Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-09-05
Superintendent of Schools to
Become Head of Massachusetts
Industrial School
GOES TO wEsrsoRo, MASS.
MIR. coffeen Will Not Leave, Perhaps,
for Several Months, and Not Until
His Successor is Chosen Eastern
Offer too Flatterins a Ono to BE Re-
fused-salary Much Larsen

Superintendent Elmer l.. Coffeen.
who for year and a half has been the
head of the city's public schools. VIII
resign to- accept the SUPPLEMENTARY
Of the Lyman Industrial School, of
Westboro, Mass. Mr.. Coffeen will not
go before he is released by the local
board which may not be before the
end Of the present school year, and his
release will not be granted until the
board has had ample time to choose his
successor. In the meantime the board
is not inviting applications, but will
take it's own time and means of secur-
ing the man to fill his place.
The offer Mr.. Coffeen received from
the Massachusetts school was too flat
tering a one, in addition to the educa-
tional advantages it held out, to be
refused. When he accepts, 1t will be
a salary Of $4,000 for the first year, free
rent for q modern eight-room cottage.
and all living expenses for himself and
family, which equals $1,000 more. He
has the promise of an increase for the
second year, with additional increases
later to probable maximum of $4,000
in addition to living expenses and house
rent All considered, the office pays az
much as any SUPPLEMENTARY in the
state.
Mr.. Coffeen has been in correspon-
dence with the trustees of the Lyman
op1 pnlV la
week he made visit to Boston and
Westboro, on the invitation of the
board and at it's expense. Since his
return the formal offer has been re-
ceived, and the arrangement he has
made is such that he can choose his
own time regarding date of acceptance.
All that the Lyman board is anxious
to know is that he will come. Mr.. Cot
feen will formally accept within few
days.
No sooner did Mr.. Coffeen know that
there was likelihood of his leaving
than he took the local board into his
confidence, and it's members had been
hoping against hope that he would not
leave.
The Lyman school is state insti-
tuition, and is one of two schools for
the homeless boys of Massachusetts.
1t is similar to Iowa's industrial school
at Eldora, and about the same size,
but the average age of its members is
much younger. Manual training, in
which Mr.. Coffeen is very much inter-
ested, Is made a specially there, and
this is one of the reasons Mr. Coffeen
wishes to go. He also sees the ad-
1,orfouoc h;o oIcSa rrovip,ity fo 1aroa
universities of the east would give
children, which also influenced him.
The schools governing body is a board
of three trustees, and its present sup
erintendent is an old man who has
been with it for long time, and who
wishes to retire as soon as Mr.. Coffeen
can take the management
There is possibility that Mr.. Cof-
feen will go during the winter or per-
haps early in the spring, but he has
decided not to do so until he can leave
the new manual training building
equipped aud it's branches running
smoothly. At present the board will
make no effort to find a new superin-
tendent until the new building is fin
ished and out of the way
The prospective leaving of Mr.
Coffeen, and his estimable family, will
be regretted by the public in general,
and especially by that part of it which
is interested in the public schools
While the friends of Mr.. Coffeen will
be glad to know of his success. and the
recognition Of his ability which caused
the, invitation to be extended to him,
they will regret exceedingly the change