The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-12-11
SCHOOL. BOARD
AWAITS REPLY
OF APPO|NTEE
Donald DuShane, Columbus,
Considering Post of
Superintendent.
CHARLES MILLER FIRED
Dismissal Receives Almost
Unanimous Support of
Commissioners.

OOIiitIIloOIUllCl D.
indianapolis today temporarily
was without a city school superin-
tendent following summary diSnis-
sal Of Superintendent Charles F.
Miller Tuesday night by the board
and the naming of Donald DuShane
Columbus 0nd) superintendent, to
succeed him.
Miller'S dismissal was effective at
once. DuShane's appointment also
was effective at once, but he still
was undecided this afternoon
whether or not to accept.
DuShane came to Indianapolis to-
day to confer with friends, and
possibly, he said, talk the matter
over with the incoming board. He
will discuss the situation with his
own board at Columbus, Wednesday
afternoon.
Inclined to Accept
"My inclination is to accept the
post" he said Il can not expect
the new board members to promise
anything All would wish would
be assurance that my retention
would be based solely on the show
ing I would make. If I accept, I
will have no entangling con-
nectionS."
To accept the Indianapolis post
DuShane must resign the Columbus
Superintendency and if he failed
to receive approval of the new COM
missioners, he might be ousted after
a tenancy Of less than a month.
Miller's dismissal came as a
surprise, although dissatisfaction on
the part of certain board members
has existed for some time. Attempt
to ouSt Miller in favor of DuShane
last spring by President Charles w.
Kern and Theodore F. Vonnegut,
minority faction members, was de-
feated by Mrs. Lilliart G. Sedwick,
Lewis F. Whiteman, and Fred KEEP
ner, majority faction members.
Mrs. Sedwick, alleged by Kern and
Vonnegut to have controlled Miller,
was the only board member to
support him when a resolution for
his dismissal was proposed during
an executive session at the close of
the meeting Tuesday night.
Greeted Warmly
The open meeting was attended
by Julian Wetzel, Russell Wilson
and Mrs. j. Don Miller, board mem
bers-elect. They were greeted
warmly, particularly by H. F. Osler,
assistant buildings and grounds su-
perintendent, and other appointiVe
officials.
Whiteman and Kepner are re-
ported to have been dissatisfied with
Miller for some time, partly, 1t was
said, because Miller permitted Mrs.
Sedwick to dictate all the most de-
Sirable appointments.
Their detection Tuesday night
from the side of Mrs. Sedwick is
viewed by observers as a last
minute slap at both Miller and Mrs.
Sedwick.
1t was conceded generally among
school officials that Miller'S resigna-
ton would have been asked by the
lCW OOdi u 1IlCI1lOC1Ss
It was reported the only discus
sion of the motion to GUST Miller
was expression of doubt by Kern
and Vonnegut on advisability of the
action so shortly before the new
members will take Office. The dis
missal resolution is reported TO
have been made by Vonnegut,
seconded by Whiteman.
The board took no action on re-
moval of MillerS' two assistants
Byron B. Williams, research and
publicity director, and G. G. Under
wood, elementary education director
named in June. 1928.
Took Post in August
Miller became school superinten-
dent in August, 1927 At that time
he was state superintendent of pub
lie instruction and attempted to
hold both positions, finally resign
ing the state post. Miller was re-
appointed for a four-year term last
spring.
DuShane has been Columbus
superintendent eleven years. He
was born in South Bend forty-four
years ago, is a graduate of Hanover
college and University of wisconsin
He taught four years in high school
at South Bend and was principal
one year at Shelbyville, Ill, high
school, resigning to become super
intendent at Madison. Five years
later he went to Clinton where he
was superintendent two years, going
from there to Columbus.
He has been active in affairs of
the Indiana State Teachers ASSocia-
ton several years, serving as pres
ident in 1921. At present he is
editor of the Indiana Teachers, Of
fetal publication of the association,
and is author of the teacher tenure
law adopted in 1877.
DuShane viii receive the same
salary as Miller, $4,000 a year. Miller
was voted $4,000 a year last spring
but the increase was not paid, at
torneys holding it was illegal be-
cause it was not in the budget. The
1890 budget includes an item for
the $4,000 salary.
Kiess Is Selected
WA CITNGTON ror II Tho