Evening star., 1935-05-23
LOGAN PRINCIPAL
| CHOICE DELAYED
BY BOARD SPLIT
Question of Discretion,
Rather Than Eligibility,
Up Again June 5.
PRESENCE DESIRED
BY DR.. JOHNSON
Contention of DR.. Ballou That
List Should Be Followed In
wolves Colored School.

A sharp split among members OF
the Board of Education, with Supt. of
Schools Frank w. Ballou aligned
definitely with one group, has de-
layed selection of an administrative
principal for the enlarged Logan Ele-
mentary School for five weeks, al
though the school moved into its new
quarters q week ago last Monday and
since then has been without an ad-
ministrative head.
At issue in the appointment ordi-
narily one Of minor importance. is
the right Of the board to exercise
measure of discretion in such selec-
tions, rather than always choosing the
highest candidate on the eligible list.
Discussion of the matter behind
closed doors has been frequent and
acrimonious during the last month,
and at yesterdays board meeting the
problem seemed little nearer solution
than when it first developed.
Delay 10 June 5.
The first public intimation OF the
disagreement came at the session
yesterday, when Charles H. Houston,
colored board member, sought to bring
the appointment into open meeting
but agreed to have it deferred to June
S. after Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle,
vice president, objected that DR.. Hay
den johnson. president of the board.
who was absent, was anxious to be
present when it was considered.
Logan is a colored school located
at Third and G streets northeast.
An addition was built this year, CIV
ing it Is rooms.
All schools of this size have ad-
ministrative principals, while smaller
institutions are directed by teaching
principals. The present teaching prin-
cipal is not eligible for the promo
ton to the higher grade and 1t be-
came necessary to select an admins
trative principal from the eligible list.
In similar appointments in the past,
the superintendent usually has recon-
mended the person at the top of the
list and the board has confirmed the
selection without question. However,
in this case, several members de-
cided that the person fifth en- the
list should be named to the post.
while DR.. Ballou contended the usual
procedure should be followed and the
highest eligible appointed.
Leeway on Principals.
Although rules of the school sys-
tenn require that appointments Of
teachers must follow strictly the elig-
ible list, considerably more leeway is
allowed in choosing principals. 1t Is
pointed out by some members that
this discretion Is conferred 90 that
the person best fitted for the job in
other particulars than Official profes-
sional standing may be selected.
The rules specify that the board
may not appoint except on the writ
ten recommendation of the superin-
tendent, but say that he may recon-
mend the person within the highest
group of five who in his opinion is
best fitted for the existing vacancy"
A search of school records shows
that this privilege Of not appointing
the highest eligible has been invoked
three times in the colored divisions,
but never in the white.
The eligible lists are compiled by
the Board of Examiners which the
law requires the board to appoint
annually on the recommendation of
the superintendent.
The matter of the Logan appoint
ment first was scheduled for the board
meeting Of April II. Four meetings
have been held since then, but in
ability to compose differences of opin-
ion has prevented a final decision.