Evening journal., 1915-01-22
COUNCIL Hears Of
new School BOARD
w. H. S. Alumni Presents
Proposed Bill Which Goes
to Committee
PROPOSED LAW
ALREADY DRAWN

Alumni Association Of the Wilmington
High School.
The communication, which is signed
by II. c. Mahahy, president of the asso-
citation, was referred to the committee
Of the whole.
The association, according to Mr.. Ma
haify's letter, wishes to substitute
board of seven members elected from
at large for the thirteen chosen now
from wards, and to provide proper
system of bookkeeping.
The letter follows;
january 81 1915.
"To the President and Members of the
City Council OF the City Of Whining
ton.
Gentlemen: After a careful investi-
CATION and study of the number and
method OF electing boards of education,
and of the opinions of educational men
who have made exhaustive investigations
Of this subject, the Alumni Association Of
the Wilmington High School are thor
oughly convinced that a small body OF
men elected at large is the only system
for constituting the Board of Public
Education in Wilmington
with this conviction the Alumni
Association has had prepared a bill to
change the present method of elect
ing a board of thirteen members, one
from each of the twelve wards. and
the president of that body at large,
and providing for the election of seven
men at large without regard to ward
boundaries or political divisions This
bill will be presented to the present
session of the General Assembly, a
copy of which bill we most respect
fully herewith submit to you for your
consideration.
"Inasmuch as the Revised Code
lately adopted for this State provides
! that if any ward in an existing sec
I ton be changed the whole section
must be rewritten, the copy handed
you herewith is of some length. How
ever, only one section Of the existing
act has been rewritten, and an ad-
| dition made to one section. These are
sections and 10 FIRST mentioned)
| respectively In them are embodied
/ all changes made in the existing act
other than the minor corrections
/ found necessary to make the other
sections to conform with Section 3.
"The changes proposed and pro-
vided for are three:
"Q) That the Board Of Public
Education in Wilmington shall be
composed of seven members instead
of thirteen.
"(2) That the members of the said
board shall be elected at large end not
by wards; (Sec. 81.
"(3) That a proper system OF
bookkeeping shall be adopted, and
Z nd
" itemized, shall be kept (Sec. y.
I'VE sincerely trust that the pro-
posed bill will receive your most
thoughtful consideration, and if meet
ing with your approval, your endorse
ment.
Changes contemplated in the pre-
pared fill follow:
Section ,. That section 3 of the
said act be and the same is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Section 3. On and after June 30
1915, the Board of Public Education in
Wilmington shall be composed Of sew
en- members, to be elected at large in
the city of Wilmington. without ref
erence to ward boundaries or political
divisions. At the school election fol
members of the Board of Public Edu-
cation in Wilmington. to be held on
the second Saturday In June, 1915, tho
seven members to compose the said
Board of Public Education shall be
elected from the residents of the city
Of Wilmington. and their terms of of.
flee shall begin on June 80. 1915.
Upon the organization of the Board
Of Public Education in Wilmington
elected under and in accordance will
the provisions of this act, the terms
. of Office of the members of the pres
ent board shall Immediately termi-
nate. At the above-named election
tho seven candidates individuals
leading in the number of votes re.
ceived shall be declared elected. and
shall constitute the "The Board oi
Public Education in Wilmington" The
three candidates individually leadinp
in the number of votes received shall
hold Office for the term Of four wears
and the four candidates individually
leading in the number of votes re-
ceived, other than the three candi.
dates aforesaid, shall hold office foI
the term of two years. At an elec-
tion to be held bi-ennially on the
second Saturday in June, In the city
OF Wilmington, next preceding the
expiration of the terms of office of any
of the said members Of the Board OF
Public Education in Wilmington. their
successors shall be elected; the thre,
candidates individually leading in the
number of votes received shall be
elected for the term of four years
and the candidate individually lead
ing in the number of votes received
other than for the three candidates
aforesaid. shall be elected for tn,
term of two years.
Should any two or more candidate.
receive an equal number of votes. tn.
board Of canvassers, as provided FOL
in this act, shall decide by lot the can,
didate, or candidates. to be declared
elected. Removal of any member o
said board from the corporal limit,
OF the city of Wilmington shall Great,
a vacancy in the his office. In case Z
vacancy shall occur in the Public Edu
cation in Wilmington for any cause
the remaining members of said boart
shall fill such vacancy by the ap
pointment of the candidate individu
ally leading in the number of votei
received for candidates other thar
those elected at the last school elec.
ton. The member so appointed shall
hold office until June 3. following the
next succeeding school election. and
the member of said board elected fol
the term of two years shall continue
IN officc for the unexpired term of fhf