Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-07-25


Nigh school to bel -Aiisceiia-
hcous Basiness.
Janitor Arthur Davis of No 81 School
n probably one of the best known men
ih the city to the members of the Board
OF Education. He has not yet received
any salary for May ard it Is not known
when he will. The rules Of board at the
dime the salary was due required the
principal of the school to sign voucher
10 the effect that the janltor had prop
erly performed his duties, and until
such certificate Ia Forthcoming the
money cannot be paid without violating
the rules. Principal Parm so far has
refused to sign the voucher, and thereby
hangs a tale which is not yet fully told.
Al the meeting of the board Monday
night communication from Davis was
read. 1t requested the payment of the
salary. Mr.. Belts made motion that
the salary be paid.
DR.. Crumbaugh, who is chairman Of
the committee on the school, asked the
chair 1t such action would be in accord
ancc with the rules.
President Baird replied that he thought
II would not be.
Mr.. Belts favored the payment of the
money by this extraordinary method.
He said "If we live 100 years under
she present order of things the salary
will not be paid. There is no indica-
ton that the voucher will ever be
signed. The committee ION heat, fuel
and ventilation) has investigated the
case and found that the sole reason of
the principal for refusing to sign the
paper is that there was not sufficient
heat at the school for three days when
some of the schools had no heat at all. /"
President Baird read the rule of the
board bearing on the subject, which
upneld his decision that such action
would be violation of the regulations,
md he thought the proper way would
be to instruct the principal to sign the
voucher.
DR.. Crumbaugh strcnuously objected
to any such instructions being given to
the principal.
Mr.. Baynard moved that an order be
drawn in favor of the janitor for the
amount, $16.67, for services rendered.
The motion was not seconded, but it
brought DIR. Crnmbaugh to his feet. He
said services had not been rendered, OF
the -oucher would have been signed.
"If we are going 10 act this way" he
said, ''we don't know where the matter
will end. 1t will disorganize the whole
force. II principal takes stand. she
knows what she Is about, and the board
must rely on her work"
Mr.. Baynard said: II look at it in a
business-like way. The alleged neglect
OF duty occurred In May when the
iaR Rft ~ ~ lrn xub bafb IN, n
fire or not. | think remember several
cold days in May when some of the
stores were cold. They did not know
whether to have fire or not. | think
the ianitor should have .he money. lie
can collect it before any squire in the
city"
DIR. Crambaugh arose and stated that
il is question Of insubordination
which the janitor had admitted. The
principal, he stated, had called on Davis
several times to do certain work, and he
had repeatedly refused to obey, aud il
was for this conduct that he should be
punished.
MIR. Frick, member of the committee
having the matter of janitors in hand
stated that the committee was aware
that the janitor had been impudent, but
did not think sufficiently so to warrant
dismissal.
Mr.. Morrow said: "This matter be.
tween the principal and the janitor
The janitor has not been doing his duty
Miss Parm told me and several othei
members of the board during recent
visit to the school that he would not re-
move the dust from the desks sometimes
for several days at time, and she was
compelled to get some of the oldel
scholars to come to school early TO dc
the work. She sent for him to do it
but he refused. Heretofore | have
thought that the janitor should get hi!
money, but now | am satisfied that hC
has not earned it," He agreed with DIR
Crumbaugh that such neglect Of duty
should not be tolerated.
There being no probability of th,
question being settled at the meeting o.
being improved by debate, DR.. Short
lidge moved that further consideration
be deferred until the next meeting Th
motion was carried by vote of to 3.
VISITING COMMITTEES WILL USE THEII
JUDGMENT.
Mr.. Belts offered an amendment [,
the rules Of the board, which was to th
effect that the visiting committees Of tn
several schools when suspending
jantor for any cause should be obliged
to notify the committee on heat, fue
and ventilation AZ hours before takini
such action so that the committee coulC
have time and opportunity to fill tn
place temporarily until the board coul,
take action.
Mr.. McCausland objected to tn
amendment ON the ground that be dit
not think any committee would TAX
snap action that would leave school il
bad shape. He felt assured that th
gentlemen on the visiting committee
could be trusted to use good judgmen
In ali cases.
DR.. Crumbaugh stated that there ha
been cases where there was necessit
to suspend a janitor on sight, but th
place had always been filled tempoi
arily to the satisfaction of all concerned
Mr.. Belts said there was at times som
difficulty in filling the places made b
suspensions, and 1t was in view of sue
difficulty that he advocated the ador
tion of the amendment. "But,"
added, at don't make particle OF dill
ference to me whether it passes or not.