The Paducah evening sun., 1910-01-26
PROPOSED SCHOOL
LAW FOR CITIES
OF SECOND GLASS
Being Urged For Passage Up.
on State Legislature at
This Session.
Five Members and a Bust.
ness Manager.
HOW CONTRACTS TO BE LET.

"A new bill Is being urged upon the
legislature for passage that seeks to
make great changes in the law rela-
tive to school boards in cities OF the
Second class in Kentucky. The bill
was prepared at the instance of the
state educational commission.
Under the provisions of the bin the
school affairs Of the city are COM
mitted entirely into the hands OF a
board of trustees, consisting OF five
men. These men are nominated by
petition and elected on a ballot that
contains no party mark or emblem
of any kind. They are nominated
and elected at large, without refer
ence to wards. Their term of Office
IS four years, and they serve without
pecuniary compensation.
Appointed by them and acting
under them Is their secretary and
business director. He not only per-
forms the usual duties of a secretary
to the board. but acts also as their
executive officer; he carries out all
their orders. Aud he Is author to
make any contract or expenditures
not exceeding $50 upon his own ind
tiative, without direction from the
hoard. He is paid a yearly salary
(nOt to exceed $4,000. .000). and
serves for a term Of one year; but II
at the end OF any year he is ap-
pointed to succeed himself. he then
serves for a term of four years.
Advertise for Bids.
The board is required each year to
advertise for bids from the banks and
trust companies of the city for the
privilege of handling the school
funds; and the institution Offering
the best terms must be appointed the
boards treasurer for the year.
Any contract let by the board for
supplies and equipments which will
involve an outlay of more than $50
must be advertised and let TO the
best bidder.
Employees of the board, especially
teachers in the schools, must be Sc
lected upon grounds only of merit
and fitness. And provision is made
that none of these persons holding a
contract of employment for a whole
school year shall be summarily dis
charged by the new board imme-
diately upon its coming into Office at
the first of january; but that all such
persons shall be retained at least till
the end of the then existing school
year.
The board shall annually publish a
full report of its accomplishments
during the year past; this report shall
include reports Of the secretary and
business director, the treasurer. the
OF schools, and of
other employees.
At the end OF the year the mayor
of the city shall designate an expert
accountant to examine the books of
the board and make a report as TO
their correctness.
Given Eminent Domain.
The board Is given the power OF
eminent domain, 1. e., the right to
condemn land when necessary for
school purposes, and take IL upon
payment of a reasonable price for II.
Provision is also made that amy
property escheating in the city shall
escheat to the board.
The bill is very long, and pre-
scribes the powers and duties of the
board of trustees in minute detail.
But the provisions noted above are
the main points of difference from
the present law; and 1t Is apparent
that they are Improvements.
The election OF Just FIVE trustees
from the whole city, instead of two
from each ward. as under the present
law, not only eliminates the illogical
and undesirable feature OF ward poll
tics in school matters. but also has
the effect Of concentrating the school
management IN a smaller board.
which can act more quickly and more
effectively. And 1t is easier to get
five good men to serve on a non
remuuerative board than II is to get
twelve, as is now attempted in a city
of six wards.
The nomination Of these men by
petition ami their election on a non
partisan ballot-a ballot that con-
tains no party mark or designation
whatever--is a step in advance, and
tends to make ii easier TO elect FIVE
good and capable trustees, irrespec-
tive of their party afiliations.