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Page 134
THE FIRST SCHOOL BOARD
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE School Board elected in February, 1881 did not get
together so promptly as the town council. The school term at that
time was five months and had been provided for by Sandy Township and
the schools probably were closed about the first of March or very
early in that month.
The first meeting of the School Board is as follows:
"DuBois School District, Clearfield County, Pa., March
22, 1881. At the inaugural meeting of the Board of Directors of
DuBois organization was obtained by the unanimous election of T. G.
Gormley, President; J. F. Brady, Secretary, and John Ellis,
Treasurer.
"On motion of William T. Jones, the secretary was
instructed to notify Mr. Ellis of his election to the office of
Treasurer.
"An informal talk as to what was desirable for the best
interests of the schools resulted in a resolution offered by Mr.
Jones—it is the sentiment of the Board that if the financial
condition of the district will warrant it, it is desirable that the
schools be kept open for a summer term—and that a high school is
essential to the interests of the borough.
"The Board then adjourned, meeting the first
Monday of April. J. F. Brady, Secretary."
In April, 1881, another meeting was held and Mr. Jones
again came forth with a resolution "that the schools of the Borough
be kept open for a term of eight months, opening on the first Monday
of September and closing on the second week of May next following,
with an interval of two weeks holiday commencing one week prior to
Christmas and continuing until January 1st., inclusive."
It is noticed that at the first Board meeting on the
22nd. of March, 1881, Mr. Jones became quite ambitious and moved
that "if the financial condition of the district will warrant, it is
desirable that the schools be kept open for a summer term." On the
12th. day of July, 1881, this resolution was followed by one, "that
there shall be eight schools for a period of eight months."
It seems the School Board acted upon the several
resolutions to have an eight month term of school and the contracts
with the teachers after that date provided for an eight month term
of school. While the law required but a five month term, the new
city took a step forward on the school question and gave the
children the benefit of eight months school. In this early time
applications were made each year for the use of the several school
houses for summer schools, by the teacher who taught during the
winter term, and this
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