The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1911-02-24
THE SCHOOL SITUATION.


school year it seemed necessary to hire
an additional teacher. In Offering the
positions to applicants the school board
decided upon a graded rate of salaries
that could be advanced with proven
efficiency and continued service.
The grade teachers were to begin at
$40 per month, the principal at $S2 per
month, the former to be advanced $5
per month for satisfactory and contin-
nous service the second also third
year. The principal to be advanced
$40 per month for the second year and
IS additional per month for the third
year.
This would give an incentive for
teachers and principal to put forth
their best efforts and prevent the
break in the teaching service, so dis
asterous in school work. The present
principal wrote her desire for the po-
sition, but wished to discuss the mat
ter of salary with the board when she
came to Oroville.
The grade teachers accepted the
conditions offered.
On Miss Donald's arrival and meet
ing with the school board she objected
to the salary, stating that the former
principal hid received $lOOpe month.
but refusing to consider the fact that
his wife acted as assistant in his work,
thus making it necessary to employ a
fifth teacher.
The board finally advanced the prin-
cipal's salary to 800 per month. This
was refused by the present incumbent,
but by this time only about two weeks
remained and we could not find sat-
isfactory principal not already em-
ployed. Although Miss Donald had
not held the position of principal in
her former work, we believed she
would be successful, but the writer
recognized the too great disparity be-
tween the salary demanded for the
principalship and. that to be received
Finally Miss Donald was allowed $40
extra, to be paid January l, and $50
extra to be paid at the end OF the
school year, should she succeed in rails
ing the moral tone of the school to a
proper standard. Also, when the grade
teachers, all of whom had been hired
at $40 per month, began their work,
they demanded an increase to $75 per
month. This demand was recognized
by the board and allowed, the writer
voting, no.
Shartly after school began it was
closed for one week, in order that the
teachers could attend the county insti-
tute. During this time they received
their regular salaries, according to the
state law, for which it seems certain
apportionment can be collected from
the state. There was practically an
other week lost during the severe wind
and storm that swept the valley. Then
came the closing of the entire school
by order of the health officer, without
the knowledge of any member of the
school board, on account of the two
cases of contagious disease affecting
two children of the Cooper family.
Section II, chapter 5, article X. of
Washington school laws of 1909, says
that the superintendent of public in
struction may at his discretion allow a
district it's regular apportionment OF
funds for time lost when the school
board is obliged to close the schools by
, order of the health officer on account
of the prevalence of infectious disease.
The question is: Will the state sup
erintendent consider the two cases as
being sufficient to close the entire
school for week, when public show
was closed for only the first two nights
of that week: and will his discretion
in the matter consider the law has beer
followed so as to allow our apportion
ment!
The secretary of the Spokane schoo
board says "When case of conta
gious disease is found, it is sometimes
necessary to dismiss the ROOM until
same is fumigated.
Unber the circumstances and condi
tions above related, Mr.. Rash and the
the writer being unable to comply with
the law, because of having no know
ledge Of the matter, mot even beinl
notified during the entire weeks schoo
was closed), we decided to write th'
teachers salaries for the three week
actually taught, land so stated in the
warrants), until the third member o
the school board, Mr.. Sigrist, woult
return and meeting could be held.
The teachers rafused to accept tn,
warrants, and no doubt their feeling
justified their ''caustic insinuations'
against the writer, which found ven