Mexborough and Swinton Times, July 12.
Conisborough School Board.
Treatment of Truants
Furnishing of New Schools.
Plenty of Work for the New Board.
The last ordinary meeting of the Conisborough School Board, before the triannual election, which was fixed for yesterday (Thursday) was held on Friday in last week. There was a full attendance of members.
The proceedings occupied about three quarters of an hour, the main subject discussed being the cost of maintaining truant children.
Mr W.W.Norwood (the chairman) presided, and the other members present were Mr D. Robinson, Mr J. Gillott, Mr E.Wray , Mr E Ravenscroft, Mr J. Marsh, Mr J .Brocklesby, and Mr T.R. Booth.
The offices in attendance were the Clerk (Mr F.Allen,) and attendance officer (Mr Sargentson)
The Boy Coggan
The Clerk to the Doncaster Board of Guardian wrote stating that no application had been made by the parents of the boy Coggan in respect to his case.
The Attenders Officer reported that since the letter was written the mother of the boy had attended, and made the necessary application, and was informed that the Guardians would let her know their decision in a short time.
The Chairman: That may mean this year or next year. He added that he thought the Board ought to keep on urging the Guardians to do something in this case, or else they would never do anything. It should go as an instruction to the new Board to follow up the case.
This was agreed upon.
The Claim against Mr Pagdin
The Clerk reported that in accordance with instructions. He had written to Mr Pagdin, asking him to pay the sum of £2 14s received by him for needlework sales, but he had not had any reply.
The Chairman: I do not think it is our duty to write any more. Leave it to the auditor.
New school.
Mr B. Wortley, the contractor for the new school, wrote stating that he would put in the two additional doors that had been considered necessary for the sum of £4 each, making £8 in all.
Mr Brocklesby asked if that would include the levelling of the ground, and the provision of steps.
The Chairman was of opinion that it did, and on his proposition, seconded by Mr Booth, the offer of Mr Wortley was accepted.
The Clerk reported that in regard to the furnishing of the new schools he had not seen the architect in order to get the plans on which the positions of the desks were shown, nor had he been able to see the infant mistress, as she had been away on account of the Feast holidays.
The Chairman said he took it the furnishing had nothing to do with the architectural Department. He knew when he was a member of the Board of Guardians with regard to the new workhouse at Doncaster the architect had nothing to do with the furnishing. He might have recommended certain things, but there was a special committee appointed to get tenders.
The Clerk said it seemed to him the best way was to follow the plans prepared by the architect.
The Chairman: You had better be prepared to instruct our successors.
At a later stage the Board had before them a certificate from Mr White, the architect, for the payment of £500 on account from Mr Wortley, and it was decided that a cheque should be drawn for that amount. The Chairman explained that this would bring the sum paid to Mr Wortley up to £2900, and the contract was for a little over £3900, and that would leave £1000 in hand. Mr Wortley had the work well in hand.
There would be no difficulty in paying the £500, as there was about £650 in the bank on the loan account, and there was £100 more to borrow, for which the Clerk had applied. No doubt that money would be placed to the credit of the Board by the time the school was completed.
In The Dark.
The Chairman introduced the question as to when the newly elected Board would have their first meeting, and when the term of office of the members of the expiring Board would cease. He said the information given with regard to the formation of the new Board was most vague.
The Clerk: I do not officially know of the election yet.
The Chairman: We don’t. There has been no communication come to the Board at all, either from the returning officer, the Education Department, or anywhere. I think we ought to have some official notice.
Mr T.R.Booth: They should have advised you in any case.
Mr Marsh: I don’t remember the board being advised in any previous case.
Mr Booth: I think it is only right the Clerk of the Board should know.
The Chairman said he supposed the expiring board would legally continue in office until the day of the next Board meeting. If that was not so how about managing the schools, paying salaries, and suchlike?
The Clerk: I shall have to go and see Mr Nicholson.
Mr Marsh: I have known the old Board meet after the new one had been elected – after the day of the poll.
The Clerk again said he would see the returning officer, Mr F.E.Nicholson, Clerk to Doncaster Board of Guardians and the matter was not further discussed.
The Schoolless Children.
The Clerk reported that he had written to the Board of Education respecting the closing of the Denaby and Cadeby Colliery Company school with 230 children living in the Conisborough parish, and also with reference to the attendance of standard one children, but had not yet received anything more than a formal acknowledgement of the receipt of the letter.
The Chairman: That will be a serious question for the new Board.
A Truants Outfit.
The accounts presented for payment included two from the Shibden industrial school, one of £1 6s 5d for the maintenance of a truant, and the other for £2 10s for an outfit for the same boy.
Chairman: Do they give him a suit of clothes when he leaves?
Mr Sargentson: Two suits.
The Chairman: Well, I think it is hard lines having to finding two suits.
Mr Brocklesby: Any pocket money? (Laughter.)
The Chairman: it will allow that out of 5/6 a week perhaps: is that the law? Cannot we protest against this clothing? Is it a regular thing?
Mr Sargentson: That is what the superintendent told me.
The Chairman: It is one thing to educate a truant, but it is another thing to clothe him.
Mr Robinson: If a boy goes there for six years he wants clothes when he comes out.
The Chairman: I should expect his parents to do that.
Mr Marsh said the parents of this boy had had to pay 3/6 a week while the boy was in.
Mr Sargentson: That is paid over to the school, so they get 8/6.
Mr Booth: They are working there all the time: it is not a bad job that.
Account for the maintenance of other truant were adopted, and a bill for £6 6s presented by Mr Alan for attending the last urban powers enquiry, and representing the Board was also passed for payment.
The whole of the bills passed for payment amounted to £493. The Chairman remarked that the expiring Board would leave office with something like £800 in the bank, which would have to last up to Christmas, but in addition there was a call outstanding.
Compliments.
This, been deemed to be the last meeting of the Board, the chairman was accordingly thanks for the impartial duty which he had carried out the duties of the office during his term.
The compliments to Mr Norwood’s abilities and fair-minded disposition were numerous, every member speaking in turn on this pleasant thing.
The members and Chairman shook hands with each other in farewell, at the same time expressing the hope that they would all meet again after the vote.
It was a touching incident