Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1883-02-11

Communication from the President
of the Board OF Education-On
inadequate School Accommoda-
tions-Sale OF the Spring and Bath
Street Properties Recommended
a. . Means of Relief.
To tie Hon. Mayor and Council Of tie
City Of Loo angeles:

10 fhe non. Mayor and Council Of tx
City Of Los Angeles:
The Board Of Education of said city
respectfully submit to your considera-
ton the following: The inadequate
school seating capacity and want Of prop
or school facilities Of this city, are the
cause Of continued and well founded
complaints on the part Of the patrons Of
our public schools. The building and
furnishing of school houses of sufficient
capacity and convenience, is an earnest
and imperative demand which we can
not ignore.
The Spring street and Bath street
school properties have been condemned
as unfit for school purposes because of un.
favorable location, want of capacity and
lad condition Of the buildings, but neces-
ity compels us TO use such places for
schools. This Board is now using seven
rooms ia the State Normal School build.
ing for our city schools, under lease
which will probably be terminated at
the end Of the present school year.
The number Of scholars now enrolled on
our school registers greatly exceeds the
seating capacity of our school houses,
and large number in the city are not
enrolled, because application therefor
would be useless.
At the beginning of the next school
year there will be, from present indica-
tions, an increased demand for additional
houses. II such demand is not sup
piled before that tins there will be
nearly thousand scholars of all grades
in the city denied school privileges.
There should be central school build
ing to accommodate the grammar and
High School classes and such other
buildings as shall be necessary for
Glasses of the lower grades in different
parts Of the city. Heretofore the de-
mand for school houses has been sup
piled by leasing rooms in various parts
OF the city. But this Board cannot now
furnish even such substitutes, because
there Is not any building or place in the
city obtainabIe for such purpose, aud,
II there were, we have not the neces-
sary funds with which to pay rent.
The City Council of 1882 provided ne
money for the support of schools Of this
city; in consequence, this Board 10
obliged to exercise the strictest economy
in maintaining our schools during the
present year and to deny school priv
ileges and facilities which should be pro-
vided, and which we would gladly and
provide il we had the means
to do so.
This Board il Of the advice that the
Spring and Bath street properties be
sold and the proceeds realized
from which sale be appropriated
to the purchase OF lots and for building
school houses such as needed.
In view Of the questions relative to
the powers and authority Of this Board
to make such sales and to purchase and
to build for such purposes; and Of the
difficulties which may arise as to the
title Of the school properties mentioned,
this Board asks your concurrence in
devising ways and means to dispose Of
said property and to provide for proper
and adequate school buildings at as
early time as practicable. The sub
iect is Of paramount Importance, and the
necessities are pressing and demand
serious and prompt attention.
BY order Of the Board of Education.
j. BRoussrAu,
President.
Los Angeles, Feb. 10, 1888.