The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-05-02
SCHOOL TRUSTEES.
Their Powers and Duties Defined by Stat
School Superintendent NJ. Bates
SfanhenS

lHClI fOWCTS anu DuutS DcllncQ 0y SIate
School Superintendent NJ. Bates
Stephens.
OFFICE OF
The STATE SUPERINTENDENT.
BALTIMORE, April 90, 1901. J
To the County School officials of
maryland:
The time for the appointment of
the District School Trustees is almost
at hand. The trustees are the repre-
sentatives of the people in our school
system and il means much to the eff
cheney of that system to have the best
and most representative citizens of
the community as trustees They APP
will determine the character of the
schools. In the selection of these i'm
portant school officers | believe you
will exercise the greatest care to Sc
lect only those who are broad minded
enough to disregard personal, family,
political and like considerations and
select a teacher known for efficiency.
In no other way can we elevate the
standard of teaching and feel conf
dent you will cooperate in every way
to bring about the attainment of this
end. The present plan of trustees
has its enemies. but before we con-
slider departure from it we should
give it fair test by appointing three
of the best persons in each school dis
trict as trustees. There is a prevail
ing opinion in some sections that
trustees have the right to grant the
use of public school buildings. am
anxious for you to include in your
notice of their appointment copy of
section % of the public school law:
mo school house shall be used for
any other purposes and school dis
trict meetings, unless by the consent
of the Board of County School Com
missioners, or majority of them"
We cannot keep our school property
in good condition unless we restrict
its use to the intended purposes as
named in the law. Entertainments
by the school are allowable. 1t is
well for our trustees to know that
they have no power to grant the use
of the school buildings for any pur-
pose, and such permission must come
from the County School Board by a
written order signed by a majority of
its members. Appropriations are
limited for building purposes, and it
becomes important to take every step
to preserve our school property from
unnecessary wear, such as results
when used for purposes not specified
in the law
On behalf of and in the interest of
the teachers, and with your permits
sion, l ask that you suggest to your
trustees the Importance of determin-
ing at as early time as practical bic
whether or not the teacher will be
continued for another year. If there
is to be change, the incumbent
should have whatever benefit there
can come from an early notice, that
applications may be made every
where.
| know you are often embarrassed
with applications and petitions for
new school districts. 1t is well for
you to acquaint such petitioners with
the following section 600:
"Contiguous portions of two or
more school house districts may, with
the consent of the Board of County
School Commissioners, combine and
form new school house district; and
when thus formed the said new school
house district shall be invested with
all the rights and powers hereinbe-
fore set forth as pertaining to such
districts, proUided, that the new
school house district thus formed, or
said district from which it may be
formed, shall not contain less than
thirty-tive legal resident voters
Trusting these suggestions will be
received in the same kind spirit in
which thoxy ra offaraJ nv,