Mexborough & Swinton Times — December 8, 1893
Conisborough School Board
Resignation of the Attendance Officer
Advance of Teachers’ Salaries
Last night a monthly meeting of the Conisborough School Board was held, and there were present Messrs. Dufton (in the chair), Whitfield, Norwood, Pagdin, Kilner, and the Clerk (Mr. Harrison).
The attendance officer was not present.
The members incidentally referred to the great improvement effected by the introduction of a large lamp in front of the schools, and it was described as being the best in the township.
The Clerk remarked upon the inability to get certain vacancies on the teaching staff filled up, and Mr. Whitfield said the advertisement could not have been definite enough: the applicants ought to have been informed that the Board were in a very poor quarter.
Mr. Pagdin endorsed this view.
The Clerk said the applicants would need to give a month’s notice, and mentioned the names of some new teachers who had commenced their duties, and read an application from Miss E. M. Garth, of Dalton-in-Furness, for one of the vacancies; she was elected.
Miss Clement, of Southport, had been originally selected, but had since written saying she had “made other arrangements.”
Mr. Whitfield urged that teachers ought to be made to give the Board two months’ notice before they ceased their engagement with the Board, because at present a notice could be sent in after a Board meeting and the teacher could have left their service before another meeting was convened.
It was eventually agreed that, when a notice is given, it must be dated from the 29th of the month.
A brief note was read from Mr. W. Barlow, the attendance officer, resigning his position, which he had held at the rate of £22 per annum.
At the same time complaint were received from some of the teachers that the officer had not duly attended to his work, instances of this being named. One teacher remarked very pointedly that it was useless drawing attention to absentees unless the existing state of things was altered.
Mr. Whitfield said the attendance officer ought to have been present at the meeting that night, and to have given them a report; he would attend when he wanted his salary.
Reference was made to the awkwardness occasioned by reason of the prolonged lock-out, and Mr. Pagdin said that was all the more reason why the attendance officer should have looked after the work, even although the Board were not summoning the parents at that time.
Mr. Whitfield said the Board ought to have been apprised earlier of the resignation of the attendance officer; there ought to have been a special meeting. It was gross neglect.
The Clerk said he had called a meeting for the previous night.
The Chairman: And I attended it.
Mr. Whitfield said there was no reason in convening a meeting in that way; there ought to have been more notice given. He could not attend the meeting.
The Clerk remarked that he had been very ill.
Mr. Whitfield: Oh, in that case, I will accept that as an apology.
It was decided to advertise in the Mexborough Times at once for an attendance officer.
The importance of having a complete census of the children at Conisborough and Denaby was referred to.
The Clerk said he had already got much of this work done.
Mr. Whitfield said it ought to have been done long ago.
Mr. Kilner remarked that it was talked of six months ago.
The Clerk said he had given all the time to it that he could. He was urged to get the matter completed promptly.
The question of teachers’ salaries was brought forward by Mr. Pagdin, who moved that the male assistant teachers be paid from £55 to £60, and that the advance be at the rate of £2 10s. per annum; also that the female assistant teachers advance at a similar ratio from £45 to £50.
This was seconded by Mr. Norwood.
Mr. Whitfield said he hoped they had not been “intimidated” to do this. (Laughter.) He should not second the motion, but he would not oppose it.
Mr. Kilner supported the motion.
The Chairman: Then it is carried unanimously.
Mr. Norwood asked what would be done as to certificated teachers, and Mr. Pagdin suggested that that should be left for the future.
The usual holidays were arranged.