Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-05
8AROS|
EXPIRES IN FLORIDA
Head of Board Of Education
succumbs to Influenza
and Pneumonia.

and Pneumonia.
DR.. Charles Francis Carusi, president
OF the District Of Columbia Board of
Education ana chancellor of National
University, died ct o'clock this morn
ing in Jacksonville, Fla, hospital, a
victim OF pneumonia and influenza.
DR.. CAfusi left the Capital with Mrs.
Carusi two weeks ago today, having
delayed his annual Southern trip in
order to attend the hearings on the
1882 appropriation bill. On their mo-
tor trip through Florida the Carusis
had completed tour OF the west coast
of that state ana were en- route to the
estate OF Mr.. ana Mrs. George W. L1v-
ingston, near Jones, Ca, when the
Capital educator was stricken with In
fiuenEh Saturday. DR.. Carusi entered
the hospital expecting to recuperate for
a week before proceeding with their
friends. The influenza, however. de-
veloped into pneumonia, which, to-
gether with q chronic heart Ailment,
resulted In death early today.
TelephOned Daughter.
Mrs Carusi, the former Marie Aber-
nathy CAssin, of Washington, was with
her husband when death came. she
had telephoned her daughter, Nine.
Emmanuel 8. lombard, wife Of the mill
tary sttaehe of the French embassy
here, yesterday, to advise her daughter
that DR.. Carusi was quite ILL Without
Cn1
Lombard, son-inslAw OF the stricken
school Board president, left the Capt.
| tai for Jacksonville on a midnight train
last night Plans for the return of
Dr. Carusi's body to his home city are
awaiting Col. LombArd's arrival in the
Florida city.
through his energy and interest In the
schools, was active in the interest OF
public education in the District, con-
| tfibuting largely to the advances which
| the school system has made in the last
| five years. He was responsible for the
| public interest in increased appropria-
lions for school buildings, having in
| PRODUCED that subject when he asked
the citizens whether they would sup
port his contention that 43o0o,0 900
| should be appropriated each year for
did net exceed one-third of the total
District budget.
He was responsible also for the de-
velopment OF higher education in the
public school system, pushing to COM
| pletion the transition of the twu-year
! normal schools to teacher colleges of
university grade. This project was the
| first step, DR.. Carusi had made it plain,
in more intensive program, which was
to make each OF the teacher colleges
| into junior colleges, where residents of
the Capital would receive two years In
college without cost.
Had Laws Compiled.
| Or. Carusi took with him to the Board
of Education not only academic train
ing but legal background, which he
called upon frequently in board sessions
to clarity the powers, duties and respon-
sibilities of the school board in what
became virtually "a reformation" of the
old Board Of Education. He ordered
compiled every law pertaining to public
edlcstion ia the District efad this VOL
I un1e, the Actual work of Harry D. Hine,
| the boards secretary, became a working
manual of the board in ali its delib-
| erations of the last few years.
Another Of his contributions to the
School Boards efficient action was the
determination Of the board under DR..
Carusi's guidance to stand by its esti-
mates once It had transmitted them to
the Commissioners for forwarding to
the Bureau of the Budget. DR.. Carusi
consistently refused to permit the su-
perintendent or any school officer to
modify the boards estimates once the
board had acted on them. It was his
contention that it Is the responsibility
Of the Board OF Education to make
known It's own needs, and when, as in
the past, these estimates have been
altered by the District Commissioners,
In conference with the school officials,
the estimates were not those OF the
School Board at all.
A very evident air Of grief settled
over the Franklin Administration Build
ing today after news of the School
Board heads death had become known
The school officials went into a special
netting at 9 o'clock with DR.. Frank w.
Ballou, superintendent of schools. Sim
ilarly special meeting of the Board
of Education was held at 1880 o'clock.
In the latter session, at which board
members voiced their expression of
grief, the following statement was
adopted:
Statement Of Colleagues.
1.-THE announcement Of the death in
Florida today Of Or. Charles r. Carusi,
for nearly four years president Of the
Board OF Education, is b cause for deep
regret on the part Of all his colleagues.
Ever since his appointment to the board
on July !, 1928. he has taken most vi
tai interest In the welfare Of our public
schools-watchfil Of every interest in
volving pupils, parents and the general
public. He quickly identified himself
with his colleagues in their efforts to
maintain and TO promote the highest
standards Of efficiency on the part OF all
officers and teachers; he did much to
| promote the increase of new building
| projects; he was peculiarly fitted to
| interpret all the laws and reRtI-
lations which had bearing on the work
of the board and was always eager to
! give a hearing to anyone. citizen. teach
er, of1icial or other employee, Wit for
any reason desired to be heard with
reference TO any complaint or element
| of dissatisfaction whether large or
! small. His faf-sighted vision. his lib
eral attitude toward those with whom
| he disagreed and his sturdy stand on
his mind, never left a moment Of
/ doubt as to his desire to be fair. The
! board Ia unit in It's admiration for
! his work and accomplishments over a
period Of nearly six years during which
he served so generously the city Of
! Washington which he loved No one
has ever left finer memory for un-
selfish civic effort in position Of
such responsibility. His place will be
most difflcult to fill"
Copies Of this statement. which Ia
made a part of the ofi1ciai record Of
the school Board, will be sent to men,
bers of the CArusi family.
! Dr. Carusl was born in Washington
May 10. 1873. the son Of Eugene ana
/ Frances Stanford CArusi. He was edu-
Gated at Georgetown University and at
| Nafidnhl IfniNhhhifR the iHstifithinnn