Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-04-02
SCHOOL MEETING.
A WeII.Atte n ded Meeting of School
District No. 4,

Inc annual uleeIluB vi oCuOOi uirufSs
No. was held at the Grange hall, with
good attendance on Tuesday evening,
Mar. Both. The meeting was called to
order by Judge j. E. Weeks, moderator.
After the reading of the warning by
Clerk j. M. Burke, the choice of modera-
tor by the meeting was Mr.. Weeks and
Mr.. Burke was also reelected to serve as
clerk.
The second article of the warning, "To
hear and act on reports submitted. "
The various reports were accepted and
adopted.
The third article was, ITO see what
action the district will take in regard to
building a new school house, or to ina
crease the capacity of the present build
ing" Mr.. Battell stated that the matter
was far too momentous a question to be
decided off-hand. He thought that ac-
ton on this important question could
well be defen ed by the voters until such
time as competent committee has in
vestigated the question and reported at
future-possibly special-meeting. In
this opinion he was joined by DR.. E. H.
Martin, who said that the proper time to
take action was the present, and that
the committee should be appointed at
once.
Mr.. c. E. Pinney concurred with the
foregoing. and offered an amendment
to the motion made by Mr.. Battell, Mr..
Pinney's amendment being that the COM
mittee should be limited to three men.
The motion was passed, and the follow
ing gentlemen were chosen by the meet
ing, Rev. j. d. Shannon, named by DIR.
Martin. Prof. I. K. Boyce, named by Mr..
Battell; and DIR. E H. Martin, named by
j. A. Fletcher.
The fourth article: "To see if the dis
trict will authorize the prudential com
mittee to make contracts with the prin-
cipal and teachers for a term of more
than one year"
A motion was at once made, by William
Farrell, that this be laid on the table.
Dr. Martin explained that the meaning
of permanent tenure of position did not
have the same meaning to him as it
seemed to many others; that he believed
In longer terms of service for the school
instructors, say, five years, with proper
probationary period, after which time no
instructor could be discharged without
cause. He stated that the school princi-
pals are generally men of families, to
whom removal would act as great
disadvantage, and, that different meth
cd should be employed than that at pre-
sent in vogue.
Prof. Wright agreed with DR.. Martin,
that the conditions obtaining here are
different from larger centers, where per-
l l. -l.A
the present method here would be the
better instead of having a probationary
period preceding long term he stated
| that it would be better to have the pru-
! dental committee choose the instructors
just as they had been doing, and each
year would be probation. Continuing,
he said that board. holding office for
only one year should not be given the
power to bind for term longer than
their own tenure.
The original motion-to lay-was put
and passed by the meeting.
The fifth article, regarding the school
tax was disposed of by G.. E. Pinney in a
motion that the rate be 55 cents; passed.
Passing to the election of officers the
existing prudential committee was re.
elected for the year, these men being |.
H. LaFleur, Esq, Rev. j. D. Shannon
DR.. ID. G. Noble, Allan Calhoun and DIR.
E. H. Martin; treasurer, G. E. Pinney;
auditor A. K. Carr.
Under the head of extra business, J. A
Fletcher moved that the prudential com
mittee to be instructed to complete the
work of installing the fre-escapes
stating that on the upper floor the present
escapes could be reached only by passing
through hallway, which in time of fire
would be great risk. In this opinion he
was Joined by Mr.. Battell, who hoped tC
see good, safe escape such as a fright.
ened child could safely get to background
upon, and he further offered to pay one
fourth of the cost of an approved escape
On motion of Mr.. Fletcher this matter
was left in the hands of the prudentia
committee.
A resolution was offered by NJ. A. Ha
her, the intent of which was that, othel
things being equal, local business mer
should be patronized in getting supplies
and labor, and that for expenditures of al
extraordinary nature, sealed bids should
be submitted. This resolution failed
because of an ambiguity in its meaning
and the meeting then adjourned.