The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-08

| Der of small gehOoi-houoeG In WASHING
ton N compared win others Throughout
the leading cities, but mneh Of the ex-
cessiye cost Of the Washington schools
ls due to the poor business methods OF
the Board of Education, which needs q
thorough revfsiOn from top to bottom.
That In the ONCE OF the Board Of Edu-
cation no exact records exist showing the
cost OF supplies. books, fuel, &C, per
pupil or per school in such q way as to
permit comparison OF costs or intelligent
management Of the business side Of the
school work
That in conducting the business Of the
Board of Education calling for the ex-
penditure Of over 100000 annually much
is done In 4 purely perfunctory way.
The alleged safeguards that exist have
been coincident with great waste of fuel;
with the injury of valuable heating ap-
paratus by incompetent handling; with
the general absence of definite standards
OF business operation. together with the
presence Of an amazing and useless
amount OF red tape.
That 1t would be economy to employ
more competent school house janitors and
pay them more. The Board OF Education
has repeatedly asked appropriations for
this in the past but unsuccessfully. The
present method is that of doing q poor
best with money provided.
CritIcIses Business once.
GThat the manarement Of the busI-
ness once of the Board of Edueation
has been incom petent- The president of
the board generously contributed his
time, amid mnBy cares, but cannot
be expected, under the present system,
to give detailed supervision. Nor L. II
normal to expect that for n salary to
the secretary of $1,000, an onlcer can
D.
cIentIy the large expenditure and the
complex infringement OF great .
business. The InefIicIency of the husI-
ness side of the Board of EducatIon II
an example of penny wise and pound
fOoIishness1
That while Congress has heretofore
provided mechanics for other depart
ments of the District government who
are advantageously employed in repair
ing and using old material, the Board OF
Education has asked that Congress pro-
vide for a cabinetmaker. but this has
been refused. Such a cabinetmaker
should be provided. He can be perma-
nently employed to advantage in repair
ing and reftting the large amount of
discarded and secondhand furniture
taken from time to time from the
schools.
That friction has existed between the
office Of the Municipal Architect and the
Board Of Education. arising in part from
divided responsibility in connection with
the purchasing. installing, use. and care
OF apparatus for heating and ventilating
school buildings. and that this friction.
which is expensive to the District, would |
be largely. If not wholly, removed by the !
adoption Of better business methods by
the Board of Education and the pro-
vision of competent force of janitors.
Some Recon-
The report in part. recommends:
That the purchasing officer shall only /
be overruled by the formal action Of the
Board OF Commissioners
That receiving alternative bids under
a published specification without the
knowledge Of all bidders hereunder be
prohibited
That the acceptance Of bids other
than the lowest shall be permitted only
by formal action OF the Board Of Com
missioners.
That a fireprOof warehouse be pro-
vided for the District. so located that
goods can be received directly from cars l|
for the systematic storing and II
care Of the materials purchased by the
District and with efficient means for .
their distribution. in charge OF a COM II
petent superintendent or stOrekeeper, II
whose salary should be at least 500
That the present post of secretary OF
the Board OF Education be changed to
that Of business manager for the school
system. whose duty It should be to su-
pervise the purchase. distribution. and
use OF books. teachers and janitors' sup
plies. fuel. and all other articles pur-
chased for the Board of Education. and
to keep accurate records OF same and TO
a system of cost under which
the cost Of operating each school may he
clearly determined. said business manager
t. cooperate with the purchasing off,
GER and the auditor OF the District of Co.
lumbia and TO be under the general su-
pervisiOn of the superintendent OF schools.
His salary should not be less than S3.OoO.
That Congress provide such appropria-
ton as will permit paying for an efficient
force Of janitors."