The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1939-12-21
Board
Struggle With
School Plans
CITY WILL PAY $500
RENT; CARETAKER
PROBLEM RAISED

Redwood county commissioners
and National Youth administra-
ton officials in a three hour SeS-
sion Wednesday afternoon failed
to reach agreement on final ar
engagements for use of the county
home as an NYA girls school and
continued the meeting until next
Wednesday at 10 a. m. when an
other conference will be held.
Members of the Redwood Falls
city council and officers and di-
'rectors of business mems organ
iZations here agreed at meeting
that morning to raise 5000 for d
years rent on the building, an
item which NYA officials were
unable to cover in their $25, 900
budget for a years operation of
the project.
Commissioners seemed to agree
after being informed of the offer
that Redwood Falls was doing its
part and may accept the sum as
a fair rental under the circum-
stances, although no action was
taken yesterday.
What posed the biggest prob
lem was a misunderstanding con-
corning the arrangements to be
made for retaining William Johns,
home superintendent, as caretak-
er of the building. Commissioners
were under the impression that
the Johns family would continue
to occupy much of their present
quarters while NYA officials stood
ready to make Mr.. Johns caretak-
er but prefer that the family oc-
cupy a separate home.
Frank Heleniak, district NYA
supervisor, pointed out that even
when the Johns family vacate the
large kitchen and either the Of
flee or their sewing room, as Mr..
Johns agreed to 40, the family
would still have two rooms down.
stairs and three bedrooms up
stairs, reducing the number of
girls who could be accommodate
ed there from 80, as contemplated,
to A. Since much of the cost OF
operating the project is paid from
the $18 monthly which each stud
ent pays from her $50 salary for
working on government projects,
the reduction in enrolment is a
serious problem, he pointed out.
Commissioners stated that they
had understood 90 girls could be
accommodated in rooms not oc-
cupied by the superintendent
family as we'll as four resident in
structors.
Duties of the caretaker, Irene
Pullman, assistant supervisor,
said would include firing the fur
mace, attending to storm windows
in the fall and spring and serving
as handyman. On the 60 enroll
ment basis the school could pay
SIS per month for this work, she
said, but added that the federal
government would not stand for
furnishing living quarters also. If
the enrolment is reduced to A
the caretaker's salary would have
to be reduced, she stated.
In efforts to reach a basis for
settlement of the matter, Mr..
Heleniak asked if the family
quarters could be confined to five
rooms on the main floor, eXchang-
ing three upstairs rooms for three
first floor bedrooms.
MIR. Johns was unwilling to
make this exchange but as he had
several times previously during
the meeting, offered to step out
and let the position of caretaker
be given to a single man or man
and wife who could occupy small
er quarters. The Johns have two
children, boy and a girl. The
commissioners were not inclined
to accept this solution, however.
When it appeared that a COM
promise might not be reached,
Leon H. Brown, city attorney,
pointed out that a $4,000 project
of material benefit to the entire
county apparently hinged ION the
location of few bedrooms" and
declared them mighty expensive
ones"
At this point Mr.. Johns fatty
resigned his position and j. p.
Continued from page one)