The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-14
TO Be A CONFERENCE
BETWEEN COMMITTEES OF SCHOOL
BOARD AND GRAND JURY.
is WILLING TO EXPLAIN.
BOARD WANTS GRAND JURY TO
UNDERSTAND ITS NEEDS.


structed to Ask That of the Grand
Jury If 1t Desires to Confer as to
Amount of Appropriation for Pub
lie OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES is Alto
gether PrObable-Increase in En-
roIIment of SchOoIs-CIass in Phys
at the state Fair.
A conference is probable between the
Finance Committee of the Board of Edu-
cation and the Finance Committee of the
grand jury. Action looking toward this
result was taken at the May meeting of
the board, held last night at the Chatham
Academy
Col. George A. Mercer, president of the
board, presided at the meeting, and there
were present besides Messrs. Estiil, Blum,
Lee Roy Myers, Herman Myers, Dunn and
duBignon.
The action relative to a conference with
the grand jury on the subject of finances
was taken upon the motion of Capt. Blum
He moved that the Finance Committee
of the grand jury be asked if they desired
to have a conference with the Finance
Committee of the board, and if So that
the latter be requested to wait on the
former at such time as would be conven-
lent to both.
This conference will have for its sub
ject the difference between the board of
education and the county commissioners
as to the amount needed to carry on the
public schools of Chatham county. 1t is
at present matter of considerable i'm
portance to the board of education and of
considerable interest to the general pub
lie.
The report of Superintendent Ashmore
showed that there were at present en-
rolled in the public schools of the city
and country, in Chatham county, a total
of S,74S pupils, as against 1858 for the
corresponding period of last year. There
is an increase in the attendance of the
city schools of 115 and decrease in
that of the county schools of 20, make the
net increase in the entire system 50.
While the schools are working under
considerable disadvantage" the report
continues, ON account of the afternoon
sessions, the general results are as good
as could reasonably be expected 1t will
be great relief to the schools and to
the public when the new Chatham Acade-
my is ready to receive all the pupils in
its legitimate territory. The progress on
this building, / understand, is such as to
enable the contractors to turn it over in
ample time for the opening of the schools
in October next.
Il desire TO call the attention of the
board to the advisability of ordering tne
necessary school furniture for Chatham
Academy in ample time to prevent en-
barrassment at the opening of the schools
The county budget will soon be fixed AMI
the resources of the board then being
known, there is no good reason why the
order should not be given by June To-
do not think it probable that any mate
rial change in the price of school furni-
ture will occur in several months, at
least. An order for furniture placed soon
would be OF considerable advantage to
US in the timely delivery of the goods
while Payment need not be made till DC
tober or November"
Acting on the suggestion made in the
report of the superintendent the commit
tee on supplies was authorized to pur-
chase the furniture for the new Chatham
Academy.
Col. Mercer. reported for the Visiting
Committee that he had made visits to
the Anderson Street School and one of
the rooms Of the High School and that
he had found them all in satisfactory
condition and the school work being eff
GENTLY conducted. Mr.. duBignon asked
further time for the committee appoint
ed by the board to examine the laws re-
lating to appropriations for public educa-
ton.
A letter from Miss Sarah Charlton, Of
fering to teach physical culture in one
of the schools twice a week, free of
charge was read, and on motion of Col
Sstill the offer of Miss Charlton was ac-
copied.
Petitions for the establishment of
schools or the extension of school terms
were read. One from the citizens of Will
mington island asking that a school be
established there, was referred to the
president and superintendent, with power
to act. Similar disposition was made of
a petition from the residents in the Bon
nabella section, asking the continuance of
the school now being conducted there
until June 80.
Supt. Ashmore called the attention Of
the board 10 the matter OF making an ed
ucational exhibit from the school system
at the State Fair, TO be held in Savannah
in November. On motion of Mr.. Lee Roy
Myers the matter was referred to the
superintendent and the principals of the
several schools, with power to act.
Hereafter during the summer months
the meetings OF the board will be held at
o'clock in the afternoon, instead of at
night.