The Daily Alaska empire., 1941-03-13
SCHOOL NEEDS DISCUSSED AT
 EDUCATION MEET
Many Problems Come Be. fore Territorial Board of
 Education al Session

brought De1Ore IL many matters Ol importance for the coming bien- nium.
 Chief problem is the need for additional school buildings and teachers to house and teach the increased enrolment brought about by the defense program. New build- ings are needed at Anchorage. Ko- diak, Sitka, Unalaska and Fair banks. The Board felt that it was unable to make definite recommen- dations at this time, for the ques- tion of whether funds should and can be provided is one for the Leg islature. It is hoped by the Board that Federal funds may be obtained at least for the capital investment of buildings and equipment which it is estimated will probably total about $5oO,OOO.
 In interpreting the minimum salary law, the Board unanimously ruled that the teaching year be based on l80 days and that refunds be made on that basis.
 Correspondence Courses
 Provision was made for the SUD- plying of correspondence courses fer high school students living in remote areas where no schools are maintained. Such courses will be supplied by the Commissioner with the same plans for deposits as re- quired in elementary correspon- dence courses.
 Suggestion was made by Mrs. Hjalmar Nordale that senior stu dents in high schools be given some training in the taking of notes to avoid being handicapped in college lecture courses.
 A petition from a committee seek ing a school at Aux Bay was de- nied upon the basis that the Board did not think it advisable to ask the Legislature for such funds at the present and that with the pos sibility of a naval base in the area in the near future the needs might change within short time.
 Salary Schedules
 In regard to the bill and the movement for salary schedules for teachers and the refunds of sal aries paid in excess of the mini mum, the Board voted to make no recommendations at this time for any change in the minimum sal ary law.
 The proposed bill for teachers retirement law was discussed at length and suggestions were made to the Senate Committee on Edu- cation, including the elimination of refunds to teachers dropping out and discontinuing payments before completing IS years service in AL aska; allowing teachers to continue into the fund iii order to retire if they drop out of teach ing before completing the required number of years for pension; that the investments for the fund should be handled in the same man. ner and with the same safeguards as other Territorial funds; that payments into the fund by the Territory may be suspended or dis continued when the fund reaches sufficient amount.
 The Board approved Commission CT James Ryan's recommendation that $3,6OO be added to the budget for additional stenographic and secretarial help.
 The Board expressed the opinion that inspection of school buildings under construction be made by Will liam Hesse, Highway Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works.
 Palmer Offer
 No recommendation was made regarding the offer of the Alaska Rehabilitation Corporation to trans fer to the Territory for $l the Palmer school building while re- taining for the use of the com munity the gymnasium which, al- though in a separate building, is heated by the same system which heats the school building.
 Tn discussing Senate Bill No. 27, known as the Walker Bill or the "Ketchikan Plan" which amends the Compiled Laws of Alaska td permit city schools or schools in incorporated towns to add grades l3 and IA to the regular high school system, the Board moved to approve the bill with the provision that the 18th and l4th years be devoted to vocational education ex- clusively. The motion was carried with three to five vote with A! H. .ziegler and H. L. Faulkner dis senting.
 A resolution was drafted express ing the appreciation of the service of M. J. Walsh, of Nome, who has declined to accept another appoint ,ment on the Board of Education.
 pr. James Ryan was officially appointed at this time to serve