The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1902-01-31
own to
Special CALM Js-1,.. sAg to Consider
Reports.


Monday night to hear the report {
the Board of Education upon tn
financial condition of the city schot
relative to the new building an
improvements and all expense ii
Cured since the contracts wer
made; the debtors and creditor
and all amounts involved, and t
locate responsibility and liabilit
attached to same.
Mayor Walker stated at the out
set that he had met with the schoo
board at their request; that his I'm
derstanding had been that the,
were invoved in considerable liza
| bility over and above the amour
realized from the school bonds, bu1
he was compelled to say that mat
ters looked much worse than antici.
pated, and suggested that the
Board enter into the heart of the
matter with all eXpedience, justi-
fed by proper business methods,
to reach a correct and comprehen-
sive solution of the affair and the
disposition of same.
The Mayor presented lengthy
opinion from the city attorneys, writ
ten upon request Of the Mayor for
the Board, as to the relative duties
and responsibilities and the powers
vested by law in the Board of May
or and Aldermen and the Board OF
Education, concerning the build
ing, equiping and repairing and
conduct of schools. The report
was read by the Mayor, and in sub
stance was as follows:
The city schools were esta blished
by virtue of an act of the Legisla-
ture passed in 1885, which provided
tor six directors, three to be elected
by the city and three by the school
district, the schools were operat-
I'd under the provisions of this act
until April 10, 1898, when, by vir-
Tue of the act of 1885, an ordinance
vas passed by the Board of Mayor
md Aldermen defining the powers
IF the respective boards and pro-
'ldlng for the establishment of
ligh-grade branches in the city
The same act empowers
he Board of Mayor and Aldermen
With authority to procure school
ouses by purchase or erection and
o equip, furnish or repair same,
lso authorizes them to apply the
onmon school fund in the payment
f such purchase or building, etc.
Me next section gives the Board
f Mayor and Aldermen power and
uthority to levy city taxes
0r such purchases or erection,
nd to furnish such buildings and
ne maintenance Of public schools.
he power is also vested in the
oard of Mayor and Aldermen 10
ppoint a school board, consisting
{ six or less, who shall be subject {
} removal for just cause by the I
lid city board. The only powers {
inferred upon the school board t
ere those commonly delegated to
justices or directors to manage and I
,ntrol schools, elect and employ
achers and prescribe rules for the T
gulation of same. There is no {
stance of power given to the S
hool board to build. furnish, 7
Iuip, or repair houses for the use
schools. The act further pro-
DIES that the appointment of the a
hool board lies solely in the dis
elton of the Board of Mayor and
.dermen, who may at any time
ey deem advisable abrogate the II
'pointment of that body, and pro- fl
ed direct to elect teachers or Il
ntract for buildings, etc, or may b
lnsact such business through II
mmittee appointed for the pur-
Sc. The Board of Mayor and W
dermen may appoint the school a
ard to act upon the letting of ii
ETC., but in such cases oil
party appointed would be act
: as agents only. The power to oil
move the school board indicates ci
At it is under the control of the S.
ard of Mayor and Aldermen OF
the extent of removal. The al
ties OF the school board include be
king after the repairs, and max ci
. them only upon the order of va
i. Board of Mayor and Aldermen. m
cir duties are also to furnish es-
Iates of amount of money re- an
red for the maintenance of be
ools for the succeeding year, and ev
he and of tI,a x,aa,- -, -. 1...4 - -