The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-03

financial statement, the sum of $10,- 262-95 for power and light during the last school year. Four thou9and eight hundred and ffty-sevsa dollars of this amount, or nearly 50 per cent, is chargeable to the new High School building. One of the causes for this IS the large number of evening classes in session; another, that the auditor ium is in use an average of five nights each week..
 I recommended in order that this cost may De somewhat reduced that the fee for the rental of the Audi torium for all outside organizations giving performance for any purpose, except charity, be increased from $100 to s20O per night and that such per formances given by any outside or ganization, the proceeds of which are to be given to charity, the fee be increased from $25 to $50 per night.
 I believe the janitor of every school building in any school sys- tenn should be held responsible for the minor repairs to his building, such as replacing broken windows. etc, and the man who shows the greatest degree of efficiency and merit in his work should be pa1d accordingly. I believe the time will come when the state of Connecticut, like the state of Minnesota, will require all school jan itorS, who are obliged to handle steam in any way, to hold a state en- gineer's license and local boards of education should help in this matter by providing competent instructor and a complete course of study such as is in vogue in the state mentioned above. A requirement such as this not only benefits the system but quail flies the janitor for a better position and promotes him to an engineer.
 The committee on school houses have introduced an innovation this year in the painting and vanishing of the interior of school buildings by buying the material and employing two or more painters direct. This has proven to be a big saving and fthe best way to combat the contract or's high prices.
 The school plant has become large enough whereby the permanent em- ployment of a school painter, carpen- ter, plumber and steam dttee to war ranted.
 beg to submit again for your con- sideration a department warehouse and the employment of a storekeeper when business and building condi- tionS become normal
 Staple supplies are being bought today in such small quantities that the price paid is exorbitant.
 Sawdust for cleaning is bought by the bag and barrel when two car loads represent a years supply. The same argument applies to hardware, electrical and building supplies.
 In the matter of manual training supplies it would appear that in the buying Cor ordering to have stOred) of lumber, etc, considerable could be saved by estimating the quantity re- quired for the year aand the order chased during the last school year 252 pounds of nails that no doubt could have been bought by the keg; 360 dozen screws-gross lots should be considered; 6S quires of sandpa- per; 1.732 feet of white pine lumber. 6,991 feet of white wood; 607 feet of oak; 356 feet of spruce. 200 hammers and 3O7 sews
 amount of the more common used goods in sewing were used: 42Sk yards of ehambray, 500 yards of long cloth, 5461 yards of gingham and BPS yards of cameo cloth.
 In the matter of kitchen supplies there is not much other than sugar and flour that can be bought in large quantities The following amounts consumed during the year: 1,1741A pounds of sugar, 2.24S quarts of milk, 3531: pounds of meat. 146 1oaves of bread. 31 pounds of salt. 2S1k bags of flour, 340 cakes of soap, 25 cans of milk, 42H boxes of raisins, TOE pints of cream and 21,045 pounds of ice used to protect and preserve the per isnable goods.
 it is very evident that the evening schools of Bridgeport have not only passed their record of last year, but have carried on a greater work dur iiie Liie year any otheI City III the state. for a period of two years. As evening school classes continue I hope the time will come when the | work will still further expand and the, suggestion of operating evening classes for the deaf and blind be considered. The city of Cincinnati is at the present time conducting great work along the two lines mentioned and are doing great deal for those l bur6lered by these two great afflic- tionS.
 I beg to urge again the establish ing of a bureau of records and at tendance elsewhere referred to in this report, also the publishing by the board an annual report of all the di-