The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-10-04
Hot Words Between Board Members And
 Residents Swapped
Dr. Charles Kennedy Denies Calling PrOtesters Hill
 Billies'; Secret Meetings Played By Newspaper 1, man; Resident Claims Children 'Manhanded'
MAUlG A T UCK
COrresDOndent: Wm , Baxier-PhOne NauEatuCk ssas

i their opinions. Peter Meegan wa. the only one who indicated the sym pathized with the stand of the pro. testers, but said he was bound t follow the ruling of the majority oi 'the board. Dr. Kennedy said he taC an open mind and would admit lit is wrong If he felt that he were, but still feels the children could get better education .in the centralized schools. Clarence Austin said l1e felt as did MT. Downes and Chair. man MannWeiler, who has been 6 strong advocate of centralization George Kelly indicated he felt simi- larly.
 Later in the session MT. Mann weller again defended the secret meetings. He was asked by MT. Ma if there wasn't adverse opinion tc the school closing expressed by a member at the private session. MT MannWeiler called the secret meet ing "get-together" and said, q don't think you should ask any such question about it." He said the board members often come to Ses- siorls without having fixed opinions on matters, the inference being the opinions are reached at the "get- togethers."
 Complaints Made
 A number of complaints were made, one Pond Hill resident say ing his children were "manhandled' in the centralized school. Burgess HOadley said children go. wet last week in the rain and had to take off shoes and stockings in the Gen. tral avenue cafeteria, and walk on the cellar floor in their bare feet. Two reported their children had colds as a result of them getting wet.
 MT. Mai asked if the board had been considering closing the school for a year, why the Millville school should have been painsed only a short time before it was closed and coal put in the schoo1
 Supt. of Schools Harold E. Chit tenden said the painting was WPA project which didn't cost the town much, and said 1t was first on the WPA list, and last January he did not know that the school was going to be closed the following June. He also said he had the coal put in the Millville school in the spring be- cause he had no orders to the con- trary.
 
 MT. Hoadley stressed the narrow condition of Pond Hill roads, saying that bus transportation is hazardous to children on these roads, remind ing that in the winter 1t is inpos- sible to travel on some of these roads in heavy snows.
 No AccidentS-C Chittenden
 George Kelly asked if there had been any accidents since the busses were transporting Millyille and Pond Hill children and was informed by MT. Chittenden that to the latter's knowledge, there had been none. MT. Mai said the Millville school bus once lost a wheel. The Pond Hill bus transportation for high school chil- dren started last January but the Millville bus for high school stu- dents has been in operation several years.
 MT. Hoadley said the protesters are not concerned about the older children, and reminded that little children are now being transported and are away from home most of the day. AS a result of this their mothers constantly are worried. He asked the board take into consid- eration the peace of mind of the parents.
 MT. Mannweiler said when he was a boy he walked long distance to a central school and had no doubt his mother worried about him, for the boys used to skate on the river then, he said. It did him no harm, he indicated. MT. Hoadley said the parents don't object to the children walking but feel they are unsafe on the busseS.
 MT. Hoadley and others contended that the education of the children at the closed schools was just as good as they are getting now.
 MT. Mannweiler said 1t is the pres ent tendency to centralize schools and is being done in neighboring sections.
 He added, If we are wrong, we will be the first to acknowledge it. But we don't think we are wrong."
 Hoadley Baffled
 Mir. Hoadley said that MT. Mann weller had told him that before but asked: who would tell whether the boar dis wrong. He said that the board would not listen to them be- fore closing the schools and the ar- the board, So ...llow do we know the srmentS since have failed to sway schools will ever be re-opened," MT. Hoadley sorrowfully queried.
 He reminded that the protesters have the welfare of the children at heart also. It is no fun for us to come down to these sessions, he said.
 One man asked if there is a school | ous accident, who would take the re- 'ponsibility. MT. Mannweiler said | he children would DC insured, but 1 admitted this would not help much l { any child were killed.
 One woman said the Le Clair bus | occasionally arrives 10 minutes later 'n some days than others. MT. Chit enden said, "The busses as far as know operate on schedule. I have |rave doubts as to whether there any truth in what you say" TheI yoEnan said she had her clock in Ter hand when checking the bus.
 MT. Chittenden said he is in his 'fiice every day ready to receive but no complaints on the nus schedule had been made Co him. A Pond Hiil man criticized the accommodations ct the Central ave- lue cafeteria saying there is only nc table for moro than 30 children. fr. Chittenden said he thought it ms Q good cafeteria. but added that here might Dc some short delay for