Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-06-23
WANTS BOARD PAID
J. F. RIGGS, SUPERINTENDENT
OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, PRO-
JEcTs NEW MOVE
Feels That School Directors Should
Be Remunerated for Attending
Meeting in the Midst Of the Busy
Month of JuIy--Wrtes Presidents.

State Superintendent John F. Riggs
has projected movement looking TO
the remuneration of school directors
for attending the annual meeting.
There has never been any compensa-
ton whatever attached to the duties
of school directors, but now that the
annual meeting has been changed from
the first Monday in September to the
first Monday in July when business
men and farmers will be exceedingly
busy, 1t is desirable that the next state
legislature make provision for remun-
Grafton on the part of directors for at
tending this annual meeting. The
state superintendent has sent out the
following circular to presidents of
school boards:
School Board Meeting.
"The law requires every board of
school directors to meet this year on
Monday, July 2, to receive the reports
OF the secretary and treasurer and to
settle with these oIlicers.
In all school corporations a secre-
tary for the ensuing year must be
chosen at this meeting. And in all
school corporations, excepting in indie
pendent city or town districts, a treas
urer for the ensuing year must be
chosen at this meeting. The law
changing the annual meeting of school
boards from September to July ter
inmates the term Of all secretaries
now in Office and of all treasurers now
in office In Independent village dis
tricts, school townships and rural In
dependent districts with the July
meeting, and makes it necessary for
the board to elect their SUCCESSORS at
that time.
"The secretary and treasurer should
have their reports ready for the OPP.
proval of the board at the time of the
meeting.
To Examine Books.
ITO facilitate the settlement with
the treasurer it is suggested that
where practicable, committee Of the
board be appointed to examine the
books of this officer before the date for
the annual meeting and be ready to
report to the board July 2.
your attention is called to the man.
datory provisions of chapter Ito CT
the school laws, which require the
treasurer of each school township and
rural independent district to withhold
five cents Tor each person of school
age In the school corporation, the
same to be used between the third
4 Monday of September and the first day
OF December for the purchase Of Il.
brary books. The board may, at its
option, increase this amount not to
exceed fifteen cents for each person
|
purchased by the secretary and presi
dent OF the board, with the assistance
OF county superintendent of schools.
The theory Of our Iowa statutes has
been that the services rendered by
school directors should be gratuitoua,
assuming, and correctly, that public
spirited citizens willing to serve the
people in this responsible office would
not be wanting in any school district
Should be Compensated.
4 Il believe the service rendered by d.
rectors should be in large part gratu.
itous Most Of such services can be
rendered at times chosen by the di
rector and when his personal interests
! need not suffer; but 1t has long seem
ed to me that attendance upon the reg
llar annual meeting, when business OF
unusual Importance is transacted and
tho presence of every director is re
CURED, should carry with 1t adequate
compensation. which is now forbidden
by the statutes.
ut IS my present purpose TO recon-
mend to tne next general assembly
that section 2780 of the school laws BIZ
Sc amended that directors in actual at
tendance upon the annual July meet
ing Of the board shall receive a fixet
amount for the one days service.
shall not, however, make this recon-
mendation, unless the general sent,
ment of the directors Of the state II
favorable
"Tnat may be instructed in this
matter, I am asking the district secre
taries to take vote of the directors
present at the board meeting July a.
the little people very happy for few
hours and light refreshments were
/ served.
Mrs. Speisberger of Ottumwa, &C.