Sewickley Herald

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The Sewickley Valley's Home-News Weekly
Vol. XXVI. No. 35.
SEWICKLEY, PA.. FRIDAY. MAY 10, 1929
Price 5 Cents.
THE GET-TOGETHER GIRLS IN THEIR, MUSICAL PLAY,  ''MARRYING MARIAN"
Here on the stage in the Sewickley Y. M. 0. A. gymnasium is the cast and chorus of this bright and tuneful
performance given iast week by that live "Y" organization; Principal parts were taken by Misses Helen
Soltis and Phyllis Cook (as heroine and hero), Mary Semansik, Marjory Craig, Nettie Stevensdnj Blanche
O'Brien. Special numbers were given by Anna and Marion Siekeler and by Agnes Williamson; and little
Patty O'Brien starred as flower girl in one of the choruses. The play was under the direction of Mr& Oscar
Rosenfeld, Mrs. W. J. McCann, Miss Martha Millen and Miss Lila Copeland.
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SEWICKLEY SCHOOL TAX
Fifteen Mills, Same as Last Year, Fixed
At its regular session last Tuesday
evening, the Sewiekley school board
fixed the tax levy for this year at
fifteen mills, the same rate as last year
and the year before. The finance committeo in recommending this action
statocl that a larger millage would
perhaps have been justified in order to
operate Sewickley schools as they
should be, but that it was felt inadvisable to increase the rato this year.
The budget increases each year through
causes not within tho board's control,
especially on account of the progress
sive increases in teachers' salaries
which it is the policy to grant as each
teacher's term of service in iSewickley
lengthens, but also because of other
running and maintenance expenses
showing increases. The finance committed submitted a budget of $181,028.60
for the coming school year, which will
require tho closest possible collection
of school taxes to moot without a deficiency at tho end of tho yoar.
The budget, however, includes provision for the employment of an additional teacher, to take charge of a
new grade, the "high first," to como
between tlie first and second grades
and to take care of pupils who have
finished the first grade 'but who are not
yet quite ready to enter tho second
without slowing down the work of ihe
rest of tho class. It also takes caro
of placing in tho hands of each first-
grade pupil a basal text book—now ono
text book is used iby two or throe pupils
together; it includes the introduction
of the Peterson system of writing, All
theso changes Were recommended by
tlie curriculum committee on tho initiative of Principal L. H, Conway, and
approved by tho board, Other such
recommendations included tlie inatigura-
tioii of a course iii United States History ih the fourth grade; the combining of two. present courses now occupying too large a pdrtioh of time into
ono English course; omission -of tho
third grade fr6m tho platoon group;
departmentalizing of tho platoon
group;   arranging  that  but  one   class
at a time be on the playground, and
that directed play and physical exer^
cises be used instead of undirected play.
The bojird formally elected the following teachers now on the staff who
havo signed contracts for next year:
Miss Frances Bailey, Miss Blanche Mc-
Auley, Miss Jessie Stuart, Miss Emma
Burkhouse, Miss Kathryn 'Crane, Miss
Louise Crooks, Miss Martha Boyd, Miss
Crystal Erey, Miss Euth Howland, Miss
Margaret Wilson, Miss Eva Compton,
Miss Agnes Nicholas, Miss Thelma
Wassum, Miss Melissa Patterson, Miss
Manta Riley) Miss Mary Tully, Miss
Catheriito Hay, Miss Emily Stewart,
Mrsi R. Ii. Peterson, Miss Mary E. Hubbell, Miss Amy E. Kerr, Mrs. Besso S.
Egolf; Miss Hazel M. Kobhlor, Robert
Thorne, Miss Mildred Thomasj Miss
Ruth Simpstfn) Miss Martha Truby,
Miss Margarot McGinnis, Miss Louiso
Ward, Miss Grace E. Fickinger, Miss
Lila Oopoinnd, H. B. Winne, Mss Rhoa
Stewart and W, J. Thompson, Soveral
now teachers are still to be selected and
elected. Principal L. H. Conway had
boon reelected at the last mooting, and
was at this time again granted leave
of absence for a. Six weeks' course at
Columbia University during the summer.
Tho resignation of T. H. B. McKnight
as library trustee was received; Mr.
McKnight stated that he does not ex"
poet to spend enough timo in Sewickley hereafter to be a useful member of
the board, and gave a Short history of
that board sinee its organization in the
present form in 1898. He has served
continuously since that time', 31 years,
the last 19 as its president) and is the
last member of tho original board to
go out. His resignation was accepted
with an expression of regret, and oh
recommendation of the library board,
the school board elected Mark R. Craig
to fill Mr. McKnight's unexpired term.
It also elected Mrs. James Todd to
succeed -herself for another 'terni,
Action Was taken reelecting A. E.
Tweed as secretary to the school board
for another terni of four years. The
tuition fee for pupils not resident in
Sowickloy was fixed for tho coming
year at the samo figure now provaling.