Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-20
Truant Law, as Amended, Will
Be Strictly Enforced In
This City
EMPLOY AN OFFICER
I o
semi.AnnuaI Meeting of School Board
Monday Night Results in Action
Being Taken to Look Up Children
Who Ought to be in School, and
Compel Their Attendance.

district of Marshalltown is going after
children Of school age in the city, who
should be in school, but who are allow
ed to remain out or school because
education. If the parents will not send
the children to school, the board will
see that the youngsters are properly
cared for, and under the provisions Of
the truant law, amended at the last
general assembly, will al once begin the
work of looking up the delinquents.
The annual enumeration has about
been completed, and it will be an easy
matter for the truant officer to check
this list over with the actual enroll
ment in the schools, and obtain the To-
cation of houses where reside children
of school age who are not in school.
The board, at its semi-annual meet
ing Monday night, took this important
action and empowered Mr.. A. A. Moore,
acting president, to employ truant Of
ficer, whom the law says shall hold Of
flee for one year. The truant law was
by the last general assembly
in several particulars, the most irnpor-
tant of which is that it compels at
tendance on the part of the children
during the first sixteen weeks of school.
The old law specified twelve weeks at
tendance and the parents could get
around the law by claiming that they
would send their children the last
twelve weeks. Now 1t IS different. and
the children are supposed to start in
school at the beginning of the year,
and attend at least four months. Chill
dren above the age of and under and
including the age of Ia, of proper
mental and physical development come
under the provisions Of the statutes,
and are compelled to attend school. Inn
upon the appointment Of the
officer and his acceptance work will be
begun in ascertaining the names Of
the children not in school, and investi-
eating the circumstances. Refusal of
parents to place their children in school
when notified, will result in prosecu-
tons.
School Finances.
According to the law an accounting
Of school finances is required at the
semi -annual meeting, and Treasurer H.
S. Lawrence presented his report to the
board. The condition of the finances is
shown to be the same as it has been for
the past several years, with outstanding
in two funds, which are
drawing per cent interest. While no
action was taken it was suggested that
the district issue bonds, at 4 per cent,
to care for the outstanding indebted
ness, and then take up the bonds at it's
This will undoubtedly be
done at some meeting in the near fu-
ture. Half of the years tax levy will
be due the first Of October, and that
finances, but it will not be material,
with a $4,000 teachers pay roll due
each month. The outstanding warrants
IN the teachers fund, marked mot paid
FOR want of funds aggregate total of
S11,99S.02. In the contingent fund there
are outstanding warrants in the sum of
S., T72.79 and there are other warrants,
ssued but not yet in, to the amount of
s544.04, a total of $1S,314.S5. The report
IF the treasurer was referred to the fl
nance committee.
Mr.. Moore acted as president, PRO
.em. Monday night, in the absence of
Mr.. Click. The board appropriated the
sum of SIS for photographs and cuts of
school buildings and a history of the
to be published in the souvenir
If Marshalltown, which is soon to be
published.
Superintendent Crane reported that
clustering on, the ceiling of the kinder
,arten room at the Arnold school was
n bad repair, and that g. large piece
lad fallen to the floor during school
hours. Fortunately no children were
lnder the spot where the material fell.
Orders have been given to inspect the
of the building and make the
necessary repairs.
Principal j. j. Louis, of the high
chool, reported on the leasing of the
leland park as an athletic ground, I'M
Ter the name Of the Marshalltown High
school Athletic Association.