Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-09
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Superintendent Leath's Report-Treasu.
rer's and Finance Committees Re-
pOrts-A Deficit OF S3923 Sc
Colonel Leath Elected Su.
perintendent.
The Question Of Cutting Down Salaries
and AbOlishing the High Schools
The Schools Not to be Reopened
until OctOber-The School
Census.

At the usual hour last night, President
Goodman called the board of education to
order, at their rooms in the Odd-Fsllows
building. The minutes of the previous meet
ing were read. Mr.. Iglauer, the new mem
Der from the second ward, was duly sworn
in, and he took his seat.
SUPERINTENDENT LEATH's REPORT.
Superintendent J. T. Leath, of the school
board, presented his report, which was very
voluminous. 1t gives general history OF the
public schools of this city since their estao-
lishment, twenty-slx years ago, with mass
of facts, figures, ETC., all of which IN due
time will be published in pamphlet form.
Superintendent Leath favored the continu-
ance of the high school system as In vogue;
he favored physical and industrial education
as practiced In other States. The annual re-
port is the summing up of the monthly re-
ports presented regularly by the superintend-
emit during the past scholastic year. If the
board absolished the high schools, he hoped
they would be continued as pay schools, at not
over four dollars per month cost to each pupil.
The report was filled with tabulated status
teal statements with reference to the schools
in all their phases as to the attendance and
education of pupils. He favored shortening
the present course in arithmetic, should it
be found necessary to cut down expenses,
etc. 1t took forty minutes to have the report
read by Assistant Superintendent Foute. The
report was received.
OTHER REPORTS.
The treasurer reported money in bank
amounting to $28S3 %. The auditing COM
mittee reported as to the payroll for the
month, bills allowed. bills payable. etc.,
which report was adopted by the board.
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.
The finance committee reported as follows:
Balance due on April payroll .--..--.s $50 So
Balance due on May payroll ..-.--..--... 800 90
Balance due on June payroll. 35S S3
Bills due TO date OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 2oS 80
Making Indebtedness of $685. 09
Less cash IL bank Tomorrow. ..-....... ALL %
Leaving deficit to be provided for Of 1923 SO
ADDITIONAL REPORT OF FINANCE COMMIT
TEE.
On the question of cutting down salaries
and abolishing the high schools for the ensu
ing scholastic year, Chairman ID. ID. Saun-
ders presented the following report:
MEMPHIS, July g. 1878.
To the Honorable Board Of Education
Your committee on finance find that we have re,
II, 1878, S4S,25S 40; of this amount 1892 10 was
from tuition fees. We anticipate our receipts for
the next twelve months TO be 20 per cent less than
assessments, and from tuition fees about the same
this will allow us about S3S 1855 80. In addition
$4,000 which Will yield total from all sources of
S43,755 80; This estimate Is made upon basis OF
y, and S1T.OOO,OOO for the city, we receiving Is
cents the 500 for State and county and 20 cents
from the city. We find that calculation made upon
this basis corresponds approximately with our re-
ceipts for the last twelve months Our expenditures
for the last twelve months were $50 !99 S5 OF this
year previous. On June 10, 1878, the date from
which make our estimate we still owed S564S u,
only $40 10 less than we commenced the tenn
with. By subtracting our indebtedness OF So64S ~
from our anticipated receipts of S43 765 &c. 1t will
leave 1913, III II our supposed income Tor the
next year from June 10, 1878, to June TO- 1879.
Our estimate of expenditures for the next year is
October /, 1873, to June /, 1879 Our payroll for
the last twelve months including salaries of super
to S42, 1852 40. You will see at glance the neces
sity for revision, We have only S3S, III IL TO
meet all the expenses of the board for the coming
year. Your committee after mature consideration
have thought proper to recommend the following:
One superintendent, per annum. ..........S 1,500
One secretary, per annum. ......,........... 900
Nine ianitors for eight months, 1T S12 each
per month, and four for four months. 1,056
Fifty-sx teachers, at $50 per month each. 26,S80
The above added make payroll amount to 1874 ,s16
we allow for rents. 1000
current expenses OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 2,OOO
These items added to payroll foot up $50 ,616
expenditures, against S3S. III II supposed income,
lures exceed our supposed income by S14eS SO. We
hope this may be cancelled by more fortunate receipts
than have Calculated II not, carry 1t over
to The next term, or close the session few weeks
earlier. 1t is with deep regret that your committee
find your financial condition such as to force them
recommend the reduction of the salaries of any of
your worthy emplOyes but stern unrelenting neces-
sity leaves them no other alternative In our esti
mate we have considered Ii fmpricticable with our
means for the present to continue the high school,
and We calculate, by using the rooms which have
been occupied by it. to reduce rents the other
school buildings. The salaries above recommended,
ent superintendent, so far as his is concerned.
D; D; SAUNDERS, Chairman;