Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-14
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
WHO WILL BE THE LUCKY Man,
DISCUSSION LAST NIGHT
In the School BOard---The New
Board to Decide on the
Sixth Of August.

! The school board met last night in adj
| journed session for the transaction Of IN
| finished business President Brown IN the
! chair. Messrs. ". T. Campbell, katz
| Pallett (the new member from the first
ward, Judge ". P. Campbell. Levy, Van
! Ness, Tucker and Vineyard present
Mr.. Pallett, having at a late meeting
been elected by the board to fill the vacancy
caused by Mr.. Caldwell's having left the
city, presented his oath OF Office, which
was placed on file, and Mr.. Pallet was
regularly enrolled a member of the board.
The chair thought that in the absence OF
better suggestion, that the regular
course Of business had better be adopted.
The reading OF the minutes was dis
peused with, and the reports Of the various
committees called for.
Mr.. George Z. Campbell, from the COM
mittee on furniture, reported that the
committee had received a communication
from the Grand Rapids (Michiganl Furni-
ture company, which stated that some
slight change desired in the school desks
could not be made owing to the lack OF
time. The committee was instructed 10
receive the furniture as ordered.
The committee on buildings and grounds
reported that they had proposition from
Mr.. Crawford TO lease a building for school
purposes at the Burton car works The
proposed lease was read, but created con-
siderable controversy. The price asked,
SOS per month for an entire year, was con-
sidered too high. \ motion TO amend by
changing to $50 per month. After good
amount of amending. subst tIting and a
motion to lay on the table, the matter was
LAID over until the next meeting
The committee on janitors was called,
but having made its report on those ap-
pointmentS at former meet ng, had no
report to make.
The next committee called for was the
committee on teachers and salaries, Of
which Judge ". P Campbell is to chair
man. 1t was pretty generally known by
everybody present (and that included quite
a number Of SPECTATORS that there would
De rather lively discussion oyer the Ques
tiou of removing the present city school
superintendent, Prof, Chidster, and Sc
Letting a new one, or perhaps DIFFERING &C
ton on the latter until some subsequent
meeting In order that the public may be
assisted in more thoroughly understand
ing the proceedings OF last evening. per
tanning at least TO the matter above men
toned, IL will here be in place to give a
brief resume OF the circumstances which
led 10 the same
Prof Chidester, the present superinten-
dent has been the incumbent for the past
two years. When the question OF select
ing a superintendent for the ensuing year
began TO be discussed early in the season.
there was developed some opposition to
the reelection of Prot. Chidester for an
other year. This opposition does not seem
20 have been for any specific purpose or for
the benefit of any other particular candi
date, but was based purely and wholly
upon the grounds of expediency. those par
ticipating in the opposition asserting that
they believed that the remarkable devel-
opment OF the city and its school system,
demanded at tie head of our educational
institutions a man possessed OF more of
the attainments required IN man capable
of filling the position OF superintendent OF
schools in city the size of Wichita.
While some of the board announced
themselves as of that opinion. others be
lieved him thoroughly competent and fav-
ored his disappointment. Even a large
number Of the patrons Of the schools be-
came more or less interested in the matter,
on one side or the other.
1t was supposed that the affair had
been definitely settled when at the meet
ing of the school board on the night of
June 4, they elected or they did not elect
(as the sequel may prove Prof. Chidester
superintendent for the ensuing year.
Now, right there is where all Of these
proceedings hinge. Was or was not Prof.
Chidester legally elected at that meeting?
The school board consists OF ten members;
six constitute quorum. At the meeting
in question there were seven present.
When the vote on superintendent was
taken five voted for Mr.. Chidester and two
desired to be and were excused from vot-
ing. This, those opposed TO the professor,
claims was not an election, as not ma
jority Of the board. or, rather, not quo
rum voted on the question and hence. they
say, il was no vote.
The adherents of the professor, on the
other hand, claim it was an election, and
that inasmuch as the records show seven
present, although only five actually voted,
the other two being excused by the action
of the seven, or OF the board, as they put
it. As consequence they say the records
show seven members participated.
At the regular July meeting, held about
ten nights ago, it was expected that the
question would be brought up, but It was
not.
THE DISCUSSION.
Judge W. P. Campbell, as chairman Of
the committee on teachers and salaries.
said that they had no regular report 10
make, but that there were some things
which ought 10 be disposed of,
and one was the employment OF
a superintendent for the ensuing
year He called for the reading OF
minutes of the meeting OF June 4th. He
called attention to the circumstances OF
that meeting, as mentioned above, and
said in accordance with all parliamentary
usages there had been no election of Prof
Chidester or any one else TO the Office OF
The judge then moved
that the board proceed TO elect a superin-
tendent OF schools for the ensuing year
Mr.. Kstz then called for the reading OF
that portion of those minutes which, he
said, showed that Nessrs. CT L Campbell
and Mr. Wingard refused 20 vote when
Ilelr names were Ca44ed 1uu tLlaS TIC I'VE
who did vote voted for Prof. Chidester.
There was question raised but not deter
mined as to whether or not they refused
to vote or were excused from voting.
After more discussion of the parlia-
mentary phase OF the vote, Judge Camp
bell proceeded 20 state his reasons for op-
posing the election of Prof. Chichester,
when the point was raised that there was
no question for discussion before the