The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-03-12
Circular 10 school Officers.

There appears to be much uncertainty among
school officers in regard to the time and place of
holding the annual elections of school directors
and trustees under the present school law us
amended. know of no better way TO answer
the letters that receive daily from such officers
than through the press. II is of great impor.
lance that school elections be held at the proper
time and in proper manner. Section 1st of the
amendment reads rs follows:
"SEC. /. Be it enacted by the people of the
state of Illinois, represented in the general assem-.
bly,, that the election of trustees of schools shall
be on the second Monday of April, annually ::
provided, that in counties under township organ
iZalon the election OF trustees in each and every
township whose boundaries coincide and are
identical with those of the town as established
under the township organization laws, shall be
on the day OF the stated annual town meeting
The annual election of school directors shall be
on the first Monday of April"
From the foregoing and from decisions pro-
mulgated by Hon Newton Bateman, state super.
intendent, 1 deduce the following, which hold to
be correct rules by which school officers may be
governed:
l.. School directors will be elected on the first
Monday Of April, annually Under the old law
directors were elected on the first Monday of
August: by the new law they are elected on the
first Monday of April. The effect of the new
law Is to deduct four months from the official
term OF all directors in Office on the 30,h day al
March lSo9 when the new law went into opera
ton. In other words, the terms of Office Of
directors that would have expired on the first
Monday of August 1863, 1870 and 1871, respect.
lively under the old law. did and will expire un.
der the new law on the first Monday of April
lS6V, 1870 and 1871, respectively.
:. The same rule applies to trustees except
as TO dates. Inc election OF trustees will be on
the second Monday of April, except in townships
whose boundaries coincide and are identical
with those of the town ~ established under the
township organization law, in which case the
election OF trustees shall be held on the same dav
rs the stated annual town meeting which i. the
first Tuesday of April For example: In the
township of Eden the election of trustees will be
Oh the tirHt Iue-day of April, while in town SO,
range D, being composed OF parts of the towns OF
farm itldge and Manlius the election OF tru..
tees VIII be held on the second Monday of April
Also, as to place and manner Of voting: In
towns where the election OF trustee, come. OF, th.
same day H. the stated annual town meeting
thete VIII be no separate poll or voting place Of
school trustees, but said trustees Will be voted
Tor at the stated town elections in the same man.
ner as other town officers are elected. and the
judges wal! make returns OF the election of said
trustees to the county superintendent of schools
Tor his Information, IN accordance with the Both
section of the general school .aw
by the foregoing it will he seen that in the
towns of Groveland Usage, Hope, Otter Creek,
Allen, Eden, Grand Rapids, Dimmlck, Waltham
Troy Grove, Ophir Freedom, Adams. Earl, Mer
iden and Mendoza the election of trustees will be
held at the same time and place and in the same
manner as the stated annual town meeting, viz :
lst Tuesday of April; while in the towns 81,
range 2; 81. r. 3; 30, r. 2; 80, r. 3; 80, r. 5;
50, r. | 80, r. 3; 33, r. 3; 33. r. 4 33, r. 5 ;
"a, R.3; "a, X. A; "a, r. 5; 35, r. 4; IS, r. 3,
anu 90, H. D, the election of school trustees will
be held on the second Monday of April.
School treasurers are also reminded that the
school law provides that the county superntend-
ent shall not di-burse any of the public school
fund to towns whose treasnrers have not a good
and sufficient bond on file in the office of said
superintendent, and alss that every bond must
be renewed once in two years.
Justices OF the peace are reminded that the
school law requires them to return to the county
school superintendent before March LIST, ann aally,
the amount OF fines imposed and received by
them that belong to the school fund
Az the time when the school directors wish to
procure teachers, they are so busy that many of
the!n do not take time to look up good teachers
but hire the first teacher who applies, and the
effect is that the applicant puts off his examina.
ton tor certificate until u few days before he is
to commence teaching and il unable to procure
certificate, the directors are put to good deal
OF trouble to find good teacher. To obviate
this, will endeavor to furnish good teachers for
all directors who will apply to me in season, and
Will also endeavor to procure situations for all
good teachers who will apply to me in person.
Respectfully, G. S. WEDGEwoop,
County School Superintendent
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