Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-07-19
THE ANNUAL SCHOOL MEETING.
The New school LAW Proves n STUN.
bling Block in the WAY Of selling
District Property.

uhll. Inc report ol bhe pfuueuLlhl COM
mittee and auditor was presented in print
and Col. Haskins moved its acceptance.
Before the report was adopted Col Haskins
interrogated the committee as to certain
portions Of this report, as at the bottom of
page 4, which seemed to be fragmentary
and incomplete, and was informed in an
swer that the missing portions were print
ed elsewhere, as ON page TO-
No mention was made of the improved
spelling of the words "grammer, "acque-
duct" etc, and Of certain other typograph-
ic features of the report
S. II. Sherman explained that the state
ment that the High school building is in
sured for $50 600 at the rate of per cent
should read per cent for five years.
After the final adoption of the report the
election Of officers was proceeded with.
In regard to the prudential committee
Col llaskins explained that under the new
law either one or three may be chosen, and
If three their terms are for one two and
three years respectively, one member 10 he
elected for three years at each succeeding
annual meeting The vote was to elect
| three members and DR.. HOlton was chosen
for the three years term E. W. Stoddard
for two years and Rev. w. II Collins for
one year. The complete list Of officers is
the following
Moderator -. u. Harris
! Clerk =. W kimball
Prudential committee H. D. Holton, f.. W.
! Stoddard, W " Collins.
! Collector H. h. Taylor tsalary sAOl
| Treasurer Geo. $ DuWlpy
| Auditor A. c. Davenport.
The number of schools, length of terms
and reception of tuition scholars were left
| ~ the discretion Of the committee as usual.
Under article six, relative 10 the employ
ment of IA supervisor Of schools, g. A.
Hines Intercepted the committee as 10
their opinion and wish in the matter. DIR.
iiolton replied, strongly advocating the EN-
| ployment of "A supervisor lie spoke Of the
| great value Of Miss Woods services the
| past three years, Of their small compare
tive cost. and Of the Importance of employ
ing separate person for this service rather
than attempt to have the new High school
| principal divide services which ought 10 be
| wholly given to that school At the con
cluslon Of his remarks motion 10 instruct
the committee 10 employ supervisor was
unanimously carried.
The most interesting parts Of the pro
/ ceedlngs were those which came up under
article seven, to see if the district would
instruct its committee 10 sell any portion Of
its real estate Under this article refer
ence was made to the proposed sale of "a
strip of land from the rear Of the Estey-
Vile lot aud 10 the sale Of the Reed street
school house Dr. Hoton thought a few
feet of land might be sold in Esteyville,
Strengthening the lines and not mjuring the
lot. +. 5. Chase asked what lines were 10
he Strengthened and said he thought the
| sale would be of doubtful eXpedency, rs
pecially as Il survey the past week had cut
! off IL feet on the front of the lot II. G.
] hp 4 l..
| purchaser, said he should like a small strip
Of the land in the rear Of his buildings. as
1t would better protect them from fire and
other possible mischief
Questions being asked as 10 the reasons
| for the proposed sale Of the Reed street
| school house and its alleged unsauitary con
] dlton, Mr.. Collins answered that its condi-
ton was IA disgrace to the district and such
/ that 1t could only Ice appreciated 10y visit
| to the premises The odors were 50 foul
that they could not be endured with the
windows open He had gone there 10 visit
| the school on one Of the hot DAYS during
the summer term ana found all the win
dows closed for this reason Going outside
he found heap Of garbage directly under
one Of the windows, which was removed
after he had threatened that he would have
the authorities remove 1t were il not done
otherwise. This was only one illustration
Of the condition of things there He be-
lieved II to be wrong to ask any teacher to
spend six hours IA day there, and he would
not on any account send child of his own
II that school
Answering questions as to what would be
done If the Reed street house was sold Dr.
Holton said there were no definite plans,
but there were several ways TO get along
without II. While that school is one of the
largest of the primaries, it is mainly an
overflow from other schools. The High
street and Canal street schools are constant
ly overcrowded and it is necessary 10 send
children to Reed street from Elliot street
and that vicinity. An addition could he
made to the Canal street building, or Il
room could he hired for the present The
High school building is already becoming
crowded, and if the present rate Of growth
OF the village continues it will be necessa
ry to provide for one of the Intermediate
schools elsewhere. The better way would
he to erect a building, probably ON Canal
street large enough for two Primaries and
the lower grade Of intermediate.
Col. Haskins moved to instruct the com
mittee 10 sell any of the real estate Of the
district in their discretion, and this was
unanimously carried, but DIR. Hoton called
the attention of the meeting To the follow
ing provision Of the new school law, which
seems to forbid the sale Of school district
property 10y an ordinary vote of instruc-
tions
Sec NJ. school district may, by two.
thirds vote, II such vote represents ma iurity Of
the grand list Of the district sell its school hous,.
and the land connected therrwth and the names
Of thuse voting for the sale shall be- taken aud
corded
The question was whether this provision
applies IN "A case like this or was only in
tended 10 apply 10 the small districts which
own only one school house 4 common
sense view would indicate that the latter
was the case, but DR. Holton said that when
in the Legislature he called the attention of
MIR. Prouty of Newport who had the bill
IN charge, To this section, aud Mr. Prouty
answered that it might be announcement for
some of the large districts, but it was es-
sential for the protection Of the small ones.
Further discussion Of this point followed,
hut the intent and meaning of the law be-
ing an open question the vote TO sell was
ruled by the chair as not according to law
and therefore not binding. 1t was evident
that majority Of the grand list was not
represented IN the meeting and Col Has
kins therefore Withdrew his motion to al
low the sale of the property, and the arti-
Gle was dismissed for consideration at a
special meeting should one be called
tax of - cents ON the dollar was voted
and the meeting adjourned.
The general opinion of lawyers and 9th
ers seems to be that section 261 of the new
law, which proved n stumbling block at
this meeting, was not intended 10 apply 10
the sale of small parcels of district proper
ty in district like this, but only TO small
districts which own hint oue scbnol bousa
and lot, There would be question about
the title, however, if the sale Of the Reed
street property should he attempted with
out complying with the letter of the law,
and the only safe way will be TO try TO get
out representation Of two thirds of the
grand list if the committee decide To call
special meeting The proper thing to be
done in the end will be to get an act from
the Legislature withdrawing this district
from the operation of the new law, and al.
lowing it to manage its own affairs in me
usual way.
1t is entirely evident that the Reed street
house is not fit place in which TO hold a
school, and we doubt if the committee will
feel themselves justified in opening anoth
er term there. Temporary quarters for
school will doubtless he secured in that To-
cality until permanent place can he pro
vided
FRESH AIR" APPEAL.
W.. ba