The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-13
Churches, Colleges, Lodge Rooms and Other Places Are Placed at the Dis
 p0sal of the Board
HIGH SCHOOL STUDIES
 WILL BE RESUMED IN TEMPORARY QUARTERS
Details of Reopening of Schools Being Discussed by Authorities and
 Plans Being Made

The resumption of class work at Cen tral High school will be accomplish ed in week or ten days, if plans of the board of education materialize, all though it as yet problematical where the pupils will be housed or Just how acute conditions surrounding the reconvening of the pupils for scholastic work will be met for the first few weeks
 At a meeting of the board yesterday afternoon in the office of President N A. Barrett of the city commission, gen eral feeling of depression that permeat- ed the room when the meeting was first called to order by Dr. Barrett was soon dispelled when J. B. Gibson, Woodlawn member of the board, in an optimistic talk advocated the erection of Central High school in Birmingham that would have treble the capacity of the one now in ruins. and that the equipment and furnishings should be modern as modern ideas and enterprising manufac- turers could make them.
 There were several suggestions heard by the board from Dr. J. H. Philips, the SuPCl illtCDuStt O1 tnS Ilty SShceA1s t-A to how when and where the Central High school could be again thrown open to it's patrons.
 T have no definite idea, no plan. no
 tangible matter that I can lay before
 the board, but 1 submit the offers Of
 Howard college, Birmingham college.
 halls of local piano concerns, churches,
 and the Birmingham Medical col
 leges old building; but I wish to
 state that there is not a building in
 the city that is adequate to take care
 of the pupils of the Central High
 school It might be possible to work
 two shifts of teachers at Ensley High
 school, beginning school at 1:3o or
 o'clock in the morning and running
 until l o'clock, then take on the sec
 ond shift at 1:30 and continuing un-
 til 5:30 or o'clock. This would be
 feasible in only one way; we have
 equipment to a certain degree at Ems
 ley High that could be utilized,
 whereas at the primary and grammar
 schools we are minus this apparatus
 and equipment
 MEDICAL COLLEGE OFFERED
 Dr. Hogan spoke of the Medical college building, and explained what was avail able in the way of quarters there, and immediately this idea was linked with the Paul Hayne school right across 10th street, and the board seemed to take more stock in this proposition than any offer presented on account of the cen tral location, and the privilege of the use of chemical laboratories and three auditoriums that could be used for reci- tation rooms.
 By the removal of the primary grades from the Paul Hayne school, 300 or 400 pupils could be accommodated there, and in this way we could start nucleus for high school,' said pr. Phillips.
 J. B. Gibson advocated plans immed- lately that would take care of the sit uation for year and a half, in view of the fact that it would take this long to erect a new building, and stated. it as his belief that the board should take a few days to carefully consider all proposals and offers of quarters and plan wisely for a year and half.
 BUDGET CARES FOR
 EMERGENCIES
 sydney J. Bowie stated that the city budget ordinance made allowance for a sl00, GOO annual expenditure in excess of the budget, and also, in addition to this there was provision in this law for emergencies such as the catastrophe caused by the destruction by fire of the Central High school Monday night.
 committee was named by President Barrett upon motion of MT. Hornady composed of Commissioner Hornady, President Barrett, J. B. Gibson. $. J. Bowie and Dr. Phillips to investigate the situation and report to joint meeting of the board of education and the city commission which will be called by pr. Barrett when the committee is ready to report
 The meeting yesterday was attend- ed by Mrs D. A. Echols, S. J. Bowie, .J. B. Gibson, pr. E.. F. Hogan, pr. Phillips Secretary Parker, all of the members of the city commission and City Attorney M M. Ullman.
 Commissioner Burrus. in speaking of the great loss that Birmingham had sustained in the burning of the cen ,tral building of the city's educational system. said.
 q feel that this disaster is going to remove any petty jealousies that may have existed. and that our people will be more cooperative and united now 1 in our educational work. Out of the whole gloomy situation will rise more sympathetic and united people, and all of the necessary safeguards will be I thrown around the city's schools, and our educational forces will become one. Nj believe that this present condition. which is hardly less than tragedy, will prove blessing in disguise to Birmingham pr. Phillips, in conclusion. Just 1 before the adjournment or the | meeting. stated 'We thought con- 1 ditions here were bad enough. and l that we had more than we could handle. but today we are confront 1 ed with a situation that reveals 1 the very heart of our education system torn out. and it is now the time for Birmingham to assert l herself and issue the bonds neces- sary to build a high school that l will be double, and even treble. the | capacity of the one now in ashes BUILDINGS GUARDED ] The city commission granted the re- quest of the board of education tc place watchmen at the school buildings in the city. and Commissioner John .wI -x k