The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-03-08
DICKINSON SCHOOL ROW
Busy Gossips Spread Wild Rumors--
Dickinson Press Explains Facts
Of the MuddIe.

Dickinson Press: There have been
some very busy persons around the
city the past week, circulating stories
about the conduct Of the Dickinson
school board, the big point made be-
ing the fact that the board was pay
ing 500 per month toward rent of
rooms in the parochiaI school in south
Dickinson since last September, max
ing total Of $500 paid in this way up
to the first of March. The affair had
been enlarged upon until some had 1t
that the board had paid out $1,000 in
this way, coVeringra period of several
years past, etc. Some people limited
that the board had paid this money
out for political effects, others thought
II was for the purpose OF carrying the
last bond issue and what all would be
difficult to mention.
The part that is true is the paying
Of 800 per month, as stated above but
only for the six months past.
The board was cramped for room
and the trustees Of the aforesaid
parochial school agreed to carry the
English in the first four grades, sub
ject at all times to inspection of
Superintendent Berg and Superintend-
ent RAIDER on the condition that said
monthly sum was allowed for rental
There were over 200 pupils in the
school, 1t seemed like a good business
proposition to the board, morally right
1T not technically so. However, when
the new high school building was com
pleted and the board found that some
people were dissatisfied with the trans
action, they voted to cease paying the
rental on March / and so notified the
school trustees. The trustees did not
take kindly to this and Immediately
notified the Dickinson school board
that on March the parochial school
would be closed and that the board
must be ready to take care of 249 ad-
ditional pupils. Accordingly on Wed
nesday morning the 249 pupils march
ed in a body to the south side public
school for admittance. OF course the
board could not take care of such a
multitude Of children on so short
notice. Messrs. Richards and ohm
son looked over the situation care
fully and concluded that they could
not do better than to let the old ar
rangement continue for another month
and sent the children back. So much
for this part OF the tangle.E az.
In connection with the many stories
dying around 1t Is said that the clerk
Of the board is guilty of getting too
much salary. For the school year end
ing June 80, 1909, he received 800;
the year before $40; and for the year
1907, $50. This salary included post
age. For the current year the board
has not paid the clerk a cent or made
any promise OF what the salary should
be. If there had been anything seri-
ously wrong in the salary paid the
clerk IT is certain that the county
superintendent would not have accept
ed the said clerks annual report
which shows each year just what sal
airy is paid. The report further shows
the treasurer has had $25 salary and
the directors IS each.
No money is ever paid out by the
clerk. All moneys are paid by war
rant. drawn up by the clerk and sign
ed by the chairman of the board.
The present members Of the Dickin-
son school board are John F. Davis,
w. L. Richards and r: H. Johnson.
So far as The Press knows these
gentlemen have not been suspected
of living. beyond their income. The
treasurer is Geo. A. Senour. AS the
clerk happens to be the publisher of.
The Press we WIN refrain from say
ing anything about him.
The Dickinson schools employ
twenty teachers in the city, two jani-
tors and there are six schools in the
country, five of which are in session.
Each year, in July, the board always
checks the stubs of the book from