South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-02-15
HEAD OF SCHOOLS
WILL LOSE PLACE
School Board al Special Meet
ing Refuses to Renew
Montgomery Contract.
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thought by the committee OF bust
ness men and. in fact. everybody IN
terested in the matter that every
thing had been settled and that Mr..
Montgomery would be given a new
contract. 1t is thought that the
proposition was quoted in order TO
allow Mr.. Montgomery opponents
on the board 10 carry out their plan
without interference.
When il was first learned that
the board was considering the GUST
irg Of the superintendent, prominent
business men became interested.
Charges that had been preferred
against Mr.. Montgomery were in
vestigated by these men and every
one or them was proved groundiess.
A petition signed by all but four Of
the principals OF the schools was
gotten out, but was never presented
TO the board, because IL was thought
everything had been settled.
Special meetings OF these business
men were held 10 consider every
phase Of the school question. On
Saturday. Feb. 8. while the teach
ers' institute was being held, this
committee conferred with every
principal and got his or her views
on Mr.. Montgomery.
The majority Of the principals ia
vOred Mr. Montgomery as superin-
tendent. They expressed their be-
Hefs that he was efficient in every
way, had brought the schools Of the
city up 10 a high standard and said
that he should be reappointed. The
few who were against him had va
rious reasons for not favoring his
reappOintment and 10 the business
men. the causes seemed petty.
These meetings OF the business
men were held 70 get data 10 bring
before the school board at its reg
ular meeting that was scheduled
for Tuesday night. Feb. s. on Mon
day. Feb. Z. it was intimated that
everything had been settled. The
business men called off their meet
ing with the school board and the
matter was not brought up at the
regular meeting.
Matter Not Closed.
According to Mr. Glenn, neither
he nor Mr.. Rupel had ever consid-
cred the matter closed. He did not
seem to understand what was meant
when asked il he and his fellow
member had not intimated that they
would favor Mr.. Montgomery's APP
pointment at the time when the
question was up before the public.
Mr.. Glen said Tuesday morning
that a proposition which provided
for the appointment Of ]. F. Nuner.
principal of the Mishawaka high
school. IL Mr.. Montgomery were re-
tanned as superintendent had been
made. He said that il was this
proposition that postponed the
boards action for few days. but
that It had never been brought up
at a meeting of the board.
It was the opinion of a number
OF people Tuesday morning that Mr.
elem and Mr. Rupel were backing
Mr.. Nuner as superintendent. At
the meeting Monday night nothing
was said as TO Mr.. Montgomery
successor. It is believed that per-
sons favOrinC Mr.. Montgomery knew
OF the desires of Glenn and Rupel m
regard TO Mr.. Nuner and that the
principalship was offered as a
compromises
Praise For Montgomery.
That Mr.. Montgomery is not only
wanted as superintendent by the
people Of South Bend, but is consid-
cred as one OF the leading educa-
tors in the state by Indiana author
tiles is shown by the fact that w. F..
Book. state superintendent Of voca-
tional training. wrote letters 10 all
OF the members OF the school board
telling his views OF Mr.. MOntgOm-
cry. In all OF the letters DR.. Book
expressed regret that the board was
even considering letting Mr.. Mont
comery 90. Or. Book pointed out
in the letters that he was able to
Judge the merits OF an educator be-
cause OF his travels over the state
He said that II Mr. Montgomery left
South Bend. il would be a blow TO
tho school system