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ow can you put a price
tag on a learning exper­
ience? According to
assistant superinten­
dent Earl Pace the
answer to that question
has been boiled down to
$3,600. This involves
teachers’ salaries, mainten­
ance of buildings, inservices

and all the things that keep

the school system running.
Pace said 60% of these
expenditures are covered by

the tax payer’s money. “The
other 40% comes from state,

local and federal,” he said.
But, when redefining the
expense of a free education,

most found it to be not so free.
For example, most English

classes required students to
buy books and some photo­

graphy and shop classes have
lab fees. Whether it’s Just a

nickel for a xeroxed copy of a
composition paper or $10
worth of yarn for textile

designs, every penny counts.
Even the essentials, such as

eating, were not cheap. A
school lunch at a dollar a day
totals up to $180 for the

school year. Then, there are
the pencils, notebooks, pens,

and the new wardrobe.
High school, as everyone

now sees, is not free, but
many seniors commented

“It’s a lot cheaper than
college.”

about lunch? So­
phomore Tony Marsh
won’t be smiling so much
when he finds out he pays
at least $180 a year for
lunch.

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