Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-06-01
Circular Letter No. 2.
oi1lce ot GO. sapt' Jerauld &c. Dakote
10 Township School Officers


TO Township School Officers
This circular letter is issued for the
purpose of instructing Township
school officers in the manner of con-
ducting the coming school election
and of explaining certain clauses OF
our school law. All rulings and sug
gestions herein contained, have been.
cleaned from a careful study Of the
law and from letters and circulars re-.
ceiyed from the Territorial Depart
ment of Public Instruction.
ELECTIONS.
Sec. 10 of the School law provides
that the annual school election shall
be held upon the third Tuesday of
June which occurs this year upon the
10Th.
Sec. q of the law, directs that the
polls shall be opened at 2 o'clock in
the afternoon and remain open till 5
o'clocl. The director If present
SHALL act as Judge Of the election; and
the clerk OF the election shall be chos-
en- by the voters present at the opening
OF the polls. Ii the director is absent
tie Judge Of election should then be
chosen by the voters present at 2 o.
clock. Each sub-distrlct is voting
precinct, and the school house or the
house in which school was last held
the polling place.
Jhree notices OF election should be
posted in each sl.b.district in public
| places, one of which shall be cn the
front door Of the school house in
| which said election is to be held.
These notices should be posted ten
days preceding the election, by the
clerk Of the school township acting
through the director or rsome responsi-
bic patron of each sub-district,
The qualified voters Of each sub.dis-
trict should elect a director as a mem
Der of the township school beard.
They should also cast a ballot fer
school township treasurer and for
County Superintendent aahc Law
intends that there shall be nc greater
or less number Of sub-districts in any
township than there are schools; any
variation from this win result in an
illegal election.
Sec. % provides that in all school
elections all persons Who are qualified
voters under the general laws of the
Territory, shall be entitled to vote and
in addition thereto all women who
have the exclusive control Of children
ana have also the qualifications ct a
voter as to age residence etc.
| Sec. 23proyides that all persons who
| are tTenty-one years old and over, and
| who have the requisite qualifications
as to citizenship and residence, re-
quired by the general laws, shall be el-
igible tc any Of the school Offices ev-
cept the Office of Treasurer OF the
school township. The Board ruled
| last year that they could see no reason
why woman should net be allowed
to hold the position Of school township
treasurer; but 1t seems that upon con-
sultation with the attorney General.
They have decided that the school
treasurer must be o male citizen over
twenty one years old.
He must also be q resident Of the
area embraced in the school township.
| After the Judge and clerk have
canvassed the votes cast as provided in
Sec 81 Of the lazy. The returns together
| with all the ballots cast fer all candi-
dates should be placed in the ballot
! box and the boz resealed and delivered
to the clerk Of the board.
The Office Of clerk OF school beard is
not elactor. This officer should be
! chosen at the first nesting Of the
new school board on the second Tues
day OF July, but he does not assume
the duties of ctlice until the present in
cumbenthas made his report to the
| county superintendent. His annual
report should be made within the next
ten days following the first meeting OF
! the new school board and should. be
made in duplicate. cne copy to be filed
in his Office, and one to be forwarded
to the county superintendent Who will
receipt for it.
| The township treasurer should as
sume- the duties of his Office as soon
as the repor5cf his predecessor has
been approved by the school board.
sectionl5 provides chat the newly
elected school board shall meet on the
second Tuesday Of July which VIII oc'
cur this: year upon the 10th, and organ
| lie by choosing one Of their number as
chairn!aN,and some persGn not Oh their
number as clerk Of the beard.
The retiring board should meet up
or the -aine ,!ay ;tad appreTa the I'M
| 4.l report Of the school township