, 1921-05-05

provisions Of the compulsory school
attendance law II is necessary that
we have a regular truant officer en-
plOyed by the School District for that
purpose.
The taking Of the school census is
"a very important matter and should
be done with the utmost care for the
reason that our state apportionment
OF money Is based on our school cen
sus.. Last year we received between
$500 and $1,000 for every name on
the census. Failure to secure a
hundred names for instance. which
ought to be on the census list. would
mean a loss to the District OF about
a thousand dollars. So the census
taker should exert every effort to Sc
cure the names OF all persons in the
district who are Of school age.
TX. Buildings and Grounds
Since last year several changes
have been made In the location of
certain rooms. The kindergarten
has been brought from the basement
to the first floor Of Central and now
occupies the best o in the build
ing. The Manual Training Depart
ment has been moved to the base
ment. This plan is better both for
the Manual Training Department and
the rest Of the school. The base
ment is better adapted to this kind
Of work, and the vibration and noise
from the machinery does not disturb
the rest OF the school so much. A
new room for the high school teach
er OF Languages has been fixed up.
The room occupied by these classes
last ear VAS too small. One OF the
rooms in the High School building,
which is too small for a classroom
has been fitted up as a rest room for
the teachers. an arrangement which
Is greatly needed. Another small
room in the old Central Building is
at present used as an office by the
County Red Sros Nurse. who does a
good deal of work among the school
children.
Two rooms were added to the East
Ward this year and are occupied by
the third and fourth grades which
were formerly in the basement at
Central, so that there are now no
grade children regularly quartered
in the basement rooms.
However, the school buildings are
now full to capacity. The two sec
ond grades cone at each Ward) have
been so crowded this year hat it
would have been desirable to divide
and put in another second
grade at Central. But there Is no
for another grade at Central.
If the same condition prevails next
year, and 1t seems likely that it will,
I would recommend that provision be
made for another second grade. This
brings up the matter of additional
school rooms. 1t seems that the pos
of renting rooms adapted for
school purposes is rather remote. I
would suggest that the one or two
portable school-house be used,
a permanent building pro-
gram. This plan is comparatively In
expensive and is being generally used
in the various school systems
the country.
Another way to relieve the crowd
situation would be to erect a one
Or two room portable school house
south Of the railroad tracks. The
children who live in that section of
Town experience considerable diff
Guilty in getting to school. The sub
way is an undesirable route for
school children for many reasons.
Furthermore, the distance some of
hose children have to go to school
IS considerable, especially in stormy
The census shows that
here are about 60 children OF school
age CAS- in school) south Of the
1t would be a good thing for
hose children and also would re-
lieve the congestion in the East Ward
70 have a one or two room school on
he south side.
Certain repairs and changes are
in the present school build
The toilet facilities need at
there are certain heating and
problems that should be
out, and some of the school
need to be equipped with cleo
trio lights. The Auditing Commit
tee has investigated and reported on
these needs.
I am glad to report that all three
Of the schools are now equipped
with playground apparatus. We are
Indebted to the city for this equip !
ment and wish to express our appre-
for It. That this playground
material Is popular with the children
is evidenced by the use they make of
It.
During the year some money and
quite a little labor has been expended
upon the grounds at the West Ward
but these grounds are still so rough
and full Of rocks that they are OF
slight value as Fairgrounds. /
1t would be very desirable to have
both the West Ward and East Ward
Fairgrounds put in shape and trees
planted to make these grounds more
attractive.
At Central the grounds are marred
by an unsightly ash pile which &C.
cumulates during the winter. AS
the wind is usually from the West a
considerable amount of ashes blows
into the school house. Hence 1t Is
usually inadvisable to have the win
dows, open on the West. and this in
creases the difficulty OF ventilating.
1t would be desirable to have an ash
pit constructed of concrete at the