New Britain herald., 1926-02-20
CHANGES ON THE SCHOOL BOARD

Patrick r. King, chairman Of tho
 school committee, and Henry T,
 Burr, n member, that they will TO- tire at the end of their terms
 closely followed the announcement
 of F.. NJ. Pratt, secretary, that hu
 would retire in April, Thus at one
 timo three prominent members Of
 the board will relinqulsh a work
 with which they have been idcnti-
 fled prominently
 The improved spirit Of co.opera-
 ton existing between the city gov
 ernmcnt and the school committee
 was brought about largely within
 recent years. Citizens can remom- ber the time when the city govern
 ment and the consolidated school
 district lacked this spirit of CO.,
 operation, greatly 10 the detriment of the city's cducationa! system and citizens generally.
 II was the practice ut that time
 for the city government 10 wonder if there would be an end to the de-
 mands for increased school uc- commodations and equipment The city government felt it was not boz ing taken into the confidence of the school committee to any cX- tent, and the school committee had it's own ideas of procedure. Some such impasso probably had to oc- cur in order to emphasize tho need for q better system. which finally was brought about by the late E. Clayton Goodwin.
 It was the late Mir. Goodwin. chairman of the committee on school accommodations, who stepped into the breach and drafted a progressive plan of school needs. The plan was elaborate and went into all details; 1t included the proposed locations and types of new buildings needed, and included all necessary equipment for tho new schools as well as the old buildings. This plan was laid be- fore the board of finance and taxa ton and was the step that brought about the bcttered cooperation ex- isting between the city and the school committee.
 But just as the new school pro- gram was to be started. Mr, Good win died and it dovolved upon MT. King, who was promoted to the chairmanship of the committee on school accommodations, later succeeding 10 the chairmanship of 1 the full board upon tho retirement of Judge Bernard r. Gaffncy, to 1 carry out the plans. Judge Gaffney, l it might here be stated, had lent 1 his full influence to the new pro- gram before he retired from office | and shares in the credit for bring ! ing about the improved relations between the city and the school committee of the period.
 In honor of the work of Mir, Goodwin upon the school commit tee the trade school was named after him, thus perpotuating his efforts.
 Mir, Burr throughout his idcntl- hcation with the school committee showed that he was well qualified for a position of such importance. His previous experience in conncc- ton with the state normal school stood him in good stead while member Of the school committee.
 Mir. Pratt, secretary and head of the trade school committee, did eX cellcnt work also, his labors being especially reflected in the adminis- tration Of the state trade school which he helped 10 deH elop to its present high efficiency.
 The past ycar has been 2 notabl" one in the history Of the school committee. It WAS the greatest building year in the history of the board. resulting in additions 10 the Smallay Stanley and Osgood Hill schools being completed. In addi- tion, the construction of two new schools, one in the eastern section Of the city and another in the western section, were started: and land was purchased for the site Of another new school in the south western section. Yet this Is not all; \ school will be built in the north western section, and an addition will he built 10 the Nathan Hale junior high school.
 This indicates the remarkable activity Of the rrhoo committee in the past year; and within the next few years the remainder Of the program will be fully completed, The school committee then will hayc caught up 10 the demands made upon the city by its growth md all citizens will be able to point with pride 10 the splendid