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trate the general relation of the school board to the city officials and the people in the matter of the annual budget:

OFFICERS OF THE BOARD.

The President.

By whom chosen.-It is customary for a school board to elect its own presiding officer. In some few cities the mayor is ex officio president of the board; in a few others the people elect the president of the board.

In 40 cities of 100,000 or more population the president is elected by the school board; in 1 the president of the city commission is ex officio president; in 1 the mayor is chairman of the board; in another the president of the school board is appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the second branch of the city council.

In 126 cities of between 25,000 and 100,000 population the president of the school board is elected by the school board itself. In 6 the mayor is ex officio chairman of the school board; in 2 the president of the board is elected by the people.

The term of the president of the school board in both groups of cities is usually only one year. In some few the term is two years, and in one or two others four years. For information regarding the president of the school board in each city, see pages 85–93.

Secretary.

By whom chosen.-With a very few exceptions the secretary of the school board is chosen by the school board. In several cities he is selected

by a civil-service examination. The superintendent of schools in a few cities of between 25,000 and 100,000 population acts as secretary. In one city the city clerk acts as secretary of the school board.

Number of cities.

School boards not required to submit estimate.

Submit to board of estimate.

Submit to council, commission, alderman or mayor.

Submit to county supervisors.

15

3

2

Relation of school board to other bodies in matter of annual budget in cities of 100,000 or more population.

The secretary of the board in only 4 cities out of 39 of 100,000 or more population reporting is a member of the board. In 28 of 120 cities of between 25,000 and 100,000 population reporting, the secretary is a member of the school board.

Term of office.-In cities of 100,000 or more population the secretary of the school board in 18 cities is elected for one year; in 4, for two years; in 4, for four years; in one, for five years; and in 15, for an

indefinite tenure. In cities of between 25,000 and 100,000 population, the secretary of the school board in 81 cities is elected for one year; in 15, for two years; in 6, for three years; in 8, for four years; and in 8, for indefinite tenure. Indefinite tenure for the secretary of the school board should, without doubt, be the rule in every city. Secretary to standing committees.-In 31 of 39 cities of 100,000 or more population and in 82 of 121 cities of between 25,000 and 100,000 population the secretary of the school board acts as secretary for the various standing committees.

Relation to city superintendent.-In cities of 100,000 or more population the secretary of the school board, with three exceptions, is responsible directly to the school board and not to the board through the superintendent. In 7 cities out of 102 of between 25,000 and 100,000 population reporting, the secretary is responsible to the board through the superintendent; in 14 the secretary is the superintendent, in the others he is directly responsible to the school board. Salary. In summarizing the amount of salary paid secretaries of school boards, the cities were divided into three groups: (1) Cities of 300,000 or more population; (2) of 100,000 to 300,000; (3) of 25,000 to 100,000.

In the first group the median salary is $3,870; the minimum is $1,800; the maximum, $10,000; the lower quartile, $2,500; the upper quartile, $5,000. In the second group the median salary is $2,500; the minimum, $904; the maximum, $3,600; the lower quartile, $1,800; the upper quartile, $3,000. In the third group the median salary is $1,500; the minimum, $50; the maximum, $3,600; the lower quartile, $900; the upper quartile, $2,000.

Treasurer.

As a rule the city treasurer is the treasurer of the school board. In 31 cities of 100,000 or more population, and in 76 of those of between 25,000 and 100,000 population, this is the case. In 1 city of the former group a member of the board acts as treasurer; in 2, an outside person acts; in 8, the secretary of the board. In 16 cities of the second group a member of the school board acts as treasurer; in 3, the superintendent of schools; in 32, an outside person.

Salary of treasurer, if not city official or other official of school board.— Since the city or county treasurer acts as treasurer of the school funds in practically all cities of 100,000 population or over, salaries for the position were not reported by the school authorities. In the group of cities of between 25,000 and 100,000 population the salary of the treasurer of the school funds is usually only a nominal one. In some instances no salary is paid. This is usually due to the fact that the treasurer has the use of the funds while in his hands.

Interest on daily balance in hands of treasurer.-In 26 of 33 cities of 10,000 or more population reporting, and in 77 of 106 cities having between 25,000 and 100,000 population, interest is paid by the treasurer on daily balances of funds in his hands. In the larger cities, interest on daily balances would not be an inconsiderable amount. With the pressing need for more funds, a school board can not well excuse itself if it lets an individual or a bank have charge of the funds to make what profits he or it can. A 3 per cent rate would still let the custodian of funds have the opportunity of making 2 or 3 per cent profit. A few State laws provide that the custodian of school funds shall pay interest on unappropriated balances. The following may be given as examples: In Ohio, in school districts containing two or more banks, deposit shall be made in the bank or banks situated therein that at competitive bidding offer the highest rate of interest, which must be at least 2 per cent for the full time funds or any part thereof are on deposit. In Kentucky boards of education in city school districts of the first class are required to advertise for bids from the banks and trust companies in the city for the current deposits. The bids must specify the rate of interest to be allowed. In Kansas in cities of the first class such rate of interest is paid on monthly average balances as may be agreed upon by the bank and the board of education.

THE SUPERINTENDENT.

By whom elected.-A fundamental principle of school administration is that the superintendent of schools should be appointed by the city board of education. If the superintendent is elected by the people, the office is at once thrown into city politics. This, however, is not the only reason a superintendent should not be elected by popular vote. A city should have the very best superintendent of schools its financial conditions will afford. It should scour the country in search of the best. If the superintendent is elected by popular vote, this can not be done with any degree of success. In brief, it is the universally accepted thought that a school board should have power to choose its own executive officer. In practice school boards in all but a few cities appoint the superintendent of schools. In San Francisco, he is elected by the people; in Richmond and Portsmouth, Va., by the State board of education; and in Green Bay, Wis., by the city council.

The term of office of superintendent.-Obviously the term of office of the city superintendent of schools should be sufficiently long to give him time to show what he is able to do. A probationary period of one year is not sufficient. No superintendent, however clearly he may see the needs of a school system, can accomplish much the first year. One reason so many superintendents proceed so cautiously

that the schools remain at a standstill is that the tenure is too short; the superintendent feels that any radical changes would mean "failure of reelection." A probationary term of three years is the least that will give a superintendent opportunity to make radical changes and time enough in which to prove that the changes are for the best interests of the school. If successful, he should then be given indefinite tenure.

In cities of 100,000 or more population the median length of term of superintendent is four years, and the mode four years. In cities having between 25,000 and 100,000 population the median falls to

Number

of cities.

14

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Years. 1 2 3 4 5 6

Indef

inite.

three years and the mode to one year. For length of term of city superintendent in each city, see pages 46-53. The various lengths of terms are illustrated by graphs XVII, XVIII.

The term of the superintendent of schools, it is generally thought, should be fixed by State law and not by school board legislation. In 38 of the cities of 100,000 or more population reporting, the term of the superintendent is fixed by State law or city charter. In 68 of the cities of between 25,000 and 100,000 population reporting, the term of the superintendent is fixed by State law or city charter; in 50 by the school board; in 9 by the State law and the school board.

The salaries of city superintendents XVII.-Length of term of superinten- should be fixed by the school board, so

dents in cities of 100,000 or more

population.

Median, 4 years; mode, 4 years.

that a board may be free to advance the salary of a superintendent as he shows his administrative ability, or so that a board may offer sufficient salary to attract strong men from other cities.

In 34 cities of 100,000 or more population the school board fixes the salary of the superintendent of schools. In San Francisco, Cal., and St. Paul, Minn., the salary is fixed by charter; in Washington, D. C., by Congress; in Albany and Syracuse, N. Y., by the board of estimate and apportionment on recommendation of the school board; and in Roanoke, Va., by the general assembly. In all but 3 of the cities with between 25,000 and 100,000 population the school board fixes the salary of the superintendent of schools. In 1 it is fixed by the city council and in 2 by the board of estimate.

ASSOCIATE, ASSISTANT, OR DEPUTY

SUPERINTENDENT.

All but five of the cities of 100,000 or more population reporting have from 1 to 13 associate, assistant, or deputy superintendents. The median

number is 2.

Among the duties usually assigned to assistant or associate superintendents in the group of the largest cities are: Supervision of elementary instruction, examination of candidates for teaching positions, preparation of courses of study, assignment and transfer of teachers, supervision of evening schools, office administration work, supervision of compulsory attendance department. Assistant superintendents usually have as their territory the entire city. This is the case in 18 of 29 cities reporting. The number of assistant or associate superintendents is, with two exceptions, determined by the school board. In San Francisco the number is determined by charter and in Washington, D. C., by act of Congress.

The term of associate or assistant superintendents is usually for only one year. Of the cities reporting the length of term, 15 elect for one year; 1, for three years; 6, for four years; 1, for six years, and 2 for an indefinite period.

Number
of cities.

Only 35 cities with between 25,000 and 100,000 population report assistant or associate superintendents. The duties usually assigned are supervision Years. of instruction, supervision of primary

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4

3

2

1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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Indef

inite.

grades, clerical work, direction of edu- XVIII. Length of term of superintendents cational measurements. Undoubtedly

many more of these cities would secure

in cities between 25,000 and 100,000 population.

Median, 3 years; mode, 1 year,

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