Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-02-18
RULES SCHOOL BOARDS
Recent Decision of Supreme
Court Restricts Exercise of
Certain Powers
ANNUAL CIRCULAR SENT OUT
First Official Announcements of the
Policy and Purpose of the New State
School Superintendent, Professor
Riggs = Indicates What Should be
Done to Better Iowa Schools.

DEG Moines Feb. Estate Super
intendent Riggs has just printed and
will send out circular to schoolmen
and to the officers of school boards
calling attention to a recent decision
of the supreme court which may cause
a great deal OF trouble in school dis
tricts unless it is thoroughly under
stood. This Is decision to the effect
that while under the Code there arc
certain specified things which the
electors may do at their annual meet
ings for school purposes the first Mon
day in March of each year. they can
not exercise these powers except where
notice has been given of the coming
up of such matters before them. Tn
der this decision it will be necessary
for the school board that desires 10
bring before the school electors any
certain subject to direct the secretary
of the board to include in the notice
of the annual meeting specific state
ment of the subject or subjects to be
voted on. Superintendent Riggs calls
attention to this because it has been
the custom in Iowa many years to faRe
up any subject desired at these annual
meetings of the directors. 1t is there
fore very easy for rural school boards
to get into trouble with Illegal ac-
tions.
At the same time the annual circular
to school officers is being sent out IN
Guiding the notice of the time for. the
annual meeting Of the school boards.
Professor Riggs also takes occasion to
outline some of the topics he considers
most important at this time and to In
dictate what should be done by the
school boards looking to the betterment
of Iowa schools. This is important as
being the first official announcement of
the policy and purposes OF the new
state superintendent. His remarks to
the boards of directors in part are as
follows:
"There she 10 :i-aetic&l aiforin-
ity thruout the state % III the length
of the school year. te) in the intelligent
supervision of all school buildings. and
(s) in the care and Judgment exercised
in the selection of teachers.
I. The length OF the school year In
this state the prevailing school year is
nine months. usually divided into three
terms-fall. winter and spring. the
terms not necessarily OF eqnal length.
The fact that the average time the
schools of Iowa were in session fast
year was eight months. indicates that
many schools We're In session an IN
short period. I beg to urge
upon your attention the ACCESSIBILITY OF
your school year nine months
if possible. or Mt ieast eight months.
In districts having but few children
of school age 1t will often be advisable
for the board. with the consent OF the
county superintendent to temporarily
close the school and transport the chill
dren to an adjoining district.
al. Supervision OF school buildings
The school board should provide for
the employment of competent person
to pit the school grounds and ortbnild
lngs In proper condition. and to thor
oughly clean the floors walls and
desks OF the schoolroom a few days be-
fore the opening Of each term Of school
md should pay for this service from
the contingent fund.
The hoard should. where praetic-
,,s,a o..,-,iov .anchare for tho ftlf