New-York tribune., 1901-11-09
THE NEW SCHOOL SYSTEM.
LOCAL BOARDS IN FORTY-SIX DISTRICTS
WILL FIND PLENTY TO DO.

A noteworthy change in the administration Of
the public schools of this city is to take place
on February II next by the operation of the
amended charter The Board Of Education viii
still be the controlling body, but its administra-
ton of the schools is to be shared by forty-six
local school boards. There will be forty-six
members cf the Central Board Of Education,
and each member Of the central board will be
member of local school board The local
board districts must be designated by the Board
OF Education before February -. as follows:
Twenty-Five wholly within the Borough of Man
haitian. fourteen in Brooklyn, four in The Bronx.
four in Queens and two in Richmond In addi
ton to the member Of the central board, each
local school board will have five members ap-
pointed by the President of the Borough and
district superintendent. designated by the city
Superintendent of Schools.
Each local board will have sufficient work to
keep the members from going to sleep, although
they work without pay. They must visit and
inspect all the schools in their districts at least
once every three months taking note Of the at
tendance of teachers and pupils. the discipline,
the comfort, healthfulness and cleanliness of
the schools. and the observance of the school
laws in respect to teaching and secrarian doc
trines. They are to make formal reports to the
Board of Education in January and June each
year but 1t will be their duty to make immedi-
ate reports of any necessity for additional
kindergarten or elementary school accommoda
tions. They to make recommendations for
the erection of buildings additions, to
try charges against school teachers and recon-
mend fines or dismssals. Their recommenda-
tions in such cases are to be passed upon by the
Board of Education
The change in the administration of the
schools is expected to increase the interest
which people in one district have in the schools
of that district. It is not intended to permit
politics to enter the schools, but rather oper-
ate the other way. The change is not expected
to make much difference with the work pay
of teachers in the schools
The law providing for the payment of teach
ers' salaries and direct school expenses by the
special tax of four mills will be in operation in
the coming year. The estimate of the Board cf
Education for the expenses to come under the
fo1,r mill levy was SO $50, 600 but the Board of
Estimate and Apportionment made a cut Of
$500 Oo in the estimate, and the amount ap-
nronriated for salaries was So, .SS4. The en-
tire appropriation for the schools of the city
newt wear is about S2O,Ooo.0o0, and that amount
does not include the issue Of corporate stock
which NAV be needed for the requirement of new
school sites -
New-York City owns most of its school build
inps and has real estate of that kind worth
r,ora than $50 00.000. exempt from taxation
C,r,e+i,,,es a CITY sells a school in a part of the
city ,vbe-e business houses have taken the place
of dwellings, In such case the city gets
rorva nrice for the real estate. and turns the
,oonev into the Sinking Fund. which is to ia Ike
care Of the city debt In other cases the houses
are turned over for the use of the Fire Depart
r,.nt or Police Department The CITY College
cite at twenty -third-st. and Lexngt gton-ave, is
valued at about S5OO,ooV.