The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-05-14
START PETITIONS
FOR NEW BOARD
Civic Council Seeks 1000
Names for School Board
Referendum.
ALL ENDORSE ACTION
Survey Of Public Sentiment
Shows All in Favor Of T.
Member School Board.

Petitions asking the city council to
order q special election at which the
question of changing the membership
of the Kenosha school hoard from Is,
az il is at present constituted, to
seven members, will be submitted,
were circulated at meeting Of the
Kenosha Civic council in the city hall
on Monday evening. The council has
agreed to sponsor the movement which,
it is hoped, will result in the new
form Of school board, and each dele
gate to the council has been asked to
refer his petitions for signing to the
organization which he represents.
In order to get the petition into a
referendum it is necessary to have not
less than 100 signatures, 1t was point
ed out at the meeting. The goal set
for all of the members of the organ
ization was at least 1000 names. That
this will not be difficult task was ex-
planned to the council by President
Oscar Theleens
Civic Organizations in Favor.
T. When The council first declared its
Willingness to SPONSOR the movement,
following thorough Investigation by
special committee, resolution was
submitted to each of it's members
which aimed to sound out the opin-
ions Of the citizens as whole. Club
after club, society after society, went
on, record as being in favor of the
movement, and each pledged its sup
port to carry out their share Of the
work in making it possible to have a
public expression of opinion at the
polls.
It was also pointed out at the meet
ing on Monday evening that che state
laws already provide for a school
board of seven members, and that all
that is necessary is majority of the
votes of the citizens Of the eommur-
ity as expressed in referendum to
make change from any other form
effective.
May Act AT Once.
In the event that sufficient sigma
lures are secured, it is declared in the
petition. and if a special election call
ed in pursuance of the petition a
maj ority OF all the votes cast be in
the affirmative, then the board Of edu-
cation Of the city of Kenosha shall
hencefofth consist of seven members
elected at large from the territory of
the city of Kenosha.
The Civic council has asked that the
petition, and # a special election call
that they be turned in as soon after
they are filled as possible. As soon
as these in sufficient numbers are plac-
ed I'm the hands of Robert M. Smith,
secretary of the Civic council, they
will be presented TO the city council
with a prayer for immediate action.
With this expression of the opinion
of what it is hoped will be over 1000
qualified voters the council is expect
ed to order special election If such
action in the opinion of the city
council is seen to be fiss
Result of Long Study.
The proposition to change tae pres
ent school board frasn is members
IS seven was reported favsrahiy IN a
thoccugh analysis of the situation
made by special comaaitte of that
board some time age. Because legal
restrictions make il isnpessiSla for the
tchool board itself he spoase9 q cam
paign to reduce the beard membership,
the Civic council was. approached to
take over this responsibility. That
council iii turn appointed 8 special
coamt1tee which studied tbs situa-
tiGn with tae schsa basrd committee
and reported back their findings.
These were a genersl endorsement Of
the entire plan and a reeommenda-
tion that the city council proceed at
once to secure the propes number Of
signatures TO petitions to the city
council asking that that body call a
special election.