National Republican., 1880-07-14
A NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
First Meeting of the Board for the
Current Year.
Two New Trrsieos-Tho Old Omcers Re-
elected - Considerable Routine Busi-
ness Transacted - The Corcoran
Market Square - a Protest
Presonted-The Inspeo-
tor of Buildings.
Intorestlng session Of tho School nonrd.

Interesting Session Of the School Board.
The hrst meeting Of the board of school
trustees for the year commencing July /, 1880.
was bold last evening at the Franklin school
building, tho two pew members of the board,
Mes5rs. Temple and Pearson being in attend.
ance The board proceeded TO organize by re.
electing Mr.. c. NJ. Matthews president and
Mr.. J. II. Brooks secretary.
The resignation of Miss Mary b. Bartlett, q
teacher of the second division, was received
and accepted.
Applications for positions as teachers were
received and filed from Misses Ada II. Wiley,
Lois a. Rankin aud Florence Baldwin, and
Mr.. L. 4. Brown. As ianitors from A. S.
Morris, Thomas Kennedy Joseph l.. Martin,
George w. Mcckabee, Henry Coleman, will.
lam Cooper james w. SpringmAu, Il. l.. Fow-
Ter, ID. B. Glasco John A. Callison and j. l..
Martin.
The nominations of c. A. Peek and John Z.
Chappcl as teachers in the sixth division were
confirmed.
Communications wcro read from Mr.. R. o.
Holizman and others offering TO sell certain
property for school purposes.
a resolution was adopted consolidating the
committees on accounts and supplies.
Iho committee on rules reported adversely
upon proposition authorizing the committee
on Teachers TO make such changes in the
course of study in tho normal and high
that no good reason exists for departing from
the practice now in vogue.
similar report, also adopted, was made
by the special committee, to which was
referred letter OF tho inspector of buildings
asking that the authority now granted the
school board of expending S20 monthly in re.
pairs TO school buildings DO revoked, and all
contracts for such repairs be made through his
Office. MIR. Brown, from the committee on build
ings aud repairs, submitted report, which was
agreed to, recommending the adoption of the
second plan of the inspector Of buildings for
tho now school buildings at Anacostia and on
tho Bladcnsburg turnpike, and that for the
latter the site offered by DR.. w. G.. Palmer be
purchased
Mr.. Lloyd offered a resolution, which was
referred TO the committee on text books pro.
yiding that practical arithmetic aud English
grammar be made daily studies in She High
schools and that certificates should only DO
granted in schools of the eighth aud ninth
grades. A communication was received from
the District commissioners stating that the
parking commission had been charged with
the care Of trees, shrubbery and decorations
around public school buildings.
Mr. Brooks offered resolution, which was
adopted, IN which the committee on buildings
and repairs was authorized to represent the
board in preparing detailed estimates of all
necessary repairs to public school buildings
lle pTtbtuU NHCullOn ana TO annOltIOn
the appropriations oquitably between the sew.
eral divisions. Also that in tho selection Of
sites for new buildings, approval of plans and
notifications Of any suggested plans the COM
mittcc should act with the District commits.
Sioners. The committee also TO have secured
to them in tho contract the right to inspect
| the work and materials used in the erection
OF new buildings, and that before the final
payment is made the committee, together with
the inspector Of buildings, certify TO the Dis
trict commissioners that tho buildings had
| been erected in accordance with the plans
| specifications and contracts
On motion of Mr., Somcrvlle, it was de-
cided to establish a school at tho Washington
| asylum If it was found advisable
| A protest siOnAd hv NJ. V, w p,r1ot,o
/ uuu twelve others was read declaring against
the location Of u school building on the Cor.
coran Market square. The paper was freely
discussed, and finally referred to the follow
ing committee for report: Messrs. Lambert,
Temple, Loveioy, Somorville and Curtis.
The report respecting tho letter Of the in
spector Of buildings concerning the repairs of
school buildings referred to above concludes
| as follows Tho board of trustees fails to
fad any good reason why the present order
should be disturbed. Such small power can,
1t is urged, bo safely continued in Il body
whose members arc charged with the
weightier work OF public education in this
DISTRICT. should IL be, however, the
judgment Of the commissioners that
under the provisions Of the appropriation act
Of March 3, 1879, or otherwise, they have the
power to delegate all power as to the repairs
OF school buildings 10 tho inspector of build
ings, and decming it best so to act they con-
clude to vest him with full power in the
premises, the board Of trustees would re-
spoctfully advise the commissioners of the
District of Columbia that it will decline here.
after to assume any responsibility in this mat.
ter Of repairs to school buildings, eithor to ap.
prove any claim arising against tho District ol
Columbia ON that account or to cause
acquisitions TO be made for materials fol
repairs 1t is considered that such responsl,
bility aud such duty should rest with the Off.
Ger having sole control of the expenditures foi
repairs This board shall consider itself re.
lievcd to that extent of the duty deyolved upon
it to care for aud manage tho public schools
1t cannot be expected to approve accounts
against the public schools in tho matter of The
contracting of which it had no part, over
which it had no control. or those claims arising
out of the actions Of an officer of the District
OF Columbia entirely independent Of the
board"