The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-07-28
COAL MEN FAIL TO SEND BIDS
Board is Forced to Ask for out-of-
Town Contracts for Coal for Use in
the Various Buildings Changes in
Text Books.

One of the old traditions of the
schools of the city was shattered at the
adjourned meeting Of the Board of Ed
ucation on Tuesday night when the
board decided to do away with the old
plan of employing the superintendent of
the schools for term of one year and
is was decided to offer Mrs. Mary D.
Bradford recently named as head of the
schools Of the city a three year con
tract
The question of the salary to be paid
during the term of Office is left for
school boards of the future to settle but
Mrs. Bradford is to be given to under
stand that her election is for three
year term if she cares to sign such a
contract. This change was urged in
order to make it possible for the new
superintendent to carry out plans she
has made for the improvement of the
schools and the members of the board
felt that it would be impossible for her
to carry out these plans with a one year
contract. Mrs. Bradford, however, had
not asked for longer contract and it
is not known whether or not she viii
be willing to sign a three years agree
ment. The plan will be laid before Mrs.
Bradford as soon as she returns to the
city and if she is willing she will be
formally engaged as superintendent for
the term of three years.
The board met last night for the pdr-
pose of opening bids for the coal to be
used during the year at the various
schools but only one bid was presented.
Notice of the opening of bids had been
sent to every coal dealer in Kenosha
but it seems that the local dealers did
not care to bid for the contract
Commissioner William J. Craney
seemed to think that there had been a
get together meeting among the coal
men and that the one bid presented by
the North Shore Fuel and Supply Com
pany was the result Of this meeting
and for this reason the board declined
to open the single bid and coal com
panies in Chicago and other cities will
be asked to bid on the contracts. In
other years the board has saved con-
siderable money by buying fuel direct
from the mines and it is possible that
this plan will be followed this year.
The new bids are to be opened at an
adjourned meeting to be held on next
Tuesday evening and in the meantime
the advertisement for bids viii be sent
broadcast.
The board decided to appropriate
$500 for the equipment Of new manual
training departments at the Balm and
the Columbus schools and the equipment
will be purchased by Prof Karnes.
It was also decided to increase the
equipment of the science department of
the high school by purchasing consid-
cradle apparatus for the laboratory. This
matter as well as the matter Of pur-
chasing the general supplies for the
schools for the year was referred to the
committee on supplies with power to
act.
Several changes in text books will be
made with the opening of the new
school year. The Summers readers will
be put in for the use of the children in
the first, second and third grades. Three
new books of the Gulick Hygienic series
viii be purchased for use Of the chill
dren in the fourth, fifth and sixth
grades. These viii be the property Of
the board and viii be sent to the diff
ferent buildings. Slight changes were
made in text books to be used in the
high school all Of the changes being at
the suggestion Of the superintendent
and Principal Thompson.
After the usual routine business the
board adjourned to meet on next Tues
day evening at which time it is expect
ed that the contracts for the coal will
be let.