The morning call., 1891-07-25
TEACHERS SALARIES.
School Directors Not to Make a
General Reduction.
Principals With More Than Eight and Less
Than Twelve Glasses Will Be Compelled
to Teach Class.

The Board Of Education met last night as
a committee of the whole to consider the
financial situation and to make some ar
engagements regarding the disposition of thu
school funds in the interest of what wa:
called economy. Some days ago a secret
caucus was neld. and it was resolved tC
make general reduction of teachers sal
aries of 3 per cent for all over $50 and
under 500, and 8 per cent of all salarie;
over 500. This action was taken at Joint
meeting of the Finance and Salaries
Committees. The knowledge of the
intention of the Directors created quite 9
stir in the department, so much so thai
those who were in favor of the reduction
soon discovered that they had made mis-
take, and gave forth that it was their deter
minatiOn not to press the conclusions
which had been reached by the caucus
The meeting last night was called to con-
slider the matter, and all the members of the
board were in attendance with the exception
of Director AmeS. President Sabin called
the meeting to order and stated the objects
for which the special call had been issued.
Director button at once moved that the
board 60 into executive session, whereupon
Director Decker rose and stated that he was
u.
There was no reason for secrecy, and he
was not afraid to let the public know how
he stood on the financial question. Director
buttons motion, however, prevailed, Di-
rectors Harvey, Woodward and Dunn voting
In favor of open doors.
After the exclusion of the reporters the
meeting became very animated. the discus
sion OF the various subjects lasting till after
II o'clock Directors Harvey and Hyde and
Sttn nfara 1..,t a
showing the financial condition. 1t was
some time before the main subject was
broached, as the Directors seemed un-
willing to commit themselves in the
proposition of reduction. Accord
ing to the reports presented there
was strong necessity for more money for
building purposes and repairs. The ques-
ton OF the consolidation Of classes was con-
sdered. and the opinion seemed to be that
1t should not be pursued too far. Director
Woodward presented some figures which
showed that the Cogswell School cost three
times more per pupil than the law allowed,
and was in favor of retrenchment in this
school. The question of the legality of the
lease was also broached but the board was
assured that the Trustees OF the school
would stand by the lease.
WHEN THE MAIN QUESTION
OF the evening was touched, a number of
the Directors expressed themselves as op.
sentiment was that money must be had.
Director Harvey thought IL any change
was made it should be with those who
do the least work and receive the
most pay. 1t was moved that the
principals of the various schools be each
compelled TO take class. Superintendent
SWEET gave considerable Information on this
subject, and showed how in the East all
principals are required TO take O class
There seemed to be a unanimity of opinion
among the Directors on this point, but they
were not prepared to go SO far as
to compel all principals to take a class,
as some of them 10 the larger schools
have considerable work to do. A COM
promise was finally made and it was agreed
that all principals having over eight classes
and under twelve, not including, shall be
compelled to teach q class. This Will neces-
state the Withdrawing of fourteen assistant
teachers, as that number Of principals will
be affected ty this step. The question OF
what TO do with these fourteen teachers
provoked
CONSIDERABLE DISCUSSION,
And 1t was finally resolved to place them at
the head of the substitute class under the
full pay of substitute. 1t is calculated
that this decision will save the department
500 a month. or S10920 year.
The board next considered another method
for saving money. At the June meeting,
when the schedule of salaries for the fiscal
year 1892 was adopted, 1t was decided to
increase the salaries of the teachers in the
seventh and eighth grades So month on
account of the extra hard work attached to
these classes. This proposition met at first
with considerable opposition. Director
Woodward was its strongest opponent, and
fought it with all his might
The motion to make the reduction was
made by Director Hyde, and he claimed
that it would be no reduction, but simply a
resembling of previous action of the
board as none of the salaries of the teach
ers under the new schedule had been paid.
This was characterized as lame explana-
ton of taking away So a month from num-
Der OF teachers. Director Sabin stated that
he was in favor of
HYDE's MOTION,
Not to increase the seventh and eiphth
grade teachers salaries. He did not believe
in reduction, but as it was there was no
time for general readjustment and some
thing must be done tn obtain money.
Superintendent SWEET stated that he
favored the increase at the time, but as
there was financial contingency in the de-
partrnent he would agree to the proposition
of taking off the So
The motion to take away the increase and
change the June schedule in this respecI
was adopted, Woodward and Dunn voting
In the negative. This, 1t is thought will
save about S2lG0 year.
Director Hyde introduced another motion
to refer the question Of salaries to Superin.
tendent SWEET for the purpose of hav.
ing him make a new schedule. He
was asked why he did not move to refer il
TO the proper committee, and he replied
that the Salary Committee had already
given their ideas on the subject and that il
was not in accordance with parliamentary
usage to refer it back for reconsideration
lie believed that Superintendent SWEET
should draw up some schedule in the wa,
If not of reducing yet of
EQUALIZING THE SALARIES.
The Directors might give him ideas, AM
| ne (Hydel proposed to give him plenty IS
move that the matter be SO referred sail
Hyde, 'and that the board pledge them
selves to adopt the report" said Decker sar
| casticaly. ''
Woodward objected to such courss ant
sald lhat ii Mr.. Hyde wanted new sched
ule let MIN prepare one and Introduce il II
the board himself at the next meeting Tn,
Salary Committee had been intrustsi will
this task. and in June last had their renor
accepted. He did not see any '.contin
| gency" IN the finances, and there was NJ
| reason for new schedule.
An amendment was made to Hvda,s mn
tlon that the matter of new schedul,
| equallzlng salaries be referred to SuperIn
tendent SWEET aud the Chairman Of III,
Salaries ana finance committees. No dis
position was made OF the motion. Directo
| Dunn and woodward opposed it strenuously
| Director Dunn stated that il wa
al wrong to make any reduction O
salaries, that this was simply tn
beginning, and he could not tell how far tn,
board would 60 when once they had entered
the wedge OF reduction into the teachers
salaries,
| After this the board opened the doors
| and made the bare announcement to the re
porters that they as a commit ee of thu
whole reported progress and statad 81,
two propositions which had been detarminef
upon. The entire subject will come nj
| again at the regular meeting of the boar
/ on next WedneSdav night