Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-23
THE ANNUAL SCHOOL MEETING.

Two kindergarten Buildings May Be
Erected at Either End of Town.
The annual meeting of Grand
Rapids School District No. l, to elect
commissioners and transact general
business, was called to order promptly
at the High school Monday evening
by Supt. Geo. p. Hambrecht. Attend
ance was good, count by the writer
showing 80 men and 26 ladies present.
Mayor I'll. Wipperman was, on
motion, chosen to preside as chairman
and Supt. Hambrecht as secretary of
the meeting.
Report Of treasurer E. p. Arpin
for the year gave total receipts as
$40, IA. II with disbursements amount
ing to So, 1876, leaving balance on
hand 81, 1869. There is a further sum
due the school fund from city treas
urer which will show amount on hand
at least $500 larger, or total of
S2,919.44. The monthly salaries for
teachers and janitors in our high
school system is $4,000.
A committee was appointed to check
up the treasurer'S report and announce
their findings through the local press.
Commissioners were elected for a
term of two years in the several
wards, as follows:
First Ward-E. P. Arpin to succeed
himself,
Second Ward-E. B. Brundage to
succeed himself.
Third Ward-A. 3. Craw ford to
succeed Geo. l.. Williams.
Fourth Ward-T. A. Taylor to sue
ceed NJ. S. Pratt.
The city superintendent's report
showed large attendance in all de-
partmentS Of our schools In the
higher rooms facilities of instruction
are still equal to the numbers enrolled
and the work is being handled salts
factorily. The lower departments,
kindergarten and first grade rooms,
are OvercrOwded. Mrs. Voss in the
Main building has 26 beginners and Is
first graders-tOtal Al under her
charge. After the spring vacation 20
more will enroll. Miss Reeves in the
Ward building has 20 beginners and 20
first graders-tOtal, 30 little ones to
care for. After vacation 33 more will
enroll in her room. Thirty scholars
for one teacher is the normal condition
maximum, and with more than forty
pupils no primary teacher can give
thorough instruction, however pro-
ticient that teacher may be. Sixty
one pupils for Mrs Voss and seventy
three for Miss Reeves after vacation
is the dilemma that now cOnfrOntS
the school board. To relieve this
cOngeSted condition three plans were
submitted.
l. Rent rooms in some part of the
city and fit them up temporarily.
2. Build a new Ward school.
3. Build two permanent Kinder
garten schools, one at the north end
and one at the south end of the city.
The latter plan is considered by far
the most feasible at present and does
not involve great amount of money
as the Kindergarten buildings need
not be large nor more than one story,
square frame structures. They would
at the same time be a valuable and
permanent addition to our school
system. By vote taken at the school
meeting it was found to be the sense
of nearly all present that such Kin
dergarten buildings should be pro-
vided.
After next week and until more
room is provided the following divis-
ions in primary classes will be made
Gne-half of Kindergartners attend
school to 1920 a. m. Other half
attend from 1:15 to 2:30 p. m. First
graders 1890 a. n. to l2m., 2:30 to 4:30
%. m.