Evening star., 1922-05-25

Reorganization of the public school
system of the District is proposed III
a bill drafted by Senator Capper oi
Kansas, chairman of the joint CON
gressional committee which conduct
ed an exhaustive investigation OF the
schools in recent months. This o'il
has been submitted to members OF the
joint committee for their considera-
ton. After it has been approved by
the joint committee it VIII theh DC
introduced in both houses ana re-
ferred to the committees on Dlstflcl
of Columbia.
The bill. as has been Indicated IN
the past, contains no building pro-
gram for the schools. but merely re-
lates to school organization its mus
important provision divorces ~.
board OF education from the DistrlcI
Commi ssioners, giving the poafu Coin
plete authority in regard TO sehoo.
matters. including estimates lot .,ie
schools and disbursement or luhds'
The board will deal directly with the
budget bureau and a separate accouh,
is to be kept for the schools IN 'he
office of the auditor of the District.
President to Appoint.
The bill places the appointment OF
members of the board of education lI
the hands of the President, ihsteau VI
the justices of the District supreme
Court, and provides for tcelr con
frmation by the Senate: it creates an
assistant superintendent of schools
for business affairs, and an assistant
superintendent Tor educatiohal
search: it extends the term or once
of the superintendent of public
schools from three years to SIX years
and it makes the municipal architect
the architect for the board OF eduCa-
tion.
The draft of the bill submitted by
Senator Capper is tentative and SUD
jeCt to change by the JOINT commit
tee. 1t is expected. however. that tEe
bill will be accepted largely as IL
on with other members of the joint
committee.
Text OF Proposed Law.
The text of the proposed school law
follows:
A bill to amend sections and "
of an act entitled An act to regulate
the salaries of teachers, school OF,
ficers and other employees OF the poaru
of education of the District or Coluth-
bia" approved June 20, 1905.
Be it enacted by the Senate ana
House of Representative OF the
United States of America in Congress
assembled:
That sections , ard of the act en-
titled AN act to regulate salaries o.
teachers. school officers and other
employes of the board of education
of the District of Columbia, approved
June 20. 1906 he. and the same are
hereby. amended To read as follows:
Hoard and Its Functions.
Section - That the control of the
puhlic schools of the District of Co
lumbia is hereby vested in board o'
education to consist of nine members
all of whom shall have been Tor nfe
years Immediately preceding their APP
bona fide residents OF tns
District of Columbia.
The President of the United states
shall herea fter nominate and. by ana
with the consent of the Senate, snal
appoint the members of the board or
education of the District of Columbia
as vacancies occur thereon for any
cause. Members shall be eligible for
Members shall quality
for office by taking the prescribed
oath of Office within thirty days after
Members may be re-
moved by the President for cause.
Members shall serve without com
Vacancies for uneNplred
terms caused by death, resignation, or
otherwise shall be filled by the Pres
ident S aforesaid.
The term of office of members OF
the board of education shall be three
years. the terms of three members eS-
piring on June so of each year
Annual Meeting.
The annual meeting for the organ
ization of the board of education shall
take place within the month OF July
They shall appoint a secretary. VINO
shall not be member of the board
and they shall hold stated meetings
at least once month during the
school year and such additional meet
ings as they may from time to time
provide for. The organization meet
ing and all other meetings whatsoever
shall be open to the public
No appointment. promotion, transfer
or dismissal of any director. super
vising principal. principal. head OF
teacher or any other sub.
ordinate to the superintendent OF
schools shall be made by the board of
education except upon the written rec
of the superintendent of
schools.
The board shall determine all ques
tons OF general policy relating to the
shall appoint the executive
officers hereinafter provided for, de-
lures.
The board of education shall appoint
all teachers and other employees of the
board in the manner prescribed in the
act entitled An act to regulate the
salaries of teachers. school officers and
other employees of the board of educa-
ton of the District of Columbia ap
proved June 20, 1906. as amended.
The board Of education is hereby
created an independent establishment,
The board shall annually. not later
than September Is, transmit to the
director of the bureau of the budget
an estimate in detail of the amount
Of money required for the operation
Of an efficient school system in the
District of Columbia for the ensuing
year.
."rhe purchasing officer of the Dis
trict of Columbia shall also be the
officer for the board of
education, and is hereby directed to
make purchases for the public school
system under such regulations as
may be prescribed by the board of
"The auditor of the District of CO.
lumbia shall also be the auditor for
the board of education. The expendi-
ture Of funds appropriated for the
public school system shall be made
under the direction and control of
the board of education.
THE disbursing officer of the Dis
trict of Columbia shall also be the
disbursing officer for the board of
education. The method of disburse-
ment of moneys appropriated for the
payment of salaries of employees of
the public school system shall be ap-
proved by the board of education.
The plans and specifica tions for
all public school buildings and
grounds. therefore, shall be prepared