The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-15
Teachers Are Elected and Dr. Phillips Report Is
 Received
TO USE PAUL HAYNE
 AS A HIGH SCHOOL
Rooms Vacated by Vocational School 4 Will Be Provided For First Semester Pupils-To Com
 plete Ensley School

The Board of Education held a spe- cial meeting last night at the High school at which the many problems that confronted the board were. taken up and remedied. The board of city com missioners were present by invitation and the following members of the Board of Education were present: John L. Parker, president; Ben M. Jacobs and Dr. E. P. Hogan.
 The two boards discussed various matters concerning the maintenance of the schools together with the items of Improvements needed.
 pr Parker. president of the Board of Education, submitted an outlined statement of the programme agreed upon at the previous meeting of the board The principal changes by which expenses were reduced $S5,000 arc the abolishment of the vocational school held at the Paul Hayne school building; reducing the number'of em- ployes, and eliminating the weekly teachers institute and the week of the holiday at Christmas time from the salaries of the teachers. He stated that tic board would help the commission in the effort to curtai expenses and that for this reason that these changes had dabeen made.
 Following Dr. Parker, pr. Phillips submitted his report as superintendent, whicu is as follows;
 Funds Wisely Expended
 To the Board of Education:
 GentIemen-I beg to submit for your consideration brief report with. re- gard to the present condition and the immediate needs of the public schools of the city, under your charge I need not here dwell upon the future needs of the schools: or Immediate needs and limitations are enough to engage our attention. I heartily concur in the ef- forts made by your body to cooperate with our Board of Commissioners in their laudable effort to reduce the ex- penditures of the city to the level of its normally receivable revenues. To do this without crippling the work of the schools is the serious problem con- fronting us at this time The educa- < tional. funds entrusted to your keepin g Fave been: wisely expended there has been pefs waste of emery or needless ex- y penditttre yof. funds in buildings or equip rientssa{sunxidering the cost of living and the ucilaracter of the men Ind wom : CIV. eiasp4py<d in the schools of the city ftLe salaries paid cannot be considered nlorelfkhep adeauate, and in no instance can aSs14i4ry be regarded as eXorbitant or cxnnsatve, if the character of the ser AZ I~<4<l 111 rrl, prilcinal m and teachers employed are requifSffh devote their entire time and Attention 10 the promotion of their work sfn.. the schools. To compel our teac s5sil ilkNpf fengage in outside work in orderF to Supplement meager salaries wos, 'Iid prove. to be very poor economy. The work of the past year has been in many. respects trying and difficult. As 1t was the first full year in the history of the Greater Birmingham" there were many problems to be solved and many re- adjustments to be made. In the unifica- ton of the people of the district, and in the reconciliation of diverse interests, it is safe to say that the school system of the city has proven to be a most efficient factor.
 High School Problem
 
 that : immediate attention. The first al host urgent is the demand for the rel I of the present congested condi- ton of the Central High school. With an enrolment of 400 students in building designed for 800, it is not difficult to / imagine the trying conditions of the past year A class of S5 withdraws by gradu- ation, and a new class of S25 pupils from the elementary schools is entitled to enter in September.
 I recommend that the rooms of the Paul Hayne building, vacated by the vo- cational school. be fitted properly for the use of the first semester pupils of the High school in September. This relief will prevent further congestion and will en- able the teachers of the school to work with greater efficiency. At the beginning of the second semester in February. the nrst semester class may enter the Central High school while another entering class of more than 300 will. occupy the High school rooms in the Paul Hayne building. I recommend the completion of the Ems ley High school. If arrangements cannot he made at this time to complete the Ems ley High school, additional class rooms should be made available, and basement rooms should be put in order for use in manual training and domestic science.
 Other Recommendations
 The J. B. Cunningham school at Es Birmingham has been completed, but ,e- fore 1t can be used the school var must be graded and the adjacent streets must be made passabe This building also re- auires adequate furniture, and I reeom- mend that this furniture be ordered at once, so that there may be no delay in the opening of the school in September
 The new white school at Pratt City is without proper sanitation, as is also the scroo1 at Fairview. Prompt action will be required to place these schools in proper condition for the opening of the fall term. s
 The new negro school at Pratt is com No new furniture will be required for this school, as the furniture in the old buildings may be repaired so that 1t will serve the needs of the school The grad ing of the school yard, however, is abso- 1utely necessary.
 Repairs are needed in many of the Buildings during the summer months. The Barrett school at East Lake, one of the largest in the city, requires immediate attention The chief of the fire depart ment, after an inspection of the. building has ordered immediate changes in the exit doors and has directed that the sys- tenn of heating and ventilation be changed before the reopening of the school.
 The opening of the Cunningham school at East Birmingham releases from use the Kingston school building-a four-room Building erected by the board upon a 0Ak