Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-04
SCHOOL DIRECTORS DEBATE
They Argus on TrusaoJ, Salaries and
Work Of the Architect.
PARKER is APPOINTED TRUANT OFFICER
J. J. smith introduces Resolution TO
Raise Salaries of Principals, hut
Matter ~ Laid over to
Next Meeting.

There being but little business sum
ciently matured for decisive action. the
Board OF Education INDUCED its loneliness
for debate to the full extent last evening
and Of the nine members present there was
scarcely one that did not contribute to
that portion Of the proceedings which will
not appear in the written record Of the
meeting. but which occupied by far a
greater portion OF the time. The absentees
were President Barnard, and Messrs. An
derson and stubbendorf.
The special committee to which was re-
ferred the controversy over the heating
and ventilating plant at the new high
school, OF which the bill Of the contractor,
John Rowe G. Co, is the keynote was not.
as had been hoped and expected. ready to
report. Chairman Wood asked for further
time. saying that the committee had been
in session all the afternoon until Z o'clock
trying to prepare a report for the meeting,
but had been unable to do so. 1t had been
found at the last minute that the mem
bers were not entirely agreed upon a num-
Der of different points and he and the other
members felt convinced that a report at
this time would not be OF a character to
be entirely satisfactory to the board, or
70 the committee itself for that matter.
Further time was granted.
Report of the Expert.
From remarks dropped outside the meet
ing by the members of the committee it is
learned that c. e. Fawcett, the expert me-
chanical engineer employed by the commit
tee to make a thorough technical examina-
tion, has in his report followed the spec
ifcations in detail, taking up each point
at which the contractor deviated from them
and pointing out the differences in results
and the difference in cost. The report, II
is intimated. will show that neither the
architect nor the contractor was entirely
blameless in the execution OF the work.
Provision was made by the board for en-
largement of the manual training depart
ment at the high school in spite of the
adverse report from the committee .on
buildings and property. The committee
recommended that nothing further be done
for the present in the matter OF increasing
the facilities for manual training as had
been proposed. Mr.. Holman moved the
adoption of a substitute for the report
providing that two rooms at the north
end Of the old high school building be sci
aside and properly equipped for the use
OF the manual training department and thai
an assistant be employed in this depart.
ment. Mr.. Holman explained that the pro.
posed Improvement would cost between 500
and $1,000. Mr.. Romans substitute was
adopted, Mr.. Levy and w. F. johnson vot.
ing no. BY the terms of the resolution
the new rooms are to be ready for use al
the opening Of the next term.
appoint Trucnt Omcer.
After some discussion at cross purposes
Will Parker. until now a teacher in tn,
Gibson school at a salary Of $50 per month
was appointed truant officer until July
at a salary Of 1888 a month, as recon.
monded by the committee on teachers anC
examinations. Robert Smith proposed a,
a substitute the name OF Joseph Redmond
at a salary OF $50. and J. j. smith proposed
Ed Robinson, but neither of the Smith mo
tions received a second. The necessity an,
the legality of appointing a truant officer
however, afforded inspiration for much dis
~cussion.
That some OF the members Of the boar,
are disposed to discipline John Latense
was apparent in two reports submitted b
the committee on buildings and property
One Of these provided that the architec
should be notified that the plaster in tn
toilet rooms Of the new high schol build
ing must be made to conform to the specl
cations and that II this is not done With
thirty days the expense Of having II don
will be taken from the money due the con
tractor. This report was adopted, Mr.. Nc
lntosh alone voting in the negative. Tn
other report recommended that the bill c
Il. Ruempilng for work at the new hig
school be not allowed in its present form
On this bill II was noted that some of tn
items were ordered by John Latenser, al
chitect. The report was adopted.
]. ]. Smith introduced a resolution Pre-
viding that the principals of twelve-rool
schools shall receive $3.50 a month, the prir
cipals Of thirteen-room schools s135
month, of ourteen-room schools $40
month. of ffteen-room schools $145 a mont
and of schools OF sixteen or more room
$3.50. Mr., Smith moved a suspension Of II
rules for the adoption OF this propose
amendment Of the rules, and the old dii
cussion as to the raising OF salaries was a
revived. After much talk the resolutic
was laid over to the next meeting.
Experts Bill Allowed.
On the appropriation ordinance for II
payment OF claims was one item OF $109.t
for C. e. Fawcett, the expert employed /
the special committee In the matter Of Il