Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-19
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Janitors Salaries Discussed
 May Be Made Uniform.

That Mayor Thoms as we'll as oth. CT members of the board of education are of the opinion that the farce in re- gard to the salaries of the janltors of the schools of this city has continued Tor sufficient length of time, was evinced last evening. when the mayor presided at the educational board
 heeting and without mincing words ueciared what he thought of the pres- | ent system of payment. The dlscus- | sion started because Janitors Kelly. | hayden and Mcdonald asked for 3H month increase. Probably within q snort time uniform system of pay. ment VIII be adopted to eliminate the wide variance of salaries which now exists. "" l Although the mayor acknowledged that janitor who had large build. ing to look after should receive more l tnan a JanitOr who has a smaller pudding, yet he does not think the uiHerence Ill salaries should be very Mg; He does not see why a janitor With an old ram shackle of a build- ing should not be paid better than !anitor, who has charge of a new building, with the same number of rooms. The lowest paid janitor in tne city Is James Hayden of the Well ron, Who is drawing $50 month: the Janitor, who heads the list Is Thomas l crane or the Walsh, his salary being $S2.oO month. The mayor could not understand why Janitor McDonald of the croft school, who has eighteen rooms, the same number as Crane. was drawing only $SO.OO month.
 The Janitors who employ assistants ar small wages, were also severely criticized and under the new system all assistants will be hired by the committee on schools. There Is no question about 1t, said the mayor. but the whole system Is bad.
 Commissioner ]. J. Mcdonald sur. gested paying the janitors according to class one with eight rooms 90 much, the janitors with twelve rooms ana eighteen rooms accordingly. but With no great difference between any or the salaries, as it was the concen- sus Of the meeting that janitor even though his building is small is con- pelled to be on hand almost as many hours of the day as a janitor with larger building.
 The JanitOrs were not the only persons whom the mayor was after last evening and when the subject of allowing subscriptions. contributions and lotteries to be carried on in the schools. which is violation of the rules of the school department and the statutes of the state, the presiding of- fcer had a few remarks to make.
 Although as far as Is known no complaint was made about children complaint was mad about children selling tickets for raffie on s gold piece. yet they were of the opinion that 1t should be stopped. The mayor was sure the selling of tickets for . $o gold piece was not harmful but as 1t is a direct violation of the state law 1t should be stopped. So with tho practice of having the children bring a few pennies week in order to buy pictures and statuary for the school
 building. It was all right in kself, but ms # vi0lbte1 the rules of the school department 1t should be lived up to From the superintendent down to the youngest teacher that rule Is considered dead letter and should be enforced or stricken out" said the mayor. The clerk was at length noti- fled to bring the superintendent nt- tention to the rules of the department and the statutes In order that he might take suitable action.
 The next coterle, that the members and mayor got after. was the prjnci- pals of the schools. It was the im- : pression of the board and the mayor that the rule of principals being in ' school from S:45 to II :45 In the morn ing and from 1:15 to 3:45 in the af- 1 ternoon was not being adhered to of , late. The clerk was instructed to in- , form the superintendent to have the principals bear this rule In mind. : Attorney E. E. Kelley, jr, was on hand to buy the small piece of land where the old South Brooklyn school stood. He offered $500 for the prop erty. The West Side Savings bunk is also after the strip. which is surround ed by land, owned by A. NJ. Young and several other wealthy individuals 3 The board did not think 1t had any r Jurisdiction in regard to selling 1t but
 will have the opinion of the city at torney.
 The board is not at all in favor oi . the bill to deprive 1t of appointing the
 truant officer and Commissioner Nc.
 Donald asked the mayor what the lat.
 ter knew about It's introduction. All
 he knew was what he saw in the pa 8 pers. It was voted to have the alder. . men instruct the city attorney 10 op :. pose the measure. g The resignations of Miss Eta F . Morton of the kindergarten of ths Y Washington street school was re , ceived and accepted as was that ol 2 Miss Ruth Merwin. assistant secre |, tary in Mir Tinker's office Miss sa
 die Doherty. telephone operator in thu
 clerks office. was promoted to Mis-
 Merwin's place at a salary of &S {
 week and Miss Katherine Ryan vii
 he Miss Doherty's successor, salary
 $3.5O per week.
 A communication was receives , from the superintendent stating tha
 the pupils of the schools should hay, 2 their eyes and ears inspected by {
 competent specialist. The board fa
 vored the suggestion and sent it alous
 to the board of health with the rec
 ommendation that they appoint [ , specialist in the same manner as the.
 appoint the school doctors
 An invitation was received from tn
 Town Plot school committee to hav'
 the boari visit the opening of the new . | rooms or Thursday afternoon. wal