The Bemidji pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.) 1896-1917, 1901-05-02
Evolution of the Schools of Be.
midi.
(Third Epoch). a

Third Epoch).
May IL, 1900, was the time set
for the election of a board of edu-
cation, to be composed OF six
members, which would have
charge of the new district on it's
organization. The election was
held in the city hall and the fol
lowing persons were duly elected
to the membership Of this board,
namely: r. McLennan, l. G..
Best, Mrs. Ida r. Bailey, M. j,
Leak, P. j. OLeary and j. A.
Ludington, to serve until the reg
ular election in July.
On May II this board was con-
vened and the independentschoo
district of Bemidji was duly or
ganized under the laws and regu-
lations of the state of Minnesota.
At the same meeting M. j. Leak
was made president Of the board,
R. McLennan, secretary, and T.
J. OLeary, treasurer. *
@ At the annual election in July,
r. McLennan and M. j. Leak
were elected to serve for three
years; Mrs. Ida r. Bailey and P.
J. OLeary for two years, and |.
G.. Best and j. A. Ludington for
one year. The above named
officers were appointed to their
respective Offices, the same as
before the election. ..
One Of the first things brought
before this board was the need of
larger school facilities, as the
former school board had to rent
rooms apart from the school
buildings, and as the number Of
pupils were steadily increasing
they would probably have to rent
four or more rooms apart from
the school buildings to supply
the wants of the pupils during
the coming years. The many in
conveniences and cost of renting
led them to call a meeting for the
purpose of bonding the district
to build six-room addition to
the old brick school house. The
people realizing the need OF larger
school facilities the same as the
school board, the bonds were
easily voted. Bids were then let
for the building, @. l.. Gilbert
being the lowest bidder, was
awarded the contract for building
the new portion. Mr.. J. Fl.
French was appointed by the
board to oversee the building.
But while the building was pro-
crossing school began the 4th of
September with a faculty Of nine,
as follows: w. B. Stewart of
Minneapolis, graduate of the
University of Minnesota, was en-
ployed, with Miss Mary McIn-
tyre also of Minneapolis, and a
graduate of the University Of
Minnesota, as his assistant to
teach the eighth grade and high
school; Miss Katherine Mcmahon
of Sank Rapids, Mimi, gradu-
ate Of st. Cloud Normal, and
Northern Illinois Normal, was
re-engaged to teach the sixth and
seventh grades in her old room
of the brick school house; Miss
Josephine Mcmahon, Miss K. Nc
Mahon's sister, graduate of St.
Cloud Normal, was engaged to
teach A and B, fifth grade, in the
Presbyterian church; Miss Mac
Dougal of Royalton, Mimi, a
graduate of st. Cloud Normal,
was engaged to teach A and
B, fourth grade, in NJ. E. church;
Miss Nellie NJ. Covell of San
dusky, Ohio, a graduate of the
Western Reserve Normal, Ohio,
was engaged to teach A and
B, third grade, in her old room in
the brick school house; Miss Rose
Duclos of Henderson, Mimi, a
graduate of Mankato Normal,
was engaged to teach A and B,
second grade, in the other lower
room of the old school house;
Miss Margaret Marin of Crooks
ton, a graduate of Moorhead Nor
NAL, was engaged to teach A,
first grade, and A and B, second
grade, in a hall owned by Mr.. p.
Nelson on Third street; Miss
Edith M. Morgan of Bagley,
Mimi, a graduate of Larsboro
High School, Iowa, and a teacher
for three years in Lynnville
schools, Iowa, was engaged to
teach the kindergarten and B,
first grade, in the old frame
school house on American avenue.
CuAc n ToNEc in tho SIRUIS