Primary tabs

1906-12


WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906WWU Board of
Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906
Volume 02 - Page 089

1906-12-08 Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the State Normal School
held in the office of the principal this afternoon at 2 o'clock. Present:
the chairman, J.J. Edens, J.J. Donovan and F.F. Handschy of the board;
Principa E.T. Mathes and the clerk. The minutes of the meeting of Nov. 10th
read and approved on motion of J.J. Donovan. On motion of Mr. Handschy the
appended bills were allowed and ordered paid: Maintenance Fund: C.M.
Sherman: $25.20; Bellingham Electric Supply Co. $3.60; Whatcom Co. Ry. and
Lt. Co. $25.45; Sunset Telph and Telgh Co. $6.05; C.H. Stadelman $450.71;
Cole Truck and Storage Co. $12.00; Lowman and Hanford S. and P. Co. $34.40;
Orr and Lockett Hardware Co. $1.75; Atkinson, Mentzer and Grover $4.00;
E.R. Croft $17.00; Incidental Fund $171.47; $752.18. Science Fund:
Incidental Fund: $12.90; Library Bank Fund: Bellingham Bay POST $1.50. On
motion of Mr. Donovan it was ordered that A.W. Parsons, on the payroll as
Assistant Janitor, be paid from the Campus Fund for two months at the
regular rate of $67.50 per month. On motion of Mr. Handschy it was ordered
that the matter of filling the hole in front of the Dining Hall in the
campus be left with Dr. Mathes with power to act. Dr. E.T. Mathes presented
the following report: State Normal School, Bellingham, WA. December 8,
1906. To the board of trustees: Gentlemen, The state Normal School under
your charge in the City of Bellingham has completed seven years of active
work, and successfully entered upon the eight year of its history. The
general growth of the institution during these years is a familiar story,
but I have ventured to bring together certain data concerning the cost,
maintenance, and work of the institution with the hope that the same may be
of assistance to you in preparing your estimate of the needs of the school,
which estimate shall be presented to the next session of the State
Legislature for their consideration.


WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906
Volume 02 - Page
090

1906-12-08 It is eminently true that the school has long since passed the
experimental stage, and has achieved results that entitle it to favorable
consideration as an important factor in the educational system of the
state. The first year of work demonstrated clearly the need of a Normal
School in Western Washington, and each succeeding year the advance in
scholarship has strengthened the right of this institution to a leading
position among the state normal schools of the entire Northwest. But it is
not our purpose here to discuss the rights of the institution, rather we
desire to present some of the results that have been achieved for the State
in return for the investments made. The following data has been prepared
with considerable cars, and the results in general are as nearly correct as
it is possible to compute them. During the entire period there have been
enrolled in the institution a total of 1,495 different students. So far as
information can be obtained, 845 of these have taught in the public schools
of the State since leaving the Normal School. Of the 650 remaining, 305 of
them are at present enrolled as students in the school. The total number of
certificates and diplomas granted by the school since organization is 426.
This indicates that more than four hundred students have passed the
teachers' examination since leaving the Normal School. Of those who have
completed courses of study in the school, 225 have received diplomas; 179,
five-year certificates and 22 two year certificates. The positions held
throughout the State by the graduates of the school from the Advanced
Course are indicated as follows: Bellingham 24; Seattle 10; Tacoma 8;
Everett 7; Ballard 6; Spokane 4; Puyallup 4; Monroe 4; Marysville 4; and
many other places, one, two or three each. Of the 225 graduates from the
advanced courses only twenty have been married since graduation. This item,
however, we do not consider a cause for congratulation, but it disproves of
the fact the Normal graduates marry within a year or two after leaving the
institution. Our first graduating class numbered eight young ladies, and
six of the eight have tought continuously during the past seven years. Our
second class numbered twenty-nice, and twenty-three of these have taught in
the State continuously for the past six years. Later classes naturally show
even a greater percentage. During the past year we graduated forty-three
young ladies. Of these, forty-one are teaching at present and two are
attending the University of Michigan.


WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906
Volume 02 - Page
091

1906-12-08 The average enrollment for the first seven years has been 313.
The advance in character of scholarship is shown by the fact that in 1899
we have 110 students in the first year class and only 8 in the senior
class; while in 1906 we had only 42 in the first year class and 48 in the
senior class. During the first year only 33 students were enrolled in the
Junior class, while at present the enrollment is 90. During the first year
of the school's history two college graduates were enrolled for work, and
each succeeding year has witnessed an increase in the number of graduate
students. Every year there can be found many experienced teachers among the
students, and at the present time teachers are absent on leave from Seattle
and Tacoma to attend our Normal School. It is true that the institution has
received liberal treatment in many lines from the hands of past
Legislatures. The school now possesses the finest auditorium of any
educational institution in the Northwest, and our Training department has
the best quarters of any training school on the Pacific Coast; but in other
lines our school has received very meager support. During the first year or
two only a limited number of our students needed laboratory work in
science, but at the present time a large majority of our students are ready
for laboratory work when they enter the institution, but our facilities for
handling students in laboratory courses are no greater now than they were
five or six years ago. At the present time, Mr. Epley is teaching
Chemistry, Geography, and Agriculture all in the same room; while Mr.
Romine is using one laboratory for all his classes in Neurology, Biology,
Botany, and Zoology. Five years ago we had thirty students in Biology,
while today we have nearly ninety, the same conditions are true in the
subjects of Physics and Geography. Five years ago we taught no Manual
Training whatever in the institution, while at the present time more than
two hundred students receive regular instruction in this subject, and the
only available room for this work is a suite of three poorly lighted rooms
in the basement. Other and similar conditions might be enumerated, but it
is sufficient to add that the great material need at the present time is an
annex on the North end of the building in which may be placed the science
work of the institution.


WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906
Volume 02 - Page
092

1906-12-08 The appropriations received by the school in the past are as
follows: 1895 $40,000; 1897 $4,189.05; 1899 $33,500; 1901 $4,150, $1,640,
$93.800; 1903 $83,000; 1905 $80,000; Total $340,279.05; These sums have
been divided as follows: Buildings $95,829.05; Heating $9,000; Science
$8,300; Library $3,500; Campus $10,500; Museum $1,000; Furniture $6,000;
Text books $2,000; Repairs $5,000; Maintenance $199,150; During the first
seven years the studens paid into the institution as library fees the sum
of $21,180. During this time rebate checks were issued to the amount of
$10,024.25. This has left in the Library fund for the purchase of books a
total of $11,155.75. It will be observed that the normal dining hall does
not appear in the items for which appropriation has been made, and it
should be explained here that this department of the school was originally
started as a private enterprise. Upon solicitation Mr. C.R. Roth
constructed in 1903 a frame building on the normal campus which the school
leased and used as a boarding hall.


WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906
Volume 02 - Page
093

1906-12-08 At first a (?) was collected from those in charge which
proceeds were applied toward payment for the building; also upon approval
of the Attorney General the board of Trustees expended about six hundred
dollars from the general maintenance fund on the building. In December,
1904, the trustees were able to settle in full with Mr. Roth. The
legislature in 1905 made an appropriation of $5,000 for repairs and
improvements and something over four thousand dollars of this sum were used
in moving the dining hall to a new lcoation and constructing a large
addition to the original structure. The building as reconstructed now
accommodates 24 young ladies with rooms and board and offers meals to fifty
regular boarders. At the present time the Dining Hall is not only
self-supporting buy yields a revenue of approximately forty dollars per
month to the institution, which funds are used to keep the building in
first-class repair. In conclusion, the school has also from time to time
been the recipient of various sums of money but as these came as gifts to
the school from various classes and social organizations, no account of
them has been kept by the institution. Respectfully submitted, E.T. Mathes,
Principal.


WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906
Volume 02 - Page
094

1906-12-08 The clerk presented a report which being incorporated in the
report to the Governor is not entered here. Dr. Mathes presented the
following report to the Governor: Bellingham, Washington, Dec 14, 1906. To
His Excellency, Honorable Albert E. Mead, Governor: General Statement. The
State Normal School at Bellingham was established by legislative enactment
in the year 1893. The law formally creating the institution carried no
appropriation but provided for the appointment of a commission to determine
its location. The legislature of 1895 made an appropriation of $40,000.00
for the erection of the first building. In 1897 the institution received no
appropriation for maintenance. In 1899 the legislature made an
appropriation for $33,500.00 for equipment and maintenance for a term of
two years. The institution has therefore completed seven years of active
work. During the period approximately fifteen hundred students have
received instruction in the institution, and a total of 486 certificates
and diplomas have been issued. Of these, 225 have completed advanced
sources of study and received diplomas. A very large percentage of those
holding certificates and diplomas are at present teaching in the schools of
the State, and in addition to the graduates of the various courses more
than four hundred other students have engaged in teaching since leaving the
institution. Total Appropriations. Since the establishment of the school,
the State has made fillowing appropriations for equipment and maintenance:
1895 $40,000; 1897 $4,189.05; 1899 $33,500; 1901 $4,150; $1,640; $93,800.


WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906
Volume 02 - Page
095

1906-12-08 1903 $83,000; 1905 $80,000; Total $340,279.05; These
appropriations represent investments as follows: Buildings $95,829.05;
Heating $9,000; Science $8,300; Library $3,500; Campus $10,500; Museum
$1,000; Furniture $6,000; Text Books $2,000; Repairs $5,000; Maintenance
$199,150. From these figures it is evident that the permanent property and
equipment of the institution represent a value of approximapetly $140,000,
and the total cost of maintenance for seven and three-fourths years is a
trifle less than $200,000. The average attendance during the first seven
years in both the Normal School and training school was 468. The average
annual cost for maintenance has been, therefore, $54.90 per pupil. During
the first seven years the sum of $10,590 was received from the students in
library fees, and this sum has been invested in the library of the
institution. Normal Dining Hall. The location of the Normal School renders
it desireble to provide boarding accommodations near the institution for
practically all students, and the rapid increase in attendance during the
first few years made it necessary for the Trustees to provide boarding
facilities in addition to those offered in private homes. The available
funds for this purpose being very limited, Mr. C.I. Roth erected upon the
campus a frame building to be used as a dining hall. The rentals collected
from this building paid in part


WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906
Volume 02 - Page
096

1906-12-08 for its construction. In December, 1904, the title to this
building passed to the State. The legislature of 1905 made an appropriation
of $5000.00 for "improvements and repairs," of which sum $3566.00 was used
in moving and enlarging the original building. The building, as remodeled,
is still very inadequate, but even under these conditions it is exceedingly
popular and all rooms are constantly engaged months in advance. Unexpended
balances, Dec. 1, 1904. At the time of our last biennial report, issued
Dec. 1, 1904, to Governor Henry McBride, the following balances remained
from the appropriations made for this institution in 1903: Maintenance Fund
- Balance $15,019.68; Expenditures: Payroll $9,686.03; Safe $250.00; Water
$170.00; Stamped envelopes $162.00; Gymnasium lockers $252.00; Chairs for
society hall $200.00; Type-writer and desk $124.50; Carpenter work $161.50;
Locks $83.00; Doors $47.30; Lumber $41.30; Dining Hall $1,130.00; General
expense $2,665.68; $15,003.31; Reverted to State $16.37; Campus Fund -
balance $133.81; Expenditures $133.81; Science fund - balance $461.08;
Expenditures $458.75; Reverted to state $8.33. Completing Annex - balance
$1.80; Same amount reverted to state. Library fund - balance $26.71;
Expenditures $24.40; Reverted to state $2.31. Appropriations for biennial
term 1905-1907. Maintenance $70,000; Science $2,500; Museum $500; Campus
$2,000; Improvements and repairs $5,000. Expenditures. Apr. 1, 1905 - Dec.
1, 1906. The expenditures from the appropriations for the present biennial
term cover a period of twenty months. The amounts ex-


WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906
Volume 02 - Page
097

1906-12-08 pended and balances on hand, December 1, 1906, are as follows:
Maintenance Fund. Appropriation: $70,000.00; Expenditures: Payroll -
instructors, librarian, janitors, and clerk $46,540.29; General library,
including text-books and training school supplies $1,538.34; Furniture
$183.75; General supplies $817.63; Betterments and general repairs
$1,009.28. Cost of summer school - two sessions $1,292,50; Incidentals
$2,628.30; Light and light supplies $302.60; Fuel $1,949.50; Water $328.25;
Express, freight, and cartage $378.95; Dining hall supplies $76.00;
Printing, advertising, and engraving $178.17; Labor $219.30; Telephones
$59.30; Insurance on dining hall $69.27; 57,571.52; Balance $12,428.48.
Improvements and repairs fund. Appropriation $5,000; Expenditures: Addition
to dining hall $3,566.00; General repairs $1,434.00; $5,000; Appropriation
exhausted. Science Fund. Appropriation $2,500; Expended in science
equipment and supplies $2,140.76; Balance $359.22; Campus Fund.
Appropriation for the same term $2,000; Expended on campus for grading,
seeding, nursery stock, fertilizers, sidewalks, etc. $1,644.00. Balance:
$356.00. Museum Fund. Appropriation for the same term $500.00; Expended for
museum $156.25; Balance $343.75. Estimate of Expenses for Biennial Period
1907-1909. Faculty: Salaries based on present schedue: for principal and
twenty other teachers for two years: $54,100.00.


WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906
Volume 02 - Page
098

1906-12-08 Other employees: Salaries based on present schedule: for
librarian, secretary to principal, secretary to trustees, fireman, janitor,
student assistant janitors - for two years $8,700; Increase in salaries 5%
$3,140.00; Additional teachers needed: One science teacher, and three
assistant teachers - for two years $6,700; Summer Session - two years
$1,500; Operating expenses: Fuel $1,600; Water $500; Gas $150; Electricity
$350; Telephones $90; Telegrams etc. $150; Postage $250; Text Books $700;
Cartage, freight, and express $300; Office supplies $300; Traveling
expenses $200; Lectures $300; Sundries $500; $5,390; For two years $10,780.
Science Supplies and Equipment: Manual training $300; Laboratories:
supplies $800; Equipment $1,600; Training School $200; Gymnasium $250; For
two years $3,150; Museum - two years $750; Improvements and Repairs.
Repairs: Varnishing in old building $350; Calcimining $400; Repairs on roof
$200; Replacing flues in boilers $600; Covering steam pipes $200;
Installing fan systems $1,200; Gymnasium $150; Lockers for Gymnasium $300;
Finishing: 3 small rooms in attic for piano practice $1,000; $4,400;
Furniture $1,800; Installing Domestic Science Department $1,000.


WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906
Volume 02 - Page
099

1906-12-08 New buildings: Science annex $45,000; Heating same $4,000;
Furnishing same $2,000; $51,000. Addition to Normal Dining Hall $10,000;
Total appropriation $158,770; Explanation of Estimates. The estimates
herewith presented may be classified under two heads: General Maintenance
and New Buildings. The total estimate for general maintenance is $97,770,
and for new buildings, $61,000. The estimates for salaries are based upon
salaries actually paid at this time. The estimates for supplies and
operating expenses have been computed upon the records of past years, and
an intimate knowledge of the needs for repairs and improvements in the near
future. The additional cost of living will not be compensated for in the
small increase of 5% in salaries. Additional teachers are needed in the
science and mathematical departments, and there is urgent need for
assistant teachers to care for overflow classes that must be formed almost
every quarter of each school year. The estimates for repairs are confined
principally to the original building which has now been in use for eight
years and needs a general overhauling. The item for furniture is to provide
an additional piano, gas fixtures for the annex, extra book cases and
chairs, etc. The installation of a domestic science department is in line
with the general progress of the institution. New Buildings. For the past
seven years our physical and chemical laboratories have been located in
small, poorly lighted and poorly ventilated rooms in the north and of the
basement of the main building. These rooms are sorely inadequate for
efficient work. In addition to poor light and ventilation, they are
finished with cement floors, which are cold and damp and expecially unfit
for ladies to stand upon for long periods of laboratory work. The


WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906
Volume 02 - Page
100

1906-12-08 dampness of these rooms in the summer is also very detrimental
to the apparatus of the departments. At present, all of the laboratory work
for biology, neurology, and zoology is crowded into one room less than
thirty feet square, and there is great need for more room in this
department. The manual training department is also located in basement
rooms which are too dark for use during the winter months except with
artificial light. At the present time more than two hundred students are
taking work in this department, and the need for more as well as better
rooms is very urgent. To provide adequate accommodations, therefore, for
the science departments of the school, it is earnestly requested that an
appropriation be made for the erection of a science annex to the present
building. Reference has been made elsewhere in this report to the Normal
Dining Hall. At present this building is crowded to its utmost capacity,
and the demand for rooms is so great that they are frequently engaged a
year in advanced. Table accommodations for fifty and rooms for twenty-four
young ladies are provided at the present time, but the buildings should be
enlarged to accommodate fully double this number. In conclusion, it should
be added that the most vital element in the estimates submitted is the
general maintenance fund. The increased number of students and increased
cost of living make it a very essential thing that the maintenance
appropriation be liberal if the efficiency of the institution is to be
maintained and strengthened. Respectfully submitted. After full discussion
the following estimate was prepared for presentation to the next session of
the State Legislature as representing the needs of the institution for the
coming two years. The principal was instructed by the trustees to have the
estimate printed in the next issue of the School Bulletin with a proper
explanation of the items enumerated:


WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906
Volume 02 - Page
101

1906-12-08 State Normal School. Bellingham, Washington. Estimate of
Expenses for Biennial Period, 1907-1909. Maintenance, present salaries:
principal $3,250; education $1,500; history $1,500; English $1,300; $950;
$2,250; Mathematics: $1,600; $1,130; $2,750; Science: $1,600; $1,500;
$3,100; Oral Exp: $1,300; Music: $950; Draw. And Man. Tr. $1,050; $650;
$1,700; Language: $1,300; Training school: $2,000; $1,050; $1,050; $1,050;
$1,000; $6,150; Phys. Training: $950; Piano teacher: $350 $27,050. For two
years $54,100; Other employees. Librarian $950; $60 $1,010; Sec'y to Prin
$840; Sec'y to Board $480; Fireman $810; Janitor $810; Ass't Janitors $400;
$4,350. For two years: $3,7000; Increase in salaries 5% $3, 140. Additional
teachers, Science teacher $1,300; Domestic teacher, $1,000; Assistants
$1,150; $3,350; for two years $6,700; Summer session for two years $1,500.
Improvements and supplies: campus: Gardener $400; Seeds $75; Fertilizer,
sidewalk and fence $130; Filling $350; $875, for two years $1,750.


WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906
Volume 02 - Page
102

1906-12-08 Science Supplies - two years: Manual training $300;
Laboratories $800; Training sch. $200; Apparatus for laboratories $1600;
Gymnasium $250; $3,150. Museum $750. Furniture $1,800. Operating expenses
for two years: Fuel $2,200; Water $1,000; Gas $200; Electricity $700;
Telephone $180; Telegraph $300; Postage $500; Text books $1,400; Cartage,
treight and exp $600; Office supplies $600; Travel $400; Lectures $600;
Sudnries $1,000: $10,780. Repairs etc. for two years: Varnishing $350;
Calsomine $400; Roof $200; Flues in boilers $600; Covering pipes $200;
Installing fan system $1,200; Gymnasium $150; Lockers $300; Piano rooms
$1,000: $4,400. Installing Domestic Science dep't: $1,000. New building:
Building $45,000; Heating same $4,000; Furniture $2,000: $51,000. Addition
to Dining Hall: $10,000. Grand total: $158.770. Upon motion of Mr. Donovan,
Miss Lois Pebley and Miss Erika Nordberg were awarded elementary
certificates and Miss Jessie Coleman a secondary certificate. Upon motion
of Mr. Handschy the Christmas vacation was lengthened to two full weeks,
that is, beginning Friday evening, Dec. 21st, 1906 and closing Monday
morning Jan. 7th, 1907. Principal Mathes reported that Mrs. E.E. White had
tendered her thanks for the payment for legal services rendered to the
school by her husband. Principal Mathes also reported that the faculty
committee on the matter of changing the Normal school to a college was at
work and would submit a report to the Board during the next few days. On
motion of Mr. Donovan the board adjourned. Minutes approved. J. Wayland
Clark, clerk. John J. Edens, chairman.


WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for December 1906
Volume 02 - Page
103

1906-12-13 Minutes of the special meeting of the Board of Trustees of the
State Normal School held at the residence of J.J. Donovan. Present:
Chairman J.J. Edens, J.J. Donovan, F.F. Handschy, Principal Mathes and the
clerk; together with Profs. Lull, Forrest, and Romine, the committee of the
faculty, having in charge the matter of the elevation of the school to the
rank of a Normal college. After a full discussion of the matter the
committee was instructed to secure the service of an attorney in drafting a
bill covering the points brought out during the discussion to present to
the next legislature. On motion of Mr. Donovan the clerk was isntructed to
address a letter to the mayor and city council of Bellingham, notifying
them that the board of trustees elected to have a cement sidewalk in front
of the campus, instead of plank sidewalk, in the improvement of High Street
now under way. Minutes approved. J. Wayland Clark, clerk. John J. Edens,
chairman.


##