The morning call., 1893-12-05
BEANSTON'S BILLS
He Answers the Report
of Expert Dunn.
GIVING LAW AS A RETORT.
The Powers of the Board of
Education.
PRINCIPALS WARRANTS LEGAL.
Auditor Broderick on Reading Secre-
tary Beanston's Reply Audits
the Warrants.
PRINCIPALS WARRANTS LEGAL

on school matters, which recently caused
such a fiutter Of excitement In the school
department. was answered by Secretary
BeaustoD of the Board of Education yes
terday. When Dunn filed his report he
sent a communicat ton to Auditor Broder-
lex asking that official to stop payment of
a various number of school warrants and
gave his reasons as incorporated in his
seventy. FIVE column report.
Auditor Broderick as requested with
held the warrants for investigation and
started In to examine things generally.
When the Auditor read Secretary Bean
ston's answer to Dunn, and his reasons
for the legality and justice of the warrants
he Immediately signed them so that they
could be cashed at the treasury.
Secretary Beanston's answer to Dunn is
as follows:
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, I
San Francisco. Dec. A. 1893
Hon. Wittianl Broderiek, auditor City and
County Of san FrdnciscO-DEAR SIR: / have
received from you letter addressed TO your
self as Auditor by Horace ID. Dunn, under date
OF November IL, 1898. III which he calls your
attention TO certain amounts of money alleged
TO have been overpad To teachers in thi, de-
partment. In response to your request for the
facts as they appear In the books ana records
of this office ] beg TO state that no moneys
paid to The teachers referred TO,
MIR. Dunn quotes the rule concerning vice
principals as follows: "ln grammar schools Of
eighteen or more classes Two vice. principals
shall be allowed" Under this rule The Board
of Education Is called upon To pace two vice
principals in schools with certain number OF
classes: but theie is nothing in that rule or In
the law which prevents The board from placing
wo or more viee-pIncpals IN any oher
schools II l deem such classification proper
and for the good OF the schools.
Mr. Dunn again quotes the rules. follows:
The rules of the Board Of Education CIassidca-
tion Committee, sub 8. To app pint one OF the
more asses to take charge under the direction
of the principal of the boys yard at the reeesses
such teacher shall be allowed $40 extra compeusa-
tion per month.
This rule gives the Committee on Classlfica-
tion power. and makes IL It's duty, TO appoint a
teacher in any primary school of eighteen or
noie classes 10 perform certain extra services,
for which extra compensation is allowed. There
Is nothing, however, In This rule or IN the law
which makes II Illegal or improper for the
Board OF Education TO allow extra compensa-
ttOn for similar extra services IN any other
large school. On This subject Mr.. Dunn says:
The increase of $40 per month has, however,
been paid In one case for the months OF August
and September. when there only sixteen
classes. and in September In another (of this fiscal
year, where there were only fourteen classes. tue
latter having, as was informed o"Iy one class of
boys to be looked after at recess time.
For number OF years, up to last July, the
school first referred TO Uhe Whittier Primary
had IN 1t twenty classrs. 1t wa, and is still,
the largest primary school in The department.
Shortly after the beginning OF the school year
IN July the number OF classes In the school was
reduced by four by reason OF the transfer OF
pupl made nee ssary under the ''district sys-
tem," which was introduced at that time. The
labor or taking charge of the Doys and girls In
the yard was not materially reduced by the
chang IN the number OF classes. The board.
howrver. through the proper committee. at
once took the matter under consideration. On
August q 1893, the board adopted new rules,
and among them the following:
Sec 23. It shall be the duty of the Committee
on Classification and it shall have power.
81 To appoint one of the tie chers in INV prim-
airy school of eighteen or more class, q 10 take
charge. under the direction OF the priacipaI of
the boys yard at the recesses. such teacher
shall be designated as head assistant aud shall be
allowed $50 extra compensation per month.
In this amended rule you will notice that the
extra compensation was increased from $40 10
$50 per month.
On August 80, 1893, upon the recommended.
tion OF the Committee on Salaries, the Board of
Education adoped The following order:
That the assistant teacher In the Whittier Prim-
yard be allowed to retain her extra compens nsation
of ten (10) dollars per month until the further
ord ers of the board.
With regard TO the second school referred TO
in tile last quotation from Mr.. Dunn's le ter
presumably the Webster Primary SCHOOL, I
have 10 say that his statement Is entirely erro-
neous. The facts are as follows: On Septem.
Der g. 1893, The number Of classes In this
school was reduced from eighteen TO fourteen,
and at once the extra compensation TO the
teacher In charge of he boys yard was WI h.
drawn by order of The proper committee OF the
Boaid of Education. See demand of the
teacher for September, secretary's No 3047.
Mr.. DunD's letter closes with a statement
that the principal Of The Richmond Primary
School was Improperly paid at 81 80 per month,
from January TO July, 1898.
In regard 10 This | have 10 say that the
Board OF Education at its meeting held Jauu-
airy 25, 1893, adopted the following order upon
the recommendation of the Committee on Sal
aries:
That the salary OF the principal OF the Rich
mond Primary schoo be fixed at 81 30 per month
for the reason that said school has now eight
classes.
l beg to say that the various acts of the
Board OF Education regarding the salaries OF
teachers herein referred to have been in strict
accordance with law, the provisions OF which
make IL The duty OF The board to employ
teachers and TO fix, alter, allow and order paid
their salaries. Permit me 10 quote the follow
ing provisions from an act OF the Legisla ure
approved April 1, 1872:
SECTION !. The Board of Education OF the
city and county of San Francisco shall have
power
71frd-Tc employ and dismiss teachers, janitors
and schooi-census marshals and to fix. alter,
allow and order paid their salaries compensa-
tion. and to withhold, for good and suiicient
wages Of any person or persons Employed as afore-
said.
TtCeUth-To examine and allow, In whole or Ia
part. every demand payable out of the school
fund or TO reject any such dem and for good cause
OF which the said board shall be the sole judge.