The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-30
EARLY CLOSING OF SCHOOLS DISCUSSED Serious Proposition Presented the Board of Education OFFICIALS WILL ACT TODAY School Authorities Hold Meeting and Discuss the Matter, But Adjourn
 Until Today at Noon With
 out Taking Action.
OFFICIALS WILL ACT TODAY


 public schools, for financial reasons, two weeks earlier than was expected Is per- picking the members of the board or education at this time
 Yesterday afternoon the board held meeting in its rooms on the fourth noor of the city hall, when this matter was discussed at length. There was no decis- ion reached, however, and after being in session for over an hour the board ad- journed until 12 o'clock today. at which time the question will be taken up again. It Is expected that every member of the board of education will be present at to- days meeting.
 On account of Mayor Drennen, the vice president of the board of education, Alderman Henry B. Gray, the treasurer, and Eli P Smith, the chairman of the finance committee, leaving for New York this afternoon, where they go to dispose of the s300,000 of school bonds, 1t was de- cided yesterday morning to hold a meet ing of the board of education yesterday afternoon, instead of Monday, the time for the regular monthly meeting for May The meeting yesterday afternoon was therefore special one.
 MemberS PreSent.
 In the absence of President A. O. Lane who is out of the city, Vice President Drennen presided at the meeting. Dr. Samuel Ulman, member of the board, who has been ill., was present, 1t being the first meeting he has attended since last December. Eli P. Smith, James J. Smith and Dr. J. H. Phillips, the secretary Of the board, were the others present.
 Chairman Eli P. Smith of the finance committee presented the regular monthly bills and accounts of the board, which were ordered aid.
 Dr. Phillips reported that fifty single desks ordereL by the board have arr rived These desks were purchased sev- eral months ago, when it was thought ad- ditional room would be secured for the high school They have been stored away, however, and will be used probably when the new building is erected.
 As to Closing. .
 The matter of closing the public schools was then brought before the school board by Eli P. Smith. He stated that it had been rumored among the pupils and the teachers for several weeks that the board would decide to close the schools before the appointed time, and he thought that some final action should be taken in the matter
 pr. IJllman then took the floor, saying that he thought if possible the schools should run the entire nine scholastic months. He thought that it would be a bad plan to break into the regular school term saying that such precident on the part of the board of education would be indeed a bad one to set. Tt IS question of pride," declared Dr. Ullman. we should make all efforts to keep the public schools of Birmingham open. It was estimated at the meeting that about s2s5O would be saved by the city or Birmingham in closing the schools two weeks earlier.
 Mayor Drennen.
 Mayor Drennen said that he was also of the same opinion as was pr. Uliman ] that the schools should be kept open the full term, if possible He explained, how ever. that in his opinion the financial con ditions of the city should not warrant the running of the full term. He explained to the members of the board Of education the entrenchment policy adopted by the city council the early part or the present wear In cutting down the pay rolls or the fire department, the police aepart- ment and the street department
 "The committee raising funds for the Vulcan statue thought that the city coun- cil should have appropriated $l5oo towards the fund.- said the mayor but we un- derstood the financial conditions or the city and thought the best we could do would be to give the committee $aoo Now our parks should be improved, but the citv is not in a condition to purchase seats. The best we can do for the parks is to place the street forces in them lust at this time 5000 is matter or great concern with the city of Birming- ham,
 pr. l'hillips.
 Dr. Phillips had a few words to say He expressed the hope that arrangements could be made by which the schools could continue the entire term. He said that the recent Conference for Education in the South In Birmingham had produced a liberal feeling among the people in fa- vor of education, and thought that to cut down the school term would hurt the educational movement. He said that it was the original intention to close the schools for the summer on June ?. If they are closed two weeks earlier the date of dismissal of the pupils would be May 19
 Eli P. Smith then moved that an ad- iournment be taken until today at noon (Saturday) at which time the matter could be finally disposed of. James J.. Smith seconded the motion and it was carried. tDr. Ullman voting in the nega- tive.
 The board then adjourned.