Queen Anne parents ask where the $25,000 school levy went

The regular monthly meeting of the board of education was held last evening, with A. P. Burwell in the chair. Before the routine business was begun a committee of citizens from the Queen Anne district, headed by Messrs. Harry W. Chase and Charles Fishback, addressed the board on the subject of a needed new building in that section of the city. The need of the school was conceded by the board, but the lack of available funds precluded its erection this year, the board decided, as, according to the county treasurer's report, the $25,000 appropriated last year had been expended for other building purposes.

Messrs. Chase and Fishback contended that the board had authority to order the purchase of a site and erection of a building, and it would then be the duty of the treasurer to furnish the money for which the assessment had been levied. The $25,000 collected this year, if levied for building purposes, should be so used by the board, and if the county treasurer had paid warrants on that fund other than the purpose for which the money was raised then the treasurer was responsible and not the board, and if the board would probe the matter, they, as attorneys, would see that the board was protected. They based their conclusions on section 90 of the session laws, which reads that the board of education shall annually report to the county commissioners an estimate of the amount of funds required for the support of the schools, for the purchase of school sites, the erection and furnishing of school buildings, and that the county commissioners are thereby authorized and required to levy and collect said amount the same as other taxes.

The matter was finally referred to the committee on buildings and grounds, together with the counsel of the board. A motion was also passed that it was the sense of the board that better school facilities were necessary on Queen Anne hill. The secretary was instructed to communicate with the county treasurer and find out what funds he has on hand from the tax levy of 1893 available for the erection of buildings and the purchase of real estate for 1894.

A communication from W. Parry Smith, from the east side of Lake Union, complaining of the bad water at the Latona school, was referred to the committee on grounds.

The question of flags over school buildings was discussed by the reading of a letter from the Grand Army of the Republic, Stevens post, covering a resolution asking that the school board shall float the American flag over every school building in the city. On motion the secretary was instructed to see that the flag was floated over every such building every fair day of the school year.

A letter was read from William Carnes, secretary, making an attack on the character of Judson P. Wilson, the professor of penmanship. Mr. Spencer said that the letter bore evidence of coming from Mr. Peet, who was discharged from the school for his unworthiness and his being thoroughly unreliable. It was referred to a meeting of the full board next Monday night, the secretary to notify all parties in interest to be present.

The Columbia school asked relief to cover balance of $175 due on its piano. The secretary was instructed to confer with the piano firm for a settlement. The condition of the Minor school ground was the subject of a letter from W. L. Ellis and others. No action was taken.

The committee on education reported that it had examined the reports of the principals of the various schools regarding the efficiency of the teachers, and found that as a whole the corps has done good work. A few teachers did not seem to come fully within the requirements; for these it was recommended that their re-election be conditioned upon improvement in their work, and that the superintendent be instructed to notify them that unless there is marked improvement by February 1, 1895, their employment as teachers in this district must terminate. The committee further recommended the election for the ensuing year of the named teachers, subject to the rules now in force respecting salaries, and that applicants on the attached list be placed on a reserve list from which the superintendent might fill vacancies.

Mr. Spencer moved that the board proceed to the election of the teachers according to the report as read. Mr. King moved an amendment that if it should become necessary to close the schools before the end of the school year the teachers be discharged without recourse on the district. The amendment was lost.

The teachers were then elected by classification, Messrs. King and Colkett voting no in every instance, explaining that they had no objections to the individuals, but objected to the one-year contract.

Bills to the amount of $1,381.91 were allowed.

The superintendent's report showed: regular teachers, 131; special, 4; substitutes, 7; total 142. Expenditures for May were salaries, $13,533.70; miscellaneous, $266.96; supplies, $135.20; fuel, $33.70; rent, $67.10; repairs, $46.18; total, $14,550.13.

The erection of a temporary building on the Central school grounds for manual training was referred to the building and grounds committee to report. On the high school commencement exercises, Mr. MacDougall moved that the board engage the Seattle theater, but it was decided to hold them in the First Presbyterian church.