The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-10-03
SCHOOL BOARDS REPLY
Teachers Request for Changes
in Contract Denied.
REASONS AND REGRETS
RECONSIDERATION FAILED -
PRINCIPALS ARE SATISFIED.

PRINCIPALS ARE SATISFIED.
The question of modifying the form
of contract which the school teachers
are required to sign with the board of
education for this year came before the
board last evening with the result that
it was regretfally decided to deny the
request of the teachers. While it was
conceded that the teachers had a right
to know the form of contract before
submission to them for signature. it
was the consensus of opinion that the
funds at the boards disposal for main
tenance of the schools would not per-
NIT of a modification of the terms of
agreement.
In he case of the principals, it was
shown by Judge Hem rson and Mr..
Critchlow that to them On the
same basis as the otde teachers as to
form of contract would be a breach of
faith, on the score that making less
liberal terms is open to censure from
the principals.
As the matter now stands, the grade
teachers are faced with the necessity
of yielding to the school board at least
until the promised better times of next
year.
Recommendation Sought.
Under a motion for reconsideration
OF the form of contract with teachers.
adopted month ago, the matter of
making the concession desired by the
teachers was specially urged by Messrs.
Hamburger and Newman. Mr.. Bam-
berger wanted to propose an amend
ment to the effect that the teachers be
given a guarantee of nine months en-
ployment, the principals having q guar
antee of nine and a half months. COW
ering two weeks of extra work, with a
reservation that in the event funds run
short for school maintenance the ten
ure of employment may be shortened.
In support of his intended amend
ment. Mr.. Bamberger made It clear
that his proposition was only a pacifier
which really meant nothing effective.
The motion to reconsider the form of
contract failed by reason of lacking the
affirmative votes of two-thirds of the
board members. Messrs. Bamberger,
Nelden, Newman, MOyIe and Young
voted for reconsideration, and Critch-
low, Henderson, Walker and Wilson
voted in the negative.
The Boards Answer.
With the fate of reconsideration set
tied. Mr.. Critchiow offered the follow
ing resolution, which was adopted over
the negative votes Of Bamberger and
Newman:
Resolved. That this board acknOwl-
edge the receipt through a committee
of q resolution adopted al a meeting of
the grade teachers requesting the board
SO to frame its contract with teachers
as to guarantee full pay for nine con-
seCutive months; also of an oral re-
quest that the contract submitted be
further amended by striking therefrom
the provision STIMULATING that should
the schools be cOmpulsorily closed on
account of the prevalence of contagious
disease for ten or more consecutive
days, the teachers receive but half pay
for the time during which the schools
are so closed;
THAT the superintendent be instruct
ed to convey to said committee and to
the teachers the answer of the board
which is as follows:
1.-The board acknowledges the justice
and fairness of the first request, and
deplOres the recognized fact that the
salaries paid to grade teachers are not
commensurate with the services eX-
pected and rendered. The failure TO
grant the request is due only to the
fact that it is entirely beyond our pow
er to do. There are now about $50
grade school teachers in our corps,
whose salaries constitute by far the
largest item of our expenditures. We
are forbidden by law to incur any in
debtedness beyond the amount Of our
annual income, and any attempt upon
our part 10 bind the board of education
to the payment of sums in excess of
liable, but would in our judgment be
void and of no effect. We cannot at
this time estimate with precision the
length of the school year We hope for
relief through legislation which will
enable us to continue the schools the
full period of nine months, but we are
not justified in relying upon this hope
to the extent of mourning a liability
or attempting to incur liability which
may ba far beyond our means.
HDs@~s 80 To-. I,
assuring the teachers and the public
that schools VIII be kept open as long
as the means committed to us viii per-
nit.
A Further Defense.
LAS to the second request, we have
to say that we think the teachers upon
reflection viii agree with US that the
stipulation is just and fair.
I'VE do not anticipate a recurrence
of conditions which viii make this pro-
vision operative. Should any conta-
gioUs disease appear we doubt if it
would necessitate the closing of the
schools for so long period as ten days
But should such a calamity overtake
us we think the teachers would not OBJ
ject, and the public would expect us as
their representatives to so divide the
loss so that the whole of it would not
fan on the people. The provision for
half-pdy while not employed in the
schools VIII enable the teachers to live
and the money so saved to the board
would certainly be dnally paid to tho
teachers, as the schools would thereby
be kept open for a longer period.
I'VE have endeavored to submit, and
believe we do submit. a contr ct as lib
eral and as fair as the lirnita ions i'm
posed by law and our duty to The pub
lie wiz permit. and trust ii will upon
reflection be accepted as such by those
interested"
Principals Are Satisfied.
A few days ago a meeting of the
principals was held for the purpose oil
taking into consideration the form oil
contract which they are expected &c
sign with the board of education. At
ter quite full and free discussion re-
garding certain features of the con-
tract which seemed rather ambiguous
a committee consisting OF Principals
Keller, Qualtrough and Folsom was
appointed to confer with the commit
tee on school law, as well as with mem
bers of the committee on teachers, anC
inquire as to the Interpretation of the
features to which reference is made.
The chief provision that ELECTED con.
siderable interest was that by which
the board reserved the right to dismis.
a principal for INSTRUMENTATION, in.
competency, direct violation Of rules
or for other causes"
The cornrY1iffaa opTfOrrnp1 IFS dl1fy