Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-05-12
MISS WELLMAN CHOSEN
Named by School Board for Super
intendent Coming Year
e. B. Smith Again Chosen Principal
Superintendent Charge of Schools
Restricted to Grades.

In special meeting of the prudential
committee of the incorporated school dis
trict Saturday evening" Miss Florence NJ
Wellman was appointed under the state
law superintendent for the year begin
ming July !, 1916, her duties being re-
stricted as heretofore to the grades be-
low the high school. Her salary is fixed
at $500, the minimum amount required
by law, of which sum $3.50 will be re-
imbursed to the district by the state
The board had before it a request from
Principal Edgar b. Smith that the school
system be recognized in such a way that
he be appointed superintendent of schools
and principal of the high school and that
Miss Wellman be supervisor of grades
In statement filed with the formal re-
quest the advantages of such reorganza-
ton as they appeared to Mr. Smith, were
fully explained.
These reasons, briefly stated, were that
such a reorganization would provide for
one executive officer, would unity and
centralize the duties of administration
would give the principal an opportunity
and the authority to study the problem
and effect the changes necessary to reor-
ganize the present eth, Sth and 9th grades
with the first two years of a siX-year high
school. 1t was also suggested that such
reorganization would bring back to the dis
trict more money from the state than the
present arrangement.
1t was brought out, however, that tho
attitude of the state board of education did
not conform to a plan of that kind, under
the law.
Mr.. Smith was reelected principal of the
high school. so the work of both Mr.
Smith and Miss Wcllman will be substan-
italy as it has been heretofore
1t was decided also that the pre- Memo
rial day exercises in the schools be held
Friday, May 26, and that the schools be
closed until Wednesday, May 81. The
schools will he in session Saturday, june >
Miss Wellman graduated from the Brat
tleboro high school in 1891; was a post
graduate during the year following, and
then studied for n year in Smith college
In 1902 she completed the full two-ycal
course in the Westfeld, Mass, norma
school, taking special training while there
for work in the I'd, 9Th and Sth grades
Since graduation Miss Wclman has beer
actively identified with the graded schools
of the incorporated district of this town
For one year she taught the 4th grade in
the Canal street school. This was followed
by three years of service in the 9TH grade
of the Main street school, and this in turn
by period of two years as teacher of the
eth grade in the Canal street school, com
bined with the principalship of the build
ing. During the latter part of this en-
gagement she taught gymnastics a part OF
each week in all the grades.
Upon the resignation of Miss Margaret
Tucker in 1908 as supervisor of grades
Miss Wellman was appointed in her stead
and for seven years performed the duties
of the position with marked success, win
ming a place for herself in the hearts o.
the children, as well as in the estimation
of parents and teachers. The past year she
has served the district as superintendent
under the appointment of the commission
ers of education, her jurisdiction being en-
larged by the addition of the schools il
Centerville and West Brattleboro.