The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-12-10
Plans of Local Architect Accept.
ed by Committee for Pro.
posed 100000 School
MINORITY REPORT POSSIBLE
Statistics Presented to the Committee
Show Little Chance to Lay
the Building Over for
Another Year

The fight for the plans for the pro-
posed new school in the Third ward of
the city is practically over as at the
meeting Of the building committee Of
the Board Of Education held at the
City Hall on Friday evening the com
mittee by a. vote Of four to two voted
to select the plans of T. Gaastra of
Kenosha. Five plans were considered
in the final session of the committee
and the only others which received
votes were those of Chandler and
Parks of Racine and those Of #. G..
Klein of Peoria, I'll. Commissioners
Williams, Chairman of the committee,
Chairman Thrienen of the Board, and
Commissioners Maurice and Munger
voted for the adoption Of the Gaastra
plans Commissioner Cavanagh voted
in favor of the Chandler and Parks
plan while Commissioners Frost voted
for the plan proposed by the Peoria
man It is possible that a minority
report Of the committee will be sent
to the Board, but it is more probable
that the report of the building commit
tee will be accepted and the Gaastra
plans approved by the Board at an
early session. Me- Gaastra has be-
come known as 'Fthe architect Of the
Kenosha School Board He made the
plans for both the Durkee and Balm
buildings and there seemed to be a
decided sentiment in the committee in
favor of him at the session last
night. The building is to cost $780, 900
and it is understood that if the bids
are not within the estimate that the
plans may be rejected by the Board
and the architect receives nothing for
his work
Before the vote for the acceptance
Of any of the plans was taken there
was long discussion of the question
by the members of the committee and
each of the five architects appeared
before the Board to answer questions.
Most of the questions were asked by
Commissioners Cavanagh and Frost,
the other members of the committee
seeming to have their minds pretty
well made UP.
The question Of laying the building
of the school over for another year
was brought up at the meeting and
the chances are not very bright for
such action.
The members of the committee will
meet with the finance committee of
the Common Council tomorrow morn
/ ing to talk this matter over, but sta
tistics presented to the members of
the committee last night indicate that
the building is badly needed. The re-
port of the superintendent showed that
at the present time there were 2,436
pupils enrolled in the city schools and
fifty two rooms were in use. Count
ing forty-fve to room the present
school system can take care Of but
2,340 Of the children. At the present
time there are four basement rooms in
use and one auditorium room The
statement of the superintendent of the
Board was that if the new building
was ready at this time five Of the
rooms could be filed.
This matter will be thoroughly
threshed out before the finance com
mittee tomorrow morning and after
that time the committee will agree on
the recommendation to be made to the
Board at the meeting to be held on
Tuesday evening. If It is decided to
proceed with the work Of erecting the
new building the work will be started
in the spring of the year with the plan
Of having the building completed and
ready for occupancy by the opening
Of the next school year