Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-17
SIGN STEPHAN BROS CoNLn ACT.
Secretary OF Hoard of EJucation is
Instructed to That Eject.

Instructed to That Eject.
The Board of Education at its monthly
session last night disposed OF the contro-
versy over the award of the contract for
Supplying the heating and ventiating plant
for the new high school building by in
structing the secretary to draw UP and
have signed the contract with stephan
Bros. This action was taken in the face OF
vigorous protest by George +. Hughes. who
claimed the bid of stephan Bros was not
in conformity with the plans and specihca-
tions. and who was represented before the
board by his attorney
The matter was brought up by Member
Macrae. who maze a motion TO the effect
that the board roscind It's action In award
ing the contract TO stephan Bros. that all
bids be rejected and the secretary be in
structed to advertise for new ones The
motion failed to receive second. Then
Member Stewart. seconded by Member
Swaine, moved that the secretary he in
structed to draw up a contract with stephan
Bros. on their bid of sS.9l7, excluding the
heat regulating apparatus. reserving the
right in the contract for the board to add
this apparatus later at the price or lower
than that specified in Stephan Bros bid
This carried, Member Macrae alone voting
against It, but he changed his vote in order
was fixed at 50 per cent of the contract
price.
kindcrgarteus mt stake.
At the school election this spring the
electors OF the school district will be given
an opportunity to say whether they desire
the kindergartens continued or not. The
decision OF the board 20 submit this ques-
tion to the people was brought about In
directly through a suggestion made by
Member Stewart OF the pressing need Of a
teacher Of elocution in the city schools.
Member Stewart, in urging the Importance
OF a teacher of eocution suggested that
certain employees of the district could be
dispensed with and the money thus saved
utilized to pay for such teacher. One
Of the members knowing Stewards antipa-
thy to the kindergartens, suggested the
discontinuance of the system. "Yes," said
Member Stewart "if you would do away
with the kindergartens. where the children
are taught to make mud pies, and use the
money expended for their maintenance in
employing one or more teachers OF elocu-
tion you would do some good.
This remark brought Member Hess to
his feet. who said that while Member Stew
arts proposition was a good one he did
not believe this was the proper time to
bring Il before the board. II should, he
said, be brought up at the opening of the
school year, when II could be provided
for. Continuing, he said: 81, for one, am
tired Of constantly hearing about the chill
dren in the kindergartens being taught only
to make mud pies, and ! make motion
right here that we submit the matter at the
spring school election and let the electors
OF the district decide by their ballots
whether the kindergarten schools shall be
continued or not" This appeared to suit
the other members of the board and the
motion carried without opposition.
May Sell Pierce street Property.
At the suggestion OF Member Stewart it
was also decided to submit to the electors
| at the next school election the question
| whether the board should be authorized TO
| sell the old Pierce street school and
grounds, the old Fifteenth street school
and grounds and the lots on Glen avenue,
the proceeds of such sale TO be turned
| into the school house fund
Member Macrae called attention to the
fact that several Of the kindergarten teach
ers had complained because OF Miss
Wright's salary being raised to $50. In
order to equalize the salaries OF the kin
dergarten teachers he moved that those
OF Mrs. Card, Miss stephens, Miss Gerner
Miss Shepard and Miss Wright be placed
at 500. His attention was called to the
fact that Miss Wright had a contract for
a year at $50 which could not be abrogated.
| Then Member Macrae amended his motion
so as to make the salaries Of the others
$55 and that of Miss Wright the same pro-
vided she was willing to stand the reduc
| tion. President Henry protested against
such a motion going before the board and
voted against it, but It carried by vota
| of to 3. On the announcement OF the
vote Member Cooper suggested that nc
| contracts be entered into with these teach
ers, so that the board could change their
minds again II they wanted to. President
Henry refused to entertain the motion
which was duly seconded and the matter
was allowed to drop.
Close woodbury. school.
Acting on the recommendation OF Super
| intendent Clifford. the board decided tc
cloes the Woodbury. school, and the pupils
numbering fifteen, will be transferred tc
schools within the city limits according
to their grades. The children will be
transported to and from the city at cost
of sl.50 each day, willard James having
contracted to do 1t at this price. The cos,
OF maintaining the Woodbury. school has
been about $50 per month and by this ar,
rangement the saving will be $50 month.
The board decided that there should b,
no spring vacation in April owing to ths
pupils having been allowed an extra wecl
at Christmas. Mrs. Elsie B. Thornton
rendered her resignation as teacher. tC
take effect at the close OF the presen
term and same was accepted No ohe will
be appointed in her place. as the commit
tee reported there was a sufficlency o
teachers