The record-union., 1899-09-29
$4,000 SHORT.
PLIGHT OF THE CITY BOARD OF
EDUCATION.
Supervisors Did Not Give Them
Enough in the Tax Rate That
Was Levied.

The city's school finances are in bad
condition and the closest economy will
have to be practiced to make it pos
sible to stretch out the school term to
its usual length.
The Board of Education met last
night and allowed salaries and claims,
Directors Driver, Johnson, Elliott, At
kinsop, Ransom and Panabaker being
present.
and Repairs Committee, reported some
slight needs and some repairs made.
Director Ransom reported that re-
quest had been made for rubber tips on
the kindergarten chairs at Twenty
fourth and N streets, to prevent noise
that disturbed the rooms below.
Chairman Driver said that while
they were needed, it would be necessary
to exercise the greatest economy, as
the Board of Supervisors in fixing the
tax rate. had left the board short of
its actual needs and it's usual supply
about $1,000. 1t was very doubtful
if the board could get along without
cutting down the schools.
Director Atkinson said that, with the
growing needs of the department and
a treasury depleted by a small appro-
prlatlon, the most rigid economy was
necessary. Last year the funds were
depleted by being forced to construct
new closets and. Grand Jury or no
Grand Jury, he proposed to do the best
he could.
President Driver said he was getting
tired OF being blamed without placing
the blame where it belonged The
BOARD mas been carrying a debt of $20,-
UOO for several years now and has been
each year living partly on the next
year 1t has been censured by the
Grand jury for not doing what it has
been unable to do. That has been the
case for the six years he had been on
the board and all it could do now was
to go on as far as the money holds out
and then quit, instead of using next
years money, as in the past There
might be some money come into the
schools through the inheritance tax
however, but he did not know how
much.
Director Johnson sugr rted that the
board begin by cuttir' wn it's own
salary and go on RICH ltn the line.
Director Atkinson IT, 5ht that might
be necessary yet
Chairman Driver said that it might
be saving to take out the filters, al
though they We're almost a necessity.
The suggestion to do away with the
Truant Officer met with some favor.
After some more discussion the mo-
ton to supply the chairs with tips was
lost.
superintendent Erlewine said Pro-
fessor Pond wished for two maps that
We're up to date, and which he needed
and the grammar schools should also
have them. They would come out of
the library fund, which could be used
only for such purposes
The maps We're ordered purchased.
Applications for positions as teach
efs were received from Gertrude J.
Perry and Robert G.. Warning.
KINDERGARTEN INSTRUCTION..
Director Panabaker said that some
people in the city desire the board to
engage competent person to give in
struction in kindergarten work, part
of the COMPENSATION to be given by
the board and the rest by contribution
of pupils and others. He had been
requested to bring the matter before
the board and let it consider the sub
Ject. He thought all First Grade
teachers should have some knowledge
of kindergarten work and would be
glad of the opportunity to receive in
Director Johnson favored the idea.
Chairman Driver said he had favor
ed such plan for some time. but in
the present state of the funds it was
utterly impossible to think of it. No
extra expense for salaries can be in
Cured and the board may yet be COM
PEELED to cut down salaries.
ABOUT PUPILS.
Director Ransom said he understood
that no outsiders were permitted to at
tend the Orphan Asylum school. He
thought there were very few kinder
garten pupils and that room could be
made for more there.
Chairman Driver said the rules of the
institution did not permit it, there be-
ing danger, with so large an assembly
of children, of the dissemination of in
fection.
Director Panabaker said he under
stood that the children of the various
schools were not allowed in the winter
time to enter the school houses until
the teachers threw open the rooms.
1t was the sense of the board that
such should not be the case and the
Directors determined to look into the
matter.