Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-04-04
HEALTH PROBE
! At SCHOOLS, IS
PLAN Of BOARD
Action to Inspect School
Grounds From Health Stand
point is Taken at Meeting

Investigation of the grounds sur
rounding the various school buildings
of the city for the purpose OF ascer-
tanning the conditions Of them reia-
tive to q health standpoint will be
made in the near future by the build
ing committee of the educational
board, was decided last night at the
meeting of the board in the high
school.
This is the result of several COM
plants made to the board by resi-
dents of the city who claimed that
the Fairgrounds adjacent to all the
schools were in disgracefui ana on
the whole a most unsanitary conol-
ton derogatory to the health Of the
pupils attending the school.
1t wass asserted that on clear days
clouds of dust arose and that on rainy
days the mud was a hindrance. The
question of paving these grounds
with asphalt blocks was discussed by
the members and IT was thought that
this paving could be laid with prac-
ticaliy no expense being incurred by
grading work. as the grounds are In
/ a good condition.
The building contmittee of the
board expects to start these inspec-
tions as soon as possible and will then
report back to the other members the
result of the investigation, suggesting
plans as to the best method of pro-
cedure. 1t was thought by some mem
bers OF the board that a good foun-
dation of cinder and ashes covered
with asphalt one inch and quarter IN
thickness would prove satisfactory
and remedy the alleged conditions ex-
isting at the schools which are det-
riment to the school children.
A protest was submitted to the
board last night from one OF the ar
chitectural firms which arc creating
plans for the proposed new school
structure, requesting for an extension
of time on the date set for presenting
the drawings, on the grounds that the
grade survey Of the property was not
furnished them until few days ago.
1T was moved to allow the architects
till May 1 to present their preliminary
plans.
John Hanson, city clerk, requested
that the board release twenty feet of
land on the number school property
which at present blocks Chapman
avenue and prevents that thorough
fare from joining Smith street. 1t was
thought that this would do away with
the playground of the school and
make 1t impossible for future addi-
tions to be constructed on the school
grounds. The secretary was authoriz-
ed to communicate with the city CLERK
and ask for sketch or survey clearly
portraying the situation so that the
board might intelligently consider the
matter.
An increase in salary for economic
and professional reasons was request
ed by School Principals Lloyd, Lefer
and Walker This matter was re-
ferred to the committee of the whole
A petition was received from the
teachers of No. school for transpor-
tation both to and from the school.
They asserted that the long walk,
especially after long day at the
school, was a disability and deleteri-
Gus to their health. This also was
put aside for future consideration by
the board meeting as committee or
the whole
The chairman of the teachers COM
mittee announced that the resigna-
tions of Elizabeth Fox, Mildred Gill,
Cecilia Mccormick and Caroline Rob-
bins had been received by the board.
1t was decided to accept them.
One member of the board recon-
mended that on rainy or otherwise
stormy days the doors at all schools
be opened at 8:15 o'clock. thus pro-
viding shelter for children who come
70 school early. This was passed on
Ifavorably by the board.
The superintendent's report ind1-
Gated that during the last month the
total enrolment was 1900 with an
average dttcnudilCe "a v'ou~'
number of citizens visiting the
schools was los and the number OF
homes visited during the month were
52s. The medical inspection shows
that 2,241 pupils were examined. two
contagious cases discovered, and the
general healthfulness OF pupils and
the sanitary condition Of the build
|igns were good. The truant officers
reported that 5s2 had been sent for.
|s24 returned to school, sixty-six
found truant. 1ss were sick. five day
notices served on twenty-seven. and a
warrant taken out for one pupil.