The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-08
SCHOOL BOARD LACKS
FUNDS FOR SCHOOL
BUILDINGS
Has $4,000 With Which to
Do Things That Are Prac-
tically Impossible Money
in Hand Will Be Used Up
in Existing Contracts -
First and Fourth Wards
Want Relief.

How to make $4,000 build SAC, 1000
new school building in the First ward
two eight room additions to the Grant
and Harrison schools in the same ward
at an estimated cost of $4,000 each
and four room addition to the Irving
school in the Seventh ward at a cost
of $16,500 is the problem that confronts
| the school board just now.
The board will have $112,5OO to build
new buildings and make repairs. OF
this $4,000 must be paid on contracts
for the new Mckinley school which
have not been cleaned up Another
$4,000 is for the Baker school in the
Tenth ward, which has been ordered
by the council, and Supt. Gerlach says
at the least calculation $4,000 will
have to be taken for repairs and the
tearing out of the Ruttan system in a
number Of the present buildings. This
leaves about $4,000 with which to put
up new buildings and additions and
the purchase of at least one site.
Delegations from the First and Sew
enth wards appeared before the board
yesterday afternoon and presented
| their claims for more school facilities.
The Fifth and Sixth wards were not
represented yesterday, but will be
heard from later
Swan Ponthan, DR.. r. o. Earl and J.
A. Jackson, on behalf of a portion of
the First ward delegation, contended
that what was needed was a new
twelve room building in the territory
between the Harrison and Grant
schools. Such a structure would re-
lieve not only the Grant and Harrison
schools. but also the Ericsson. The
ward had been living on promises for
years, but this was as far as the school
board had gone. The building of ad-
ditions to the Grant and Harrison
schools would
ton.
''Why some of the residents in the
ward are sending their children to three
different schools" said Mr.. Jackson,
land something should be done this
year There are twelve annexes used
in the ward, and at all of these only
half day sessions are held"
Grant Roll Increased.
Louis A. Bumgardner and o. A.
Peterson took the ground that an ad-
dition to the Grant school was needed,
and quoted figures to show that the
enrolment at this school had increased
In the last two years more than it had
in the eight years previous.
DR.. A. w Whitney argued that adj
ditions to the present schools would not
relieve the congestion, and the only
way out was a twelve room building,
which would relieve the Ericsson, Har-
rison and Cleveland schools
Former Alderman BlomqUist said
lots could be purchased for a site from
$3.50 to $500 by private parties, but it
was probable that if the board wanted
to purchase the prices would be Boost
ed' some. He advised the location Of
the-new school between Jessamine and
Maryland and north of Magnolia. The
best way to set a good site cheap
would be to advertise for bids and thus
get competition and low prices.
J. N. Smith, representing residents
of the Seventh ward, presented de-
mands for four room addition to the
irving school. Owing to the over
crowded condition Of the school there
was no Kindergarten connected with
the school which the residents should
have. There were only half day ses-
siOns and as business proposition
the school should have not only four
room addition, but new heating plant
-Four children had been taken out of
the school owing to i'll health caused
by the overcroWded condition and poor
Tentilating system, and immediate ac-
ton was necessary.
VIII % Something.
Supt. Gerlach said it would take $16,-
GOO to put up a four room addition and
new heating plant at the Irving
school.
The board promised to do the best
possible l0f the flrSC ana Seventh
wards, and will hold a special session
to discuss how the small amount at
their command can be spread around.
Supt. Smith reported the total enroll
Tlent for December as 23.464; average
number for the month, 22,273; average
daily attendance, 21,054; whole number
admitted, 24,351
The committee on schools submitted
the following report which was adopt
ed
Resignation of F. c. Lange, of the
Mechanic Arts high school, accepted.
Leave of absence granted to @. d.
WEIGH, principal of the Jefferson school,
from Jan. s to the end of the school
year. Miss Emma Witt Of the same
school, TO be placed in charge at a sal
airy of 500 per month.
Leave of absence granted to Mrs. F.
G. Parker, Murray school, be extended
to April 1.
Appointments of Miss Martha Camp
bell to eighth grade Douglass school,
vice Miss Kenny, transferred, at SOS
per month to date from Jan. 5; of Miss
z. Adams to Baker school, vice Miss
Young, granted leave of absence at $50
per month to date from Jan. 5. ap,
pointment to date from Oct. 10.
Bills aggregating $6,385.70 were ap-
proved
The schools will close for the Eas-
ter holiday April and reopen April 10.
M. J. O'Neill, the plumber who had
presented a claim for $3.50 over and
took the ground that the extra amount