Wichita eagle., 1889-09-03
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.
superintendent Stevenson Meets the Board
Bills Allowed-Ground Bought for the
Burton Car School


Burton Car School
AT s o'clock last evening the board of
education met in office Of board in Sedg-
wick block President Levy called the
meeting to order and Members Fegtly,
Sawyer, Clapp, Piatt, Campbell, Howard
and Martin answered roll call
Minutes of last meeting were read and
adopted. Treasurer's report submitted.
Superintendent Stevenson was intro
duced and in a brief but comprehensive
statement made his acknowledgements for
the honor of his election to the superin-
tendency OF the schools of Wichita He
also said that his thanks were due to his
predecessor for his manly bearing towards
him AMI for valuable information concern
ing the condition of the schools. He as
summed the grave responsibilities with
some misgivings. The problem Of CLASH
fication was the one of the
greatest difficulty. owing to the
scattered condition of the popu-
lation, he would have positive opin-
ions on all educational questions. and if
he should urge them with persistence he
trusted that 10 member of the board
would regard his positiveness II the sense
dlctation, for he should always regard the
superior and TO It's wIll he would cheer
fully bow. He understood his duties to be
to execute the will Of the board and TO
frankly suggest measures which he
thought best, whether the board should
adopt them or not. lie had no interest Of
of any kind in any school book publishing
house nor any school supply company, so
was free to present and recommend what
in his judgment Was for the best interests
Of the schools. lie believed the course of
study to be too crowded and too many text
books used. The western people had the
courage to attempt anything but in this
case he believed too much was attempted
TO be done well
lie argued that industrial drawing was
now the most practical OF al subjects and
should have place in the public schools.
1t touched more occupations than most
subjects. Music, also, should have a
permanent place both as a science and an
art. Both these subjects could be used to
fl up fragments Of time would otherwise
he wasted.
The superintendent Of buildings and
grounds made report. lie entered into
detail Of work done on the different school
about the way stock were picketed out in
the grounds. Report was referred TO COM
mittee or buildings and grounds.
Bills were audited TO the amOudt of SG0S.
Warrants were ordered drawn on the
treasurer
Petitions were received from citizens of
the Third and Fourth wards remonstrat-
ing against the buildings which the board
had selected for school purposes. The
petitions were placed on file.
The citizens of the Sixth ward sent in a
petition recommending William Wich-
man for the vacant membership from that
ward. Placed on table.
COMMITTEES on buildings and grounds
recommended the appointment of O. Is.
Botkin as ianitor Of Burton car schools.
adopted. They also reported having leased
building in various parts OF the city for
school purposes which were, with one ex-
ception, adopted. The committee then re-
ported q site for building at the Burton
Car works which il recommended be pur-
chased for 5000 4 motion was made to
lay it Oh the table which was lost and
motion was made to adopt the recommend
alton, which carried.
The judiciary committee We're given fur
Their time TO report. No report was made
by COMMITTEE on teachers and salaries.
Some changes were made in text books
in high school.
Contracts for stationary were let to
Hyde & Humble and Robinson d Cham
pion.
Sawyer, on committee on furniture. re-
ported that sixty desks were necessary TO
properly equip the different schools Com
mittee was given time and power to pur-
chase the necessary equipments.
A motion was then made that commit
tee on buildings and grounds have plans
and specifications drawn and let the con
tract for a school building at the Burton
car works 10 cost =. 800. Carried.
The salary of superintendent of build
ings and grounds was increased to SO per
month.
The special order of the evening was the
matter OF the bonds. \ letter was read
from the state officials III Topeka Offering
100 cents or the dollar for the bonds which
are TO draw . per cent interest
Piatt moved that the finance committee
negotiate with the state officials and
learn what the lowest offer would be on
the whole amount or any part of them.
OArCleu.
l.. ID. Skinner made proposition to the
board thatttey let him take The bonds and
negotiate them for the board. The propo-
sItion WAS taken under consideration.
Motion was made that the matter of
vacancy in the Sixth ward Ice taken from
the tahle. The motion was lost.
Moved that matter of buildings Of the
Fourth ward BE- referred TO the committee
on buildings aud grounds. Carried The
protest which WAS received from the citi-
zens of the shove ward was also referred
to the committee on buildings and
grounds.
The board then adjourned to meet next
Monday evening.
The wholesale cigar firm Of ". T Bish-
on n Sons added another man To rbeir