S.C. Board of Education.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3835, 24 December 1901, Page 4

S.C. Board of Education.

A special meeting of the Board of Education was held on Saturday. Present —Mr Howell (chairman), Eev. G. Barclay, and Messrs Maslin, Gillingham. Farnie, Campbell and McCaskill. Mr Bell attended as secretary, and Mr Gow, chief inspector, was present part of the meeting. Mr Bell read a list of a few matters demanding attention, and also a telegram received that morning in to an enquiry, as follow: —•'Regulations to be issued as soon 113 Aufc comes into force will make provision for sudden rise or fall of school, but not for epidemics. No adjustments for for former reasons could take effect until June quarter. Base all staffing and salaries for March quarter on average for year ended 30th September last.—G. Etogben." It was decided that the case of Waimataitai, which had been affected by an epidemic, must be brought under the notice of the Department. The question of sewing mistresses had been reserved for the department's solicitor, and when his [opinion was given it would be forwarded. With regard to house allowance and rent of school buildings, the Department intended to make a special vote for these iteni3. The Board's pupil teacher regulations would remain as at present, except where they were in conflict with the ict; but the salaries would be different. Certain uupil teachers would lose £2 ; others would be benefited by the change. With regard to District High Schools, it had been customary to pay subsidies on pupils attending, irrespective of the attendances made by each pupil. Henceforth the full subsidy, £6 per head, will not be paid if a pupil made less than 80 per cent, of attendances. This was to be provided in a new regulation to be made. A new rule comes in with regard to the appointment of mistresses. The Act provides for the appointment of a mistress , when the average reaches 41 ; but the Department intended to make a regulation that the average of 41 must be maintained for a year —four quarters—of 43 for three quarters, of 47 for two, or 51 for one quarter, before the mistress is appointed. On the question of determining the salaries of teachers at new schools, the Department proposed to base the first year's salary upon the average for the first month that the school is open. With regard to sick pay, the Department intend to allow a capitation of (id on the total average attendance of the district.— Mr Bell said the total average was about 4500, so that the capitation would give .£ll2 10s,—Members thought that ought to meet requirements. The Minister would consider the question ! of conveying children to school. '1 he case of Esk Valley had been mentioned to him as an example. A long time was spent over the consideration of the staff and salaries of the three schools, Geraldine, Temuka, and Waimate, separately. The discussions were taken in committee, and as the outcome the following resolutions were passed:— On the motion of Messrs Farnie and Barclay—" That out of the capitation received for secondary pupils ia the Geraldine District High School the sum of £BO be devoted to the salary of an extra assistant, and the balance of such capitation be divided equally between the headmaster and first assistant." It was decided to advertise for the assistant, male or female, and select the best. On the motion of Messrs Barclay and McCaskill—"That in revising the Temuka staff and salaries the following be substituted: Extra teacher £llO, pupil teacher £2O engagement only for one year ; headmaster and first assistant to get respectively three fourths and one fourth of the balance." —The salaries of the headmaster will then be £331 and of the first assistant .£202. On the motion of Messrs McCaskill and Farnie :—" Waimate District High School —That the sum of £132 be voted for the extra assistatit, £35 for extra pupil teacher, and the balance available be voted to the headmaster aud the first assistant extra master, to the former two thirds and the latter one third." With regard to the salaries which will be reduced by the sew scale, with a proviso that they may be retained as. at present for two years, Messrs Farnie and Gillingham moved, audit was carried:—"That tho Department be asked to carry out the provisions of section 4 of the Public School Teachers' Act, 1901, in relation to those teachers whose salaries would be reduced by the said Act, aud that the office provide the Department with the necessary information in connection therewith, having in view any reduction owing to the I cessation of house allowances." It was agreed that the office should furnish the Department a list of cases and details. On the motion of Mr Barclay, seconded by Mr Campbell, it was resolved—" That any moneys to the credit of the maintenance account, and on which there is and will be, no claims up to December 31st, be placed to the credit of the building fund, the transaction to take effect at that date." It was further resolved, on the motion of Messrs Farnie and Gillingham—" That the funds to the credit of the building account, inclusive of the amount already transferred to the building account, be cot dealt with before next meeting of the Board " It was agreed that the application for pupil teachers to remain a fifth year be arranged Dy the office under the scale. A pupil teacher can remain a fifth year at the pay of the third year, and at the pay of the fourth year if a teacher's certificate has been gained. Mr A. Bell, assistant inspector and secretary, applied for an increase of salary, pointing out that, reckoning his travelling expenses, his salary was less than that of a master of a school of SO with house allowance. It was resolved to increase Mr Bell's salary by £75 a year and to restore the reduction made on the salaries of Mr J. G. Gow, Inspector, and Major Bamfield, secretary, two years ago—Mr Gow £35, Major Bamfield £2O. At Mr Farnie's suggestion it was agreed that the office should prepare fall information regarding the present dibtribution of incidental allowances to committee, and that a special meeting of the Board be held to consider this matter. It was agreed to write to the Department asking that bank exchange on salaries paid «t outlying banks, coming to about £ls a year, be paid by the Government; and also reconveyance of children. Regarding sewing mistresses, it was agreed to defer giving them notice until January. The question of continuing truant officers was deterred. The Board decided that the scholarships and building committees shall meet on January 16th ; that a special meeting of the Board be held on January 18th, and the ordinary monthly meeting on January 23rd. ,v