Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-11

PEOPLES PULPIT.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOCO
To the public:

AT the request of many school Of
ficers, directors and patrons the
county superintendent was asked to
ascertain the sentiment throughout
the county as regards a uniform SER
les of textbooks for the county. Ac-
cordingly, blank petitions were sent
to all school directors; three-fourths
of those returned We're signed, asking
that steps be taken to submit the
question at the annual meeting in
March. This being more than the
necessary number, by provisions of
section 1881, school laws of Iowa, the
county board of education was estab-
lished; this board consists of the
members of the board of supervisors,
the county auditor and the county
superintendent of which board by pro-
visions of section 1888, the county
superintendent, is chairman and the
county auditor is secretary.
A meeting of the county board of
education was duly called and notice
that said question would be submitted
was duly wen. The Scnool laws of
the state provide that the electors.
both in rural independent districts
and school townships. shall vote on
said question on the second Monday
in March, which this year occurs on
March 10. The boards of school off
GERS are made the judges OF the
school meetings, and shall certify to
the board of supervisors the full re-
turns of the votes cast at said meet
ings, the mex day after the
holding of said meetings. The
board of supervisors at their next
regular meeting shall proceed to can
vass said votes and declare the re-
suits.
Incorporated cities, towns and vii
lagos cannot vote upon this PROPOSE
ton, though they may adopt such
books as may be selected. The follow
ing sections of school law are self-ex-
planatory and may serve to give a
better understanding of the question
under consideration:
Section 2S32-Should a majority of
the electors voting at such elections
favor a uniform series of textbooks
for use in the county Their the county
board of education shall meet and Sc
lect the school textbooks for the en-
tire county, and contract for the same
under such rules and regulations as
the said board of education may adopt.
When a list of textbooks has been so
selected, they shall be used by all
the public schools of said county, ex-
cept as hereinafter provided, and the
board of education may arrange for
such repositories as it may deem best
and may pay for said school books out
of the county finds and sell them to
the school districts at the same price
as provided for in section 1924 of this
chapter and the money received from
said sales shall be returned to the
county funds by said board of educa-
ton monthly.
Section 2S34-It shall be unlawful
for any school director, teacher = of
member of the county board of educa-
ton to act as agent for any school
textbooks or school supplies during
such term of Office or employment, and
any school director, teacher, officer or
member of the county board of edu-
cation who shall act as agent or deal
er in school textbooks or school sup
plies, during the term of such office or
employment, shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor, and shall, upon
conviction thereof, be fined not less
than ten dollars nor more than one
hundred dollars and pay the costs of
prosecution.
Section 2S2S-Bids-Before pur-
chasing text books under the rovisions
of this chapter it shall be the duty
OF the board of directors, to advertise,
by publishing a notice for three con.
secutlve weeks in n or more news
pepers published in the county; said
notice shall state the time up to which
all bids will be received, the classes
and grades for which text books and
other supplies are to be bought, and
the approximate quantity needed; and
said board shall award the contract
for said textbooks and supplies to any
responsible bidder or bidders Offering
suitable textbooks and supplies at the
lowest prices, taking into considera-
ton the quality of material used, il
Illustrations. binding, and all other
things that go to make up a desirable
textbook; and may, to the end that
they may be fully advised consult the
county superintendent, with reference
to the selection of textbooks: provid.
ed. that the board may reject any and
all bids, or any part thereof, and re-
advertise therefor as above provided.
"Sectlon 2S3O-Samples, lists, bonds
Any person or firm desiring to fur
nish books or supplies under this chap
ter in any county shall, at or before
the time of filing his bids hereunder,
deposit in the office of the county sup
erlntendent samples of all textbooks
included in his bid. accompanied with
lists giving the lowest wholesale and
contract prices for the same. And
said samples and lists shall remain
in the county superintendent office
and shall be delivered by him to his
successor in office. and shall be kept
by him in such safe and convenient
manner as to be open at all times to
inspection of school officers, school
patrons, and school teachers as may
desire to examine the same and COM
pare them with others, for the pur.
pose of use in the public schools? The
county board of education shall re-
quire of any person or persons with
whom they may contract for furnish
ing n books or supplies to enter into
"a good and sufficient bond, in such
sum and with such conditions and
sureties as may be required by such
county board of education, for the
faithful performance of any contract.
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