The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-02-12
Proceedings OF the School Commission.

ers.-The School Commissioners were in
session OH Tuesday and Wednesday last
The first day was chiefly occupied in
examining and passing on accounts
The amount required to pay teachers sala-
ries and other necessary expenses of The
quarter which closed with last month, is
$7,31227.
Stephen Richards and VIM. W. Moore
were appointed Trustees Of Love Run
School, in the 9th District; Elijah Hester
was appointed Trustee for school No 9, of
same District. The Commissioner Of 9Th
District was authorized to make repairs on
school house No. 4, of Elk Neck, to an
amount not exceeding $50. The stereo-
typed resolution was passed, authorizing
| the President and Treasurer to borrow suf
ticient funds to meet pressing claims on
the Board. Also, order to pay jeremiah
Swisher S230.9 and give him the note Of
tho Board for one year for the balance of
his claim. Several petitions were laid be-
fore the Board, asking for the building of
new school-housss, which the Board found
| itself unable, on account of the want Of
funds, to grant at present. A Committee
was appointed, composed of Messrs. Geo.
r. Carpenter, I'd Dist; r. C. Mackall, Sd
Dist, and Jas. A. Morgan, list Dist, to
ascertain the amount Of seheol fund due
the colored people Of this county. DR.. A.
W. Jordan, Luke Brown and J. A. Mackey
were appointed by the President Commit
tee on the examination of teachers.
A conference was had with the County
Commissioners by the School Board, in
reference to levying an amount at the next
annual levy, sufficient to liquidate the heavy
debt at present pressing on the School
Board, and which greatly rstards its efforts
in supplying proper school facilities for the
children Of the county. After hearing the
case stated by the President Of the School
Board, the County Commissioners resolved
TO levy tax of % cents on the hundred
dollars for school purposes. With less than
this it was deemed impossible to arrest the
heavy debt, which, on account of the high
rate of interest required to borrow money,
is continually augmentng the burthen.-
With this levy of e5 cents, and the suspen-
sion of the schools for the summer quarter,
1t is the opinion of the Board that the new
school. houses which are necessary in the
county, can be built, and the schools in
future be carried on at an annual levy of
little over half this sum.
The question of suspendias the Public
Schools for the Summer term, commencing
in April, was warmly discussed by Mr..
Morgan, of the 1st District, and Mr.. Car
penter, of the I'd, in opposition to the mo-
ten, and by DR.. Mackall, President of the
Board and the Treasurer, Mr.. Squier, in
favor of adopting the measure. The Board
inally decided in favor of suspending the
schools during the Summer quarter The
'bject Of this action on the part of the
Board, as above stated, is to enable it to
get clear Of the heavy debt which at pres
rnt cramps and impsdes it in its duties
Under the circumstances, we think the re-
solution wise one, and for which impera-
i've necessity for closing the schools the
late Board of County Commissioners is
mainly to blame. In connection with the |
:esolution suspending Public Schools, an
rider was passed allowing the use of the !
'chool-houses and books for subscription
schools, the teachers of such subscription |
schools to be selected from those holding
certificates from the Board, and the Trus-
ees to exercise the customary control over
he schools.
A suggestion was made to the Board by |
he President that a petition from the |
members be drawn up and laid before the |
Legislature now in session, asking certain
amendments to the School Law, which ex-
perieace has proved the necessity for. The
GLOWING is the substance Of the petition |
which was finally drawn up:
l. That teachers be appointed by the
Board of School Commissioners, in place
If, as at present, the District Commission
els and Trustees, which are termed local
Boards.
2. That books and stationery DO sold to
The pupils by the Board at an advance of
% per cent. on the wholesale price, in place
If the present dollar fee, which shall be
abolished Children, whose parents or
guardians are unable to pay for books, ETC.,
to be supplied by the Board free Of charge,
Is heretofore.
8. That power to susp nd the school be
vested in the County Board when the con-
'litioa of the treasury demands it.
A. That authority to appoint School Dis
trict Trustee be placed in the hands of the
School Board, in place of by popular elec-
ton.
5. That three of the School Commission
ers be elected at every annual or BIENNIAL |
election, while six members of the old Board |
hold ever, in order that NO Board shall at |
any time be composed entiIely of new
members. That our County School system
be left unbranded by State Superintendent
,r supervision.
A bill embracing these features is at
present before the Legislature, and the
object of tho above petition is to give
strength and encouragement to the friends
of the proposed amendment at the capital.