The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-03-23
The School Committee Organized.

Inc School Committee organized Monday
evening, March Goth. All the members
were present except Mr.. Hayford. The
meeting was called to order by Mayor Poor
President eX-officio. The members elected
this year, Messrs. Pilsbury, Howard, White
Hatch and Shute, were sworn by George
Grotton, Justice of the Peace VIM. R.
Howard was elected chair man pro tenn, fol
the year. The following standing commit
tees were announced:
Test books, appliances and course Of
study. Pilsbury, Mason and Winslow.
Examination and certifcation of teachers
Hatch, Howes and Shute.
Estimates for appropriations, White, Ma.
son and Shute.
Rules and regulations, Howes, Hayford
and Grotten.
Adjourned to the regular meeting, Mon
day evening, March 9th, at Z o'clock.
Mayor Poor in his address has something
to say concerning the status of the school
committee, matter which has not been
generally understood. 1t has been assumed
ordinate to the city council, and should con-
fer with it before taking action. This would
be awkward in many cases calling for
prompt action; and, indeed if this assump
tion was correct there would be no need OF
school committee. Fortunately, or unfor
tunately, the law directs that there shall
be such a committee, and it is established
under special act of the legislature which
defines its duties and responsibilities Its
memh ers are elected by the people and are
duly sworn to the faithful performance OF
duty. The people are res ponsible for them
and they are responsible to the people,
Preliminary to the establishing of the
school committee was the enactment of the
law abolishing school dis trcts and providing
for more efficient supervisor of the public
schools. This was followed by specia
school law for Belfast, entitled IAN act to
provide for the election of school committee
and a superintendent of schools in the CITY
of Belfast" After reciting the method 81
electing members of the ommttee, etc, the
law defines their duties as follows:
SEC. 2. Said committee shall exercise all
the powers and perform all the duties which
are now conferred and imposed upon super
intending school committees by the laws OF
this State. They may appoint such sub
committees. and make such rules for the
government of the board, and for the per
formance of its duties, as may be deemed
best. A majority of the board shall const
tute a quorum for the transaction of bust
ness.
This is very plain as to the duties and re-
sponsibli of the committee 1t certain
ly is not intended that one man, either in OF
out of the committee, shall control or in
huence its action, and it would seem that
the ten men chosen by the citizens of Bel.
fast to perform these duties ought to be able
to do 50.
Then as to the superintendent the law
says:
SEC. g. Said committee shall annually
and whenever there is a vacancy, elect d
superintendent of schools who shall be duly
sworn and shall be Under the direction OF
and be responsible to said committee, and
shall exercise such of their powers as they
may, from time to time confer upon him
and shall be secretary of the board. They
shall determine his term of service and may
at any time dismiss him, if they deem it
proper or expedient.
This section of the law further defines the
powers of the committee and limits those OF
the superintendent. who has no authority
save such as the committee may from time
to time confer upon him" 1t is possible there
may have been some misrepresentation on
this point in the past; but section 3, no less
than section above quoted, makes it clear
that the care of the schools is not entruste
to one man, but to the school committee as
a whole.
One more section of the law, that relating
to the finances, should be quoted. 1t is a!
follows:
SEC. 5. Said committee shall annually be
fore each municipal election, furnish TO the
city council an estimate of the several sums
required during the ensuing municipa
year, for the support of public schools il
said city, and the expenditures shall not bt
increased beyond the amount appropriated
| therefor