The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-10-12
SCHOOL BOARD
VOTES CHANGE
Members Unanimously Go
on Record for Board
of Seven.
GIVE HAND TO OSBORN
Vote Heartily for Cooperation
with New City Manager
at Tuesday Meeting.

"The best things come done up in
small packages"
This apparently is the motto of the
board Of education, which at it's regu-
lar meeting Tuesday night put itself
unanimously on record in favor of a
school board of seven members By
this magnanimous gesture, the old
board of education practically put the
sword at it's own throat, in the inter
ests of greater cause.
The discussion was opened by Jay B.
Glerum, former president of the school
board, who ever since he first took
Office in 10 has been on record in favor
of a small board of five or seven mem
bers for the sake of better functioning
and speedier work. James Blair, an
ether school board member and like
wise stanch supporter of the commits
sion form, presented the motion, which
after short discussion by all of the
members of the board, was passed
without one dissenting vote.
Send Welcome to Mr.. Osborn.
The situation now is that any civic
body may draw up petition for the
commission form for the managing the
school system and that the polls may
be open to the people for referendum
vote in January. In short, the legal
procedure will be much as it was last
year in introducing the commission
form of municipal government -----ea-s
Meanwhile the board of education,
which has been following the commits
sion form started in Kenosha with
great interest, passed resolution ex-
tending welcome to the new city
manager, G. M. Osborn, pledging the
cooperation of the school board and
inviting him to be present at the next
board meeting.
Present System Too Unwieldy..-
1t was near the close of an interest
ing meeting, in which the spirit of good
will and self sacrifice was most appar-
ent, that Jay Glerum opened the dis
cussion of proposed change in the
system of running the schools.
Everyone who has worked on the
school board or with them" said Gler-
UNI, "is aware of the fact that the
present system of having eighteen
members is too unwieldy. No one
seems to know what the other fellow
is doing. 1t is hard to get everybody
together and keep everyone equally in
formed. I suggest that we go on rec
ord in favor of board of five mem
bers This matter was brought up four
or five years ago when Mrs. Bradford
agitated the matter and was in favor
of such a change.
every city in the country is coming
to the point of school board of five
or seven, which can function to far
greater advantage than a body of
eighteen. Our pushing the matter
along would be step forward"
Must Have Seven Members.
Commissioner Blair was on his feet
at once in an endorsement of the plan
and Supt. of Schools G. F. Loomis lent
his hearty endorsement with only the
qualification that according to the laws
Of the state there could not be less
than seven.
"a petition circulated in the inter
ests of the change must call for ref
erendum VOTE" explained Mr.. Loomis.
"On the principles of the city manager
referendum, the machinery could be
set in motion and the seven members
elected at large in the next spring cleo
fion The office is elective NOT aDnoint
ive."
Lewis Powell, president of the board
of education, explained that the state
legislature had the matter under con
sideration and might pass bill this
winter making school board of seven
members elected at large compulsory
throughout the state.
eve need not wait for that action"
said Mr.. Powell, "and it would be par
ticularly fortunate if the plan had its
inception with the board of education"
Each board member was called upon
for an expression of opinion and the
replies came heartily "For it with both
feet" "I'm very much in favor of it."
"I'l1 vote yes"
Charles Leonard raised a laugh when
his name was called upon and he in
quired thoughtfully after a pause,
Would this board of seven serve with
out salaries as we have been serving ?'