The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-08-09
LAW MAY BE TESTED.
Validity Of School Board Contracts
With eachers at Issue.

Validity Of School Board Contracts
With teachers at Issue.
The question of the validity of
contract made by a school board
with teacher may possibly be tested
as the result Of the acllon OF the
Marysville board of trustees in can
ceiling it's contract with Professor
Titus, who was principal of the
Marysville schools.
The board of trustees Of the Marys
vile district was anxious to cut down
expenses and cancelled it's contract
with Professor Titus and served no.
tice on him to that effect. The de-
posed principal contests the authority
Of the board % ignore or cancel his
contract, and he has referred the
question to the state superintendent
of public instruction for review
The board has served the following
notice on Professor Titus:
AT an adjourned meeting of the
board July %, 1901, the clerk of this
district was instructed to inform you
of the boards action in cancelling
your contract with district IL as prin.
cipal for the ensuing term. The rea.
son is the very unfavorable outlook
of the camp. The Cruise mine is
about to shut down, the Belmont is
closing down and will be entirely so
by September l; the Drumm Lummon
is working but very few men. to-
gether with its cyanide plant, which
will be closed down when winter sets
in. AS a result, our school census
will show a decided decrease in the
number of school children, and the
assessed valuation will be much less,
as by the new law our funds for
school purposes will mostly depend
upon this district. In view of these
facts We will not be able to pay the
salary as heretofore. and rather than
ask one of your ability and attain.
ments to consent to smaller salary.
the board decided to cancel the con-
tract between the board and yourself.
So you will have ample time to secure
another and. we trust, better position
and one which your high ability and
attachments will merit"
"Mr. Titus has written me regard
ing the matter, and from the tone of
his letter l believe that he intends
looking elsewhere for position"
said Superintendent Welch today.
''The situation at Marysville is beyond
the control of the school trustees and
the board doubtless took the best ac-
tion possible under the circumstan-
ces. Mr.. Titus stated in his letter that
he would have been perfectly agree
able to releasing the board from q
half year of the contract, but was
surprised that he should be asked to
surrender the whole years work."
While the matter may not get into
the courts, the same question has
come before the state superintendent
several times. School boards in
number of cases have disregarded
their contracts. and County Attorney
Odell w. Mcconnell has been asked
for an opinion upon the same subject
by a school teacher in this district.
Under the old law school boards
could not make contracts with teach.
ers for longer period than three
months. The last legislature repeal
ed the law, leaving the statute silent
upon the subject of contracts except
that it is made a misdemeanor for
board to contract with q teacher who
has not the requisite and statutory
qualifications.-Helena Herald.