Evening journal., 1919-12-23
SCHOOL BOARD
MUST ECONOMIzE
Repair Committee Has 81, 300
Deficit Six Months Be-
fore Close of Year =.
WlLMlNGTONIANS TO
PLAN NEW SCHOOL

lHough only about half OF the fiscal
year has elapsed. the repairs committee
Of the Board OF Education has been
forced TO point where It can make re-
pairs only OF the utmost necessity TO
the public schools Of this city. This
condition was brought out at the meet
ing Of The board last evening.
The matter was brought up by Sher-
mer II. Stradley, chairman Of the finance
committee. He remarked on the fact
That at the last meeting Of the board
The repairs committee had a surplus Of
$500, and that in the report given him
last night, the committee had deficit
Of $500. He felt that Il had been i'm
piled that when the committee. had
reached almost the limit Of its appro-
priation, as II had at the last meeting.
II would cease making all repairs, eX-
cept those Of absolute necessity.
1T is about time that we understand
that we must live within our appro-
priailOns,' Mr.. Stradley declared.
Dr.. Banton. chairman OF the repairs
committee, remarked that he felt that
his committee had been unjustly cen
sured. and explained the reason for the
change in the financial standing Of the
comm ttee that bills aggregating siGO0
have come in since the boards last
meeting. The committee. ne stated. has
cut down the number Of employees 10 a
minimum and has made only necessary
repairs. During the past two weeks,
he said, Si37s was spent on repairs,
-kNf On Of rrrhf fn1n ho
lar wages Of the employees.
Dr Banton explained that most Of the |
repairs consisted OF putting in windows !
in schools, which Is necessary at this |
time of the year. The windows must |
DE nlled in, he said, II instructed. ie |
stated he said he would be willing "a |
cease work entirely, but he felt that the !
result would be the closing OF several 4
rooms.
President Rommel suggested that |
some relief migth be given the repairs /
committee by other committees that /
m ght have a surplus. He stated that /
the fuel and ianltors committee has |
a balance Of $1,000. and Will be able 10 :
give material assistance II conditions do /
not change.
James o. Betelle, OF the architectural /
firm Of Gilbert and Betelle, Of New
ark. y. j., was selected as architect to
prepare the plans for the school that
is to replace School No. 25, Fourth |
street and Bayard avenue. This action
was taken on motion OFF Mr. Campbell.
AZ o previous meeting. Il had been
moved that the plans for the school be
selected by a competition but this mo-
iion was killed last night when Il was
brought up for reconsideration. Mr..
Beetle is a graduate Of the Whining
ton High School.
Mr. Siradley's motion that the serv-
ices Of a bailiff at the meetings OF the
board be dispensed with on the grounds
that such an officer was unnecessary,
failed. Mr.. Stradley being the only one TO
vote for it. This matter was brought
up at the previous meeting OF the
board.
Erdman Hoffman, chairman Of the
fuel and janitors' committee, reported
that after a, thorough investigation, his
committee had found that the COM
plants made against William Burgen.
who was a fireman at the Wilmington
High school, were we'll founded, and
that the request Of the board for his
resignation was justified. The report
was accepted, Mr.. Stradley alone voting
against IT,
After the report had been read Mr..
Siradley asked Mr.. Hoffman II Mr.. Bur-
gen had been given a hearing. which he
meant should be done when he moved
for an Investigation Of the matter two
weeks ago. Upon Mr.. Hoffman's reply
that he had not, Mr.. Stradley exclaimed,
Il can't see how you can make a re-
port, then" He said that the chairman
Of the committee had failed to follow
out his motion.
Mr.. Stradley explained that he was
not defending Burgen, but that he be- ,
lieved that II he were not capable OF
holding the position at the High School
he should not be given employment at
another school, as he understood he
had. been. Il was then stated that
while the man is now working at a
school. he is not in the employ OF the :
Board Of Education. r
The designations OF Evelyn NJ. Ryall, O
a teacher at School No. %, 10 take eff b
feet December II, and Margaret Wood a
ward. a teacher at School No. A., TO I
take effect December 81, were accepted.
on recommendation Of the teachers
the board assigned Martha S
Uau TO school No. 25, beginning No
,euber 10: Adeline Markle, School No.
D, beginning December i6; Edith War
ner. school No. Pa, beginning December
AZ. and Grace Covey, School No. "a, be- '
ginning January !.
Mr. Stradley wanted to know what T
bad been done with the two disputed :
Nils mat had been referred 10 the law a
commIltee. uncertain as TO whether s.
,hev had been "pigeOnholed.' Secretary
Gnthrie explained that the bills had u
,,oo, turned over TO City Solicitor Hux- n
lev and that the latter has made no W
ronorf ON them. Mr.. Guthrie stated
maj he would endeavor 10 have a re- o
MORT on the bills at the next meeting Of
ne board. Mr.. Stradley thought the q
Iaw committee should be rebuked for "
.fs seeming laxity in its work. G.
The ianltor OF School No. IL was
rranted an increase Of $40 month, and U
he ianitor OF School No. IS was grant E
"A a raise of So a month. the latter to al
axe effect when the portable school is
ont in use az the latter school. The m
Ianitor at School No. % was placed on 81
he payroll at salary Of $50 a month. u
,ir Stradley here wanted to know s
where the money Is coming from OF
nd remarked. ''we'll be in a dandy hole N
This thing keeps up"
S)r. Banton reported on the flftieth an 70
liversary celebration OF Howard High n
y