Chap. 469.—An ACT to authorize the district and county school
boards of Bedford and Lunenburg counties to organize graded or
intermediate schools.

| Approved March 6, 1886.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
for the purpose of encouraging an intermediate grade of in-
struction between that of the common school and that of col-
lege, it shall be the duty of the district school boards, subject
to the lawful authority of the county school boards of any dis-
trict or districts of Bedford ‘and Lunenburg counties, whenever
said boards of such counties and districts may deem it neces-
sary, to establish one or more graded or intermediate schools in
each of said districts: provided, that no such school shall be
organized nearer than eight miles of any other intermediate
school for the same race, unless special geographical reasons
shall make it absolutely necessary.

2. Each of said schools shall have two or more separate de-
partments, known as the primary, intermediate and higher de-
partments, each of which shall have one teacher; but no graded
or intermediate school organized under the provisions of this
act, shall make a general average attendance of less than forty
pupils per month, per term.

3. Any branches higher than those now specified in the com-
mon school law may be taught in any department of any such
school above the primary department, which shall conform to
the law now in force in‘relation to studies taught.

4. The teacher of the highest department in any school shall
be the principal of said school, and may exercise a supervisory
influence over the whole school, in so far as to consult with the
teacher or teachers of the lower departments in relation to the
best modes of school government, discipline, manner of teach-
ing, and so forth. The pay of said principal shall be fixed by
the district school board, but shall in no case exceed the sum
of forty dollars per month in a school of two teachers, nor fifty
dollars per month in a school of three or more teachers, which
shall be paid out of the public school funds. The pay of teachers
of each subordinate department shall be fixed and provided for
by the district school board of said district in which such school
is located.
5. In case the county or district boards of said counties may
deem it necessary to supplement the general school fund by
levying an additional tax for public schools, upon application
by the county or district school board so desiring it to the

county court, the said court shall, three months prior to any
general election for county officers, order the question of in-
crease or no increase of taxation for school purposes, to be sub-
mitted to the qualified voters of such district or county; and if
three-fifths of the qualified voters voting on said question (and the
said three-fifths shall include a majority of the freeholders vot-
ing at said election) shall be in favor of said increase, the levy
shall be made as other levies are made; but if the vote shall
be against said increase, no levy shall be made.

6. Any pupils, living in another district, which may attend
such school in any district which may make additional levies
for school purposes, shall be admitted into such school: pro-
vided, the district board from which district such pupils may
come, shall pay to the district board having charge of the
schools to which they are admitted, such proportional part of
all levies for schools as may be levied in the district in which
such school is located for school purposes; said sum to be ‘col-
lected and accounted for by the district board having charge of
such school. |

7. The provisions of this act shall not apply to the town of
Liberty, in the county of Bedford, which has a separate school
organization; and shall not be construed to interfere with any
existing law or regulation now in force in relation to public
schools, nor the levying, collection, and disbursement of the
revenues therefor, except so far as the same may be inconsis-
tent with this act.

8. This act shall be in force from its passage.