Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-04
SCHOOL BOARD.
The Meeting Last Night only Routine Work.

FegUley, j. {. Howard and S. d. Pallett.
Those absent were McNair, Clapp and
Tucker. AS soon as the clerk had finished
reading the minutes OF the last session the
president called for the regular reports OF
the committee. The treasurer of the board
made the following statement Of the con-
dition OF the city school sunds:
Oct. 81, To balance interest fund. .S12, 344 81
Oct. 3, To balance sinkidg fund. 1883. 4!
Professor Chidister made very elabo
rate report of the condition and atteneance
OF scholars upon the city schools. The
report was very exhaustive and
among the most important points
was the reference to the attendance. The
professor said he found it impossible to
give full report of the schools, owing to
the meeting of the board being SO close
after the school month, but gave the fol-
lowing figures of scholars attending school
in the different grades: Chart pupils, SO
First Grade, 552: Second Grade, $50; Third
Grade, 543; Fourth Grade, 467: Fifth
Grade, 374; Sixth Grade. 23S; Seventh
Grade, l46; Eighth Grade, outside of High
school. 81; High school, Isl. This gives a
total belonging to the schools of 1860, and
an increase over last month of POI and an
increase over the corresp onding month
last year of As. 1t was de
cided that the schools should ad-
journ on the Friday before Christmas,
with two weeks vacation. The board de-
cided to pay the teachers their salaries at
the close of the three weeks school for
December, which the Christmas vacation
will necessitate, and then not pay any sal
aries for five weeks.
Prof Chichester said that the Franklin
school building on the West Side needed
repairing, as the heating apparatus was out
of order. The building is not very COM
Portable and on cold days the school has to
adjourn.
Mr. Clapp thought the building should
be repaired at once, and this seemed to be
III general opinion Of the members. Mr..
Vineyard had made written statement of
this building and the repairs necessary
and had given it to Mr.. CIapp, who failed
TO bring it to the meeting The member
from the second ward was requested
TO go out and get the report
and this Ne, e5sitated Il recess for few
moments. As the board was waiting, Mr..
McNair proceeded a few moments by Mr.
Clapp entered the chamber The First
Ward school building was also reported in
such IL condition that several of the rooms
are often in ''fearfully" cold condition.
AL the defects win be remedied.
Mr.. Van Ness brought up the somewhat
''chestnutty" question OF charging the
Lawrence Avenue school grounds and
made motion that the additional grounds
be purchased of Mr.. Powell for 500. Mr..
Lawrence proved second and Mr.. Fegt-
ley asked If the proposed ground included
the alley west of the building Mr.. Van
\ IS retorted that he did not know, and as
he had expected Mr.. Wingord to be present
who has investigated the question every
week for the past two years, he could not
enlighten the board on the question. Mr..
Clapp opposed the motion, as he claimed
Mr.. Powell owned a narrow strip of
ground on Fifteenth street in front of or
on the north side of the school grounds,
and wanted to purchase both strips Of
ground on the NORTH and west sides. Mir.
Van Ness thought the strip of land on the
west side Of the building was very desira-
BILE and almost necessary for the public.
Mr. Clapp said he thought the price-S400
and did not feel like paying
any such figure for the property. MIR.
Campbell thought both strips of ground
should be owned by the school board.
The question was finally returned to the
proper committee for action.
MI Fegtley said that there were a mum
Der OF boys who did not attend school in
habit of destroying school property
and asked if the janitors, who are empow-
cred as special policemen, could run the
young rascals down and arrest them.
President Levy said they could and the
boys will be given IA term in the city Jail
il they 90 not let up on their depreda
tions
Mr.. McNair asked if their was a law
which would compel an attendance by all
children at school for any certain number
of weeks. Mr. Levy thought the only way
to compel some OF the kids to attend school
was to lasso them. Prof Chidister said
there was Il law on the subject and it re-
CURED the PIE ,ident of the school board
to notify such youngsters that they should
90 to school, and in event that the presi-
dent of the board should fail to attend to
this that he would be subjec1 to fine
A communication from the school board
Of Kansas City, Kan, was read, which
said the law relating TO public schools
needed amendment, and proposed II
TO meet in Topeka on Deem
Der 2S TO take some action regarding the
matter. y committee Unsupported, con-
ssting of Messrs. Lawrence, McNair and
the clerk of the board, to attend the con
A motion was passed not to allow any
paw for books not ordered by the board.
Mr. Fegtley said Their was a great deal
Of complaint around the city about differ
aut teachers locking out the school child
rem mornings and moons, and thought
that a change should be made and all
teachers compelled TO be at school at $50
Ia the morning and o'clock at the noon
hour. Some OF the school houses are pro
yided with locks on the doors on the in
side so that when the scholars get on the
outside and the doors get closed the child
rem cannot get inside of the building
again. Mr.. Ciapp thought the doors ought
not to be locked at any time from early
morning uaul the school is adjourned at
night. A motion was made t. SO arrange
nc HlatlSt SA'st t4AS NooiS Sildi4 DC hept
open from $50 a. m. until after the ad-
ournulent Of the schools at night.
Additional school room was asked
or on Oak street and in
he Second ward. The schools
IRE also crowded in the Third ward The
committee on grounds and build ngs was
empowered to reag ont the building on
Oak street.
The question OF employing special
eacher in drawing and penmanship was
brought up and it was decided that a