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terms in succession. The board may make all necessary rules of proceedure and may punish unexcused absence from meetings by a fine of not over $5 for each offense. The board may meet from time to time and a majority of the members form a quorum. They may elect one of their own number president and in the absence of the president may choose a president pro tempore.

The board of education is a body corporate and may sue and be sued, and may hold, sell, and convey real and personal property as the interests of the schools may require.

The recorder's court has jurisdiction of all suits wherein the board may be a party and of all prosecutions for violations of its by-laws and ordinances.

The board must elect a superintendent of public schools to hold office for three years, at a salary to be fixed by the board, but not to exceed $4,000 a year. They may appoint a secretary to hold office during the pleasure of the board, and may prescribe his duties and compensation. The superintendent may be directed by the board to fill the office of secretary, but he is not entitled to extra compensation for so doing. The board must also appoint a treasurer, to have the keeping of all moneys belonging to the schools. He must give such bond as the board may require, and may not pay out the school moneys except by the authority of the board.

Every resolution or proceeding of the board of education whereby any liability or debt may be created or involving the expenditure of money or disposal of property must be presented to the mayor. If the mayor approve the proceeding he must sign it, and it thereupon goes into effect. If he does not approve, he must return it to the board in five days with his objections. The board must thereupon reconsider the proceeding, and if two-thirds of all the members agree to adopt the same it goes into effect. If the mayor neither signs the proceeding nor returns it to the board with his objections in five days, it goes into effect without his signature. It is the duty of the board of education to apply for and receive from the county treasurer all moneys appropriated by the State for primary schools and district library of the city, and to designate a place where the library may be kept.

The board have authority to make by-laws and ordinances relative to taking the census of all children in the city between the ages of 5 and 20 years. They may appoint one or more persons to take such census, and may prescribe their duties and compensation. The result of the census must be reported annually to the common council, and such report is conclusive as to the number of children for purposes of taxation. It is the duty of the board of education to annually prepare and submit to the common council an estimate of the amount of taxes deemed necessary for all school expenditures during the ensuing year. The estimates must specify as nearly as possible the amounts required for teachers' salaries, purchase of lots for buildings, erection of build. ings, repairs, fuel, and general current expenses.

These estimates are treated as of two classes. The full amount required for the first class, including the estimates for all purposes except the purchase of lots and the erection of buildings, with the necessary outbuildings, fixtures, and furniture, must be placed upon the general city tax rolls, and levied and collected the same as other city taxes, the proceeds to be disbursed by the board of education for the maintenance of schools and for no other purpose; provided that the amount of such estimate and tax must not be less than $4 for every child in the city between 5 and 20 years of age, nor more than $5 unless the common council approve of such excess.

The estimates of the second class, that is, for the purchase of lots, the erection of buildings, and purchase of fixtures and furniture therefor, must be submitted to the board of estimates of the city as well as to the common council. A tax may be levied to raise only such part of these estimates as the board of estimates and the common council may approve. The proceeds must be paid to the treasurer of the board of education, to be used only for the purposes for which the tax was levied. The common council may issue the bonds of the city in lieu of levying a tax to raise the whole or any part of the amount required by the estimates of the board of education.

All taxes levied for schools must be set forth in the assessment rolls apart from all other city taxes. The board of education may from time to time borrow money for temporary purposes not exceeding in all $15,000.

The board of education have authority to make by-laws and ordinances relative to the making of all reports to State and other officers required by law; relative to the visitation of schools; relative to the length of time school shall be kept, which must not be less than three months in a year; relative to the employment and examination of teachers, their powers and duties; relative to regulation of schools, and the books to be used therein; relative to the appointment of necessary officers and prescribing their powers and duties; relative to anything whatever that may advance the interests of education, the good government and prosperity of the free schools of the city, and the welfare of the public concerning the same.

The board must publish annually a detailed report of the schools.

Any nonresident paying school taxes on real estate in the city may send any scholars who are members of his own family to the schools of the city, and the amount he has paid for school taxes may be deducted from the tuition fees chargeable to his children as nonresidents.

The common council have power to pass ordinances for the maintenance of order in and about the public schools and to prohibit and pre. vent injury to school property.

The board of education may submit to the voters of the city any measure for adoption which does not come under the general power or authority of the board if they deem such measure just and proper toward

the prosperity and advancement of education in the free schools of the city. If the majority of the voters of the city either adopt or reject the proposed measure the board of education must abide by the result.1

It is the duty of the board of education to enforce the compulsory attendance laws; to provide flags for all schoolhouses and cause them to be displayed during school hours.

The board of education must establish a public school-teachers' retirement fund, to be administered by a board of trustees consisting of the board of education, the superintendent of schools, and two representatives selected by the teachers. This fund consists of all money deducted from the salary of any teacher on account of absence, or any other reason; donations, bequests, etc., on account of the fund; money obtained from miscellaneous sources, or appropriated or raised with the approval of the common council and the board of estimates; percentages not to exceed 1 per cent deducted from the salaries of teachers; interest derived from said moneys.

The board of education must establish and maintain a district library, but they may elect a board of commissioners to whom the care of the funds and property of the library may be transferred. A special library tax of one fifth of 1 mill on the dollar must be levied each year with other city taxes and paid over to the commission.

MILWAUKEE, WIS.2

The public schools are under the general management, control, and supervision of a school board, consisting of two persons from each ward, appointed by the aldermen of such ward subject to confirmation by the common council. The members of the board hold their offices three years unless sooner removed.

A president is elected by the board, and must be a member thereof. A majority of the members constitute a quorum.

The board appoints biennially a secretary, who gives bond, performs the duties usual to the office, and takes a school census yearly.

The members of the board must take the official oath and be subject to the same restrictions and liabilities as aldermen, and are exempt from jury duty. The seat of a member absent without satisfactory excuse from four successive meetings must be declared vacant and the common council proceed to elect his successor. The council may remove any

member for cause.

The school board must report to the common council each year the amount of money required for the support of all the public schools.

This provision was passed with special reference to the question of free textbooks.

Compiled from act of April 27, 1891, in Wisconsin City Charters and Amend1. page 1248, and from other acts specified.

18 wards, and consequently 36 members of the school board.
lermen from each ward.

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during the next fiscal year, and the council must levy and collect a tax in addition to the general tax at the same time and in the same manner as other city taxes, which, with other funds provided for the same purpose, shall be equal to the sum required by the school board; but the council may, by a two-thirds vote, levy a tax for a greater or less amount.

The school tax and the school fund of the city may not be used for any other purpose than the payment of the salaries of the superintendent of schools, of the secretary of the board, of the teachers and other employees, and the current expenses of the schools, including the purchase of supplies, apparatus, and fuel, and the ordinary repairs of school furniture. All school moneys of the city are paid to the city treasurer and disbursed by him on the order of the president and secretary of the board countersigned by the city comptroller. The school board may not in any one year incur any expense or contract any debt greater than the amount subject to their order without an ordinance of the council.

All school property is the property of the city, and no lot may be purchased and no building may be erected without an ordinance or resolution by the common council. All deeds of conveyance and leases are made to the city.

The board of public works have special charge and superintendence of schoolhouses, and make all repairs, alterations, and improvements. upon them and upon the premises thereof. Whenever such repairs or alterations or improvements are deemed necessary by the school board, it is their duty to report the same to the common council for their action.' The board of public works also advertise for bids, let contracts, and supervise the work of building new houses. The common council are authorized to levy and collect taxes for the purchase of sites and the erection of school buildings."

The school board are authorized and required, subject to the approval of the council, to establish as many new schools as may be necessary for the accommodation of the children of the city, and the council must erect, purchase, or hire buildings and furniture and lots for such schools.

The school board have the power to employ the janitors necessary for schoolhouses, and to fix their compensation; to define the boundaries of school districts in the city; to prescribe the text-books to be used, but may not change them oftener than once in five years. The textbooks and the system of instruction must be as nearly as possible uniform for the whole city. They may adopt and enforce by-laws, rules, and regulations for their own government and for the organization, discipline, and management of the schools.

The school board must elect by ballot bien

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1 Acts of 1882, chapter 324.

2 Act of March 11, 1881.

experienced person as superintendent of schools for a term of two years unless sooner removed. His salary is fixed by the board, but may not exceed $4,000 per annum. He must appoint, subject to the approval of the board, an assistant superintendent, to hold office during the term of the superintendent unless sooner removed, and whose salary may not exceed $2,000.

In connection with a committee of the board and subject to confirma. tion by the board, the superintendent examines, certificates, classifies and employs teachers, and may dismiss them for cause. The secretary of the board must file annually with the city comptroller a certified list of all teachers employed, with their salaries.

Any officer of the board may be dismissed by the board by a twothirds vote for cause after due hearing.

The school board must report annually to the common council.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.'

The board of education of the city of Minneapolis consists of seven school directors. They are elected by the people at the biennial State election and as a part of the general election, but a separate ballot box is provided. The term of office of each director is six years, two being elected at each biennial election, except that every sixth year three are elected. Every school director before entering upon his duties. must take an oath to support the constitution and laws of the State and to perform the duties of his office to the best of his ability.

In case of the death, resignation, or removal from the district of any school director the vacancy may be filled for the unexpired term by election at the next annual election.

The time and place of the meetings of the board are appointed by the board. The officers consist of a president and a secretary, who must be school directors. The city treasurer and the city comptroller are treasurer and comptroller, respectively, of the board. The secre tary and the treasurer are bonded officers. Election of officers is held annually.

The board of education is a legal corporation, has a common seal, is capable of suing and being sued, of buying, receiving, selling, and conveying real or personal property, and of making and enforcing contracts. The title to all real and personal public school property in the city is vested in the board of education.

The board of education is authorized and empowered to levy such taxes as will raise sufficient sums of money for all school purposes; but the aggregate levy of such taxes must not exceed 4 mills on the dollar of assessed valuation. The board must make return of its annual levy of taxes to the county auditor, and the taxes are collected by county officers at the same time and in the same manner as State and

1

Compiled from the charter of the board of education, published in the Report of Board of Education for 1891-95, pages 163 et seq.

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