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cult to secure in it an eligible school site at a reasonable figure.

The Franklin School requires extensive alterations to render it reasonably fit for school purposes,—as my predecessor clearly pointed out in the last annual report. These alterations should be completed, if possible, before the opening of the next school year.

The condition of the school facilities for colored children also requires attention in the near future. Some of the schools now provided for them are badly overcrowded, and poorly ventilated and arranged. The present comparatively dependent condition of this class of the community makes it the more important that the Board should see that no reasonable facilities are lacking for their education.

I fully concur in the views of my predecessor, expressed in the last annual report, in favor of erecting our school buildings so that additions can be made to them from time to time, as occasion may require. Economy in management, and efficiency in supervision and instruction, are both promoted by this policy.

There is now happily no question of the financial ability of the Board to provide all necessary school facilities. As already seen, the funds now on hand available are sufficient for the completion of the buildings already ordered. The lots heretofore purchased for school sites, and the proceeds of which, if sold, are available for purchasing other sites or erecting school houses, are as follows: Lots on Caroline street, near Park avenue; lots on St. Louis avenue and Eighteenth street; lots on block 40, survey 3, South St. Louis; lots in northwest half block 49, South St. Louis; lots on Gravois Road and King's Highway; lots on Capital avenue; Gamble School property. The (aggregate) estimated value of these lots is $43,312.

The condition of the revenue fund of the Board is such, -$94,040.40 surplus being carried from last year, that

there will probably be no difficulty in appropriating enough for the buildings necessary to be completed before the opening of the schools next year.

In addition to these resources the fund includes all the principal bills receivable on hand, excepting those belonging to the permanent fund, as heretofore explained. These include the note from the Iron Mountain R. R. Co. for $80,000, given in payment for real estate purchased in 1872. This note is due November 14, 1882. A list of all these bills receivable is given in the Secretary's report. Nearly all, except the one noted above, are over due, and many, probably, are uncollectable through insolvency of the parties. In all cases where over due, and no extension has been given, proceedings have been instituted to enforce payment by sale of the property mortgaged.

In this connection it is proper to call attention to the proposition made during the past year, that all the rents paid to the Board from its real estate, be set apart each year to the building fund, so that a permanent provision may be made to meet the future growth of the schools. The suggestion is worthy of serious consideration.

While then we have every reason to believe that our funds are ample for all necessary school accommodations required now or in the near future, the Board should exercise the utmost caution, lest in the natural desire to gratify local feeling, unnecessary buildings should be erected, or unfortunate selections of school sites made. Each new school house requires expenditures for heating apparatus and furniture, and of course our current expenses are proportionately increased.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.

During the past year the new features in the financial management of the Board, recommended by the report of the Examining committee of citizens in 1880, and by the Ways and Means committee from time to time, have

been fully tried and approved in practical working. The system of annual appropriations for each department of expenditure has been strictly followed; the different funds have been kept distinct; increased accountability in our officials has been secured; the loose methods, theretofore prevalent in the auditing of bills have been corrected, at least in part, and valuable safeguards against reckless expenditures have been introduced.

EXAMINATION OF BOOKS AND ACCOUNTS.

In this connection should be especially mentioned the service rendered to the Board and the public by the last Examining committee of citizens and members, (Messrs. E. L. Adreon, J. H. Fisse, and M. H. Phelan, citizens, and Gustavus Sessinghaus and C. O. Twining, of the Board), in their valuable report, submitted in February, 1880, reviewing the financial system of the Board.

This examination of the books, accounts, vouchers, and financial management of the Board by a committee of citizens, especially when performed with the conscientious thoroughness of this last committee, is a most salutary measure, and hereafter should be made annually, not at irregular intervals of several years as heretofore.

JANITORS' SALARIES.

Nearly six-sevenths of the cost of running the schools is expended for salaries, including teachers', officers', and janitors'. It will be observed that nearly one tenth as much is expended for janitors as for teachers, a somewhat singular proportion, when it is remembered that the janitors number only 87, while teachers number 997; in other words, the average pay per janitor is more than the average pay per teacher.

The amount expended for janitors' pay is undoubtedly disproportionately large; much larger proportionately than in other cities, and should receive careful scrutiny. At

the same time it may doubtless be in a measure accounted for by the fact of the great territorial extent of the city, and the large number of small schools requiring separate janitors. In view of the comparatively liberal pay, especially for our large schools with their modern heating apparatus, the Board should insist upon a higher standard of qualification. That such positions should in any case be held by men who cannot read the receipts for property, or other vouchers which they must sign, is a public reproach, which should be remedied as soon as practicable, without hardship to any one, by fixing some date in the future after which no janitors will be employed who cannot read and write the English language.

TEACHERS' SALARIES.

The amount expended in the aggregate for teachers' salaries cannot be considered excessive. The most rigid economy has been enforced in this department for the past three years. "Extra" teachers have been dispensed with; few or no promotions to higher grades have been made; substitute work has been done mostly by students in the Normal school, and supervision in special branches has been abolished; but no material reduction in scale of salaries has been made since 1877. The salaries of the ladies, third assistants, who constitute the bulk of the teachers, are certainly none too high, and especially is this the case with the teachers in the Kindergarten. Economy in the quota of scholars to a teacher in the lower grades has been carried as far as the continued efficiency of the schools will warrant.

OFFICERS' SALARIES.

The amount expended for officers' salaries is not excessive, when the extent of the Board's business is considered, including not only the conduct of an extensive school system, but the management of a large landed es

tate, and of a retail book and stationery store, (the Supply Department).

It may be questioned, however, whether the present system of employing an architect, whatever his professional standing, engaged at the same time in the general practice of his profession, is for the best interests of the Board. The supervision of the janitors, and of repairs of the school houses, could, in my opinion, be more efficiently and more economically performed by an officer, a practical builder and mechanic, who should give his entire time to the duties of his office. The necessity of doing any particular work upon school property, should be determined not upon the judgment alone of an individual director, but upon the recommendation of a competent official, who should be informed at all times as to the condition of the school property.

NEW LEGISLATION.

The Board memorialized the last General Assembly to pass two bills, both of which became laws.

The effect of the first is to quiet all doubts which had been raised since the re-organization of the Board under the scheme and charter, as to the legal number constituting the Board, and to legalize beyond all question, the present status with one member from each ward.

The second relieves the Board from the necessity of taking an annual school census, by providing that for four years out of five we may elect to return the last enumeration made. The taking of an annual census, with the limited facilities which we could command for the work, had proven both expensive and unsatisfactory.

Last year, in lieu of an independent enumeration, the Board availed itself of the returns of the United States census, as compiled for the purpose, through the efficient co-operation of Prof. C. M. Woodward, the census supervisor. The result showing 106,372 persons of school age,

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