SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2539, 6 February 1923, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting of the Foxton State School Committee was held last night. Present: —Messrs Hornblow (chairman), Roore (secretary), Geo. Coley, Cowley, Jno. Ross, Pearson, Perreau, Stevensoc and the head teacher (Mr Banks^^^

Correspondence was read from the Board re connecting with water main.—Resolved to ask the architect to visit the school and arrange details. The chairman said the Board had made provision for the erection of new lavatories and the architect could discuss the whole scheme on his arrival. The Board wrote advising the appointment of Miss Iris Patton to the Beach school. That no applications had been made to the advertisement for the position of assistant teacher on the local staff to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Miss Mackie and in the meantime Miss Purnell would fill the vacancy. That Messrs 11. Burr and E. A. Fuller had been appointed pupil teachers and Miss Madge Admore probationer. Mr Coley said it appeared that the school was being staffed with pupil teachers but it was explained that the increase in this connection was due to the raising of the grade of the school. A further letter was read from the Board stating that owing to increased attendance last year the grade of the school is raised from grade 5 to grade G, as from the Ist instant. The salaries of the head teacher and of the Ist, 2nd and Gth assistants are increased in consequence. On the recommendation of the Inspectors, the Board has decided to transfer Mr McDonnell to a position carrying the grade of salary he received last year and to advertise for applications for the position of Ist assistant. The Board does not propose to take any action regarding the other teachers whose salaries are raised. —Received. The headmaster reported that the 101 l number for the quarter ended December 31st was 438 and the average attendance 411.1. Miss Mackie had resigned and Mass Purnell is relieving pending a fresh appointment. Miss Admore and Messrs H. Burr, Fuller and Procter have been appointed to the staff. The grating ever the stairway to the boilerroom needed fixing. The school cleaning reflected ci’edit upon the caretaker. A list of accounts for school prizes was submitted.

Mr Coley said the grating proposed to be erected unsuitable as a protection to the children and it was decided to call the architect’s attention to it on his visit. The chairman’s action in obtaining the use of the Ashhurst Domain for the annual picnic and railway excursion on the 21st inst. was endorsed. In reference to the it was decided to communicate the District Traffic Manager re trinfi

arrangements and to carry out the duties as for last year’s postponed picnic. It was decided to call tenders for catering. It was pointed out that £3l 17s 5d was in credit to the picnic fund but this would have to be supplemented by a further sum to meet expenses.

In reply to Mr Cowley, the chaffman said the picnic fund had not been used for other purposes by the committee.

The question of the Committee’s finances were discussed at. length. It was pointed out that the outstanding accounts totalled £34 9s 2d, which included £lB 7s 2d for prizes. The committee’s general account was about £2 in credit and £8 odd had been donated to the prize fund.

The chairman said the staff had consented to hold a shop day at the school to assist the committee in its financial difficulties.

Mr Coley said the capitation was qute inadequate to meet the expenses of the school. The chairman said that was so and without some effort to suppiemnt the funds it was impossible to carry on. In the past such efforts had been successful and he hoped that the one contemplated would enable the committee to square accounts before the end of the fiuancial year. Accounts were passed for payment. It was decided to ask the Retailers’ Association for a donation towards the picnic fund to supplement the donation of £lO donated last year. Messrs Ross and Pearson were appointed visitors for the month.

It was decided to hold a special meeting on Saturday at 7 p.m. to receive tenders for the picnic catering.