The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-19
COMMISSION AND
EDUCATION BOARD
HOLD CONFERENCE
DeplOrable School COndi-
tiOns and Measures for
Relief Discussed
FINANCES OF CITY
MUST BE PROTECTED
Understood About 100000 Will Be
Authorized to Begin Relieving
Standardization Board
Gratified Over Result

a thoroughly satisfactory conference
was held yesterday morning bv members
OF the commission who are here and men,
bers of the board of education The de-
plorable condition of Birmingham schools
and measures to relieve that situation
We're discussed. After the meeting. which
was executive, at the request of DR.. J. II.
Phillips. superintendent of schools. it was
announced that the commission promised
to take the questions under considera ton.
IL Is believed that careful and scientific
study of the conditions and relief meas
| ures will be made
Commissioner James Weatherly, speak
ing for the commission, and Dr. John L.
Parker. president of the board of educa-
ton In behalf of that body, announced
| that to all parties concerned the confer
| ence was gratifying. 1t is gathered that
the school experts told the commission
that s1,500,o00 was the necessary amount
to relieve the pressure as to school con-
ditions locally. That such a sum would
not be used in day but would be scat
| tered over period of three years OF ply
sical necessity, were among the PROPOSE
tions pointed out to the officials by tho
school authorities. The conditions it was
said, were pictured in their true light Not
| one iota of criticism was neglected. The
result is said to have been that the COM
missioners learned something from the
talk that they were at least unfamiliar
with as to local conditions
Bond Issue Opposed
The two commissioners in the city were
at the outset opposed to the bond issue,
and it is taken they are still opposed to
such large amount. However. the con-
ference is said to have resulted In con-
vincing Judge Lane and Mr.. Weatherly
that some work must be done. About
100000 will be authorized to begin with.
it is understood.
Mr. Weatherly said after the conference;
I'VE went into the school situation here
very thoroughly. Nothing transpired in
the executive conference that would OBJ
ject TO being published as the matters
presented have been spoken OF from time
to time. The conference was very salts
factory and will cause the commission to
thoroughly investigate the situation in
our schools. No one is arrayed against
schools that T know of, but the finances
oc the city must be carefully protected.
The facts and figures submitted to the
commission will receive careful considers
alton
Board Gratified
For the board of education, President
John l.. Parker said: I'VE have every
reason to be gratifled over the conferences.
Ii developed that the commissioners were
ready and willing to discuss the needs of
our schools without preconceved opinions.
and | must say that We were very much
pleased with their attitude on the en-
tire question. They promised to take the
matters presented under advisement fol-
lowing an investigation. and it is believed
the schools conditions will be corrected.
1t is understood that a carefully COM
piled table of statistics were presented
to the commission showing the approxi-
mate cost of the proposed improvements
which indicate a conservative plan from
the board Of education. The situation as
II now stands Is said to be very much
more roseate than heretofore.