The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1902-04-12
Opeousas. April 3, 1902.
To the Honorable the School Board:

OpelOUSaS, April 5, l3tz
To the Honorable TIE School Board:
Gentlemen-The undersigned Trustees of tho
Opelous rs High School beg leave to report:
That We have had few more oaks planted
in the front yard and caused the fence TO be re-
paired so as to keep the cattle out Cattle still
find their way in however.
That the rev desks for which the Board of
Aldermen appropriated 5000 and the Police
Jury 1925 were received about a mouth ago.
Tney have not all been put up yet.
That the fence around the playground it tall
ing TO pieces. We have suggested to the Board
OF Aldermen that 1t be removed altogether. aud
that the planks Of which 1t is composed be
utilized in some other manner
That the upper clstern Is OF no use "ltatever
in It's present position, and should be placed on
the opposite side OF the building or sold.
That visit to the premises about month
ago disclosed an appalling condition OF things,
Stagnant water was under the building aud III
bitches and pools near it, the fences were
broken, the approaches to tie prlVleS were dit
f1cat and dangerous, and the boys psiVy was
In shocking and disgracetul condition. The
attention OF the Board OF Aldermen was called
to the frightful conditions two days ai afterwards,
at meeting held on the 4th of March On the
third day we ourselves caused the most urgent
work to he done-we advancing the money,
SlI .90-the prives were cleaned. the approaches
thereto repaired, tie front fence mended, and
some OF the stagnant water drained eff.
Ii proper supervision was exercised over
the janitor, and ii that official did his duty,
such condition would become impossible We
unG erstand that two of the pupils are drawing
the pay (flG) ropriatcd for the jantor, and
that their duties are confined to the sweeping,
18 or 20 times month, OF such portions of the
building as are used or occupied We suggested
to the principal that he employ a colored man
for the place and exercise closer supervision
over him. A man could doubtless be found who,
for that pay, by putting in two or three hours
time per day, would not only sweep out the
building but make fires on frosty mornings, oc-
casionally nail up plank or paling, and keep
the premises in decent condition.
The Board of Aldermen has recently appro-
pr1ated $500 for painting the building, and we
hope to see this greatly needed work done soon.
Owing to the inadequacy of the public school
funds, the High School, like the other schools
in this ward, closed on the 27th ult., after q
i've months term. The citizens are making an
effort to raise the 1880 necessary to run the
High School three months more, and the classes
have been going on as usual since the 3lst ult.,
$l200 or more having been already subscribed
by individual contributors. Since the law pro-
hibits your Board from using any of its funds
fol the support of high schools, an appeal has
been made to the Board of Aldermen to supply
the deficiency; and inasmuch as our general
fund taxes have been doubled OF late years and
our revenues from licenses more than doubled,
we confidently hope that that body will supply
the funds necessary to complete an eight
months term.
The administration of our new principal has
been disappointing. We have heard no COM
plant against the other teachers.
Respectfully submitted Q. 3. AFDRUs.
| l.. A. SANDOZ,
GEO, PULFORD.