The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-08-31
SCHOOL BOARD
CONTINUED from Page One)

is being taken under consideration by
Lake county
Ben S. Richards offered the motion
to close the Winton school, but in so
doing stated that he would be willing
to abide by the decision of the majority
of the board. The motion was sup
ported by John Dragavon, who with
Richards and Anton Kotchevar, voted
for it. Opposing were Jack Gianotti,
who has continually held out for keep
ing the school open another year, Ivan
Tauzell and Ahola.
Richards, who has maintained the
school should be closed since the matter
came to head early last summer, adj
mitted that the savings would not be
great this year but that the district
stood to save seven or eight thousand
dollars next year."
IF the enrolment is such that a
school should be closed" he emphasized,
then you can't criticize the board for
closing it."
cit is the responsibility of every
person to be thrifty" he continued.
mo one can criticize an economy move"
Bourgin then asked if the board in
tended to make its economy move also
effective in the Ely schools by dis
charging what he said was an ex-
cessive number of teachers for the num-
Der of pupils enrolled. He also wanted
to know if the board intended to close
the White Iron school,
Richards admitted that there were
too many teachers employed in the
system here, but pointed out that
teachers can be discharged only for
reason, and, because of their continu-
ing contracts, before April 1.
The policy of the board in past years
has been to retain teachers already
within the system, even though en-
rollment has been declining, but as they
resign they are not replaced unless
replacement is necessary to carry on a
definite type of instruction.
Bourgin based his arguments to the
board on behalf of the Winton dele
cation on three points: The effect it
would have on the school district, the
people of Winton, and the school
children of Winton.
Stating that it appeared to be
dollars and cents proposition to the
district, he commended that there would
be no savings this year.
Closing the school would "take the
essence of community life out of Win
no yi,,tO L.
town any more; it will be location"
He pointed out that smaller classes
mean more individual attention and
better students in denying that pupils
would receive more educational adj
vantages here.
After the tie vote the board un-
animously approved partitioning off the
upper story as an economy move inso-
far as heating was concerned.
Edward T. Buckley was made director
of the physical education department
with full supervisory powers over the
athletic setup in another item of bust
ness conducted by the board. Coach
ing assignments are to be made by him
with the approval of the superintendent
Of schools.
School dentists were rehired on the
same basis as in past years. They are
DR.. H. G. Newgord of this city and DR.. |
Joseph Rolando of Littlefork, who will |
equally divide the time.
Bids will be opened Sept Is on COM
oletion of the entrance to the Junior |
College building, the fence on the east |
side of the Memorial school grounds,
and the fence and curb around the
ennis courts. Bids will also be opened
Tor the construction of a concrete
unnel and piping from the new
stadium now under construction to
Memorial high school.
Superintendent Compton, who sat in
m the Winton discussion, came in for
questioning on the part
u the board as to the Lake county
etup.
He informed the board that his dis
riot hauls students from grades one
o eight as far as 20 miles by bus and
ugh school students, 81 miles.
Rural schools have been reduced from
more than 80 at one time to nine now,
Re said, and the board expects a petit
ion next year from parents for the
losing of one of the nine" In the past
equeStS have come from parents to
lose rural schools and take pupils to
Wo Harbors because of the increased