TRANSPORTATION.

Transportation is one of the most important factors in the consolidation of schools and if this fails the whole venture is doomed. It is not a problem difficult of solution but it requires care in its plan and operation. The board of education should route the territory without prejudice or favor and should be governed at all times by their rights under the law rather than by its mandates. It is always best to give the people the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes children are conveyed to school in vehicles that afford neither convenience nor comfort, over routes where the stops are not properly scheduled, and as a result there is dissatisfaction; then transportation is declared a failure. If routes are established and conveyances scheduled with wisdom, and if the proper kind of conveyance is furnished and driven by properly qualified persons under bond to the board of education for the faithful performance of their duties, transportation will not only be a success but will be a boon to the children. Pupils are required by law to walk to school provided. they reside not farther than two miles from the school to which they are assigned. The time consumed in making the trip on the longest route of transportation should not exceed the time required by pupils who walk the two miles under the old system. In other words, the longest walking distance should be compared with the longest riding distance in order that a correct conclusion may be reached as to the proper length of transportation routes. Even on that basis of comparison the evidence is in favor of transportation because of its comfort and protection and the moral influence of the supervision of the driver over the pupils enroute to and from the school. The transportation alone of children in consolidated districts is worth much more than the extra cost of the maintenance of the centralized or consolidated school over the old system. The average cost per trip the state over is eight cents a pupil for each trip or sixteen cents per day. Where transportation is successfully operated its worth is proven by the increased attendance and no parent desires to revert to the old system with its inconveniences and discomforts.

A determining factor in the facility of transportation is the character of the roads. However, hard roads are not a necessary condition to the consolidation of schools because the first consolidated schools of Ohio were scattered over the Western Reserve where many of the districts that were consolidated did not have a mile of hard road. Transportation begets good roads and it is worth many times its cost if it is the means of bringing to a community that which is so necessary. to its convenience and prosperity.

This barn is 130 ft. x 40 ft., with running water. It is a beautiful building and is an ornament to the school grounds. It houses seven wagons and five automobile vans.

CONTRACT FOR TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS WHEN SCHOOL
WAGONS ARE USED. BOND ATTACHED.

THIS CONTRACT, made and entered into this ...... day of
A. D. 19.... by and between the Board of Education of
School District,
part, and

County, State of Ohio, party of the first
of the County of

State of Ohio, party of the second part, WITNESSETH: That the said party of the first part, Board of Education of the ...

School District, County and State aforesaid, agrees and binds itself to furnish school wagons, without harness, to the said .... ...., party of the second part, for the purpose of conveying children in the said school district to and from the said

school for a period of

beginning on September

The said

.....

... months, twenty days to the month, 19...., and continuing for the specified time. agrees to furnish all teams

and harness necessary to convey the children to and from school and to drive said team himself or to have them driven by a person acceptable to the party of the first part.

It is also agreed the wagon will start from

and shall follow

roads to the school building, and shall convey all pupils of lawful age on said routes, or within lawful distance of the same, to said school building, who shall be

in attendance at said school or who shall desire to enter said school, stopping at such places as may be designated by the party of the first part for receiving and unloading pupils.

It is also agreed that all children riding in said wagon are under the control of the said while in said wagon and any misconduct on the part of any child shall be reported by the said to the principal of the

said school to be dealt with by him.

It is also agreed that no children living within of said school shall be permitted to ride in said wagon. The Board of Education of the

District agrees to pay said of ..

School the sum

Dollars ($.........) per month for his services as stated above, said sum to be payable at the end of each month, and said is at all times to be subject to the

direction of the Principal of said school, and said Board of Education reserves the right to discontinue said service and said wagons at any time, should the service prove unsatisfactory.

Each party to this contract agrees to the specifications hereinafter given as follows:

SPECIFICATIONS.

First. The driver must furnish a team that is safe and yet strong and active enough to draw the load in a slow trot.

Second. The driver must start from the further terminal of his route at such time as will enable him to reach the school house by driving directly and with due speed, not later than 8:30 a. m., Central Time, making only such stops as are required for pupils to enter the wagon. In case any pupil has not reached the road upon his arrival, the driver must wait a reasonable length of time.

Third. The driver must blow a horn to announce his coming in the morning, that pupils may be ready, and in the afternoon that the parents may know of their arrival home. Also, the driver shall make a full stop at each railroad crossing and make sure that no trains are approaching from either direction.

Fourth. The driver takes the place of the teacher in discipline while pupils are in the wagon.

Fifth. The driver must be at the school house at 3:30 p. m., Central Time, with his wagon, to receive his load, and shall drive thence to the further terminus of the route as quickly as the conditions of the roads and the welfare of the team will permit, making only such stops as are necessary for the pupils to leave the wagon.

Sixth. The driver must make a full stop for the pupils to enter and leave the wagon, apply the brake whenever necessary, and exercise other reasonable care pertaining to the safety and comfort of the children.

Seventh. The driver is required to keep his wagon under shelter when not in use and to exercise due care in preserving it. He shall keep the wagon in good condition, close and open it as the weather conditions and the comfort of the pupils may demand, keep it properly ventilated and heated.

Eighth. The driver is required to abstain from the use of intoxicants while in the employ of the Board of Education, and to so deport himself as to set a good example for the children under his care.

Ninth. Each pupil upon entering the wagon, must clean his shoes of mud or snow, and be seated in a place designated by the driver or Principal of the school and remain in that place until his destination is reached. Pupils must conduct