The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-04-21
LOSS FOR EENOSHA SCHOOLS
His Election by the Manitowoc Board
Comes as a Big Surprise to Even the
Members of the School Board-Ac-
complished Much in Kenosha.

Inc D0ard or eQucaCl0n Oh inc Clty
of Manitowoc has struck the schools
of Kenosha a body blow as at a meet
ing Of the board of education of that
city on Saturday evening P. j. Zim-
mers who has been at the head Of the
schools Of Kenosha as city superin-
tendent for the past six years was
unanimously elected as superintendent
of the schools of Manitowoc. He has
accepted the position offered to him
and will 90 to Manitowoc as soon as
his contract with the Kenosha board
expires in June.
The decision of Superintendent Zim
mers to leave Kenosha came as a great
surprise to even the members of the
board of education as he had not ex-
pressed himself as being opposed to
reelection in Kenosha No word had
been heard of an opposition candidate.
In fact the election at Manitowoc
came as a surprise to Mr.. Zimmers.
ManitowOc is a city which does things
and a few weeks ago the board of ed
ucation of that city set about to elect
a superintendent of schools. There
was no log rolling in connection with
the election but the school heads of
all of the larger cities in Wisconsin
were invited to Manitowoc to give
their views to the board and in this
manner the board made it's selection.
Mr.. Zimmers was notified Of his selec-
tion on Sunday and by telephone in
formed the members of the board that
he would accept the position. While
Kenosha will feel deeply the loss of
Superintendent Zimmers his friends
are giving him hearty congratulations
as the position to which he has been
elected is regarded as the best school
position in the state of Wisconsin out
side Of Milwaukee. 1t offers him a
place at the head of a school system
second to none in Wisconsin and brings
with this large increase in salary
over what he received in Kenosha. 1t
is probably that the board of educa-
ton will be notified of the determine
ton of Superintendent zimmers to
leave Kenosha at the meeting on Tues
day evening and immediate steps will
be taken to secure a new man. There
will be an abundance of candidates
as the Kenosha schools are regarded
among the best of the state and the
position of superintendent will be one
eagerly sought.
In the six years that Mr.. Zimmers
has been at the head of the Kenosha
schools he has done a great work for
the children Of the city. He came to
Kenosha practically unknown and
and found the schools practically dis
organized. He has a genius for or
ganization and this feature of his work
found a chance for display in Kenosha.
He brought the scattered ends of the
school system together and in few
years built up one of the best school
systems in the state. He found forty
eight teachers when he came to Keno
sha and now that he is leaving the
number has been advanced to seventy
eight. -Four new schools have been
built during the regime of Superinten-
dent Zimmers. In addition to this
new departments have been added to
the schools. This has been largely
due to the work of the superintendent.
He first suggested the manual training
department to the late Thomas B. JEFF
ferry and aroused his interest in the
proposed plan. He was active in the
establishing of the new commercial
course in the high school and is now
actively working for the establishment
of domestic economy for the girls of
the city. is probable that arrange
ments will be made for this course be-
fore he leaves Kenosha. He has done
much to promote a better feeling
among the teachers and the students,
boosting all features of school work.
Mr.. zimmers has been pre-eminently
a school man, but he has taken deep
interest in all movements for the ad-
vancement of Kenosha. He is now a
member of the local committee in
charge of the fight against consump-
tion and has been one of the most ac-
tive members of the committee.
When seen this morning Mr.. Zim-
mers said: 81 regret to leave Keno
sha, but feel that the place at Mani
towoc opens very wide field of labor
and the chance for advancement in my
profession. I have taken great in
terest in the schools of Kenosha and
have appreciated deeply the many
tavors shown to me by the people of
Kenosha. I shall carry with me the
best wishes for the future of the Ke-
nosha schools.