SCHOOL LAW OF THE State Of West Virginia, PKSSED jy^KROH, ISBI. And Constitutional Provisions Relating to Education, with the Amendments Made by the Legislature at the .Sessions of 1882, 1883, 1885, 1887, '1889, 1 891 and j 893, WITM" NOTES, CONTAINING THE DECISIONS UPON SCHOOL LAW BY THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS, OPINIONS OE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, DECISIONS OF THE S TATE SUPER- INTENDENT OF FREE SCHOOLS, &C. WITH FORMS AND INDEX, COMPILED BY VIRGIL A. LEWIS, State SuPEaiNXENOENT of F^see Schools- CHARLESTON: Moses W. Donnally, Public Frinteh. 1894. .. l^ 1 i'\'i AR 4 1903 D. ot D. PREFACE. Section 65 of Chapter XLV. of the Code of West Virginia provides that the State Superintendent of Free Schools '^shall cause as many copies of this Chapter" — the School Law- "and other school laws in force, with such forms, regulations and instructions as he may judge expedient, thereto annexed, to be from time to time published as he may deem expedient, and shall cause the same to be for- warded to the County Superintendents, to be by them distributed to the persons entitled to receive them." Under this authority of law, this edition of the School Law of the State is published, the same being rendered necessary because the edition of 1891 is exhausted. In this Digest the Constitutional provisions relating to our Public School system are given, and they show how firmly its founda- tion is laid in the organic law of the State. Then follows the Statutory laws by which the system is established and rendered opera- ii. Pjkkface. live and effective. The Law, section by sec- tion, numbered in Arabic numerals, is placed first, and at the end of each section, appears in nonpareil type, the opinions of the Attor- ney-General, and the decisious of the State Superintendent of Free Schools, each num- bered in Roman characters. Cominor thereafter are the Forms in use by school officers and others, as they have ex- isted for years or have been changed to meet the requirements of recent enactments or amendments. They should be carefully studied and followed by all whose duty it is to aid in the administration and execution of the School Law of the State. The Index placed at the end of the Digest is arranged in alphabetical order. The page upon which the matter is to be found is desig- nated by the letter "p, " the section of the law by the letter "s, " and the decisions or explanations of the Attorney-Greneral and State Superintendent of Free Schools, bearing upon the same, by the letter "d. " The num- ber referring to the sections and decisions are given in similar characters to those used to designate them in the body of the laws as herein printed. Virgil A. Lewis. State Superintendent of Free Schools. Charleston, April 12, 1894r. Constitutional Provisions RELATING TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OF THE STATE. ARTICLE IV. ELECTIONS AND OFFICERS. ***** 5. Every person elected or appointed to anj office, before proceeding to exercise the authority, or discharge the duties thereof, shall make oath or affirmation that he will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this State, and that he will faithfully discharge the duties of his said office to the best of his skill and judg- ment; and no other oath, declaration, or test 2 School Laws and Decisions shall be required as a qualification, unless herein otherwise provided. 6. All oflScers elected or appointed under this Constitution, may, unless in cases herein otherwise provided for, be removed from office for official misconduct, incompetence neglect of duty, or gross immorality, in such manner as may be prescribed by general laws, and unless so removed, they shall continue to discharge the duties of their respective offices, until their successors are elected, or appointed and qualified. 8. The Legislature, in cases not provided for in this Constitution, shall prescribe by general laws, the terms of office, powers, du- ties and compensation of all public officers and agents, and the manner in which they shall be elected, appointed and removed. ARTICLE VIll. •z7. Each county shall be laid off into dis- tricts, not less than three nor more than ten in number, and as nearly equal as may be in territory and population. ^ * * OF West Virginia. 3 ARTICLE IX. COUNTY ORGANIZATION. Mr * X- * * . ' 4. The Presidents of the County Courts, the Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs, Prosecu- ting Attorneys, Clerks of the Circuit and of the County Courts, and all other county offi- cers, shall be subject to indict ment for mal- feasance, misfeasaEce, or neglect of official duty, and on conviction thereof, their offices shall become vacant. I. I am inclined to the opinion that the words "all other county oflBcers-," ai« used in thi,^ spction, include members of boards of education, although they are elt'cted in districts. This is by no means clear, however. This section is in. foTr»e eaj propi'io vigore and needs no additional legislation. —Alfred Caldivell, Attorney- General. ARTICLE X. TAXATION AND FINANCE. * li- * * * ' , '-^^ V 2. The Legislature shall levy an] annual capitation tax of one dollar upon each male inhabitant of the State who has attained the age of twenty-one years, which shall be an- nually appropriated to the support of Free Schools. Persons afflicted with bodily in- firmity may be exempted from this tax. * * * * * 5. The power of taxation of the Legisla- 4 W^'^- School Laws and Decisions KdtODisi^ ture shall exterd to provisions for the pay- ment of the State debt, and interest thereon, the support of Free Schools, and the pay- ment of the annual estimated expenses of the State; but whenever any deficiency in the revenue shall exist in any year, it shall, at the legular session thereof held next after the deficiency occurs, levy a tax for the ensuing year, sufficient with the other sources of in- come, to meet such deficiency, as well as the estimated expenses of such year ^5- -^ * * * 7. County authorities shall never assess taxes, in anyone year, the aggregate of which shall exceed ninety-five cents per hundred dollars valuation, except for the support of Free Schools; payment of indebtedness exist- ing at the time of the adoption of this Consti- tution; and for the payment of any indebted- ness with the interest thereon, created under the succeeding section, unless such assess- ment, with all questions involving the increase of such aggiegate, shall have been submitted to the vote of the people of the county, and have received three-fifihs of all the votes cast for and against it. See Brannon vs. County Court, 33 W. Va , p. 789 construing this section. 8. No county, city, school district, or mu- OF West Virginia. 5 nicipal corporation, except in cases where such corporations have already authorized their bonds to be issued, shill hereafter be allowed to become indebted, in any manner, or for any purpose, to an amount, including existing indebtedness, in the aggregate, ex- ceeding five per centum on the value of the taxable property therein to be ascertained by the last assessment for State and county taxes, previous to the incurring of such indebtedness ; nor without, at the same time, providing for the collecjion of a direct annual tax, sufficient to pay, annually, the interest on such debt, and the principal thereof, within, and not ex- ceeding thirty four years; Provided,, That no debt shall be contracted under this section, unless all questions connected with the same, shall have been first submitted to a vote of the people, and received three-fifths of all the votes cast for and against the same. ARTICLE XIL. EDDCATinN. 1. The Legislature shall provide, by gen- eral law, for a thorough and efficient system of Free Schools. See 4 W. Va , p. 499. 2. The State Superintendent of Free Schools shall have a general supervision of Free 6 School Laws and Decislons Schools, and perform such other duties in re- lation thereto as may be prescribed by law. If in the performance of any such duty imposed upon him by the Legislature, he shall incur any expenses, he shall be reimbursed therefor. Provided^ The amount does not exceed five hundred dollars in any one year. 3 The Legislature may provide for county superintendents, and such other officers as may be necessary to carry out the objects of this Article, and define their duties, powers and compensation. 4. The existing permanent and invested school fund, and all money accruing to this State from forfeited, delinquent, waste and unappropriated lands ; and from lands here- tofore sold for taxes and purchased by the State of Virginia, if hereafter redeemed or sold to others than this State; all grants, de- vises or bequests that may be made to this State for the purposes of education or where the purposes of such grants, devises or be- quests are not specified; this State's just share of the literary fund of Virginia, whether paid over or otherwise liquidated; and any sums of money, stocks, or property, which this State shall have the right to claim from the State of Virginia for educational purposes; OF West Virginia.' 7 the proceeds of the estates of persons who may die without leaving a will or heir, and of all escheated lands; the proceeds of any taxes that may be levied on the revenues of any cor- poration; all moneys that may be paid as an equivalent for exemption from military duty; and such sums as may, from time to time, be appropriated by the Legislature for the pur- pose, shall, be set apart as a separate fund to be called the "School Fund," and invested under such regulation as may be prescribed by law, in the interest bearing securities of the United States, or of this State, or if such interest bearing securities cannot be obtained, then said "School Fund'' shall be invested in such other solvent interest bearing securities as shall be approved by the Governor, Superin- tendent of Free Schools, Auditor and Treas- urer, who are hereby constituted the "Board of the School Fund," to manage the same un- der such regulations as may be prescribed by law; and the interest thereof shall be annually applied to the support of Free Schools through- out the State, and to no other purpose what- ever. But any portion of said interest re- maining unexpended at the close of the fiscal year shall be added to, and remain a part of, the capital of the "School Fund:" Provided^ That all taxes which shall be received by the State upon delinq^aent lands, except the taxes 8 School Laws and Decisions due to the State thereon, shall be refunded to the county, or district by or tor which the same were levied. 5 The Legislature shall provide for the support of Free Schools, by appropriating thereto the interest of the invested "School Fund," the net proceeds of all forfeitures and fines accruing to this State under the laws thereof; the State capitation tax; and by gen- eral taxation of persons and property or oth- erwise. It shall also provide for raising, in each county or district, by the authority of the people thereof, such a proportion of the amount required for the support of Free Schools therein as shall be prescribed by gen- eral laws. 6. The school districts into which any county is nov<- divided, shall continue until changed in pursuance of law. (See ante Section 27, Article VIIL State Superin- tendent.) 7. All levies that may be laid by any coun- ty or district for the purpose of Free Schools shall be reported to the Clerk of the County Court, and shall, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law, be collected by the Sheriff", or other collector, who shall make an- OF West Virginia. 9 nual settlement with the County Court; which settlements shall be made a matter of record by the Clerk thereof, in a book to be kept for that purpose. , 8. White and colored persons shall not be taught in the same school. 9. No person connected with the free school system of the State, or with any educational institution of any name, or grade under State control, shall be interested in the sale, pro- ceeds or profits of anj^ book or other thing used, or to be used therein, under such penal- ties as may be prescribed by law : Frovided^ That nothing herein shall be construed to ap- ply to any work written, or thing invented by such person. 10. No independent free school district, or organization shall hereafter be created, except with the consent of the school district or dis- tricts out of which the same is to be created, expressed by a majority of the voters voting on the question. 11. No appropriation shall hereafter be made to any State Normal School, or branch thereof, except to those already established, and in operation or now chartered. 10 School Laws and Decisions 12. The Legislature shall foster and en- courage moral, intellectual, scientific and agricultural improvement; it shall, whenever 1^. may be practicable, make suitable provision for the blind, mute and insane, and for the oiganization of such institutions of learning as the best interests of general education in the State may demand. THE SCHOOL LAW CHAPTER XV. An Act to revive, amend and re-enact chapter forty -five of the Code of West Virginia, concerning education. [Passed March 8, 1881.] Be it enacted hy the Legislature of West Vir- ginia: 1. That chapter forty-five of the Code of West Virginia be, and the same is hereby re- vived, amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows: CHAPTER XLV. Of Education. 1. Every magisterial district in each of the counties of the State shall be a school district. 12 School Laws and Decisions and the same shall be divided into such num- ber of sub-districts as may be necessar}' for the convenience of the b'ree Schools therein. The present districts and sub districts shall remain until changed in the manner pre- scribed by law. (See Ante, Section 27 of Article VIII., and Section 6 of Article XII. of Constitution. — State Superintendent ) Election of School Officers -—School Levy — Vote on. [Section 2, as amHuded Ijv nii. XX V[, Aots of 1893. Passed February -^4, 189:?.] 2. A county superintendent of free schools in each county shall be elected by the voters thereof, at the general election held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1894, and every four years thereafter, whose term of office shall commence on the first day of July next after his election and continue for four years and until his successor shall be elected and qualified according to law. There shall also be elected at said election, in each district of the county, by the voters th^^reof, and every four years thereafter, a president of the boa 'd of educatioa, whose term of office shall commence on the first day of July next after his election, and continue for four years, and until his successor is elected and qualified OF West Virginia. 13 accordicg to law. There shall also be elected at the same time in each district in the county by the voters thereof, one commissioner at the general election held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in ^^ovt;mbe^, 1894, a successor to the commissioner elected in May, 1891, and every two years thereafter one commis- sioner, whose term of office shall commence on the first day of July next after their elec- tion, and continue for four years, and until their successors are elected and qualified ac- cording to law. The said president and com- missioners shall constitute the board of edu- cation in the district in which they are elected No person shall be eligible to more than one office under the provisions of this chapter at the same time. The county superintendent of free schools shall, immediately upon receiving the certificate of election fiom the commis- siooer of the county court, forward a written notice thereof to the State superintendent of free schools. In case of a tie in the vote for members of the board of education, the coun- ty superintendent of free schools shall give the casting vote; and in case of a tie in tbe vote for a county superintendent of free schools, the presidents of the several boards of education in the county shall, at a meeting called for that purpose, at the court house of the county, by the clerk of the county court, 14 School Laws and Decisions not less than six nor more than twelve days af- ter the result of such election is ascertained, ap- point one of the persons receiving the highest number of votes for said office, at the said election, as county superintendent of free schools, who shall give notice as aforesaid to the state superintendent of his appointment. A notice of such meeting shall be made out by the clerk of the county court, and served upon each president of the board of education in the county at least three days before the day of such meeting, by the sheriff or other officer, to whom the same may be delivered to be served. The ballots used at said election shall also have written or printed thereon the words <'For school levy," or "Against school levy," as the voter may choose, and the boards of ballot commissioners in the several counties of this state shall have printed at the bottom of each ticket on the official ballot in separate lines the words "For school levy," and "Against school levy;" and upon the ap- plication of the board of education of any dis- trict they shall also have printed on said bal- lots the words, "For months school," and "Against months school," as pro- vided in this chapter. If a majority of the ballots cast upon the question of laying the school levy in a dis- trict, have written or printed thereon, ''For OF V^^EST Virginia. 15 school levy," it shall be the duty of the board of education to make the levies re- quired by the 38th and 40th sections of this chapter, annually, for the next four years; but if a majority of the ballots cast in a district have written or printed thereon, "Against school levy," no levy shall be made by said board for the year next succeeding. But it shall be the duty of said board to cause a spec- ial election to be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, next thereaf- ter, at which the question of levy, or no levy, shall in like manner be again submitted to the people for their decision, and if a majority of the ballots cast at such special election be, "For school levy," such levy shall be made as herein before required. Of every such spec- ial election the secretary of the board of edu- cation of the district shall give notice, by posting the same at each place of voting in the district at least ten days before the day on which the same is to be held. The election to be held on the third Tuesday in May, 1893, for the purpose of electing county superin- teudents of free schools in the different counties of this state, and members of the various boards of education, shall be held ac- cording to law; but their terms of office shall expire as soon as their successors are elected and qualified, at the election to be held on the 16 School JjAws and Decisions first Tuesday after the first Monday in No- vember, 1894. II. A person elected or appointed to iiny office, whether State, coutity, district or sub-districi, mu.'-t be a resident of the political division to which hi= powers and duties are limited. Chap. XLII, sec. 3, Acrsl882. III. The commissioners hold over until their successors are elect^'d and qualified, however long a period that may be. IV. School officers should carefully observe the eshaugesas to the lim^- and raautier of holding school elections. What w^as known as the May school electinu has been abolished and all school elections — except that of voting lor an in- creased rate of l^vv. as provided for in section 26 ana the special election authorized by this section to be held in a distrietin which the levy has been previously voted down — are now held as part of the general election in November. Every four years, at the time of the election of Slate officers, a county superintendent and presidents of the boards of educa- tion are to be electpd for the term of four years, while a com- missioner is elected at every geueral election, that is every two years in November, for the term of four yeart. 'rhere be- ing two commissioners, the order of succession of four year terms is thus continued by the electiou of one every two j^ears. The county superintendent elected at the election m No- vember, cannot erit^r upon the duties of his otlice until the first day of the ensuing July. 3. Any person who may act ;i3 commis- sioner of any election, held under any of the provisions of this chapter, who shall wilfully reject the vote of any person entitled to vote at said election, or receive the vote of any person not so entitled, or who shall knowingly make any false return of ttie result of any such election, or of any poll held at any place of voting, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and fined not less than fifty dollars, and im- prisoned not le.=?s than twenty days. OF West Virginia. 17 V. Any election officer violating the provisions of this sec- tion becomes liable under the provisions oX the General Elec- tion Law of the State. Appointment of Trustees and Filling of Vacan cies. 4. At the meeting of the district board of education, held on the first Monday in July, 1881, they shall appoint three intelligent and discreet persons, as trustees for each sub dis- trict in their district, one of whona shall be appointed for one year, one for two years, and one for three years; and the board of educa- tion shall thereafter annually appoint one trustee, who shall hold his office for three years; and the said trustees shall hold their respective offices until their successors are appointed and qualified. VI. As decided by the Attorney-General, trustees have bixty days in which to take the Ofitli of office, while rat'inbers of the board of education are required to qualify withlu teu days after they are notified of their election. 5. Vacancies in the office of school trustee, shall be filled by the board of education for the unexpired term; and in the board of edu- cation, by the county superintendent of free schools, for the unexpired term. VII. The appointment of a person to fill a vacancy of presidf-nt of the board of education makes such person pres- ident of the board. VIII. Vacancy in the office of county superiutendent is 18 School Laws and Decisions filled by the presidents of the board of education See §53. IX. Section 3 of Article Xlf. of th*^ Constitution pro- vides that the Legislature may provide for county superin- tendents and other school oilicers and defines their duties, powers and conipensMtion. Section 5 of chapter 45 delegates to the county superintendent the power to fill vacancies in the boaid of educMtion for the unexpired terra. I do not think Section 7 of Article IV of the Constitution or sections 8, 9 or lOof Chapter 4 of the Code control as to apportionment of members of boards of education. I am, therefore, of the opinion that persons appointed by the county superintendent to fill vacanceisMn the board rf educaticm hold for the un- expired term.— 7". S. Eiley, Attorney -General. The First Meeting of Board of Education — When Held — What Business to Be Done Thereat — Quorum. [Section G, as amended by Ch. XXVI, Acts of 1893. Passed February U, 1893.] 6. The boards of education of the several districts shall hold their first meeting for each school year on the first Monday in July. At this meeting they shall determine the number of teachers that may be employed in the sev- eral sub-districts, and fix the salaries that shall be paid to the teachers. In determin- ing the salaries, they shall have regard to the grade of teachers' certificates, fixing to each grade the salary tbat shall be paid to teachers of said grades in the several sub-districts, as fol- lows: Teachers having certificates of the grade of number one, shall be paid not less than twenty-five dollars per month; those holding certificates of the grade of number OF West Virginia. 19 two, not less than twenty-two dollars per month; and those holding certificates of the grade of number three, not less than eighteen dollars per month. Aod the trustees of the several sub-districts shall in no case transcend or diminish the salaries so fixed in any con- tract Ihey may make with teachers. A quo- rum of the board of educatien shall consist of a majority of the members thereof, and in the absence of the president one of said members may act as such ; but they shall do no official business except when assembled as a board, and by due notice to all the members, except that the president and secretary may sign or- ders upon the sheriff for any sum of money which may have been already ordered to be paid. The members of the board of educa- tion shall receive as compensation for his ser- vices the sum of one dollar and fifty cents per day, to be (aid in like manner as the salary of the clerks of the boards of education: Pro- vided^ That no member shall receive pay for more thap six days' services in any one year. X. A Hoard of education has no authority to annul a teach- er's ciTtitic.'ite lor any cause. Only the County Board of E\>iniiner.s can do tliis. Xr. Hoards of education fix the terra of school for the Avh(i|>'i district. XII. If a sub-district for any cause fail to have a school in any year it can not havf a longer term than the other schools of the district in the followin^j or a subsequent year. XIII. Ther*^ is no authority for a board of education to make a difference in the rate of wages to those teachers who 20 School Laws and Decisions build the fires and sweep the school house and those who do not. Such a provision would not only be usurpiug the duties imposed by law upon the trustfes, but wc uld in fact be pay- ing for sweeping the house and building fires out of the teachers' fund, which is clearly prohibited. XIV. It is the duty of the county superintendent to issue orders for the pay oi' members of the board of education, if satisfied the service has been rendered, but this should not be done before the first day of June of each year. XV. Members of board- of education of independent dis- tricts, where not otherwise specially provided, are entitled to pay (per diem) as provided in the general school law. XVI. If officers of town corporations also act as the school board for the independent district, they are entitled to the same pay as district school wfficers of the same grade: Provided they reoewe no compensation from the town cor- poration lor their servict\s. XVII. "Only one pa>ment of $1.50 per day, for not exceed- ing six days can be made for services of any member of a board of education, and the successor gets nothing if the predecessor received pav for the six days allowed." — Alfred Caldivell, A ftorney- General . XVIII. The salary of teachers, as fixed by the board at its July meeting, must be uniform throughout the magisterial district. See Form of proceeding at July meeting, in Ap. pendix. [Section 7, as amended by ch. 147, Acts 1882.] 7. The board of education of each district and independent school district shall be a cor- poration by the name of "the board of educa- tion of the district or independent school dis- trict of , in the county of ," and as such may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded; and as such corporation, shall succeed and be substituted to all the rights of the former township and district boards of education; and may prosecute and maintain any and all suits and proceedings now pending, or which might have been brought and prose- OF West Virginia. 21 cuted in the name of any such former board of education for the recovery of any money or property, or damage to any property due to or vested in such former board. The said board shall also be liable in its corporate ca- pacity for all claims legally existing against the board of education of which it is successor. Said board shall receive, hold and dispose of according to the rules of law and the intent of the instrument conferring title, any gift, grant, devise or bequest, made for the use of any Free School or schools under their juris- diction; and without any transfer or convey- ance, shall be deemed the owner of the real and personal property of their district, and the property of the former township or dis- trict for which their district was substituted. Process and notice may be served on said cor- porations by delivering a copy thereof to the secretaiy, or any two members of the board. And all suits or proceedings now pending in any of the courts of the State, in the name of the board of education of any district for any demand or claim in favor of the board of edu- cation of any township or district, are hereby made valid. XIX. In order to bind the board of education they must act in their corporate capacity, and not individually. 20 W Va., p. 360. 22 School Laws and Deoisions Secretary oj the Board — His Duties and Com- pensation. 1 As amended by Cli. XXVI. Acts of 1893. Passed February 24, 1893.] 8. The board of education, at their first meeting after their election, shall appoint a secretary, who shall not be a member of the board, and who shall attend all meetings of the board, and record their official proceedings in a book kept for that purpose, which record shall be attested by his signature and the sig- nature of the president of the board, and which shall, at all reasonable times, be open to the inspection of any person interested therein; he shall ha^e the care and custody of all papers belonging to the board containing evidence of title, contracts ©r obligations, or being otherwise valuable, and preserve the same in his office, properly arranged for refer- ence, and shall record and keep on file in his office such papers and documents as the board or the law may direct. He shall keep such accounts and prepare and certify such reports and writings pertain- ing to the business of the board, as the board or law may direct. He shall publish within three days after any meeting of the board of education an abstract of the proceedings thereof, by posting the same at the front door OF West Virginia. 23 of the place of meeting. He shall within ten days after the annual levy is laid certify to the county superintendent of free schools, the total value of all property, real and personal, in his district, with rate of levy, and amount thereof, keeping separate the rates and amounts of teacher's and building funds; and said superintendent shall within twenty days certify the same to the State superintendent of free schools, using blanks therefor, fur- nished by said State superintendent. He shall also have authority to administer oaths to school officers in all cases where they are re- quired to take an oath as such. For his ser- vices as secretary he shall receive such com- pensation as the board may determine from year to year, not to exceed fifteen dollars, to be paid out of the building fund by an or- der drawn by the county superintendent, when after an examination by said superin- tendent of said secretary's books, they are found to be correct. But such order shall not be drawn until the secretary shall have made his annual report to the county superinten- dent as hereinafter provided, and be approved by the said county superintendent. XX. Secretaries of boards of education have authority to administer an oath to a teacher as to the correctness of his report of enumeracion. A teacher is a school officer. XXI. The office of secretary of ihe board of education is held at the will of the board. The secretary may be relieved at any time by the board. 24 School Laws and Decisions XXir. When the secretary fails and refuses to perform the duties of his ollice. and the board will not remove him, the. matter should be laid before the prosecuting attorney of the county, that it may oe presented to the grand jury. XX [II. Secretaries of boards of education mai^e but one report pi'r year to the superintendent The two blanks are sent to each s'-cretary that he may retain a copy of his report in his oflije. Special information is required to be furnished by the secretary to the county superintendent at any time required. XXIV. The secretary's annual report cannot be completed before the sheriff's settlement with the board of education. County superintendeuis are forbidden by law to issue orders for the pay of secretaries until they present correct and complete reports. The law provides this in declaratory terms. XXV. The law does not specify who shall call the raeet- inys of the board. The board should adopt a rule upon this subjcMit at its first meeting in the school year when all its meiiiliers are present. See Appendix for form of proceedings at first meeting of the Board of Education. XXVI. 'I'he secretary has but ten days in which to make report to the county superintendent of the valuation of property, rate of levy, and amount of levy. Poioers and Duties of Boards of Education — Wliat Schools to be Kept^ and WJio May Attend Them. 9. The boards of education shall have gen- eral control and supervision of the schools and school interests of their districts; they may determine the number and location otthe schools to be tauojht; change the boundaries of their sub-districts, and increase and di- minish the number thereof, having due regard for the school houses already built, or sites procured, assigning, if practicable to each Bub-district not less than forty youths between the ages of six and twenty-one years: Pro- OF West Virginia. 25 vided^ That every village consisting of fifty inhabitants or more, shall be included ia one sub-district. And provided further^ That no chano;e in any sub district shall take effect, except immediately after the annual appor- tionment of the general school fund. When such village as is mentioned in this section is divided by district or county lines, the said village shall be included in the sub-district, to be under the supervision of the board of edu- cation of the district to which the largest di- vision of its territory is attached, and said board shall define and enter of record in the office of their secretary the several district and sub-district lines. Any person aggrieved by any decision of the board of education, changing the boundaries of a sub-district, or increasing or diminishing the number of the sub-districts, in their district, under this sec tion, may appeal therefrom to the county su- perintendent of schools, and have the same corrected if erroneous. Every such person shall present to the county superintendent his petition, signed by himself and at least five other residents of the sub- district, stating the action of the board complained of, and the grounds of the appeal; and the county super- intendent shall thereupon fix a time and place for the hearing of the appeal; and cause a notice thereof to be served upon the president 26 School Laws and Decilions or secretary of the board of education, at least five days before the hearing. If, upon hearing the proofs and allegations of the parties, the superintendent be of the opinion that the action of the board complained of was illegal or improper, he shall reverse or correct the same; otherwise the said action shall be aflSrmed. XXVII. In case the county court change the boundaries or diminish the districts, the boards of education continued in office should re-arrange the suft-district lines so as to con- form to the new district lines, and appoint trustees for the new sub-districts, selecting the same persons heretofore appointed and for the same term of office, as nearly as may be in each instance. XXVIII Where the county court of a county changf^s the boundary lin^s of a dii^trict or increases or diminishes the number of districts after the annual levy has been laid for school purposes, and the salaries of teachers fixed in the re- spective districts, and provides that such change or changes shall take effect before the end of the school year (June 30;, the schools and school officers should continue as if no change had boien made, making settlpments, &c., until the close of the year, when the changes ordered should be recognized. XXIX. If th« boundary line of a district is changed by a county court so that a school house locateG in one district is by the change included in another, the rate of wages and the term of time prescribed by the board of education having authority to do so, on the first Monday of July, preceding the order of the county court, will remain in force and the wages be paid by the board fixing them, until the end of the current school year, wh^'-n the school and school property shall come under th^ care of the board of the district whose territory has been increased. XXX. "The buildiitg of school houses is discretionary with the boards of education. There is no power in any other court, body or person to compel them to build a school house." — Alfred Caldwell, Attorney- General. XXXI. The appeal to the county superintendent under this section is limited to the changing the boundaries of a sub-dis- trict, or increasing or diminishing the number of sub-dis- tricts. XXXII. District school officers must not only be familiar OF West Virginia. 27 with the boundary lines of the several sub-districts, but must see to it that the same are properly recorded in the of- fice of the secretary of the board. 10. The board of education shall cause to be kept in every sub-district of their district, by a teacher or teachers of competent ability, temperate habits and good morals, a sufficient number of primary schools for the instruction of the persons entited to attend the same, and should the trustees of any sub-district neglect or fail to employ a teacher for their sub-dis- triet, upon complaint thereof, it shall be the duty of the board of education to do so. The following persons when residing in a sub dis- trict, with intent to make such sub-district their home, shall have a right to attend and receive instruction at the primary schools thereof, that is to say: Every youth between the ages of six and twenty-one years, shall have such right; and any other person wish- ing to receive instruction at any Free School in this State, shall have a right, with the as- sent of the trustees, to attend such school, and the teacher or teachers there employed shall give instruction to such person the same as is required by law for other persons, upon the payment of tuition fees, not to exceed one dollar and fifty cents per month for each pu- pil, and upon such other terms as the trustees of the sub-district may prescribe. Said 28 School Laws and Decisions tuition fees shall be paid in advance to the sheriff, who shall give his receipt therefor, and place the amount to the credit of the teachers' fund of said district. XXXIII. In case suitable persons can not be induced to act as trustees for a s-chool, thp. hoard of education should take charge of.it and do all that it. necessary to make it effi- cient. XXX IV. Trustees may prohibit persons over twenty-one years of age from attending the Free School, though they may ten'ier the proper amount of tuition. XXXV. When a child reaches its sixth birth-day it has a right to enter school. After it passes its twenty-first birth-day its right to attend expires. XXXVI. A teacher has no authority to admit or exclude pupils from a school, whether from the same or another sub-district, without the consent and direction of the trus- te«^s of the school. This does not refer to his right to sus- pend a pupil for disorderly conduct. XXXVII The teacher has no right to receive the tuition of pay pupils and have it deducted from his month's salary when his order is drawn. The law directs it to be paid to the sheriff, to be by him placed to the credit of the Teachers' Fund of the district. It may be paid in advance, by the month or term. Branches of Learning to he Taught. [Section 11, as amended by Ch. XXVI, Acts of 1893. Passed February 2i, 1893,] 11. In the primary schools there shall be taught. Orthography. Reading, Penmanship, Arithmetic, English Grammar, Physiology, General, United States and State History, General and State Geography, Single Entry Book-lleeping, Civil Government, and in ad- dition thereto the Theory and Art of Teaching. It shall be the duty of the State Superinten- OF West Virginia. 29 dent to prescribe a manuul and graded course of primary instruction to be followed in the country and village schools throughout the State, "arranging the order in which the sev- eral branches shall be taken up and studied, and the time to be devoted to them, respec- tively, with provisions for advancement from class to c'ass, also for the examination and graduation of all pupils who satisfactorily complete the prescribed course. XXXVIII. Aboard of education has no authority to pre- scribe aduitional brancties to those provided by law, nor to require them to be taught. XXXIX. The Theory and Art of T'eaching as enumerated in Section 11, is not to be understood as being one of the branches required to be tausht in the primary schools, but teai-h^rs are required to pass an examination in the sam*', —See Section 29. as they are in all branches required to be tanyht under the provi-io'ns of this >ection. XL. '"I'rustees should be very careful not to unnecessarily interfere with a tt^^ach^r in relation to matters pertaiums to the conduct and government, of his school. I do not think a teacher should be compelled to give instruction to pupils * * in all branches prescribed by law without reference to proper ^rade-.''— Alfred Caldwell, Attorney- General. XLI Itls the official duty ot the .-oun'y superintendSnt to see that the Grade.) Course of Study for Country and Vil- a^e Schools is thoroughly introduced into the said schools of" his county. But it is not the county superintend- ent alone upon whom this responsibility rests. The law makes it the dutv of members and secretaries of boards of education and of tru-;tees aud teach^^rs ^tS well, to perform their wnole duty, seeing to it that the ?aid Course of Study, with trading according to accompanying plan, shall be tuliy introduced into every country and village school m the State. 30 School Laws and Decisions CHAPTER 111., ACTS 1887. Be it enacted hy the Legislature of West Vir- ginia: 1. That the nature of alcoholic drinks and narcotics, and special instruction as to their effects upon the human system, in connection with the several divisions of the subject of physiology and hygiene, shall be included in the branches of study taught in the common or public schools, and shall be taught as thor- oughly and in the same manner as other like required branches are in said schools, and to all pupils in all said schools throughout the State. 2. It shall be the duty of the proper officer in control of any school described in the fore- goii\g section to enforce the provisions of this act; and any such officer, school director, committee, superintendent, or teacher who shall refuse or neglect to comply with the re- quirements of this act, or shall neglect or fail to make proper provisions for the instruction required and in the manner specified by the first section of this act, for all pupils in each and every school under his jurisdiction, shall be removed from office, and the vacancy filled as in other cases. OF West Virginia. 31 3. No certificate shall be granted to any person to teach in the public schools of the State, after the first of January, anno domini, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, who has not passed a satisfactory examination in physi- ology and hygiene, with special reference to the nature and the effects of alcoholic drinks and narcotics upon the human system. Trustees: Transfer. 12. The trustees shall be under the super- vision and control of the board of education, and in all cases the action of the trustees shall be subject to the revision and correction of the board of education, on the motion of any member thereof, or upon the complaint in writing of any three tax-payers of their sub district. Whenever it shall happen that the persons authorized to attend school are so situated as to be better accommodated at the primary school of an a<^joining sub-district, whether in the same or in an adioining dis- trict or county, or whenever it may be neces- sary to establish a school composed of pupils from parts of two sub-districts, whether in the same or in an adjoining district or county, it shall be the duty of the trustees of the sub- districts interested to transfer such persons for school purposes to the sub-district in 32 School Laws and Decisions which such school house is, or ma^ be, situ- ated; but the enumeration of youth shall be taken in each sub-district as if no transfer had been made, and the trustees of the sub-dis- trict in which the school is situated shall have the management of such school. But in all cases of transfer of pupils from one district to another, the board of education of the dis- trict from which the transfer is made shall pay to the board of education of the district in which the school is carried on, such propor- tion of the cost of said school, as the scholars so transferred bear to the whole number of scholars taught in such school. XLII. Thi^ section eive^ the board of education authority in all cases to correct and revise the action of tru&tees." — Alfred Valdwell, Attorney- General. XLIII. A board of education has no authority to transfer pupils. 'J'his is one of the prescribed duties of trustees. The trustees of a school may refuse to admit transferred pupils into a school if the extra number seriously interferes with the efficiency of the school. Tlie person ao^gri^ved by such a decision may appeal to the board of educati"n for redress. XLIV. "This section was not intended nor does it authorize trustees to transfer pupils from a sub-district to an inde- pendent school district."— ^(/"r^c? Caldwell, xitt07'ney- Gen- eral. XLV. When pupils are transferred as required by this sec- tion, the transfer should state when the trausfer is to take effect Mud how long to continue. XLVI. The cost of the tuition of the transferred pupils should be estiiuated from the time the transfer takes effect until It expires or the pupils are withdrawn. XLVII. No tran>;1er is complete until the trustees of the sub-district to wliich transfers have been made have aj^reed to accept the pupils. XLVIII. When pupils are transferred to an adjoining sub- district in another district it is the duty of the tru<>t«es making the transfers, altliough they are not required to do so by stat- ute, to notify their board of education ol ail transfers made by OF West Virginia. 33 them, and the said board of education is required by this section to pay to the board of education of the district to whicb the pupils have been transferied such proportion of the cost of said school or schools as the pupils so trans- ferred bear to the whole nurober of pupils taught in said schools during the time of the transfers. [Section 13, as amended by Ch. XXVI., Acts of 1^93. Passed February 21, 1893.] 3 3. The trustees of every sub-district shall have charge of the schools therein and shall meet at the school house of their sub-district on the third Monday in July of every year, or as soon thereafter as practicable and appoint a teacher or teachers for the coming session of their school, and in such appointment at least two of the trustees, who are the trustees for the ensuing year, shall concur, and such appointment shall be in writing in the form of a contract, according to the form furnished by the State superintendent of free schools and said form shall state that the trustees whose signatures are affixed thereto, met to-' gether as herein required, and said contract shall be filed with the secretary of the board before the beginning of Ihe term for which said teacher is employed. If the appoint- ment of any teacher be otherwise than at a meeting herein authorized, the board of edu- cation may declare such contract illegal, if the declaration be made by the board before the time mentioned in the contract for the be- 34 School Laws and Decisions ginning of the school term Any teacher so appointed ma;y be removed by the trustees or by the board of education for incompetency, neglect of duty, intemperance, profanity, cruelty, or immorality. The trustees shall ex- clude from any school under their charge any person having a contagious or infectious dis- ease, and they may suspend or expel any scholar found guilty of any disorderly, refrac- tory, indecent, or immoral conduct, and may refuse to admit snch scholar again to the school until satisfied that he will properly conduct himself thereafter. But the trustees shall take no action or proceeding relating to the removal of teachers or the suspension or expulsion of any scholar from school unless at a meeting of which the trustees have all had notice, and when at least two of their number shall be present and concur in such action or proceeding, and their action in each particular shall be subject to the revision and correction of the board of education upon complaint in writing of a majority of the pa- trons of the school, residing within the sub- district in which such action has been taken. Any trustee may, for good cause shown be removed from office by the board of education upon five days notice in writing, of the cause alleged for his removal, and of the time and place the board will take action thereon. OF West Virginia. 35 Whenever at the end of any school month the clail;y average attendance for that month has been less than thirty-five per cent, of the whole number of pupils enumerated in the sub-districts, the trustees may dismiss the teacher and discontinue the school, unless other v?lse directed by the board of education; and no high school shall be continued if at the end of any school month, it has not had an average daily attendance of twenty- five schol- ars. And it is further expressly provided that should any trustee of any sub-district or mem- ber of the board of education receive any money or other thing of value for his aid, as- sistance or vote in securing to any teacher a school or employment in any district or inde- pendent school district in the State, in which said trustee or member of the board of edu- cation is authorized by law to act, shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction there- of shall be punished as provided in chapter 147 of the Code of this State, and the teacher who ofl'ersor tenders to such trustee or member of the board of education any money or other thinor of value to infiuence the same, in aid of securing a school, he shall be liable to pun- ishment as provided in said chap^^er. XLIX. Neither boards of education nor trustees have au- thority to employ a person to teach in the free schools of this State unless such person presents a certificate in duplicate 36 School Laws and Decisions still In force of his qualification to teach a school of the grade for which he applies. For decision reg:arding duplicate certificate see same under section 28. Teachers employed as substitutes should hold same grade of certificate as those whose places thej^ fill. L. When a contract is made by a teacher with the trustees of a school in proper form ihe teacher has the leeal right to execute the contract at the time and place specified therein. In case he is prevented from so doing by the action of his emplo5^ers, he has a right of action for damai2:es. LI. If a pupil of any public school becomes refractory and can not by any ordinary means be governed by the teach-^r, he should be temporarily suspended and the matter promptly reported to the trustees of the school or those acting in place of trustees, who should thereupon make prompt and cart-ful investigation of the charges, and if the facts warrant it (and there is no reformatory means that may be expected to re- claim him), he should be summarily expelled from the school. LII. A teacher has the right to punish pupils placed under his cbarge for infractions of th^ rules governing the school. But like the parent who has the right to enforce obedience, he is answerable for the abuse of the trust, LIII. Schools should open promptly at 9 a. m., and, with proper recess and intermission should be continued until i p, m. LIV. The trustees of a school have authority to contract with a teacher for the length of time ani at the price per month prescribed by the board of education, and the board must provide for its payment. LV. A majority of the trustees govern in the decision of any question that may properly be decided by them. A board of education may review any decision made by the trustees on motion of one of its (tlie board's) members, or upon the petition in writing of three cr more taxpayers of the sub-district, except in the cases of expelling a pupil from a school and thi^ appointment and removal of a teacher. These questions require complaint in writing, to be signed by a majorify of the patrons of the school, before the board may take action. LVI. To ascertain whether a school may be closed under the "thirty-five pp-r cent rule," see example in Appendix. LVII. Trustees are not compelled to close the school if the per cent, of "average daily attendfince" is "less than thirty- five." They "may" do so. If they do, the board of educa- tion may continue the school, but the board has no authority to close a school for this cause. |« LVIII. A board of education has no authority to close a school on account of the attendance falling below thirty-five per cent. The trustees may do so. LIX. Authority of trustees over pupils who have been ex- OF West Virginia. 37 posed to contagious diseases: Trustees are not required to wait until the pupil has actually developed a contagious or infectious disease before they can exclude a pupil they have good and valid reason to believe will probably soon have such disease because peculiarJy exposed to it. "^I'hey can direct the teacher to exclude a pupil likely to start disease m the school, although such pupil may be at the time in good health. * * T heir action must be taken m good i'dith.— Alfred Caldwell, Attorney General. 14. The trustees shall visit every school under their charge within two weeks after the opening, and again within two weeks before the close thereof, and at such other times as in their opinion may be useful to do so. Dur- ing such visits, they shall inspect the register of every teacher and see whether it has been properly kept, and ascertain whether the scholars have supplied themselves with books and other things requisite for their studies ; whether the school house and grounds, furni- ture, apparatus and library are kept in good order; whether anything injurious to the health is suffered to remain about the house or grounds, and whether the school house is well ventilated and kept comfortable, as the season may require ; and where it is necessary, provide and promptly apply the proper remedy. They shall also during such visits make such exammation and enquiry as they may deem useful respecting the studies, discipline and general condition of the school, and the con- duct and proficiency of the scholars; and give such directions or make such suggestions to 38 School Laws and Decisions the teachers, as in their opinion, will promote the interest of the school, and the health, morals and progress of the scholars. LX. The duty of visiting the schools is made obligatory upon the trustees, and they should faithfully comply with the law in this matter. LXI. Persons over twenty-one years of age and undT six years of age have no right to attend the public schools free of tuition. One of the duties of trustees in examining the teacher's daily register is to detect the names of persons on it under or over school aee. LXIJ. The leading object of the trustees on this, their first visit, should be the examination of the sanitary condi- tion of the school building and out-houses. The health of both teachers and pupils depend upon the healthful sur- roundings while attending school. [Section 15 as amended by Acts ©f 1891.1 15. They shall cause the school houses un- der their charge and everything pertaining thereto, to be kept in good order and repair, and for this purpose it shall, among other things, be their duty to cause proper suits and prosecutions to be instituted, in the name of the board of education of the district or oth- erwise, against every person who shall injure or destroy any school property of which the said trustees have charge ; and they shall not, without the permission of the district board of education, allow said school houses to be used for any other purpose whatever, except for the purpose of holding religious or literary meetings and Sunday schools, equally by the various religious denominations that may ap- OF West Virginia. 39 ply for the same, and further for such other meetings as may be considered beneficial to the public generally under such regulations as to the care thereof as may be prescribed by them ; Provided^ That such meetings shall not interfere with the public schools. The trustees shall furnish to the board of education estimates of all improvements neces- sary to the preservation or repair of buildings, grounds and furniture under their charge. LXIII. Thft trustees of a school may allow religious exer- cises held ill their school house. They may prescribe condi- tions, etc. Thej^ may refuse to allow the school house to be used for thi-* purpose. In either case, on motion of any mem- ber of the board of education, or the petition in writing of three tax p-tyers of the sub diie board of examiners are incompatible. <"5VII. In case there is more money received from fees in one examination than pays ttie per diem of the members of the board and the publication of notice, tlie residue may be used to pay per diem of members of the board in subsequent examinations in the same year where the receipts are insuf- ficient. CVIII. Boards of examiners have the right to limit the time to be occupied by the teachers in answering the ques- tions of each branch. CTX. It is the duty of the county superintendent to pre- serve the manuscripts of the teachers who are examined, for at least one year from their date. ex. Members of the board of examiners are liable to pun- ishment for granting teachers' certificates unlawfully. OF West Virginia. 61 CXI. "It is a ^ross violation of official duty for the presi- dents to remain absent from the meeting for the purpose of avoiding the appointment of examiners. 1 hey are suject to be fined under § 59 School Law. Examiners hold over until a new appointment is made of successors." — Alfred Cald- well, Attornexj- General. CXII. In case there is not a quorum of the presidents present at the meeting on the first Wednesday in Julv, the examiner whose successor was to have been elected will re- main in office for another year when his successor must be chosen for one year, that the two year order of succession may not he broken. IS o other date than the first Wednes- day, would be a legal one on which to elect members of the Board of Examiners, except to fill vacancies. [Section 28, as amended by Ch. XXVI., A.cts of 1893. Passed February 24, 1893.] 28. No teacher shall be employed to teach any public school of this State until he shall have presented to the trustees, directors or board having charge of such school, a certifi- cate in duplicate of his qualifications to teach a school of the gradd for which he applies, the duplicate of whicn shall be filed with the secretary of the board of education of the district in which the school is situated and so endorsed on the original by Ihe secretary; and no salary shall be paid to any teacher un- less duplicate be filed as aforesaid. The board of examiners shall examine each can- didate for the profession of teacher, who may apply to them, as to his or her competency to teaeh orthography, reading, penmanship, arithmetic, English grammar, geography, history, single entry book-keeping and civil government, if the application be for a pri- 62 School Laws and Decisions mary school, and if the application be for a higher school, they shall examine the appli- cant as to his competency to teach the addi- tional branches required for such school, and if satisfied of the competency of the appli- cant to teach and govern such schools, and that he or she is of good moral character and not addicted to drunkenness they shall give a certificate in duplicate accordingly. The county superintendent shall keep a register of all certificates awarded by the board of ex- aminers, stating the character and grade of certificate and the time when issued. No cer- tificate shall be issued by the board of exami- ners, except upon an actual examination, par- ticipated in by a majoriiy of the board, or be of force except in the county in which it was issued, nor for a longer period than one year, except as provided in section twenty-nine of this chapter, and the board of examiners may, upon proper evidence of the fact^ revoke the ceitificate of any teacher within the county, for any cause which would have justified the withholding thereof, when the same was ■ granted, by giving ten days' notice to the teacher of their intent to do so. The board of examiners shall, at two stated periods in each year, agreed upon by themselves, of which they shall give due notice, hold public examinations, at which all applicants for cer- OF West Virginia. 63 tificates shall be required to attend; and should circumstances require it, the county superinteadeot may call extra meetings for the same purpose. County superintendents and members of the board of examiners may be employed to teach without the certificate required of other teachers. But should any member of the board of education or school trustee be employed as teacher, it shall vacate his ofiSce. CXIII. No person shall be eraploved to teach a public school \\ ho has not a teacher's certificate regularly issued and still in lorte. Substitute teachers are permissible wheu tbe teacher is mavoidably abse-t, and theu onlv, with the consent of the school trustee*. Substitutes should have oer- tiffcates of same gr».de as those whos"- places they fill. It is not necessary for the trustees to make a conirnct with a substitute. A teacher cannot engage a school, make a con- tract for it, then employ a substitute and himself take an- other school. CXIV. If a teacher obtain two certificates th'^ same year, he may contract with the trustees on either, whether of the sam<^ or difierent g'ades. CXV. A teacher without a certificate cannot corap-^l the board of education to pay for services rendered at the in- stance of trustees. CXVI. When a teacher's certificate expires, his right to teach expires. CXVII There is no such thing known to the present school law as "'private exarainatious." All examinations must be public and participated ia by at least t»vo members of the board of examiaers. CXVIII. The right of a meiaber of the board of examiners to t ach without; examination is confined to the county in which su :h position is held. CXIX. All teachers are required to pass an examination in all the branches required ti be taught in the primary schuo s of the Staffs and these are enim rated in Section 11, as CO' tained in this Digest, as a'nended in 1893. If teachers are to '^e einpl y<'d in a high school, the board of ^xami ers shall examine them as to competency to teach the additional brauhes in these high schjols. By "'higher schools" is 64 School Laws and Decisions meant those established under the provisions of Sections 24, 25 or 26. CXX. The board of examiners are required to hold two sta- ted public examinations and should circumstances require it, extra meetings may be held for the same purpose. ' XXI. The board of examiners are authorized to teach without certificates, and are therefore prohibited from issu- ing same to each other. CXXII. Section 30 of Chap. 45. of the fiode, provides that all certificates for the school year, must be issued after July 1st, and for that reason the certificate in question would ex- pire with the old school year. * * * There is no provision made for the examination of county superintendent while in office as he has ihe right to teach during his term of oflQce without a certificate. — T. S. Riley, Attorney -General. CXXIII. The latter part of Section 28,aof Chap. 45 of the Code, provides that there shall be two public examinations at which all applicants for certificates shall be required to attend, and should circumstmces require it, the county su- perintendent may call extra meetings for the purpose. Now if the certificate granted was given at one of the above meet- ings, it wonld be good until the time for which it was given expires. * * * i take it that all certificates, except those granted under Section 29, expire with the school year Sec- tion 30 provides that no examinations shall be held or certifi- cate granted until alter the first day of July of th'* bchool year ia which said certificates are to te used. — T. S. Riley, Attorney- General. [Section '39, asamendeiby Chap. XXVI., Acts of 1893. Passed February 24, 1893 J 29. The following regulations shall be ob- served by boards of examiners with regard to examinations and granting teachers' certifi- cates : First. No applicant shall be admitted to ex- amination unless the board shall have reason- able evidence that he or she is of good moral character and temperate habits, and has at- tained the age of sixteen years. Second. No college diploma or certificate of ©F West Virginia, 65 recommendation from the president or faculty of any college or normal school or academy shall be taken to supersede the necessity of examination by the board ©f examiners, nor shall a certificate be granted to any applicant except after a careful examination upon each branch of study and upon the art of teaching. Third. Boards of examiners and others here- in authorized to confer certificates shall state the teachers's grade of proficiency in each branch in which he is examined. Fourth. They shall grade the certificate granted according to the following scheme, numbering them, according to the merit of the applicant from one to three: The first grade certificate shall be issued to all applicants who shall pass an examination in all the branches required to be taught in the primary free schools of the State, and in addition thereto the theory and art of teaching general history, eivil government, and book-keepiug, and ob- tain a general average of ninety per cent, on a scale of one hundred per cent, and not less than seventy-five on any one branch; which certificates shall be valid for a period of four years and shall be re-issued once without ex- amination at the discretion of said board of examiners, provided the holder has taught two years on said certificate. The second grade certificate shall be issued to all appli- 66 School Laws and Decisions cants who shall pass an examination upon all the branches required to be taught in the primary free schools and in addition thereto civil government and the theory and art of teaching and obtain a general average of eighty per cent, and not lower than seventy per cent, on any one branch, which shall be valid for a period of t^o years, and be re- issued only upon examination. The third grade certificate shall be granted to applicants who shall pass a satisfactory examination in the branches required to be taught in the pri- mary free schools, and the theory and art of teaching and obtain a general average of sev- enty per cent and not lower than sixty per cent, in any one branch, and be valid for a period of one year and be re-issued only upon examination and then not to the appli- cant more than twice. All grades of county certificates provided by law shall be granted at the same examination. Failure to attend the teachers' county institute where such at- tendance may be required of teachers holdmg any of these grade certificates unless excused by law or unless said failue may be for reasons deemed sufficient by the county board of ex- aminers shall be cause for revoking said cer- tificale. CXXIV. All applioants for certificates are required to pass aa examination in all of the branches required to be taught OP West Virginia, 67 in the primary schools, and these are enumerated in Section 11 as amended and re-enacted in 1893. CXXV There is no authority to examine teachers on a portion of the branches prescribed by law, at one examina- tion and another portion at another time, or re-examine a teacher on a portion of the branches and re-grade his certih- cate granted at a former examination. * * * All appli- cants for whatever grade of certificate must pass an exami- nation in all the branches required to be taught m the pri- mary free schools of the State, as enumerated in Section 11. CXXVI. The board of examiners has no authority to pro- hibit a teacher entering any examination, if he or she is of "good moral character and not addicted to drunkenness, and has acernficate of attendance upon some institute ap- pointed by the Stat« Superintendent, whether said teacher has before been exarain^^d once or oftener. The fee is the same for ea.ch examination. A person who has reformed his habits of becoming intoxica]bed and promises by word and act to deserve respectability thereafter, should be admit- ted to examination. If he does not make good his profes- sions his certificate shor.ld be promptly revoked. Examina- tion questions should be agreed upon by a majority of the members of the board of examiners and propounded by the board, and the answers in each branch examined and graded by the board. , . .^-^ i. ...i- ^ CXXVI [. The law does not contemplate that the work shall he parceled out among the members of the board so that each prepares questions, and grades the answers with- out consultation with the other members. State Board of Examiners and State Certifi-- cates. Chapter LXVI. , Acts 1887. 29a. 1. There shall beaState board of exam- iners which shall consist of four competent per- sons, one from each congressional district, t@ be appointed by the State Superintendent of Free iSchools ; the term of office of such ex- aminers shall be four years and vacancies in said board shall be filled by the State Superin- 68 School Laws and Decisions tendent of Free Schools. Such board shall meet at two different places, at least, in each congressional district in each year, for thi purpose of making the examinations and granting the certificates provided for in this act, and any three of said members shall con- stitute a quorum. II. The board thus constituted may issue two grades of certificates to such as are found to possess the requisite scholarship, and who exhibit satis^ctory evidence of good moral character and of professional experience and ability, as follows: First class certificates for twelve years: Second class, for six years: Any person holding a certificate of the first class, who shall have taught for eight years of said twelve years, shall be entitled, without examination, to have the same renewed at the expiration of the said twelve years. The second class to be issued to applicants of satisfactory attainments in the branches re- quired for county certificates, and in addition, not fewer than four other branches to be de- termined upon by the board. The second class certificates shall be issued upon application, without examination, to the graduates of the State normal schools and its branches, and of the State University, when such graduates shall have presented to the board satisfactory evidence that they have OF West Virginia. 69 taught successfully three years in the State under a number one county certificate, two of which said three years shall immediately pre- cede the application for such certificate. Teachers who shall present to the board satisfactory evidence that they have taught successfully four years, under a second-class certificate, shall be entitled to receive, with- out examination, a first class certificate at the expiration of the second class. The board shall keep a record of the pro- ceedings, showing the number, date and dura- tion of each certificate, to whom granted, and for what branches of study, and shall report such statistics to the State Superintendent an- nually on or before the thirtieth day of Sep- tember. III. All certificates issued by such board should be countersigned by the State Superin- tendent of free schools ; aud such certificates shall supersede the necessity of any and all other examinations of the persons holding them, by any board of examiners, and shall be equivalent to a number one certificate granted by a county board of examiners, and shall be valid in any school district in the State, un- less revoked by the State board for a good cause. IV. Each applicant fora certificate shall pay the board of examiners a fee of five dollars. 70 School Laws and Decisions V. The board of examiners shall each re- ceive a compensation of five dollars per day for each day actually and necessarily spent in conducting the examinations, and for one day of each exammation to be spent in consulta- tion and preparing for their duties, and six cents per mile for each mile necessarily trav- eled in going to and returning from the place of examination. This compensation shall be paid out of the fees received from the teachers examined, and shall in no case exceed the amount so received. Said board shall, at the end of each school year, make and return to the State Superintendent of Free Schools, a detailed and certified account of the names of all the applicants for examination, the amount of the fees received, the amount paid out to the members ®f the board, and the balance, if any, shall be paid over to the treasurer of the State, to be placed to the credit of the dis- tributable school fund. CXXVIII. "The above act (Ch. 66, Acts 1887) was not "in- tended to revive any State certificate issued under any law repealed prior to the passage of that act." '•The law passed in 1887 was prospective only in its oper- ation, and was not intended to aflfect the past. Any one de- siring a Str.te certificate to teach school must obtain it under the provisions of Chapter 66. Old State certificates have no force under the new law, passed in 1887." "They are of no force or efFect. "—J./!/rec^ Caklivell, Attorney-General. CXXIX. Graduates of the State Normal School and of the State University, in order to secure the second class certifi- cate, must present to the State board of examiners satisfac- tory evidence that they have taught successfully thr«e years under a Number 1 county certificate; two of which said vears must immediately precede the application for the certificate. OP West Virginia. 71 [Section 30 as amended, Ac, , by chapter XLV., Acts 1891.] 30 Every teacher shall keep a daily regis- ter, and make monthly reports to the secre- tary of the board of education of his district. He shall also keep a term register, in which shall be entered the date of the commence- ment and termination of every term of the school; the name and age of every scholar ■who attended the school during said term ; the daily attendance, distinguishing between males and females ; the branches taught, and the number of scholars eno;aged in each month in the study of eaoh bracch, and such other particulars as are necessary to enable the sec- retaries of the boards of education, or direc- tors, to make the reports required of them. The State Superintendent of free schools shall prescribe such form and regulations, respect- ing the register to be kept and reports to be made by the teachers, as shall seem to him necessary. At the close of each term the register there- of shall be returned by the teacher to the office of the secretary of the board of education for the district, who shall file the same and unless such register be properly kept and returned, the teacher shall not be entitled to demand payment of the balance due on his salary. Teachers shall be paid monthly, and by orders on the sheriff or collector, signed by the sec- 72 School Laws and Decisions retary and president of the board, which said orders when signed as aforesaid and delivered to the teacher shall be deemed at once due and payable. Where any teacher has taugbt according to his contract, for one month, the trustees for the sub district in which he has so taught, shall certify the fact to the secre- tary of the district board, whereupon he shall receive from said secretary an order upon the sheriff or collector of the county, signed by the secretary and president of the board of ed- ucation for one month's salary ; but in no case shall such order be given, unless the monthly report containing the facts required in the preceding part of this section, to be shown in the term register, be first duly made out and returned to the secretary. The school month shall consist of twenty days, excluding Satur- days, all of which shall be devoted to teach- ing the school contracted for. As a means of improving the teachers, and fitting them for more effective service in the free schools of the State, teacher's institutes shall be held annually throughout the State, one or more in each county; they shall be held at such times and places as the State Superintendent shall, with the advice of the county superintendent, direct, and shall continue each for one week of five days; they shall be conducted by ex- perienced and skillful institute instructors, OF West Virginia. 73 who shall be appointed by the State Superin- tendent, but it shall be a part of the duty of the county superintendent, under the in- structions of the State Superintendent, to make all proper arrangements for the institutes, and to assist in conducting them. The instructors whom the State Superin- tendent shall employ, as herein provided, shall each receive for his services not more than twenty-five dollars for each institute he may instruct, to be paid out of the general school fund, on a proper order of the State Superintendent, but the aggregate amount of such compensation for the whole State shall not exceed five hundred dollars. At the close of the institutes, as herein provided, and during the week following, the county board of examiners shall hold one of the two examinations prescribed in section twenty- eight. Provided^ That no examination shall be helil or certificates granted until after the first day of the school year in which said certificates are to be used. It shall be the duty of the State Superintendent to prescribe a graded course of institute work covering a period of two years, and the methods of con- ducting the same, together with such other details connected therewith as he shall deem conducive to their usefulness and efficiency. 74 School Laws and Decisions It shall also be the duty of the State Superin- tendent to prescribe a graded course of pro- fessional study covering a period of two years, which shall embrace history of educa- tion, school management, methods of teach- ing and educational psychology. Any teacher who has completed the graded course of in- stitute work and the graded course of profes- sional study, and passed a satisfactory exami- nation thereon, and also obtained a number one teacher's certificate, shall be exempt from further compulsory institute attendance. Any teacher not exempt from institute at- tendance who shall fail or refuse to attend at least one institute annually, held urder the provisions of this section, unless such teacher shall have an excuse therefor, sufficient in the judgment of the board of examiners to which such teacher may apply for examina- tion, shall not be entitled to examination or be employed to teach any free school daring the year within which such failure or refusal may have occurred, ex XX. The Secretary of the Board should carefully ex- amine the Monthly Summary which the teacher files at the end of each month, for it should contain a summary of what the teacher is recording in his Term Register, which is to become the chief basis of the Secretary's report to the County Superintendent. In no iDstance should the Secre- tary issue the teacher's order for his last month's salary until the Term Kegister is found to contain all data required by tne above section, 'to be recorded in it. CXXXI. "The applicant for examination for a teacher's certificate must have attended one institute during the year OF West Virginia. 75 or have an excuse for not so attending sufficient in the judgment of the board of examiners to entitle such appli- cant to be examinf'd. Such attendance within the j^ear, or such excuse is a condition precedent to th^ right to be exam- ined."— J.(/"r€rf Caldwell, Attorney General CXXXII. Wiien only a lew days of a school term run into a new year the school may be reported in the old year, but if a month or more of the school runs into the new year, then it should all be reported in that year. CXXXIII. The per cent, of attendance and absence should make 100 without the per cent, or iion-membership. CXXXIV. In making reports to the secretary, teachers should not count children of the sub-district not enrolled in the school— when a child is once enrolled he should be ac- counted for during the whole term, both before and after he is enrolled. CXXXV. It is the duty of the presidents and secretaries of the boards of education to issue orders for money directed to be paid by che board. CXXXVI. If a teacher contracts to teach a school to be- gin on a certain day, he is entitled to pay for everv school day he attends from that time oa until the close of the term, whether the pupils attend or not, unless he is dismissed or suspended for good cause. LXXXVII. Ihe secretary of an institute has no authority to give a teacher a certificate of attendance although his roll is the evidence mainly relied on in making out the certificate. The certificate of attendance must be signed by the Instruc- tor and County Supf-rintendent. CXXXVIII. The following excuses are deemed of sufficient importance in all departments of life and may be regarded good for non-attendance at the institute: Sickness, death of a near relative, and attenlacce at any court under summons. Frivolous and petty excuses should not be rccepted. CXXXIX. The State Superintendent has no authority to decide as to the validity of an excuse for non-attendance at an institute. This power rests wholly with the board of ex- aminers. CXL. "The trustees, if they employ a teacher who has not complied with the law requiring teachers to attend institutes. Tiolate their oath of ofhcn, and ought themselves to be re- moved, if it is done wilfully."— ^Z/rec? Caldwell, Attorney- CXLiI'. "The law has rot given the State Superintendent authority to substitute 'Teachers' Summer Normal School attendance for attendance at county institutes, nor to make two days at the State Teachers' Association equivalent to two days' attendance at the county institute, nor to substi- tute anything not in form and efCect a teacher's institute for the county institute required by l&w."— Alfred Caldwell, Attorney- General. 76 School Laws and Decisions CXLII. In counties where there is a, large number of ap- plicants, it is best to divide the number into two equal parts, as the names stand upon the institute register. By this means those first enrolled in the institute would be first ex- amined CXblll. The holding of an examination or the issuing of a certificate in any year prior to the first dav of July is pro- hibited by law. The school year begins with that date, and all certificates should be issved with reference to it. If a certificate— good for one year, be issued in the autumn or later it terminates with the first day of the ensuing July and 60 with a two or four year's certificate issued at the same time would end with the first day of July two or four years hence. CXLIV. A teacher failing to attend an institute, and not having a valid excuse is not only barred from an examina- tion, but can not be employed to teach in any school of the State. A board of education or trustees employing one such would thereby become responsible for his salary. Scliool 7iot to he Keid on Certain Days. 31. In contracts with teachers, it shall be understood that school is not to be kept in operation for ordinary instruction on the first day of January, fourth day of July, or the twenty-fifth day of December, nor any Na- tional or State festival or Thanksgiving day; but the month or time mentioned in such con- tract shall nevertheless be computed as if the said days were included. CXLV. Items 23, 24 and 25 as numbered in the "Teacher's Monthly Summary," have reference to this Section. The sura of Nos 23 and 24 must equal the sum of No. 25. CXLVI. Schools should not be taught on Satnr-Tay. CXLVII. The school month is composed of twenty days. No time is a'lowed for attendani-e upon the institut •. CJXLVIII. Thee5th of December and the 1st of January falling on Saturday or Sunday ace not counted as holidays in making up the teacher's report. CXLIX. Tlie 22d of February is not a legal holiday. CL. Section 88 of chapter III., of ihe Code of West Vir- OP West Virginia. 77 ginia, provides that "all election days t^hall be legal holidays throughout the district or muuicipality iu Avhich the elec- tion is held." General Duties of Teachers and School Officers. 82. All teachers, boards of education, and other school officers are hereby charged with the duty of providing that moral training for the youth of this State which will contribute to securing good behavior and manners, and furnish the State with exemplary citizens. It shall aho be the duty of every school trustee to see that the school house is kept clean and in good order, and that fires, when necessary, are made and kept therein, but no expense shall be incurred therefor, to exceed fifty cents per week, and the amount thus expended shall be certified by the trustees to the board of ed- ucation, and shall if correct, be paid out of the building fund of the district. CLI. I am of opinion, that under the foregoing provision, trustees have the power to iucur the expenses therein pro- vided for, and that where it is n c^ssary, in order to comply with the requirements of said provision, they not, only have the power, but it is their imperative duty to incur the ex- pense necessary to that end — not exceeding filty cents per Week. I am further oi opinion that, upon a p-oper certifi- cate of the expenditure of such amount being furnished the board of educ ition of the distriot in which such expenditure is mrtde, it will be the duty of said board to provide for the payment of the same out of the building fund of the district, pr )Vided, of course, the account is correct. Th-^ board of educ.-itioii can make no ord^^r by which this power or duty can be taken from the trustees. The law on thi> s 'bjfrt is explicit, and contemplates a specific compli- ance therewith 78 School Laws and Decisions ' There is no conflict between the above quoted provisions and others of chapter 45. The board of education have the *'power of revisa] and correction" as to this provision, to the extent of seeing that the amount expended is correct, but not to the extent of nuUifjang a plain provision of law. — C. C. Watts, Attorney- General. CLII. Persons building fires should have a definite con- tract with the trustees. ******* "The legislature intended by enacting § 33 to compel the trustees to have school houses kept clean, fires made and kept, get out of the 'teacher's fund.' * * I fullv concur wi'h the opin- ion given by my D'-edecessor CGeneral Watts) upon the sec- tion nsLiaed."— Alfred Caldwell, Attorney- General. School House Furiniture^ Etc. — Exemption from Levy — Enforcement of Claims. 33. The president of the board of education of every district shall, at least once a year, ex- amine the school hcuses and school house sites in the district, and report the condition of the same to the board; and such as are, in their judgment, properly located and are sufficient, or can with reasonable expense be rendered so, shall be retained for the use of public schools, and the remainder, with the consent of the county suprrintendent, shall be sold at public auction or otherwise, by the board of educa- tion, and on such terms of sale as the board may order and the proceeds added co the building fund : Provided, That the grantor or his heirs of any such school house site shall, if he or they so desire, have the same OF West Virginia. 79 reconveyed to him or them, without the build- ngs thereon, (if any), upon paying to the board of education the amount received by such grantor for such site ; or in case no com- pensation was paid therefor, the same shall be so reconveyed free of charge. In case of such reconveyance, the building on such site (if any) shall be sold, as hereinafter provided, with privilege to the purchaser to remove it from off such site in a reasonable time. This proviso shall not be construed to apply to any school house lot within any village, town or city. CLIII. Section 33 provides tliat where the hoard of educa- tion would dispose of a seho'il house lot in a country district, the grantor, his heirs if desired, may have ihe said lot recon- veyed to him or them upon the payment to the board of he amount received by said grantor from the board at the time it purchased it. B4. The board of education of every dis- trict shall provide by purchase, condemnation, leasing, building or otherwise, suitable school houses and grounds in their districts, in such locations as will best accommodate the inhabi- tants thereof, and improve such grounds and provide such furniture, fixtures and appli- ances for the said school houses, as the com- fort, health, cleanliness and convenience of the scholars may require, and keep such grounds, school houses, furniture, fixtures and appliances in good order and repair : Provided, That in case such boards of education shall 80 School Laws and Decisions be unable to agree upon a proper location for a school house in any sub-district, such location shall be decided by the county su- perintendent. Boards of education in adjoining districts or counties may jointly provide for the erec- tion of school houses for the accommodation of adjoining portions of districts or counties^ for high schools, union schools or sub -district schools, which from local causes, can not be conveniently attached to sub-districts in the districts or counties to \»hich they belong. The title to such houses shall be vested in the board of education having supervision of the sub-district containing the greatest number of children, and terms indicating a trust for the purpose aforesaid shall be introduced into an agreement made between the boards of educa- tion interested. Such school houses shall be provided with furniture, fixtures and such other appliances as are supplied to school houses generally. An equitable amount shall be assessed on each district in- terested, by the respective boards of educa- tiun, for the purpose aforesaid. Boards of education shall in every case require bond of all contractors, with approved security, in double the amount of the contract, for build- ing or repairing school houses. No county superintendent, board of education, or any OF West Virginia. 81 mein1:^er thereof, or trustee of any sub- dis- trict, shall, directJy or indirectly, become per- sonally interested in any contract for build- ing or repairing school houses in his or their district; and any county superintendent, mem- ber of such board, or any trustee, violating this section, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than one hundred dollars. CLIV. "The length of a school terra in uninn schools must be determined by the term fixed by the district in which the school is located, for its schools. The trustees of the sub-district of the location of the school would control the school house, Ac. All the boards of education of the district out of which the pupils are sent have to do, is to pay a just part <^f the expense of the union school." — Alfred Caldivell, Attorney-General CLV. In case the land owner, on whose land a school house is built by a board of education before a deed is delivered therefor, refuses to make the deed, proceedings in a court of equity mav be instituted by the board to compel the specific performance of the contract. CLVI. A board would not be justified in paying a con- tractor more than his contrast because he did a "good job." Such a course opens the door to all kinds of irregularities. To do this would be a gross violation of section 38 of Article VI. of the ConstitutioH. CLVII. In case a board of education let a contract to a trustee, the trustee violates the laAv. CLVIII. Chapter 65, Acts 1879, makes it a misdemeanor for any county or district school officer to become directly or indirectly pecuniarily interested in coniracts, lettings and furnishings in cases where he has a voice or control. See Acts 1879, chapter 65, wherein it is provided that: ' Ii shall be unlawful lor any member of a county court, overseer of the poor, district school officer, or any member of any other district board, ox for any county or district officer lo be or be- come, directly or indirectly, pecuniarily interested in the proceeds of anj"^ contract or service, or in furnishing any supplies in the contrict for, or the award or lettini^ of which, as such member oroffiof^r, he may have any voice or control." See also section 13 of this chapter. Note — S-^e opinion of Attorney-General, under section 38. CLIX When the hoard fail to agree upon the location of a school house, and the County Superintendent is called to de- 82 School Laws and Decisions cide the matter, his decision is final, and from it no appeal can be taken. CLX. A county superintendent ha? no authority to select a site for a school house. He can onlj^ act when the board of education fail to agree as to a location. 85. No scbool house shall be erected unless the plan thereof shall have been submitted to the county superintendent, and approved by him,and it is hereby made his duty to acquaint himself with the principles of school house architecture, and, in all his plans for such structures, to have regard to economy, con- venience, health and durability of structure. CLXI. The approval of the plans of school houses is, per- haps, the most important duty which the county superin- tendent has to perlorin. He is thus made the architect of school house cunstructidn in his county, and if the same are illy constructed, poorly ventilated, poorly lighted, and im- properly heated, thus producing physical injury to the pupils, he is morally responsible. 36. When land has been designated by the board of education of any district as a suita- ble location for a school house and the neces- sary buildings, or for enlarging a school house lot, if the owner or owners refuse to sell the same, or demand a price therefor which is deemed by the board unreasonable, or the owner is a feme covert, a minor, non compos mentis^ or non resident, after ten days' notice, served upon such owner or owners, or the owner or owners being non residents thereof, by publication for four weeks in some OF West Virginia. 83 newspaper published ia the county, or if there be no newspaper published in the county, by posting the same for four weeks at the front door of the court house, and five other public places in the county, at least two of which shall be in the district and one in the sub- district in which such property is located, the board may petition the circuit court of such county to have such lots of ground condemned for the upe of public schools, and such pr©- ceedings shall thereupon be had in the name of such board for the condemnation thereof, as provided for in chapter forty-two of this Code: Provided, That the land so taken shall not exceed in quantity one acre. CLXII. "When coridpmnation proceedings become necessa- ry, the b( ard of education should consuJt and advise with the prosecuting attorney who will instruct it how to proceed ac- cording to the provisions of chapter XLIl. of the Code of West Virginia. 87. All school houses, school house sites and other property beiocgiDg to any board of education and used for school purposes, shall be exempt from execution or other process, and from lien on, or distress for taxes or county levies ; but when any order of the board, upon the sheriff of the county, or judgment or decree for a sum of mocey agaiust the said board has been presented to such sheriff without obtaining payment, pay- 84 School Laws and Decisions ment thereof may be enforced by the circuit court by mandamus or an order for a specific levy on the property taxable in the district. Building Fund — Annual Levy for the Same. 38. To provide school houses and grounds, furniture, fixtures and appliances, and keep the same in good order and repair, to supply said schools with fuel and all other things necessary for their comfort and c®nvenience, and to pay any existing indebtedness against the building fund and all other expenses in- curred in the district in connection with the schools, not chargeable to the "teachers' fund," the board of education shall, annually, on the first Monday in July, or as soon as practicable thereafter, levy a tax on the prop- erty taxable in each district, not to exceed, in any one year, the rate of forty cents on every hundred dollars valuation thereof, according to the latest assessment on the same for State and county taxation. CLXIII. The levy for the Building Fund is limited to forty cents on the $100, except in the oase of high schools organ- ized under the provisions of section 24 of this chapter wherein it is provided that for the equipment and supp.rtof the«e high schools 30 cents additional may be levied, thus making the rates of levy 70 cents on the $100. CLXIV. It is the duty of boards of education to levy for a sufficient amount for both teachers' and building funds, to do all that is necessary to have all the schools in their re- spective districts taught four months in the year unless such amount would require a levy of more than the maximum OF West Virginia. 85 ratft fixed by law. See sectiou40 and decisions thereunder. CLXV. Power of boards to purchase outline maps and dic- tionaries — •'S'-ctiou 14 seems to imply that there may be ap- paratus and library connected with a public school. Section. 16 limits i.ow«^r of trustees but not the board of education as to expenditures for certain articles. I am incfined to a lib- eral construction of the law in respect to what is a proper expenditure of the building fund. I believe outline maps, dictionaries for reference and any oiher necessary apparatus for the instruction of the scholars in the branches to be taught in the school, reasonable in amount, can be purchased out of the building fund at the discretion of the board of education by virtue of the authority conierred by the 34th section upon such board to provide such furniture, fixtures and appliances for the school houses as the convenience of the scholars may require." — Alfred Caldwell, Attorney- Gen- eral. 39. The proceeds of taxes so levied, of school houses and sites sold, of all donations, devises and bequests applicable to any of the purposes mentioned in the preceding section, shall constitute a special fund to be called the "building fund," to be appr©priated exclu- sively to the purposes named in the preceding section. CLXVI. A balance due the building fund should not be taken by the board to pay debts against the teachers' fund, nor should money be taken from the teachers' fund to pay claims against the building fund. LLXVII. Insurance puid for the destruction of a school house by fire is paid to the credit of the building fund of the board of education generally, and may be used to erect an- other building m th« same or a different place, or fqr other purposes, as the board ma.v direct. CLXVIII. To supersede or correct a school levy by the cir- cuit court. For process, see Acts of 1875, chapter 72, and Wells et al vs. Board of Education, 20 W. Va. 157. 86 School Laws and Decisions Annual Levy for Support of Primary Schools. [Section 40 as amended by Chapter XXVI of Acts of 1893, Passed February 24, 1893.] 40. For the support of the primary free schools of their district and in each independ- ent school district, and to pay any existing in- debtedness against the "teachers' fund," the board of education thereof shall annually, on the first Monday in July or as soon thereafter as practicable levy by the authority of the people, as prescribed in section two of this chapter, such a tax on the property taxable in the district as will, with the money re- ceived fiom the State for the support of tree schools, be sufficient to keep such schools in operation at least four months in the year and for the number of months additional as determined by the voters under the provis- ions in section two of this chapter ; Provided^ the said tax in any year shall not exceed the rate of fifty cents on every one hundred dol- lars valuation, according to the latest available assessment made for State and county taxa- tion. The proceeds of this levy, together with the money received from the State as aforesaid, shall constitute a special fund to be called the "teachers' fund," and no part there- of shall be used for any other purpose than the payment of teachers' salaries ; first for the OF West Virginia. 87 current year, and any part of said fund not so expended, shall be appropriated to the pay. ment of any existing indebtedness created for said purpose. Upon the failure of any board of education to lay such levy as is hereby re- quired, or any other levy provided for in this chapter they shall be compelled to do so by the circuit court of the county by writ of man- damns, unless good cause be shown to the contrary. But in case the levy provided for in this and the thirty-eighth section of this chapter shall not be sufficient to pay any ex- isting indebtedness of the district, in addition to the other purposes for which it is levied, the board may increase such levy to the amount actually necessary, or lay a special levy for the purpose. And in no case shall the appropriation of any money to the pay- ment of any existing indebtedness, directly or indirectly, interfere with the payment of teachers' salaries for the term of four months, for which the schools are required by law to be kept open in each year. CLXTX. Section 51 of ChaptP.rXXXIL, of the Code, pro- vides that; "On real and personal property, not exempt from taxation," there shall be collected ten cents on every one hundred dollars' valuation thereof, for the support of free schools. See sections 60 and 61 of this Chapter. CLXX. Under the provisions of this Section, the free schools must be kept in operation at least four months in the year, and as many more as may be determined by the voters of the district. To do this a levy of fifty cents, if necessary, on every hundred dollars valuation of real and personal prop- erty must be laid which, with -the money received from the 88 School Laws and Decisions state, constitutes the "teachers fund." If this is not suflB- cient to meet demands for which it was collected, the board of education may increase the same by special levy. CLXXI. A boaid of education has no authority to close the schools of a district before the term of four months, re- quired by law, and contracted to be taught by the teachers, has been fiaished, on account of lack of funds. CLXXII. A board of education may becorape]led[by a writ of mandamus to levy at a sutficient rate to run the schools of a district four months, if the people have directed by vote that the levy be made and the rate of levy does not exceed the limit prescribed by law, which may under the provisions of Section 40, by special levy exceed fifty cents on the $100. CLXXIII. A board of education violates a plain provision of law when it pays "existing indebtedness" out of the levy for the current year and thereby shorteus the term of the schools of the district below four months. A sum necessary to run the schools four months must be provided, and if any- thing is left it may be applied to existing indebtedness. [NOTE. — Section 41, of Chapter 45, was repealed by Act of February 24, 1893, to avoid conflict with Section 2 of this Chapter.] f^ 42. No district or independent school dis- trict shall hereafter receive any share of the distributable State fund for free schools, in any year in which the levy required by the fortieth section has not been made in such district or independent school district; and any money heretofore or hereafter distributed, and undrawn and remaining credited on the •books of the auditor to any such district or independent school district on the thirtieth day of June in each year, shall, on that day, be transferred on the books of the auditor to, and form a part of, the general school fund to be distributed. CLXXI V. Boards of education must make their .district OF West Virginia. 89 levies, or they cannot receive their proportion of the distrib- utable State fund. CLXXV It is the duty of the County Superintendent of any county in which a district or districts have voted down the levy, to inform the Auditor of the same, giving name or names of said district or districts, that he may properly transfer that part of the State fund due such district or dis- tricts for that year lo the general school fund. See section 61, last clause. 43. The assessor of every assessment dis- trict shall make out and deliver to the secre- tary of the board of education of each dis- trict in his district, on or before the first day of July in each year, a certificate showing the aggregate value of all personal property; and the clerk of the county court shall certify to the said secretary the aggregate value of all real estate in such district or independent school district, which certificates shall serve as a basis for any levy that may be made for school purposes for that year. CLXXVI. There is no law providing for the payment'of as- sessors by the several boards of education for extending the school levies. This work Is a part of iheir duties as county officers, and they are paid out of the county treasury by the county court. Any failure to deliver s.aid certificate of val- uation to the secretary of the board should be reported promptly to the prosecuting aitorney of the county that he may deal with the matter according to law. Board of Education to Report Rate of Taxa- tion to Assessor^ and Assessor to Extend Same in his Books — Penalty for Failure^ &c. 44. Immediately upon the receipts of the 90 School Laws and Decisions certificates mentioned in the preceding section, and of the notice from the county superintend- ent, as hereinafter provided, showing the amount of the general school fund to which such district, or independent school district, is entitled, it shall be the duty of the board of education of such district, to determine the rates of taxation necessary, for the pay of teachers and for the building fund in their district for the school year, and for the pay- ment of any such existing indebtedness, as aforesaid, and report the same, by their sec- retary, to the clerk of the county court, to the county superintendent, and also to the assessor; and thereupon, it shall be the duty of the said assessor to extend on his books of assessment for State and county purposes, the amount of taxes levied as aforesaid, in two separate columns, the one headed "teach- ers' fund," and the other "building fund," from which extension the sheriff shall pro- ceed to collect the same, and shall account therefor as required by law. Any assessor who shall fail to make out and deliver the certificate mentioned in the i; forty-third sec- tion, and any secretary of a board of educa- tion who shall fail to make out and deliver the certificate named in this section, shall be fined twenty dollars for the benefit of the building fund of the district. And any as- OF West Virginia. 91 sessor who shall charge on the assessor's books, as provided in the preceding section, a greater amount of taxes than is due from the person charged therewith shall, in such case, if the overcharge be inadvertently made, be fined double the amount, and if wilfully made, ten times the amount of the overcharge, one half thereof to be applied to the benefit of the building fund, and the residue to the informer. The fines provided for in this section may be recovered, on motion of any citizen of the district, or sub-district, in which such overcharge or delinquency of the assessor or secretary shall occur, or in which the property overcharged may be, on ten days' notice before any justice of such district, . OF by indictment in the circuit court. CLXXVIl. The rate of taxation and levy cannot be de- termined and laid before the first Monday in July of each year. See form of proceedings at this meeting, in Appendix. Expenses hy Board Limited — Personal Lia- hility. [Section 45, as amended by Chapter XXVI of Acts of 1893 Passed Februay 24, 1893 ] 45. It shall not be lawful for the board of education of any district, or iniependent school district, to contract for, or expend in any year, more than the aggregate amount of 92 School Laws and Decisions its quota of the general school fund, and the amount collected from the district or inde- pendent school district levies for that year, together with any balance remaining in the hands of the sheriff, or collector, at the end of the preceding year, and such arrearages of taxes as may be due such district or inde- pendent school district. Nor shall such board hereafter incur any debt to be paid out of the school money of any subsequent year. If the trustees of any district, or any board of edu- cation shall make any agreement for the em- ployment of a teacher in violation of this sec- tion, or for any other object concerning free schools under their charge, so as to occasion thereby the aggregate of the just claims against the board of education of the district, or independent school district, in any year, to exceed its aggregate receipts, as aforesaid, for such year, such board of education, or trustees, shall be individually responsible to the teacher, or other person with whom such agreement Is made. The board of education of each district, and independent school district, in each county, shall require its secretary, ten days prior to the first day of July, in each year, to prepare and post at three places of election within said district, or independent school district, and in each school district and independent OF West Virginia. 93 school district where the expenditure for all school purposes in any one school year in said district shall equal or exceed the sum of three thousand dollars, said board of edacali©n shall also publish in some newspaper of the county having a general circulation in the dis- trict, an itemized statement, duly sworn to by the president and secretary of said board, showing all moneys disbursed by said presi- dent and secretary by orders on the sheriff, or otherwise, within the school year, last pre- ceding, distinguishing between the teachers' fund and buiiding fund. The statement shall give the name of each person to whom an or- der shall have been issued, and shall state the object for which it was given. CLX XVIII The law plainly negatives the power of aboard of education to incur a debt for anv purpose ; but it does not prohibit a board from doing all the necessary prebminary work, such as making estimates, receiving bids, etc., so as to be ready when the l^-vy is made to close a contract. CLXXIX The law makes no provision for additional compe- sation for the secretary in consideration of makmg upthestatementPlobepubbshedby hoards in all districts havinganannualexpenditureof $3,000. or more. _. CLXXX An important case arising under the provisions or Section 45, was decided by the Supreme Court of Appeals December 6. 1893, and is reported in 38 W. Va., p. 6bi. ine Bvllabus reads as follows: „ „, ,. ^ 1. Schools and Schoolhouses -Boards of 'Education— Con- tracts— Construction of Statutes: ^^ „ „„V,^^l Under section 45, c. 45, of the Code, the value of a school house and site yet unsold, though the board of education in- tends to ^ell it, can not be taken into consideration in es- timating the amount of money available in th- fiscal year for contracts and expenditures. 2 Schools and Schoolhouses— Boards of Education— Con- tracts— Construction of Statutes. 94 School Laws and Decisions Where a contract between a board of education and con- tractors tor building a schoolhouse fixes a sum as the con- tract price, which may exceed the amouut of money availa- ble under section 45. c. 45 of the Code for a fiscal school year, tut contains a provision that no liability shall be imposed by such con^ra^t on the board for anything beyond the sum lawfully available under that se^tinn, so as to revent the contractors from recovering of the board an\ thing beyond such sum, the controct is not unlawful under said section, so as to prevent the board from paying upon it such money as is applicable under said section. [Section 46, as amended by Chapter XXVI. _ Acts of 1893. Passed February Zi, 1>^93.] 46 The sheriff or collector of the county shall receive, collect and disburse all school moneys for the several districts and independ- ent districts therein, both that levied by said district and that distributed thereto by the State. He shall be required by the county court to give in addition to his bond as collec- tor of the State and county taxes a special bond in approved security in a penalty equal to double the amount of school money \^hich will probably come into his hands for school purposes d'lring any one year of his term of office, which shall be made payable to the State of West Virginia, with one or more sureties (ieemed sufficient by such court, and proved or acknowledged before such ' court and an order stating such proof or acknowl- edgment shall be entered of record by such court. He shall keep his accounts with the several boards of education of each district OF West Virginia. 95 and ifldepeEdeDt school district : oce of money beloDgicg to the teachers' fucd and the other of moDey beJoDgirg to the building fund, and shall credit every receipt and charge every disbursement to the fund to Tvhich it belongs. He shall pay out no money standing to the credit of the board of education, except upon an order signed by the secretary and presi- dent thereof, specifjiog the sum to be paid and the fund to \^hich it is to be charged; or upon a certified copy of a judgment, or a de- cree of a court of justice against the said board, for a sum of money therein specified; or upon an order of the county superintend- ent, as provided in section eight of this chap- ter*. He shall, on, or immediately before, the first day of July in each year, settle with the board of education of each district and inde- pendent school district, in which settlement he shall be charged with the amount of taxes levied by the board of education upon the property of the district or independent school district, for the teachers' fund and building fund, and to pay any indebtedness of the dis- trict, and with the amount distributed thereto from the general State fund, and for any other moneys received by him during the cur- rent year on account of the free schools of such district or independent school district; 96 School Laws and Decisions and he shall be credited with the amount o f delinquent school taxes of such district or independent school district that has been duly returned by him and certified by the clerk of the county court to such board of education. He shall also be credited in such settlement with all vouchers produced by him, if found to be correct by the district board of educa- tion, and he shall receive no other credits ex- cept his c immission as hereinafter provided ; an account of this settlement shall be made out by each board of education, naming the district for which it is made, with the proper debits and credits which were the subjects of this settlement. They shall also number all vouchers with which the sheriff has been cred- ited by them, and endorse on the back of each the words, "Settled by B, E." Under this endorsement the secretary of the board shall sign his name and date of settlement. All such accounts and vouchers so endorsed shall then be delivered to the sheriff or collec- tor whose duty it shall be to deliver them to the clerk of the county court, which accounts and vouchers shall serve as a basis of the set- tlement to be made by the sheriff or collector, with the county court, according to Article XII. and section 7 of the Constitution, and section fifty-two of this chapter. If any sheriff or collector shall pay out in any one year, OF West Virginia. 97 more moDey on account of the teachers' fund or building fund than shall have been levied and could have been collected by him during said year, together with the amount remaining in his hands from any preceding year, he shall in such settlement, receive no credit for such excess. He shall receive no pay for re- ceiving and disbursing the State school fund, and not more than two per cent for receiving and disbursing railroad taxes, and no pay for the disbursement of any school money, arising from the sale of school properly or received from any other source than levies. If be fail to account for and pay over, as required by law, any money which may come to his hands, or for "which he is liable, judgment may be recovered therefor against him and his securities, with interest and ten per cent. damages; and upon the failure of such sheriff to pay any proper draft which may be drawn by the said board of education upon him, the person entitled to receive the sum of money specified in such draft may require the sheriff to endorse thereon, or write across the face thereof the words "presented for payment," -with the proper date, and sign the same, and judgment upon motion therefor may be ob- tained against the sheriff before any justice of his county, or before the circuit court thereof, with interest from the time said draft wa • presented and ten per cent, damages, he hav- 98 School Laws and Decisions ing had at least ten days' notice of the mo- tion. Provided, That no sheriff shall be re- quired to endorse any school order, nor shall suit be brought on any such school order prior to the first day of November of the current school year. CLXXXI. The sheriff has no right to refuse to collect the school funds. He may decline to act as sheriff, but if he un- dertake the duties of the office aud refuse to collect the school moneys, it would be the duty of the county court to appoint, another sheriff. CLXXXII. Where error is discovered after a settlement has been made it mayibe corrected by proper legal proceediues. CLXXXIII. Boards of education have no authority to pay a sheriff more commission than the law allows. This for re- ceiving and disbursing railroad taxes is two per cent. CLXXXIV. See Code, chapt*^r41, section 56, as to penalty for sheriff, who shall fail or refuse lo pay any draft or order lawfully drawn upon him, under certain circumstances. CLiXXXV. "Neither the board of education, as a corpora- tion, nor the members ih»"reof individually, are liable to a sheriff who has paid out more in any year, on account of the teachers' fund, than has been levied and could have been col- lected by him during such year, together with the amount re- maining in his hands from any previous year."— J.//red5 Caldwell, Attorney General. CLXXXVI. School orders shall be received at par vahie in payment of taxes, county and district levies, militia fines and officers' fees. etc. — See section 16, chapter 41, Code. CLXXXVII. There is no law providing for the payment, by Boards of Education, of fe^^s to county clerks for prepar- ing abstracts of sheriffs' settl^m^^nts as required by section 52; or certifying delinquent lists to Boards of Education, as required of him by this section, or for certifying the value of real estate to said Boards as he is required to do by section 43. This work is a part of his duty as a county officer, for which he is paid a salary out of the county treasury by the county court. Delinquent Lists — Sale of Delinquent Lands for District Levies. 47. The delinquent lists for district levies shall be returned and real estate sold therefor, as hereinafter provided. OF West Virginia. 99 m © •". . ;-) P a» o • l-H J3 CM += d CO • l-H (D M oJ 'ffi O "o n 4J o 02 o X5 >-> 02 OS 01) a. TS o o O) J-3 p at CU ^ -M 1— t a P a o c3 rn >> cu l~> ~i-j t "^ Cfl ^-H 03 P p a O p _o P a o 4-1 (D •• 1— t o ^3 Trustees. .... Dlst , j I Cour^ty^ W. Va. J J On the reverse of the transfer (Form VII ) the following endorsement may be made: Transfer of scholars from sub-dis- trict No .... , of .... district, county, to sub-district No . . , of .... district, .... county, W. Va. We, the trustees of the last named sub-dis- trict, this day ^accept the within trans- fer in accordance with sec. 12 school law, ,189 1 *0r refuse to y Trustees. i J 192 School Laws and Decisions . NOTE — Trustees acceptins transfers from other districts should transmit them to their bo ird of education, there to be kept on file for the iuforraation of the board in makiug set- tlement for the amouut due for the transferred pupils. Trustees making transfers should furnish their board with information of all transfers mad« by them toeuable the board to provide for the payment of the pro rata expenses of the transferred pupils. The following form may ba Uaed by the trustees: To the president of the hoard of education of district: This is to certify that +,he undersigned trus- tees of .... district have transferred as re- quired by law pupils, the children of , from this sub-district No . . . . , of ..... district, county, to begin on the .... day of , 189 . . , and continue .,.,-.. .months. 1 ^ Trustees. I J FOKM NO. VIII. FORM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN TRUSTEES AND TEACHER. This Contract Witnesseth, That , a school teacher holding a No ... . teacher's certificate, of the first part, and and trustees of sub- district No. . . . in OF West Virginia. 193 the district of , and county of , West Virginia, of the second part, have this day agreed that said ...... shall teach the Free School in said sub-district, for the term of months, commencing on the. . . .day of , 1 89 . . , for the sum of ... . dollars per month, and that for said services, properly rendered, the trustees aforesaid will, (as pre- scribed by law), pay the amount of salary due said . . according to the terms cf this contract. The trustees whose signatures are hereunto affixed met together as required by sec. 13 of the School Law. Witnesseth our hands, this day of , 189.. Teacher. • 1 I ^ Trustees, I J FORM NO IX. FORM OF COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT'S CERTIFI- CATE TO THE AUDITOR UF DISTRIBUTION OF STATE FUND FOR HIS COUNTY. OFFICE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTFREE SCHOOLS P. 0., Co., W. Va...... 189 To the Auditor of the S ate of ^'est Virginia: Sir: The following shows the apportion- 194 School Laws and Decisions ment made by me to the several school dis- tricts of the county of , for the school year commencing July 1st, 189 . . Wbole amount certified by Stat^ Sunerinteii'lent . $ Amount deduct'-d lor salary of County ^uDe^'ntendent Whole amount distributed to the several s-chool dist's Amount distributed t<» each school district respectively; Pa\ ment of Sept 15. Paym'i. of Dec. 15. Total, To . District, $ $ $... To " To " To . " To .... " To " To " To . " ¥0 ' To " To " if ?. Totals - - $ ^ .1 indbpend't dist. I ? $... To District, $ To " To " To •' $ -Ill $... To...... " To " _■ $ of. County Superintendent " ounty, NoTB. — Section 22 of the School Law requires County Su- perintendents to apportion the State Fund aiDrng; the sev- eral districts of their respective counties and forward a re- port of same on this form to the Auditor. OF West Virginia, 195 FORM NO. X. COUNTY superintendent's CERTIFICATE TO SECRETARIES OF THE AMOUNT OF RAILROAD TAX. Office County Su]pevintendent Free Schools: 189 To the Secy Board of Education of, ... . . . . District: You are hereby notiSed that the amount due your District for School purposes (Teach- ers' and Building Fund,) and chsrgable to the Sheriff on the respective accounts of Teachers' and Building "und in proportion to the rate of levy for each, for 1he school year ending J uly J , 186 , from the Kailroad Company is Dollars. 100 Given under my hand ihis ... day of , . . . 189.. Dated 1 89 . . CoiuHy Supt Co. NOTE.— When the County Superintendent is notified by the Auditor of the amount paid into the treasury by the rail- road company to the credit of any district for school pur poses; OP, is notified of the amount of railroad tax certified by the Auditor to the sheriff of the couBty for coJlectiOn for schuol purposes, he should, without delay, notify (on this 196 School Laws and Decisions blank form 17,) the Secretaries of the respective Boards of Education of the amounts due them from the different rail- road companies that, have property in the district. The Sec- retaries of the Boards when they are notified as above di- rected, should divide the amounts so reported, between the Teachers' an 1 Building Funds in x>foportion to the rate of lewj made for each. The respective amounts should then be charged up to the sheriff on account of the respective funds. FORM NO. XI. couNTy superinttjndent's certificate to secretaries of the amount of state fund. Office of County Supfrintendent ) Free Schools, j P.O, Co., W. Va., 189 To the Secretary of the Board of Education of District: It is hereby certified, that the amouut of State School Kund apporliODed to your dis- trict for the school year commencing on the 1st day of July, 189 .. , is dollars. Enumeration for 1 89 . . , (corrected) County Superintendent. note.— This amount will be paid to the sheriff of the county in two installments — one half September 15th and one-half December I5th next, provided your Board levy for a sufficient sum, which, together with the balance on band, luuds from other .sources, and this State Fund, will pay for having the schools of your district taught for at least four OF West Virginia. 197 months in the year: Provided, the rate of levy does not ex- ceed 50 cents on The lldO valuntion, or unless a special levy has been laid. You will charge the sheriff with the above amount on accuunt of the Teacher^' Fund. As soon as the ("ounty Superintendent receives notice from the State Superintendent of the amount apportion' d to his county, he should apportion :he amownt amoQe: the re- spective districts and independent districts, according to the number of youth between 6 and 12 in each, ascertained by the last enumeration and notify the respective Secreta- ries on this blank (Form XI.) without delay. FOKM NO. Xa. assessor's notice to secretaries of valua- tion OF personal property. Office of Assessor of County. To the Secy of the Bonrd of Educativn of. . . district : The assesf c I valuation of the personal prop- erty in your district on the first day of Janu- ary, 189 .. , aggregates Given under my hand the .... day of . . . . 189.. P. 0. Address, Assessor. (See Sections 43 and 44 of the School L&w .) Note.— This not ice should be sent to the S' cretarles at the verv earliest mom* nt possit»le. as it is very important to have it on the first Mt nday m July, at the aniiual it^eeting of ihe Kcard ol Educaiion. 198 School Laws and Decisions FORM NO. XIll. COUNTY clerk's NOTICE TO SKCRETARIES OF ASSESSED VALUATION OF REAL ESTATE. Office Clerk County Court, County^ W. Va, To the Secretary Board of Education of District : The assessed valuation of the Real Estate in your district on the first day of January, 189 . , aggregates $ ICO Clerk oj County Court. Note — This iuformation shou'd b^". eiven the Secretaries at the very earliest mom'^nt possible, as frequent d-'lays oc- cur in the mails, Ac, aad it is very important for th<^ Board to hav<^ it at its annual meeting, the first Monday ia July [See Section 43 or School 1-aw.] FORM NO. XIV. COUNTY clerk's NOTICE OF DELINQUENT LISTS TO SECRETARIES. Office Clerk County Court ^ County. To the Secy Board of Education District: The Sheriff is entitled to credits for the Delinquent List (including property errone- OF West Virginia. 199 ously and improperly charged) for the year ending June 80, 189 . . On Real Estate for Teacher's Fund, - $ On Personal Property for Teacher's Fund, $ Total for Teacher's Fund, - - - - % On Eeal Estate for Building Fund, - - $ On Personal Property for Building Fund, $ Total for Building Fund, - - - - $ You -will charge the Sheriff with the follow- ing amounts, certified by the Auditor, as paid to the Sheriff on account of redemptions of delinquent lands paid into the Treasury be- fore sale: For Teacher's Fund - - - - $ For Building Fund - - - - $ Given under my hand the day of 189.. Clerk of County Court, See Section 48. School Law. 2G0 School Laws and Decisions FORM NO. XV. secretarie's notice to county superin- tendent, ASSESSOR AND COUNTY CLERK OF RATE OF LEVIES. Office of ^ecrdary Board of Education. P. O... 189.. *To of County. At a meetiDg of the Board of Education of District of said C©unty, hel3 on the .... day of 189.., it was ordered that Levies for the conduct of the Free Scheols of the District for the year be- ginning the 1st day of July, 189. . be made for the respective Funds at the following rates: For Teachers's Fund, .... cents on the $100 va'uation. For Building Fund, .... cents on the $1C0 valuation. Respectfully, S^^crttary, *NoTE. — Writ", A.<^sesf-or, Clerk of the County Court or County Superiiitendenl a8 ih** case may be. Each must be notified promptly. See Section 44 o' the School Law. INDEX AGRICI'LTURAL EXPERIMP:XT STATION. Establishiiieiit of and general provisions re- garding, p. lo6, s. 8()a. ALCOHOLIC PRINKS AND NARCOTICS. The eltects npon the hnnian system, special in- strnctions in, i). 30. Subject to he taught as thoroughly as other branches, p. 30. Duty of school othcers regardinu' teaching of, p. 30. ASSESSOR. To certify value of personal property to secre- tary of board of education, when, p. 80, s. 4*3, d. clxxvi. Penalty imposed on for failure to certify value of personal property to secretary, p, 00, s. 44. Penalty for eharging greater amount of taxes than is due, p. ^)1, s. 44. Eines against, how collected, p. Wl, s. 44. Form of delinquent list of pers(jnal property, to be used bv, p. 100, s. 47. Index. AUDITOR. Not to pay State Fund to districts not making local levy, p. 88, s. 42, d. clxxv. Delinquent list to be certified to, p. 101, s. 48, d. clxxxviii. To include school taxes on real estate in delin- quent list furnished sheriff for sale for de- linquent taxes, p. 102, s. 49. To deduct salary, &v., of State Superintendent from General SchoQl Fund, p. 118, s. 50. To certify to the State Superintent amount of General School Fund for distribution, p. 119, s. 01. To issue warrant for amounts of General School Fund due counties, when, p. 120. s. 62. To report condition of the School Fund to State Superintendent, when, p. 125, s. 68, d. cciii. The custodian of The School Fund securities, p. 128, s. 74. BOAED OF EDVCATION. Who to compose, p. 13, s. 2. Time of in which to (qualify, p. 17, d. vi. Members of; inelioi])le to other elective offices, p. 13, s. 2. Tie in case of election, how decided, p. 13, s. 2. Presidents of, to elect county superintendent in case of a tie, pp. 13, 14, s. 2. Application of, to board of ballot commission- ers, p. 14, s. 2. How to submit question of additional months of school, p. 14, s. 2. To make required levies, p. 15, s. 2. Duty of, in case levy is voted down, p. 15, s. 2. Time of first meeting, p. 17, s. 4. Index. iii BOARD OF EDUCATION— Continued. Vacancies in, how filled, and for what time, p. 18, s. 5, d. ix. Date of first meeting of, pp. 17, 18, s. 4, 6. To determine the number of teachers to be employed, p. 18, s. 6. Quorum of, who to compose, p. 19, s. 6. No business to be transacted b}^ a quorum, ex- cept what, p. 19, s. 6. Compensation of members of, p. 19, s. 6, d. xvii. Compensation of members of boards of inde- pendent districts, p. 20, d. xv. To be a corporation with corporate rights, p. 20, s. 7, d. xix. Liability of, p. 21, s. 7. May receive, hold and dispose of what, p. 21, s. 7. How process may be served on, p. 21, s._ 7. Control and supervision of schools in its dis- trict, p. 24, s. 9. Duty of, in case county court change district 'boundaries, p. 26, "^s. 9, d. xxvii, xxviii, xxix. To cause school to be kept in each sub-district, p. 27, s. 10. Must employ teacher in case trustees fail to do so, i^. 27, s. 10. To have revision of acts of Trustees, p. 31, s. 12, d. xlii. To pay to another district, tuition of transfer- red pupils, p. 32, s. 12, d. xliii. Mav declare teacher's contract illegal, when, p. ^ ?^i, s. 13, d. 1. INIay review action of trustees in suspending or .expelling pupils, when, p. 34, s. 13, d. li. To furnish blank record book for trustees, p. 41, s. 16. When to apportion school fund to colored pu- pils, p. 43, s. 18, d. Ixxii. iv Index. EOAED OF EDrCATIOX— CV)ntiniie(]. May be ronipelled by mandainiLS, p. 44, s. 18. 8hall require the enumeiaiion of school youth to be made when, p. 44, s. 19, d. Ixxii. Kot to employ teacher!? who have not attended an institute, p. 74, s. 80, d. cxxxi. Charaeil with the duty of moral trainin.s p. 77- ?: 82. To provide suitable school houses and irrounds 1>. 79, s. 84. civ. Members of not to be interested in contract for building- or repairing sch(.)ol houses, p. 81 ^ s. 84, d. clvii, clviii. Judgment or decree for monev a?>. s. 87. How indebtedness of must be paid, p. 84, s. 37. To determine rate of taxation necessary for teachers' and building funds, p. 90, s. 44, d. clxxvii. Not to expend or contract del)ts be} oid aggre- gate of annual levy, pp. 91, 9i', s. 45, d. clxxviii, clxxx. To require its secretary to publish financial statement wh m expenditure s equal or ex- ceed three thousand dollars, pp. 92, 98, s. 45, d. clxxix. To make settlements with sheriff, p. 95, s. 4()^ d. clxxxv. Penalty of members for refusing to make set- tlement with sheriff as n^juired by sec- tic »n 40, ]). 105, s. 52. May ])urchase and s<'ll text-b<.>oks, how and when, p. 115, s. 5Sa. Mcndjcrs of, liable to hue for neylect of dutv, J). 117, s._59. Not to receive any ]iait of (u^ncral School Fund uidess iorul it-vv has been laid, p. 119, s. 01. Index. v BO VRD OF EXAMINERS. Of whom to be compo.sed, p. 58, s. 27. Q i:ilifi.Mtion of m?in'i.?rs of, }>. oS, .<. 27. H_)w nominated, when elected, length of term, p. 58, s. 27, d. e. May limit time in examination, p. 60, d. eviii. Members of, liable to pnnisiuiient, p. 60, d. ex. To hold stated examinations, p. 02, s. 28, d. cxiii, cxv, cxvi. exvii, cxviii, exix. Examination to be held at close of institnte, p. 73, s. oO, d. cxlii. Examinations prohibited until after first day of school year, p. 7o, s. 30. Members of, mav teach without certificates, p. 03, s. 28. BO.\RD OF THE PERMAXEXT SCHOOL EUXD. Of whom composed, p. 125, s. 00. The organization of, p. 125, s. 69. The meetings of, where held, p. 120, s. 70. Shall recover money due the School Fund, how, p. 120, s. 7f. May appoint agents, for what, p. 120, s. 72. To invest the School Fund, how, p. 127, s. 73. BOARD OF BALLOT COMMISSIOXERS. AVhat thev must print at bottom of official ticket, p. 14, s. 2. What inore they must print upon application of board of education, p. 14, s. 2. BONDS. Constitutional provision, p. 5. s. 8. Required of Secretary, when selling text-books supplied by board of education, p. 110, s. 58a. vi Index. BOKDS— Continued. To be given by county superintendent, p. 107, s. 53. Required of contractors p. SO, s. 34. Special, to be given by sheriti', p. 94, s. 46. BOOKS. School officers and teachers not to act as agents for, jjp. 9, 111, s. 9, 57, d. cxcix, cc, cci. Law does not apply to books written or things invented bv school otficers and teachers, p. 112, s. 57. BRANCHES TO BE TAUGHT IN THE PRIMA- RY SCHOOLS. Enumeration of, p. 28, s. 11, d. xxxviii, xxxix. BRIBERY. Of district school officers, how punished, p. 35, s. 13. BUILDING FUND. Maximum rate on the 100 dollars, p. 84, s. 38, d. clxiii. For M'hat purpose to be used, p. 84,. s. 38, d. clxiv. AVhat levy to be laid for, p. 84, s. 38, d. clxvi. From what sources derived, p. 85, s. 39, d. clxvii. Not to be used to pay charges on teacher,s fund, p. 85, s. 39, d. clxvi. CERTIFICATES. Grade of to determine rate of salary, p. 18, s. 6. Teachers must tile dupllicates of, with secre- tary of board, p. 61, s. 28, d. cxiii. Scheme upon which same are to be issued, i)p 65, 66, s. 29, d. cxxiv. Not to be granted except applicant pass exami- nation in physiology and hygiene, p. 31. Index. - vii CLEEK OF COUNTY COUET. To call meeting of presidents of boards of ed- ucation to elect county superintendent in case of a tie, p. 14, s. 2. Notice of such meeting, p. 14, s. 2. To certify valuation of real estate to secretary when, pp. 89, 96, s. 43, 46, d. clxxxvii. To certify delinquent list to secretary of board, p. 101, s. 48, d. clxxxviii. Delinquent list of XDcrsonal property to be placed in hands of sheriff by, p. 103, s. 51. To keep record of settlement with sherifl, p. 104, s. 52. Required to transmit abstract . 28, s. 11, d. xxxix. Index. xvii PROSECrXIXG ATTOK>'EY. Duty of in ease sherift' fails to make annual settlement M'ith county court, p. 104, s. 52. Duty of to instruct board of education, p. 83, d. clxii. PUPILS. Legal age of, p. 27, s. 10, d. xxxv. SALARY. Of teachers fixed by board, p. bS, s. 0. To be fixed according to grade of certificate, p. 18, s. t) Minimum of, to be paid teachers, p. 18, s. 6 To be unifurm througiiout magisterial district, p. 20, d. xviii. SCHOOL LEVY. "For school levy" or "against school levy," to to be placed on ballot, by ballot commis- sioner, p 14, s. 2 How long to continue after election, p. 15, s. 2. Special, may be made, p. 87, s. 40, d. clxx. SCHOOL YEAR. When to commence and when to end, p. 51. s. 23. All settlements to be made with respect to, p. 51, s. 23, d. Ixxxvi, Ixxxvii, Ixxxix. SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND. Board of regents of, how appointed and duties of, p. 149, s. 98a. SCHOOL MONTH. To consist of twenty days, not to include Sat- urday, p. 72, s. 30, d. cxlvii. xviii Index. SCHOOL HOUSES. To be provided bv board of education, p. 79, s. 34. How to be located, p. 79, s. 34, d. clix, clx. Union schools, how boards of education may provide for same, p. 80, s. 34. Plan to be approved by county superintend- ent, x>- ^-, ^- 35. How sold at public auction, p. 78, s. 33, d. cliii. AVhat to be done with proceeds of sale of school property, p. 78, s. 33. How school property may be re-conveyed to grantor, p. 78. 79, s, 33. SECRETAEY BOARD OF EDUCATION. Appointment of, p. 22, s. 8. To give notice of special elections, p. 15, s. 2, OtHcial records to be kept by him, p. 22, s. 8. Custodian of the boards records, p. 22, s. 8. To publish abstracts of proceedings, p. 22, s. 8. INIust certify value of property, rate of levy and amount of levy in his district to county superintendent, pp. 23, 48, s. 8, 21, d. xxiii, xxiv, xxvi, Ixxx, Ixxxi, Ixxxii, Ixxxiii. To keep record of enumeration of school youth in his otftce and Certify same to county superintendent, p. 45, s. 19, d. Ixxiv. To make report of colored school, p. 49, s. 21. To file teacher's term register, p. 71, s. 30, d. cxxxiv, cxxxvi. To publish financial statement when expendi- tures equal or exceed three thousand dol- lars, p. 92,. 93, s. 45, d. clxxix. To keep an account of money for text-books sold by the board and to report same to county superintendent, p. 115, s. 58a. Compensation of, for handling text-boaks sup- plied by board of education, p. 116, s. 58a. Index. xix SECRETAEY BOARD OF EDUBATION— Cont. Bond of, required when selling text-books sup- plied by board of education, p. 116, s. 58a. SHERIFF. Required to give specia. bond, when. p. 94, s. 46, d. clxxxi. To collect and disburse school monev, p. 94, 46. To collect levies assessed bv board of educa- tion, p. 90, s. 44. To pay teachers monthly, p. 72, s. 30. To serve notice on members board of educa- tion, p. 14, s. 2. Annual settlement of with county court, pp. 8, 9, s. 7. To keep account with the several boards of education, p. 95, s. 46, d. clxxxvi. Settlement of with board of education, p. 95, s. 46, d. clxxxiii. To be credited with delinquent taxes, p. 96, s. 46, d. clxxxii. To be credited bv all vouchers in hand, p. 96, s. 46. Not to receive pay for disbursiiig State school fund, p. 97, s- 46. Commission for receiving and disbursing rail- road taxes, p. 97, s. 46, d. clxxxih. How judgment against him may be obtained, p. 97, s. 46. May be required to endorse school orders, p. 97, s. 46. Form of oath of, when returning delinquent list, p. 101, s. 47. To receive delinquent list of personal property from clerk of county court, p. 103, s. 51. Commission allowed to, for collection of district levies, p. 103, s. 52. XX Index. SHERIFF— Continued. Required to make annual settlement with county court, p. 103, s. 52. Penalty of, for failure to make annual settle- ment of with county court, p. 104, s. 52. Duty of, upon making tinal settlement, p. 105^ s. 52. To receive portion of General School Fund due his county, p. 120, s. 62. STATE CERTIFICATE. Classes of, and to whom issued, p. 6S, s. 29a, d. cxxviii. How issued to graduates of State Normal Schools and State University, p. 68, s. 29a, d. cxxix. To be countersigned l)v State Superintendent, p. 69, s. 29a. STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS. Of whom to consist, how appointed and term of office, p. 67, s. 29a. INIeeting of and stated examinations, p. 68, s. 29a. Vacancies in. howtilled, p. 67, s. 29a. Compensation and traveling expenses, p. 70, s. 29a. Certified account to State Department of Free Schools, p. 70. s. 29a. STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF FREE SCHOOLS Constitutional provision, i)p. 5, 6, s. 2. (Qualifications of, p. 121, s. 68. Exi)enses and limit of, pp. (>, 121. s. 2. 63. To prescribe manual and graded Course of ^tudy, ]). 2H, s. 11. Index. xxi STATE i-^UPERINTENDENT OF FEEE SCHOOLS — Continued. To prescribe and furnish blanks for taking enu- meration of youth, p. 46, s. 19. To countersign State certificates, p. 69, s. 29a. To fix time and place of holding countv insti- tutes, p. 72, s. 30. To employ institute instructors, p. 73, s. 30. To prescribe a graded course of institute work, p. 74, s. 30. To prescribe a course of professional study, p. 74, s. 30. To draw warrant upon auditor for salary of county superintendents, p. 106, s. 53. To coMtract with publishers for prescribed text-books, p 114, s. 58. To ascertain amount of General School Fund due each county, p. 119, s. 61. Salary of, and how paid, p. 121, s. 63. Office of to be kept at seat of government, p. 122, s. 64. To provide a seal of office, p. 122, s. 64. To sign requisitions on auditor for. payment of money out of the State treasury for school purposes, p. 122, s. 64. To have supervision of countv superintendents, p. 122, s. 65. To prescribe and cause to be prei)ared all forms and blanks for use in the school work in the State, p. 122, s. 65. To publish and distribute school laws, p. 123, s. 65. To correspond with educators and school offi- cers abroad, p. 123, s. 65. To make report to the governor, p. 124, s. 67. To be member of the Board of the School Fund, p. 125, s. 69 To be a member of tht. Board ■ '" Regents of Regents of the State Norn. .. School, p. 138, s. 87. xxii Index. SUB-DISTRICTS. Board of education to fix term of school in, p. 19, d. xi. Failure to have school in, p 19, d xii. A]3peal from decision of board regarding boundaries, p. 25, s 9. TAXATION. Capitation tax, ho\\' appropriated, p. 3, s. 2. Exemi)tion from, p. 3, s. 2. Power of the Legislature to extend to. p. 3, s. 2. Maximum limit of county authorities, p. 4, s. 7. State tax of 10 cents on the 100 dollars, p. 118, s. 60. TEACHERS. Qualificaticm of, p. 27, s. 10. Branches required to pass examination, p. 28, s. 11. INIay be removed for what, p. 34, s. 13. How punished for attempted bribery, p. 35, s. 13. How to be paid, p. 71, s. 30, d. cxxxv. To keep daily register, p 71, s. 30. To jnake monthly reports to the secretary of the board of education, p. 71, s. 30, d. ex XX. To keep term register, what to contain, \). 71, s 30, d, cxxxii. To take enumeration of scliool vouth, p. 44, s. 19. Charjj:ed Avitli the duty of moral training, p. 77,.,s._32. Not required to serye on a jury, p 45, s. 19. How exempt from institute attendance, p. 74, s 30. Index. xxiii TEACHERS— Continued. Failing to attend institute, not to be admitted to examination or employed to teach in any free school, p. 74, s. 30, d. cxl, cxli, cxiiv. Fine of, for violation of law, when other pen- alty is not fixed, p. 117, s. 59. TEACHERS' CONTRACT. Form to be furnished bv State Superintendent, p. 33, s. 13, d. 1. What it shall state, p. 33, s. 13. Witii Avhom to be filed, p. 33, s. 13. TEACHER'S FUXD Annual levy for, p. 86, s. 40. ^Maximum rate of, p. 8(3, s. 40. L^sed only to pay teachers' salary, p. 8(3, s. 40, d. clxix. Board comi>elled to lay levy for, p. 87, s. 40. Special levy for, when to be made, p. 87, s 40, d. clxxii. Indebtedness of, how paid, p. 87, s. 40, ci. elxxiii. TEXT-BOOKS. List of, prescribed for use, in the free schools of the state, pp. 112, 113, 114, s. 58. How contracts made for with publishers, p. 114, s. 58. New editions of not to be introduced in time covered by the contract, p. 114, s. 58. How boards of education may purchase and sell, text-books, p. 115, s. 58a. Provisions regarding contracts to be made by State Superintendent of Free Schools therefor, p 171. xxiv Index. TRANSFER OF PVPILS. When yame can be made, p. ol, s. 12. For what reason, p. 31, 8. 12, d. xliii, xliv,xlv, xlvi, xlvii, xlviii. TRUSTEES. When to be appointed, time in which to quah- fy and lenoth of term, p. 17, s. 4, d. vi. When to meet to employ teachers, p. 83, s. 13, xhx. How many of to constitute a quorum, p. 41, s. 16. To be under supervision and control of board of education, p. 31, s. 12, d. xlii. Action of, subject to revision bv ]K)ard, when, p 31, s. 12. Removal of, from othce, how, p 34, s. 13. Vacancies in office of how tilled, p. 17, s. 5. To have charire of school, j). 33, s. 13. May reward teacher for what, p. 34, s. 13. Cannot change teacher's salary as fixed by board of education, p. 19, s. 6. Mav exclude whom from school, p. 34, s. 13, d. ^lix. May suspend or expel pupils for what, p. 34, s. 13, d. li. Action of, in suspension or expulsion of pupils ; mav be removed by board, when, j). 34, s. 13, d. Iv. May discontinue school, when, j). 3o, s. 13, d. Ivi, lvii,lviii. To visit schools under their charge, when, p. 37, s. 14, d. Ix. Duties of, when visiting schools, p. 37, s. 14, d. Ixi, Ixii. To make suggestions to teachers, ]>. 37, s. 14. Duty of, regarding school houses, p. 38, s. 15 Index. xxv TRUSTEES— Continued. May sue in name of board of education for damages to school property, p. 38, s. 15. May permit school houses to be used for what purposes, p. 38, s. 15, d. Ixiii, Ixiv, Ixv, Ixvi. Shall furnish boards of education with esti- mate of improvements, p. 39, s. 15. To keep an account of all the expenses incurred by them, p. 40, s. 16, d. Ixvii. May purchase what, p. 40, s. 16, d. Ixvii. How bills contracted by, are to be paid, p. 41, s. 16. To establish colored schools, when, p. 42, s 17, d. Ixviii, Ixxi. To make report to secretary of board, p. 47, s. 20, d. Ixxviii, Ixxix. Not to employ a teacher who has not attended an institute, p. 74, s. 30, d. clx. Duty of to see that school houses are kept clean and fires made, when necessary, p. 77, s. 32, d. clii. TUITION. Rate of, p. 27, s. 10. To whom to be paid, hoM' applied, p. 28, s. 10, d. xxxvii. UNION SCHOOLS. How same may be established, p. 80, s. 34, d. cliv, civ. Title to property, how vested, p. 80, s. 34. UNIVERSITY, THE WEST VIRGINIA. Establishment and name of, pp. 129, 130, s. 76, 77. The board of regents of, its duties, pp. 130, 131, s. 78. xxvi Index. UNINERSITY, THE WEST VIRGINIA— Cont. Departments in, how establisiied, p. 132, s. 79. Preparatory department, may be established, p. 133, s. 81. Cadets in, how admitted, p 134, s. 82. Endowment fund of, how invested, p. 135, s. 85. WEST VIRGINIA REFORM SCHOOL. Estabhshment and object of, p. 163, s. 98c. How inmates are admitted tiiereto, p. ItiG. WEST VIRGINIA COLORED INSTITUTE. How and under what provisions estabhshed, p. 156, s, 986. Name and location of, p. 159, s. 98b. Board of regents, duties of, etc., p. 160, s. 986. WHEELING, CITY OF. Count}'' superintendent not required to visit tlie schools in, d. cxcvii. Free scliools of, not ettected bv this chapter, p. 128, s. 75. Qualifications of superintendent of, p. 129, s. 75, d. cciv, ccv. }r~ ubraryofTS^RE^ 019 748 522 A 5 ""^ ^<^ s^ ,v ''^J 'V .^. V.~vJ5