Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-08
BOARD REFLECTS BEVERIDGE
City School superintendent Gets Nice
salary Raise.

salary Raise.
J. II. Beveridge was reelected superiu-
tendent OF the public schools of Council
Bluffs at the meeting of the Board OF
Education Tuesday. His salary for the
ensuing year was fixed at 81, 400 an increase
of $500 over that OF last year. His re-
election was by the unanimous vote of the
six members present. President FINLEY
was unable to be present and r. ]. Capell
presided in his place.
Member Reed. who recently suggested
the adoption of a merit plan for fixing
the salaries of the teachers in the city
schools started the ball rolling in this di-
rection by the passage OF a molten calling
upon the superintendent to secure from the
principals OF the various buildings de-
tailed reports as to the age, length of
service, condition of health. efficiency, etc.
of every teacher. From these reports the
superintendent will be expected to classify
teachers as first. second or third grade in
structors. These reports" declared Mr..
Reed. fought to serve as a guide when the
time comes for the board TO fix the
salaries. These reports It was decided by
the board are to be treated in a strictly
confidential manner and the merits. physi-
| cal and otherwise of the various teachers
are to be discussed only in executive ses-
sion at which no one but the members of
the board and the superintendent will be
permitted to be present.
The matter was discussed at some length
before Mr.. Reeds motion requiring the
superintendent to procure these reports
was passed. Some OF the member said
they thought it was going outside the
province Of the board to inquire into a
teachers health and age. I'VE will be
regarded as somewhat ungallant in com
polling a woman to tell her age" suggested
Mr.. Killpack II fail TO see what a wom-
ans age has to do with her qualifications
as a teacher. OF course, If a teacher be-
comes physically unable to perform her
duties, we don't want her in the schools, -
The question Of securing a permanent
place in which the meetings of the board
could be held and where the records, books
and papers pertaining to the schools could
be kept was discussed and finally referred
to the committee on ~Janitors and supplies.
Among the places suggested was the tower
room In the Washington avenue school
building in which the sessions of the board
were held several years ago.
Member Reed does not approve of boys
riding their bicycles to school and blocking
the halls OF the buildings with their ma
chimes. At his suggestion the principals
OF all the schools are to be instructed not
TO permit any bicycles inside buildings.
Complaint was made that young boys
residing in the neighborhood were in the
habit of climbing the fire escapes on the
high school building. Complaint was also
made that a number OF windows In the
building have been broken by youthful
marksmen armed with small caliber rifles.
The police are to be asked TO locate and
apprehend the youthful msrauders.
Miss Grace Holmes of Cherokee, Ia,
was elected as an assistant teacher in the
high school and her salary fixed at SO.
Miss Anna Van Druff was elected a
teacher in the Thirty-secohd street school
to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna-
ton OF Miss Mitchell. Her salary was
placed at $40.
Chairman Elliott OF the committee on
buildings and grounds was directed to
have the property at the corner Of Broad
way and Oak street recently secured as the
site for the new school In that portion Of
the city surveyed preliminary to having
plans drawn for the building.
Superintendent Beverage submitted the
following statistical report for the four
weeks OF school ending March 10:
Entire enrolment. boys. 1884: girls. 2.OO:
total, S.&4. Monthly enrolment. boys. ISL;
girls. 2.ess: total. 5.2AO. Average daily at
e4.U: number OF cases ~ hardness. l56:
number neither absent nor tardy, 2sR.