person receiving this notice to notify every qualified voter of the district of such meeting by delivering to him a copy of the notice of such meeting. If any resident of the district is absent from home, a copy of that part of the notice relating to the time, place, and object of the meeting should be left at the place of residence of such person. This notice must be served on the voters of the district at least six days, previous to the date of the meeting, exclusive of the day of service.

Return of Notice. The person serving such notice should make a return to the district meeting showing in what manner each inhabitant of the district was notified. This is done by furnishing a list of names of those who were personally notified of the meeting and another list of those for whom the notices were left at their places of abode. These lists should be endorsed