Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-02-18
COUNTY BOARD EDUCATION
ONE MUST BE CHOSEN AT THE
SPRING ELECTION
VIII Consist of Five Members Who
Are Given Far-Re&c-.ing Powers
in School Matters

An important law known as Chapter
No 75l, passed at the 1913 session of
the legislature, which we believe is not
generally known of by the public, but
which is of great Importance t. all, is
that which provides for a county board
of education for each county, the mem
bers of which are to be elected at the
coming spring election. Its powers are
many and far reaching. Brisfiy it pro-
vides that at the first meeting of such
county board of education following its
election, the members thereof shall cast
lots to see which one shall serve for a
term of one year; which one for two
years; which one for three years; which
one for four years; which one for five
years
The candidates for election as men,
bers of this board shall be nominssed
as provided in section 80 of the statutes,
which is the same method employed in
the nomination of candidates fer other
county offices. The district for which
such board is elected comprises the
entire county, including all towns, vii
lagos, and cities therein, and every per-
son residing within the county who is
qualified to vote at elections pertaining
TO school matters shall be qualified as
electors for members of the the county
board of education. This means that
women can vote.
The board shall meet at the county
seat on the first Tuesday of May and
organize by electing one its members
president, and the clerk for the county
superintendent shall be, ex ofiicio, Sec
Rotary of the board. All meetings shall
be held at the county seat except by
unanimous consent of all members of
the board meetings may be held else
where. All members of the board shall
be allowed and paid the same per diem
and mileage as that paid to members
of the county board of supervisors, but
no member shall receive compensation
| for his services for more than Is days
in each year.
AS to the powers OF this county board
of education, il may appoint at least
one assistant county superintendent,
who shall be subject to removal by the
board; il may appoint clerk for the
county superintendent, fix his salary,
define his powers and duties, and have
the authority TO remove him for cause.
The board shall be vested exclusively
with all the power and authority now
exercised by town boards, village boards
of trustees and city councils in the form
alton and organization of school districts
and in the consolidation and alteration
of them. IL shall have discretionary
power to authorize parents or guardians
| living nearer to a school in an adjoin-
ing district to send their children to
the nearer. Ii may appoint board of
examiners, not TO exceed five persons.
for the common school diplomas, pre-
scribe its duties, fix It's compensation,
etc. Ii shall devote not less than two
days nor more than five days each year
to visiting and inspecting rural schools.
| 1t shall make an annual report to the
state superintendent Of schools each
year.
The board will have the power to fix
| the salary Of the county superintendent
of schools, audit and allow his bills for
travelling expenses, postage, printing,
Office supplies, etc, and have power to
| limit annually or semi-annually the
amount that shall be expended for such
purposes, and finally shall report 10 the
count board in November the amount
of money which will be necessary for
carrying out the provisions of the law
under which the county board of edu-
cation is created.
"Another fifth wheel to a wagon"
| did you say after reading the above ex.
| traordinarv innovation In our education
al system? Doubtless the movers in
this matter had in mind future benefits,
but at this moment it seems cumber-
some, inefficient and expensive The
county superintendent of schools is
elected by the people, but his powers
appear to be curtailed if not nulhtied by
this rev scheme, and notwithstaDd-
ing this, there may be appointed for
him an assistant superintendent ard an
additional clerk. The board of educa-
ton must properly do much in five days.
has many important supervisory pow
ers, perform the duties now incumbent
on town and village boards respecting
some matters, appoint salaried persons
| to conduct examinations. In fact about
| thirteen people may be employed to per-
form practically the same functions
now devolving on the superintendent.
J And who is there that believes these su-
pernumeraries will have the interest and
power to do as well as one man of ex-
perience who has his heart in the work
and is trained, practical educator? Is
| il reasonable to believe that five per-
sons possessing the right qualifications
| will long encumber themselves with
| PRACTICAL the entire educational sys-
.em of lsrge county like Vernon for
mere honor and special interest they
may have in a good cause.
From start to finish, this new enact
ment would seem unwarranted and I'M
necessary, but is apparently another link
in the chain of financial burdens that
will eventually bind US hand and foot
with tax exactions so heavy that the
people will rise in righteous Indignation
and swat the incubus as they would
bothersome fly 10 summer season.
IL there are those who seek positions
on this new educational board, they
should get move on them. The time
is none too loDg to secure and file nomi-
nation papers. At the time of the
county board session two gentlemen said
to the CENSOR they would be willing to
serve. They are DIR. j. K. Schreiner
of Westby, and Chairman w. p. Nor
gan of Sterling. Five persons of their
standing and qualifications would afford
some assurance that intelligent, honest
effort world be made to administer
law that must prove unwise, unneces-
sary and expensive.