Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-03-17
BOARD ORGANIZES,
austin PRESIDENT
E. I. Austin Chosen Head
of the Board of School
Directors
COMMITTEES ARE APPOINTED
Measures Discussed to Make School
Buildings Easy to Get Out of in
Case of Fire - Doors Being Changed
May Add Outside stairways-seek
Speaker for Commencement.

The old school board went out of ex-
istence. and the new one, with the
same membership was organized at
1.-THE annual meeting held for that pur-
pose late Monday afternoon +, T.
Austin was elected president of the
new board, and he has the distinction
of being the only bachelor who has
held the office in many years.
The following We're the committees
appointed by President Austin for the
year:
Grounds, buildings. furniture and re-
pairs--L c. Abbott and I. !. Was
SON.
School supplies. fuel and printing =
]. L. Carney and w. NJ. Clark.
Finance and accounts--T I. Was
son and w. NJ. Clark
Text books and course of study.
L. Carney and l.. C. Abbott. t
Teachers and salaries. rules and dis
clpline-W NJ Clark and r l. Was
son.
To Make Buildings Safer.
The board has already taken steps to
make the school buildings proof against
fire disasters, and additional and more
expensive changes are to be made II
the board becomes convinced that the
public approves
Investigation in the different ward
buildings has shown that there are
total Of about sixty doors. leading from
class and school rooms into halls and
corridors that open in instead of out.
This is contrary to the city ordinance.
and the work, Of changing these doors
has been already begun and is to be
continued until all the doors are
changed to swing outward
May Build Outside Exits.
+ Still another change is contemplated
by the board to make the ward build
ings easier to empty This plan was
contained in a resolution presented by
Clark. and authorizes the committee on
grounds. buildings. furniture and re-
pairs to investigate and report to the
May meeting of the board. the advis-
ability and probable cost of making an
outside exit from each school room on
the ground floor, and one or more out
side exits with iron stairways leading
to the ground. from the second story
OF each building. except such build
ings as have detached heating plants.
Court Public Interest.
One of the principal reasons fos
bringing this resolution up at the
present time was to get it before the
public so that the board might get an
no n IN
whether the plan was thought to be
feasible or whether the changes We're
demanded by the safety of the pupils
II the board becomes convinced that
the public demands these changes the
buildings will be altered along. some
such plan as suggested by the resolls-
ton.
Empty Buildings Fast.
Since a renewal of the practice or
holding fire drills was commenced.
some quick time has been made in
emptying the buildings. In fact, in
some instances Superintendent Palmer
thinks the time made was little TOO
fast for safety Recently the Wood
bury building was emptied in 4S sec
onds. the Arson in 4S seconds. and the
Rogers in one and one-quarter min
utes.
On the suggestion Of Mr.. Clark. the
president and Mr.. Carney were made a
committee. which with the assistance
Of SUPERINTENDENT Palmer, is to Sc
cure a speaker of the commencement
also to arrange for the baecalaurea1e
sermon and the place for holding both
1t and the commencement exercises.