Evening star., 1899-04-12
SCHOOL BOARD IN SESSION
Regular Meeting of Trustees Held Yesterday
Evening.
Proposed Amendment to Rules Gov
erning Vacancies Referred to Com
mittee-The Changes Authorised.

A regular meeting of the board of trustees
of public schools was held at the Franklin
building last evening. There were present
Messrs. Whelpley I'm the chair), Barnard.
Hazen, Spear, Wilson. Brown. Wright and
Richardson, Mrs. Tulloch and Mrs. Terrell
and Superintendents Powell and Cook.
At the suggestion of Mr.. Brown, the reso-
luton adopted at the last meeting In ref
erence to the observance of Emancipa ton
Gay (April I'D was amended so as to make
i. apply to all colored schools. instead of
simply to the schools of the ninth, tenth
and eleventh divisions. Under this action
of the board the colored schools will be
open as usual on Emancipation day, but
literary exercises I'm commemoration OF
the important historical event Will Dc
substituted for the usual studies. Tnese
exercises will be given under the direction
of the superintendent, the supervising prin-
cipals and the teachers. By special ar
rangements, all the pupils of the colored
schools whose parents may request it will
be excused from attendance on that day.
Rule Governing Vacancies.
Mr.. Brown called up the amendment to
rule IS proposed by him at the last regular
meeting. At that meeting the board
amended the rules SO as to provide as fol-
lows:
Vacancies occurring in any of the de-
psrtments of special work, music. cooking,
sewing, manual training and physical cul-
tUre, after all proper promotions have been
made. shall be filled by competitive eNauli-
nations. provided that in all cases grad
yates of the normal schools. whenever
practicable, shall be given preference"
Mr.. Brown proposed to still further
amend the rules in the same connection by
adding the following provision to rule 4S:
Special classes in music, cooking and
sewing shall be provided for pupils of the
ninth, tenth and eleventh divisions who
may desire to fit themselves for teaching
said branches.
He explained that general interest was
shown in this proposition by persons inter-
eSted in the cause of education of the color
ed people and said it had been suggested
that these classes be established in all the
colored schools, and not confined to those
of the ninth, tenth and eleventh divisions.
He was not prepared, however, to make
any change in the form of amendment as
originally proposed.
After a brief discussion, participated in
by Messrs. Wright Richardson. Spear and
Wilson and Mrs. Terrell, the proposed
amendment was referred to the committee
on rules, with the understanding that it
will report at the next meeting.
Miss Emily Dyer, teacher of the first di-
vision, was granted leave of absence for
three months on account of ill-health
The leave of absence granted Otelia
Cromwell. teacher, was extended two
months from May l.
Changes Announced.
Changes in the schools were announced
and confirmed as follows:
First division-Promote: Mary Lackey,
from $3.50 to 500; George C. Anderson,
from 500 to $3.50; H. T. Draper, from $500
to $500 Appoint: Florence Mortimer, tenn
porary teacher, at 800, vice Emily Dyer,
on leave.
Ninth division-Accept resignation of Jen-
ME V. Norris, teacher, fifth grade, at 800,
and Mary H. Somerville, teacher of the
fourth grade, at $500. Promote: Rachel
C. Wheeler, from $3.50 to 500: Maud l.
Smith, from $500 to $3.50; Anna Z. Johnson
from $3.50 to $3.50; Imogene Wor1nley from
$500 to $3.50; Mary f. Beckett, from $500 to
500. Appoint: Gertrude E. Tibbs, teacher
of first grade, at $500, and Bertha E. Cole,
teacher of second grade, at $500.