The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-12
ELECTS TEACHERS TONIGHT.
BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL HOLD
ITS ANNUAL MEETING.

Teach crs VIII BE Hc-elccted-Ser-
vices Have Been satisfactory and
Principals VIII Not Recommend
Any DisnissnIS-Not Believed the
Board VIII Cut Teachers Salaries,
Though There Has Been a Report
That such a Step Might BE Taken.
supt. AshmOre's Views ON That
auestiOn-BOard May Also COnsid-
or the Acceptance of the $4,000
Voted by the Grand Jury for the
school ON Wells square.
The annual meeting of the Board of Ed
ucation will be held tonight at Chatham
| Academy. The annual meetings are al
ways Of great Importance, and several
matters of unusual interest are to be
| considered tonight.
The board viii choose the teachers who
are to conduct the schools next year. At
each annual meeting IL is the custom for
the teachers to be elected by the board.
1t is not believed there will be any
changes in the corps as il stands at pres
ent. None have signined an intention of
retiring, and it is understood that there
are none who will be dismissed. There are
no objections to any teacher of such mo-
ment as to make it advisable for the
board to elect another.
In this matter of reelection the. interest
of the teachers naturally centers. 1t is
not known that there are any who have
felt uneasy about their positions but the
board has the power to cut one down if
his services are not regarded as satisfac-
tory or 90 the advantage of the system,
and for that reason there is a certain de-
gree of relief and satisfaction to the
teachers 10 know that they are looked
upon as competent
Another matter has been affording more
room for speculation and has been caus-
ing a bit of uneasiness That is a report
ed cut in the salaries of the teachers. The
report has started that the board has such
step under contemplation. Superintend-
ent Otis Ashmore was asked about the
matter yesterday, and his reply will be
found reassuring. He hardly believes
the board will make any cut, as the teach
ers do not now receive any higher pay
than that TO which their work entities
them.
you win not find that Savannah teach
ers are paid higher salaries than at any
other place in the state. 1t is true that
the higher grade teachers receive more
than those in Atlanta, for instance, but
it is also true that the teachers of the
lower grades receive less than those in At
Jlanta. Taking the average, therefore, it
will be found that the salaries run just
about even.
'Then the greater cost of living in Sa-
vannah should be considered. 1t costs at
least 20 per cent. more to live here than in
Atlanta Macon or the other interior cit
les. Some say one-third more is not too
large an estimate, but 20 per cent even
is additional expense over which the
teachers have no control and that should
be considered in fixing the salaries they
receive
The board viii receive the reports
of the principals of the several
schools for their years work The prin-
c!pals will make their recommendations
for the re-appolntment of teachers, and
upon those recommendations the reten-
ton of places will depend. 1t is understood
that no principal Is so little pleased with
the work of his assistants as to recon-
mend the dismissal of any.
The board will probably take up the mat
ter of the expenditure Of the ext l $4,000
allowed the schools in the budget made up
by the grand jury. The appropriation has
string to it, however, and whether that
string win be cut by an acceptance OF the
terms proposed by the grand jury remains
to be seen. 1t was stipulated that the
extra $4,000 should be expended in the
erection of school building on Wells
square. The Board of Education owns a
coupe of lots abutting on the square hav
ing purchased them several years ago
when property in the neighborhood was
cheaper than 1t is now. 1t Is
proposed that the lots be used
for the building but the board
non "a Al,
pose. 1t is possible that a plan may be
evolved for the use of the money in that
direction, but the building would have a
debt resting upon ii.
Superintendent Ashmore considers such
school building as should be erected on
the proposed site would cost SIS GOO. He re-
CARDS the location as the best in the city
for new school, if ii is desired to have
a new one, but the board had already de-
termlned that the wiser plan would be the
addition of wings 20 the Henry Street
| School That work could be done for
| $1,000 aud il is not believed that the walk
| from the neighborhood of Wells square
would be too great to make it an insupera-
BILE objection to the additions being made.
| They would provide ample accommodation
for the extra school population and would
relieve the embarrassment that has exist
cd for several years.
1t is said the board already had plans
drawn for the proposed wings to the Henry
| Street school, and that their construction
| was looked upon as the solution of the
| difficulty that will confront the authori-
| ties at the opening of next term if it is
| found impracticable to accept the money
voted by the grand jury for the Wells
square building. At the opening of the
! fall term there will doubtless be 300 or 100
children who viii not be provided with
seats. From time to time during the term,
ns vacancies occur, the superintendent
win be able to distribute the extra chill
dren about among the schools. but at the
| close of the term next summer there will
probably be fully 200 remaining on his
waiting list If no other accommoda lions
! than the present are afforded.
| Supt, Ashmore says he found II imposs,-
bic to provide for about 100 children this
year. With that overplus and as many
more, which Is regarded as the natural
increase in year Of the school popula-
ton of city the size of Savannah he
believes there will be fully 200 who viii