The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-27
Proposed Amendment to School
Charter.

the appended bill was approved, as
public schools Of the city Of Sum-
ter and was referred to the legislative
delegation from this county. The
proposed amendment is in keeping
with the trend Of modern legislation
relative to organized boards, espe-
cially boards Of trustees of educa-
tional institutions. At the conven-
tion of county superintendents Of ed
ucation recently held in Columbia. it
was suggested by them that the trus-
tees Of the county schools should be
elected for different terms Of SER
vice.
The citizens Of Sumter for the
past Is years have seen fit to reflect
the same members Of the city board
OF education; hence the practical eff
feet of the amendment would be
but an endorsement Of the peoples
sentiment thus expressed, while It's
passage would tend 20 harmonize the
mode Of election Of Sumter's board
Of education with the methods that
prevail at the present time. Should
1t seem advisable, this amendment
could be easily revoked at any SUBJ
sequent session of the legislature.
1t will be noticed that in the
amendment proposed the mayor will
be no longer an eX-OfIicio member Of
the school board. All of Sumter's
mayors have been highly acceptable
and have worked with the other
members Of the board Of education
with perfect harmony and efficiency.
1t is not essential. however, that a
mayor of city should be an ex-offi-
clio member Of board of education
and. since a change in the present
method Of Sumter's city government
is likely to be made, 1t seems best to
have all Of the five members of the
city board OF education elected, and
thus do away with ex-officio appoint
ments.
1t will be noticed also that the cleo
ton OF the hoard rests with the peo-
pie and even In case OF vacancy
occurring In the boards membership
the board appoints suitable person
TO serve as a member not for the un-
expired term. but only until the next
regular election.
The method Of election suggested
in the proposed amendment seems to
be the accepted mode of giving to
any executive board the two essential
qualities Of stability and integrity Of
purpose
The following Is the act proposed:
An Act to Amend an Act Entitled
An Act to Amend the Charter Of the
School District Of the City of Sumter
Approved Dec. 22d, A. d. 1898"
Section 7. Bc it enacted by the
Senate and House Of Representatives
of the State Of South Carolina, now
met and sitting in Gene, | Assembly,
and by the authority OF the same,
that Sec. Of an act entitled AN Act
to Amend the Charter of The School
District Of the City of Sumter" be
and, the same is, hereby repealed,
and that the following be inserted in
said act TO be known as:
Sec. :. Five school commits toner's
for tne School District Of the city of
Sumter shall be elected on the second
Tuesday i'm June, \. ID. 1912, between
the hours of o'clock a. IN. and 4
o'clock p. M. who shall constitute the
school board for said school district.
The said five school commissioners
shall hold their Offices for terms of
two, four six, eight and ten years, re-
spectively, said terms to ne deter
mined by lot. The vacancy occurring
every two years thereafter shall be
filed by an election to be held on the
second Tuesday Of June Of even years
between the hours hereinbefore pre-
scribed, and the term Of office shall
he ten years The said five school
commissioners shall be elected i'm the
same manner as Is now or may here
after he provided for the election Of
the mayor and aldermen of said city,
and it shall be the duty of the mayor
and aldermen Of said city to provide
for the election Of said commissioners,
and the registration of voters made
for municipal election Immediately
preceding shall be used for the cleo
ton of school commissioners. That
should the office Of school commits