Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-11-26
soHooL BoARD,s MEErINo.
Manual Training for the Howard SCHOOL,
Fixing n 'Janitor's Pay.

discussion was the adviSaDil1ty OF increasing
the pay of the janitor who looks after and
attends to the rooms where the board holds
its meetings. Heretofore the salary of the
jaDitor has been s75 per year. His duties
in former years only required him TO be
at the rooms of the board about five days
during the month, but during the past few
months, the secretary and treasurer of the
Board of Education, L. b. Jones, has
seen fit to be in daily attendance
at the rooms. although the board does not
require him to spend all of his time there,
but, only certain number Of days after
each regular meeting. of the board, until
teachers, janitors and employees receive
their checks. In consequence of this in
creased attendance at the rooms on the
part of the secretary, the janitor has been
compelled to be on hand every day during
the past few months or as often as the
secretary desired his presence there. For
this increased attendance on the part of
the secretary of the board the janitor re-
ceived no extra compensation. his fixed
salary, as stipulated in the rules Of the
board, being but S75
At the last meeting motion was made
that the janitor's salary be increased to
$3.50, but the chair held that article 10,
section "a of the bylaws would have to be
repealed before this motion could be
adopted, whereupon s. r. Smith gave
notice that he would make motion at the
next regular meeting of the board to have
sectiod "a of article 10 repealed. When
the matter of increasing the janitors pay
again came up for discussion, last evening,
the amendment TO section "a, which Mr..
Smith promised he would make at last
nights session of the board, was found
lying on the desk of the gentleman from
the Fifth ward, but the gentleman him
self was nowhere to be found. Nor did
any one seem to know where the amend
ment or resolution came from. for it APP
peared to be genuine, in Mr.. Smiths own
handwriting and over his own signature.
Mr.. Trump desired to know whether or
not he could move for the adoption of the
amendment signed by Mr.. Smith in the
latter's absence, for that gentleman had
not put in an appearance and it was
already getting late, and from all APP
pearances it was evident that Mr.. Smith
would not be present during the evening.
In reply to Mr.. Trump's question as to
whether he might offer the amendment
which Mr.. Smith had drawn up, signed
and fully expected to offer, but was finally
prevented from attending the session at
the last moment the chair stated that if
the gentleman from the Eleventh ward
would erase Mr.. Smiths name and sign
his own name to the amendment, lie
tAitAi OatT Tile TtSDlullOil anu IL IL
passed all would be well. Mr.. Trump fol-
lowed the advice of the chair, offered the
amendment to section "a of article 10, and
the amendment was adopted. Still this
did not explain how the amendment got
on Mr.. Smiths desk during his absence
from the meeting, and matters were
becoming more perplexing than ever when
Secretary Jones finally arose and remem-
bercd that he was the individual who put
the mysterious amendment on Mr.. Smiths
desk, at the request made by the latter at
the last meeting. The minds of all then
seemed greatly relieved.
Then some Of the members desired TO
know, il the duties of the secretary re-
CURED his daily attendance at the rooms
Whether he also should not
have an increase Of salary. He was get
ting $500 per year, they said, and if his
duties required him to be at the rooms of
the board nearly every day during the
month, now that the work had so greatly
increased, the majority of the members of
the board were in favor of remunerating
the members declared that if one en-
ployes salary was to be raised, all of
them should be raised, and in view of the
fact that some of the ianitors are receiv-
Ing but $3.50 per year for much heavier
work than is performed daily at several
Of the schools, some Of the members did
not approve of the plan to remunerate one
man for extra work and not compensate
the rest. Just here Joseph Pyle called the
attention of the board to the fact that the
were getting low, and the
matter of increasing the pay of the secre-
tary and janitors of the other schools was
referred to the finance committee, to re-
port at the next regular meeting of the
board.
On motion of John Pyle it was decided
hat the committee on No. school might
have the paving around the school done at
a cost not to exceed $50. No. . school was
allowed $50 for new CRATE; No. 5 school
30 for repairs TO desks, No. 7, $50 for
closets, also s. for CRATES; No. IA, $50 for
repairs to building and for new seats; No.
;, 50 for stay-backs for shutters, and No.
20, 50 for repairs.
The report made by the committee on
books was adopted, and the matter of Sc
curing a new grammar for use in the
schools was postponed until the next meet
ing.
Joseph Pyle reported that the work on
No. 81 school was progressing rapidly and
he building would be finished probably
by the first of January. Mr.. Pyle moved
hat the following contract bills for work
lone upon this school be allowed and
orders drawn for the amount which mo-
ion was adopted Joseph S. Dunlap, $780,
William Davidson, stone work, $50; Smeed,
Wells Il Co., 81 600 for heating.
DIR. Morgan reported that everything
vas in readiness to begin the teaching of
manual training at the Howard School,
md he asked that the contract for fur
fishing tools be placed with the firm of
Duncan Brothers, at their bid of S2l207.
The motion was adopted
The COfn mittpp nm EOOltq pnS ant boriza1
o purchase encyclopedias for each gram
mar school, cost not to exceed $50 per set.
Proposals for heating No. school were
opened as follows: Joseph Jenkins, for
furnishing 10 radiators and valves, 1875;
larry A. Miller, s345. The bids were re-
erred to the committee on repairs.
On motion of Mr.. Baynard, an order
or $4,000 was drawn in favor Of Superin-
endent Harlan to defray the expenses of |
he teachers institute, recently held in the
high school. The appropriation made by
ne board for that purpose was 5000.
DR.. Morgan moved that the public |
chools be closed on Thursday, November
9Th, next, it being a legal holiday, and |
Ilso on the following day, which was
dopted. The schools, therefore, will be |
losed Wednesday evening for the remain |
Ter of the week.
An indemnifying bond was received |
rom the Grand Rapids Furniture Com |
amy Of Grand Rapids, Mich, relieving
he board from all liability from any
lamage suits that may occur over the use |
# the desks made by this company, it |
icing claimed by another company in |
irand Rapids that the formers desk Is an
of their patent The bond |
vas ordered to be recorded.
rx,...