Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-05
NEW Ward BUILDING
School Board Decides to Erect
New Structure to Replace
Third Ward Building.
Plans to Be Secured and the
Work Pushed-Will Be OF
Eight Rooms.
Temporary Arrangements for
Western Territory-Free
Text Book System.

At the monthly meeting of the school
board Tuesday night the decision was
reached by unanimous vote to erect
new and modern eight room building or
the present site of the old Third ward
Plans will be secured at once and the
contract awarded at the earliest pos
sible date, in order to have the build
ing completed for occupancy at the be-
ginning of the next school year.
The third ward is the oldest school
building in the city at the present time,
and for several years has been untitled
for it's purposes. Few repairs have
been made because the board realized
that new building must be erected
soon. 1t was question of erecting a
school house in its place or building a
new school in the western portion of the
city the coming season, with the deci-
sion in favor Of discarding the old six
room shack. The western end OF the
city will have to wait two or three
years when. according to the plans of
the present board, an eight room build
ing will be needed in that quarter and
will be forthcoming. In the meantime
the board will either rent temporary
rooms In the west part of town or will
secure the present Linn township
school house on West Main and add a
room to that.
A written opinion has been requested
of State Superintendent Barrett re-
garding the division of the school prop
erty in the portion of Linn township re-
Gently annexed to the city and the
share the city is entitled to receive. and
also in reference to the legal proceed
ings necessary to annex the territory to
the Independent school district.
Superintendent Willard reported to
the board Monday evening that the
high school is in much better condition
this year than last, with better spirit
prevailing. This years graduating class
will number in the neighborhood of
thirty-flve. islfl
President w. S. Devine, under new
rule adopted by the board. submitted an
annual report on the conditions of the
schools and recommendations in regard
thereto. He said the increase in the
enrolment at the close of February
to 214, compared with the
previous year The total enrolment is
2,701, with the average attendance q
144. He expressed the hope that the
education law would be en-
acted which would have the effect of
increasing the attendance still further.
In regard to the free text book system,
which he was instrumental in having
adopted DIR. Devine said the cost to the
district the first year had been 1854.
while the books this year had cost ST.
24S.31, or an average of SIS cents per
pupil. The books have been purchased
from fifteen different publishing houses.
In the high school 34S pupils are en-
rolled. and $1,000 in tuition has been
collected during the year from non-res-
ident pupils. In the grades spelling and
other studies had been emphasized and
there had been a constant improve
ment.
Superintendent Willard explained to
the board his visit to the Chicago con-
vention and to manual training school
IN that city.