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ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
MIDDLEBORO, MASS.
C
LE
R
OUTH
COUNTY
NOWA
TY MASS
*
PINCORPORATE
SAD.1669
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1919
E. ANTHONY & SONS, Inc., Printers, New Bedford, Mass.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
MIDDLEBORO,
MASS.
FOR THE
YEAR 1919
LE
RO
COUNT
knowxid
GH
N
*
INCORPORATED
AD.1669
NEW BEDFORD, MASS. E. ANTHONY & SONS, INCORP., PRINTERS
1920
r
3
TOWN OFFICERS 1919. Town Clerk.
ALBERT A. THOMAS
Term expires 1921
Treasurer and Collector. ALBERT A. THOMAS.
Selectmen.
SYLVANUS T. LeBARON EDWARD H. CROMWELL
BOURNE WOOD
Term expires 1921 Term expires 1922
Assessors.
ALBERT T. SAVERY
Term expires 1920
ALLERTON THOMPSON
BENJAMIN C. SHAW
Term expires 1921 Term expires 1922
Overseers of the Poor.
WILLIAM M. HASKINS
Term expires 1920
ALLERTON THOMPSON
CHARLES M. THATCHER
Term expires 1921 Term expires 1922
School Committee.
GRANVILLE E. TILLSON
Term expires 1920
JOHN V. SULLIVAN
Term expires 1920
GEORGE W. STETSON
Term expires 1921
THEODORE N. WOOD
Term expires 1921
E. T. PIERCE JENKS
Term expires 1922
MRS. ADELIA C. RICHARDS
Term expires 1922
Superintendent of Schools. CHARLES H. BATES.
Municipal Light Board.
WILLIAM A. ANDREWS
HARLAS L. CUSHMAN
CORNELIUS H. LEONARD
Term expires 1920 Term expires 1921 Term expires 1922
Board of Health.
RICHARD P. BYRNES DR. LEONARD A. BAKER CHARLES W. CLARK
Term expires 1920 Term expires 1921 Term expires 1922
JOHN H. WHEELER Health, Officer and Agent of Board
Term expires 1920
4
Superintendent of Streets. V. A. MALM.
Registrars of Voters.
WALTER M. CHIPMAN LORENZO WOOD
Term expires 1920
WILLIAM J. COUGHLIN
Term expires 1921 Term expires 1922
Trustees of the Public Library.
WALTER L. BEALS
Term expires 1920
WALTER SAMPSON
Term expires 1920
NATHAN WASHBURN
Term expires 1920
HENRY W. SEARS
Term expires 1921
GEORGE E. DOANE
Term expires 1921
KENELM WINSLOW
Term expires 1921
ALLAN R. THATCHER
Term expires 1922
EDWARD S, HATHAWAY
Term expires 1922
THEODORE N. WOOD
Term expires 1922
Constables. WILLIAM CHAMBERLAIN. G. LOUIS HATHAWAY GEORGE H. MORSE FRED C. SPARROW
CHARLES M. THATCHER
ICHABOD B. THOMAS
CLARENCE E. THOMAS
EDWARD S. JACKSON
Fish Wardens.
BOURNE WOOD EDWARD H. CROMWELL SYLVANUS T. LeBARON
Tree Warden Auditor JOHN J. FOWLER, JR. WILLIAM W. BRACKETT
Moth Superintendent. JOHN J. FOWLER, JR. Forest Warden. JOHN J. FOWLER, JR.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF
MIDDLEBORO,
MASS.
FOR THE
YEAR
1919
C
LEE
RO
OUTH
COUNTY
PLYMO
*
INCORPORATED
NEW BEDFORD, MASS. E. ANTHONY & SONS, Incorp., PRINTERS 1920
7
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ORGANIZATION, 1919-1920.
GRANVILLE E. TILLSON, Chairman.
CHARLES H. BATES, Secretary.
MEMBERS.
Term Expires
GRANVILLE E. TILLSON, 141 So. Main St.,
1920
JOHN V. SULLIVAN, 114 So. Main St., 1920
GEORGE W. STETSON, 118 So. Main St .;
1921
THEODORE N. WOOD, 15 School St.,
1921
E. T. PEIRCE JENKS, 26 No. Main St., 1922
ADELIA C. RICHARDS, 86 Pearl St.,
1922
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
CHARLES H. BATES, 41 School St.
Telephone 81-W.
Office, Room 7, Town Hall. Telephone 81-R.
Office Hours, School Days: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 4 to 5 P. M., Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 to 9 A. M.
8
Regular meetings of the School Board are held in Room 7, Town Hall, on the first Thursday of each month, excepting July and August, at 7.30 P. M.
All bills against the School Department should be sent to the Secretary's office not later than the Wednesday pre- ceding the first Thursday of each month.
MEETINGS 1920.
Jan. 8, Feb. 5, March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3, June 24, Sept. 2, Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2.
SUB-COMMITTEES.
Thomastown, South Middleboro and Rock Schools,
GRANVILLE E. TILLSON.
School Street, Fall Brook and Purchade Schools,
THEODORE N. WOOD.
High, Green and Waterville Schools, E. T. PEIRCE JENKS.
Union Street, Town House and Wappanucket Schools, GEORGE W. STETSON.
Forest Street, Soule and Thompsonville Schools, JOHN V. SULLIVAN.
West Side, Plymouth Street and Pleasant Street Schools, ADELIA C. RICHARDS.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN.
DR. JAMES H. BURKHEAD, 11 Peirce Street.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICER.
SAMUEL S. LOVELL, 210 Centre Street
1
9
JANITOR OF CENTRAL BUILDINGS.
High School, CHARLES H. GOODWIN, Forest St. Extension Union Street and Town House Schools, HOMER CASWELL, 14 Pearl Street.
School Street School, THOMAS S. PHINNEY, 24 Pearl St. Forest Street School, MARTIN HANLEY, 85 Oak Street. West Side School, SAMUEL S. LOVELL, 210 Centre Street.
TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO.
In School Committee.
Jan. 10, 1920.
Voted : That the reports of the Secretary of the Board, Superintendent of Schools, Principal of the High School, Supervisors of Music and Drawing, School Physician and School Attendance Officer be accepted and presented to the town by the School Board.
CHARLES H. BATES,
Secretary.
10
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Middleboro, Mass., Jan. 8, 1920.
To the Citizens of Middleboro:
The following financial report of the School Committee is respectfully submitted :-
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
CURRENT EXPENSES.
DR.
Appropriation, 1919.
Salaries
$37,225.00
Janitors
3,200.00
Fuel
3,200.00
Books, Supplies and Printing
2,800.00
Rent of Town House Rooms
500.00
Water Supply
375.00
Tuition
550.00
Sundries
1,000.00
Evening School
100.00
Salary of School Committee
150.00
Salary of School Physician
300.00
$49,400.00
Balance, 1918
465.54
$49,865.54
Less estimated income
7,100.00
$42,765.54
11
Town of Lakeville, tuition
$1,783.88
Town of Plympton, tuition
862.51
Town of Rochester, tuition
150.00
Town of Halifax, tuition
75.00
City of Boston, tuition
20.25 687.25
Incidentals
26.70
Trustees of Pratt Free School, chairs
26.00
Pierce Trustees, Commercial Course
2,349.00
Additional appropriation
600.00
Allowance from Contingent Fund
700.00
$7,280.59
Total income
$50,046.13
CR.
Salaries
$37,610.43
Janitors
3,087.01
Fuel
4,013.75
Books and Supplies
1,924.69
Rent
500.00
Tuition
545.50
Water Supply
354.80
Sundries
1,404.81
Salary of School Committee
150.00
Salary of School Physician
300.00
$49,890.99
Balance
$155.14
TRANSPORTATION.
DR.
Appropriation
$3,300.00 492.83
Balance, 1918
$3,792.83
CR.
Expended Deficit
$3,899.09 106.26
State Treasurer, tuition
12
REPAIRS.
DR.
Appropriation Deficit, 1918
$1,400.00 194.97
$1,205.03
Additional appropriations
1,600.00
$2,805.03
CR.
Expended Deficit
$2,973.55 168.52
SUMMARY.
Whole amount available for
school
purposes
56,643.99
Total expenditures
56,763.63
Deficit
$119.64
DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES.
INSTRUCTION.
High School
$11,388.40
Town House School
1,480.00
School Street School
6,360.00
Union Street School
2,780.00
Forest Street School
1,390.00
West Side School
2,780.00
Pleasant Street School
640.00
Plymouth Street School
640.00
Purchade School
640.00
Thompsonville School
590.00
Soule School
610.00
Waterville School
545.00
Green School
670.00
Fall Brook School
650.00
Rock School
670.00
Thomastown School
· 590.00
13
South Middleboro School
570.00
590.00
Wappanucket School Highland School Student teachers
55.00
50.58
$33,788.98
SUPERVISORS.
Manual Arts
$640.00
Music
765.00
$1,405.00
JANITORS.
High School
$610.00
Union Street and Town House Schools
600.00
School Street School
660.00
Forest Street School
240.00
West Side School
300.00
Pleasant Street School
78.00
Plymouth Street School
85.50
Purchade School
85.00
Thompsonville School
30.00
Soule School
58.50
Waterville School
29.25
Fall Brook School
39.00
South Middleboro School
39.00
Rock School
78.00
Thomastown School
39.26
Green School
72.50
Wappanucket School
39.00
Highland School
4.00
$3,087.01
FUEL.
B. K. Cushman, wood
$7.00
James L. Jenney, coal
3,508.50
T. D. Creedon, wood
46.00
Joseph B. Thomas, wood
139.00
Albert Deane, wood
107.50
B. C. Shaw, wood
55.00
L. O. Atwood, wood
22.50
T. C. Savery, wood
102.25
George A. Deane, wood
102.25
Andrew W. Miller, wood
17.00
$4,013.75
14
BOOKS, SUPPLIES AND PRINTING.
Carl Fischer, books
$6.39
F. N. Whitman, supplies,
250.00
Mass. State Prison, supplies
5.33
E. E. Babb & Co., books and supplies
841.00
J. F. McClusky, supplies
54.00
Silver, Burdett & Co., books
7.45
P. H. Pierce Co., supplies
1.35
T. W. Pierce Hardware Co., supplies
2.25
Namasket Press, printing
83.75
P. W. Keith, supplies
23.45
Underwood Typewriter Co., supplies
4.08
Ginn & Co., books
7.62
John C. Winston, books
9.32
Milton Bradley Co., supplies
8.80
H. L. Thatcher & Co., printing
115.03
David Farquhar, rebinding books
108.80
Allyn & Bacon, books
35.11
J. F. Barnard & Co., rebinding books
51.65
American Book Co., books
37.08
J. L. Hammett Co., books and supplies
213.92
Charles Scribner Sons, books
20.48
D. C. Heath & Co., books
20.67
Middleboro Gazette, printing
16.00
C. L. Hathaway & Co., supplies
23.93 10.49
A. N. Palmer Co., supplies
C. C. Birchard & Co., books
8.10
Oliver Ditson Co., books
.96
Charles H. Bates, books
42.00
$1,924.69
SUNDRIES.
N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co., telephone rentals
$88.70
George E. Doane, sundries
106.58
Mid. Gas & Electric Plant, lights
114.18
Henry Howe, sundries
11.77
Town of Middleboro, sundries
131.70
O. G. Mostrom, sundries
8.75
J. C. Boynton & Son, sundries
4.03
R. M. Bassett, sundries
6.79
J. M. Fowler, sundries
12.50
A. R. Owens, carting ashes
45.35
42.60
Rand McNally Co., books
120.58
Houghton, Mifflin Co., books
15
E. F. Tinkham, fixing clocks
13.00
George C. Wiley, sundries 1.00
A. R. Glidden & son, sundries
1.71
Chemo Co., oil
74.00
T. G. Sisson, cartage and freight
20.53
Adams Ex. Co., express
9.26
Ralph McCarty, repairing pianos
11.50
H. B. Wentworth, tuning piano
3.50
T. G. Matthews, sundries,
2.25
F. N. Whitman, sundries
98.22
Elmer E. Sawyer, sundries
1.13
Walter Sampson, traveling expenses and sundries,
33.94
Collen McLeod, traveling expenses
1.30
Jesse F. Morse, sundries
1.50
C. B. Dodge Co., sundries
2.25
Foster Tinkham, sundries
5.00
E. A. Braley, sundries
3.00
Lottie W. Tinkham, sundries
1.50
L. B. Tinkham, sundries
2.25
C. E. Gray, sundries
1.00
Maxim Motor Co., sundries
1.00
American Railway Ex. Co., express
15.09
Charles H. Bates, traveling expenses
30.63
W. L. Soule, sundries
26.80
Eleanor A. Barden, monitor service
12.00
Daniel O'Neal, sundries
6.00
Lucas & Thomas, dustbane
5.90
M. L. Hinkley, repairing clock
1.00
T. W. Pierce Co., sundries
41.70
Remington Typewriter Co., sundries
33.24
A. N. Palmer Co., sundries
6.45
Carrie L. Jones, taking census
85.00
E. H. Blake, sundries
14.00
Nellie M. Wicher, traveling expenses,
15.00
A. A. Thomas, making out certificates
50.00
P. H. Pierce Co., sundries
1.00
Geo. W. Perkins, sharpening lawn mowers
3.50
S. S. Lovell, salary as attendance officer
51.73
Underwood Typewriter Co., sundries
15.69
T. S. Phinney, cleaning suburban buildings 129.50
F. L. Hammond, automobile hire
5.00
Amos S. Buckman, sundries
8.25
Leonard O. Tillson, sundries 6.29
12.45
H. I. Dalman Co., sundries
16
E. A. Martin Co., engrossing diplomas 15.40
Lottie N. Lang, engrossing certificates 4.00
$1,404.81
TRANSPORTATION. School Teams.
Pleasant Street School
Arthur F. Straffin
$426.00
Oscar G. Mostrom
50.00
A. F. Holbrook
220.00
Thomastown School
W. A. Shaw
$370.50
South Middleboro School
M. P. Azevedo
$418.50
E. A. Sisson
378.75
$797.25
Wappanucket School
C. W. Barrows
$483.50
School Street School
Geo. S. Davidson
$32.00
Central Schools
Chas. H. Livermore
$113.00
HIGH SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION.
Winter term
$310.12
Spring term
320.59
Fall term
387.98
$1,018.69
TOWN HOUSE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION.
Fall term, 1918
22.60
Winter term
28.85
Spring term
25.62
Fall term
21.84
$98.91
SCHOOL STREET SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION.
Winter term
50.59
Spring term
57.26
Fall term
166.39
$274.24
$696.00
17
WEST SIDE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION.
W. B. Munroe $15.00
REPAIRS.
Thomas & Benn, repairs at School Street and West Side buildings $43.15
T. F. Boucher, repairs 3.48
Lloyd S. Perkins, repairs at High School, Union Street, and West Side build- ings
179.07
R. M. Bassett, material and labor at School Street building 23.73
535.21
J. N. Shaw, material and labor at Rock, Thomastown and Fall Brook Schools Fred C. Sparrow, labor at Green and Union Street Schools,
199.05
Town of Middleboro, labor and material at West Side and School Street
145.91
Burpee E. Crowell, labor at West Side School 6.95
W. H. Connor, labor and material
109.76
F. A. Johnson, labor and material at West Side and Pleasant Street,
189.98
S. M. Shiverick, labor at High School
87.22
George R. Sampson, labor at Purchade
1.40
Elliott W. Harlow, labor
58.55
Sears Lumber Co., material
471.77
J. T. Carver, labor at North Middleboro School
64.10
T. W. Pierce, material
27.61
George A. Shurtleff, labor at West Side School
88.33
George E. Doane, materials
9.25
Fred N. Whitman, materials
8.25
John F. McCormick, labor at West Side School 49.25
Boston Metal Ceiling Co., metal ceilings at West Side School 225.00
Zenas E. Phinney, labor at Forest Street and School Street schools 440.53
C. H. Ryder, labor 6.00
$2,973.55
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COMPARATIVE TABLE. 1918-1919.
Appropriation
Expenditures
1918
1919
1918
1919
Salaries
$35,716.00
$37,225.00
$35,580.14
$37,650.43
Janitors
2,900.00
3,200.00
2,864.46
3,087.01
Fuel
3,000.00
3,800.00
2,703.31
4,013.78
Books and sup-
plies
3,000.00
2,800.00
2,744.36
1,924.69
Sundries
800.00
1,000.00
990.10
1,404.81
Rent
500.00
500.00
500.00
500.00
School Commit- tee
150.00
150.00
150.00
150.00
School physician
300.00
300.00
300.00
300.00
Water supply
250.00
375.00
266.47
354.80
Tuition
250.00
550.00
309.86
545.50
Transportation
3,600.00
3,300.00
2,949.43
3,899.09
Repairs
1,200.00
2,800.00
1,140.78
2,973.55
Additional appropriations were made since the March meet- ing as follows :- Special meeting, $600 for fuel and $600 for repairs; from contingent fund $1,000 for repairs and $700 for current expenditures. $2,200 is shown in above table.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES H. BATES,
Secretary of School Board.
1
19
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Middleboro, Mass., Jan. 8, 1920.
To the School Board:
I respectfully submit my annual report of the needs of the schools which this year includes the consideration of three important questions-the salary question, the grading problem, and the accommodation problem.
Other phases of school work are briefly mentioned-the whole forming a review of the school activities for the year which I hope will be of interest to the citizens of the town.
COST OF SCHOOLS
With the high cost of living has come the high cost of carrying on the work in all activities. It is to be expected that larger appropriations will be necessary to meet the present conditions. The increase in teachers' and in jan- itors' salaries, the great advance in cost of fuel, books and supplies, the high prices today for labor and material, the increased cost of transportation, have all added to the school expenditures. The total cost, therefore, this year, will be greatly in advance of that of last year.
The School Board has endeavored to keep within its appropriation as it is required by law to do, but as many unforeseen expenditures are bound to be met during the year, where the margin of appropriation is so small as it is in the school appropriation, this is no easy thing to do.
It has been necessary to ask of the town at a special town meeting an appropriation of $1,200 for school expendi- tures and also to secure from the Committee on Appropria- tions from the Contingent Fund an additional $1,700 to meet the necessary school expenditures the past year.
Last year, with balances of $465.54 under current ex- penditure account and $492.83 under transportation ac- count, with a total balance of $763.40, the total income, ex- clusive of estimated income from tuition, etc., was $50,868.37.
20
This year we begin with a deficit of $168.57 in the repair account, a deficit of $106.26 in the transportation account, and with a larger amount to be called for in nearly all the items of the current expenditure account.
In referring to the expenditures this past year under current expenditure account, all bills have been paid, ex- cepting in the Book and Supply Account, which is smaller than the actual expenditure, as during the fall term, in order to keep within the appropriation if possible, many books and supplies were purchased on a three months' credit and will, therefore, be payable out of this year's appropriation.
The Transportation Account is larger than was estimat- ed, due in part to the increase of fares and the increased cost in the suburban transportation. Last year the engag- ing of two motor buses for which no allowance was made in the annual budget, added much to the transportation ex- pense.
An estimate for this year's expense is as follows:
Salaries,
$54,750.00
Janitors,
3,700.00
Fuel,
3,500.00
Books and Supplies,
3,300.00
Sundries,
1,250.00
Water,
350.00
Tuition,
325.00
Rent,
500.00
Salary of School Committee,
150.00
Salary of Physician,
300.00
Transportation,
4,700.00
Repairs,
2,500.00
$75,325.00
Less Estimated Income,
20,845.00
$54,480.00
SALARIES OF TEACHERS.
The total amount of estimated expenses this year is $75,325; while the estimated income is $20,845. In order to understand clearly the large amount under estimated in- come and the effect of the reimbursements the town receives from the school income fund upon such increases in not 'ad- ding directly to the taxable school expenditures and be- cause the law governing such credits is not generally un-
21
derstood a review of its chief features are here given: The passage of the school income fund bill at the last regular session of the legislature places at the disposal of the state board of education a sufficient sum from the proceeds of the state income tax for the purpose of improving the pub- lic schools of the state as a reimbursement in part, for ex- penditures for salaries of teachers, supervisors and super- intendents of schools, for services rendered during the full school year ending June 30 next preceding Nov. 15 of each year. Under section three of this act there are designated the three groups of persons for whose services cities and towns will receive a reimbursement.
Group One: $200 will be reimbursed each city and town for every such person who has received a salary not less than $850 and who is a graduate of an approved normal school or college and has had at least two years of teaching experience or who possesses preparation and teaching ex- perience accepted in lieu thereof.
Group Two: $150 reimbursement for every such per- son not included in the above group who has received a salary not less than $750 and who has completed one year of professional teaching in an approved normal school or teachers' training school and has had at least one year of teaching experience or who possesses preparation and teaching experience accepted in lieu of either of the fore- going requirements in this paragraph.
Group Three : $100 reimbursement for every such per- son not included in either of the above groups who has received a salary not less than $650.
In addition to this reimbursement for each person for whom the town receives a reimbursement there is a sup- plementary reimbursement when the quotient of the valua- tion of the town divided by the net average membership of its public day schools is less than $4,500 per pupil. Such supplementary reimbursement shall be: 1, $300 if valuation per pupil is less than $2,000; 2, $250 if valuation per pupil is less than $2,500, but not less than $2,000; 3, $200 if val- uation per pupil is less than $3,000, but not less than $2,500; 4, $150 if valuation per pupil is less than $3,500, but not less than $3,000; 5, $100 if valuation per pupil is less than $4,000, but not less than $3,500; 6, $50 if valuation per pupil is less than $4,500, but not less than $4,000.
For the year ending June 30, 1919, Middleboro received $4,580 from this fund. Out of the 46 persons on the teach- ers' payroll for only 19 was the town entitled to reimburse-
22
ment because for the last school year only 19 received $650 or more as a salary, 27 received less than $650 each. Of these 19, six were credited with a $200 reimbursement, four with a $150, eight with a $100, and one for $80 for part time work.
Each of the 19 was credited with a supplementary re- imbursement of $100, because the valuation per pupil was less than $4,000, but not less than $3,500, making $4,580 in all-$2,680 for group reimbursement and $1,900 for supple- mentary reimbursement. Now on Nov. 15, 1920, if the pro- posed salary increases for this year are granted, the total reimbursements, provided the supplementary per teacher is the same amount, will be $13,560.
It would seem that as a sum larger than the amount of increases in salaries asked for will be received by the town next November the town can well afford to show its appreciation of the work of its teachers by giving them an increased compensation which will be less than the total reimbursement by $600. Many towns since the passage of this act have increased salaries through the vote of the town transferring a part or all of the reimbursement to the school department.
If now Middleboro will vote to transfer to the school department the $13,560 which will be sent to the town treas- urer next November then the amount can be added to the estimated income, making that amount the present year $20,845, made up of the $13,560 in reimbursements, the amount received for tuition from outside towns, and the payment of the Pierce trustees for the instruction in the commercial department and leaving the amount to be ap- propriated for school expenses $54,480, just $4,580 more than the total appropriations for school expenses in 1919.
Now as the purpose of the school income fund is by law intended partly at least for salary increases by reim- bursing towns in the manner described so that each year such sums will be met by these reimbursements, it would seem only just to our teachers that such increases be given.
The present salaries of the elementary teachers in Mid- dleboro are considerably lower than what is paid and will be paid this year in many of the towns of Plymouth county, in several of which the grade teachers this year will be paid $1,000 or more. The present salaries for the larger towns of the county for grade teachers are: Whitman $1,000; Abington, $900; Wareham, $1,100; Hingham, $1,250; Plymouth, $1,100; Rockland, $1,200; Bridgewater, $850; Middleboro, $700.
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I would recommend that the salaries of the teachers be increased $300 each, retroactive to Jan. 1, 1920, to include teachers of the high and elementary schools. As has been said, the cost of the schools to the town the present year, with such increases for salaries, will be $54,750.00.
The town will receive from the income fund $8,960 as a direct reimbursement and if the per pupil valuation is the same as last year, $4,600 as a supplementary reimbursement, a total credit of $13,560. As the proposed increases amount to $12,960 and the town will be reimbursed for $13,560 of this amount, the amount of the increase is less than the re- imbursements. Thus will the teachers be able more nearly to meet the high cost of living and thus will the town be able to retain its efficient teachers and improve the present serious school situation. The people, I am firmly convinced, will gladly favor such a just increase.
Last June the salary of each elementary teacher was increased $100 and the salaries of the High School positions readjusted with increases ranging from $100 to $335. The total increases in salary last June for the present school year was $5,865.00. .
JANITORS OF CENTRAL BUILDINGS.
A revision of the salaries of the janitors of the central buildings should be made the coming school year.
While a small increase was given two years ago the changed conditions of the present time justify another adjustment. I recommend that an increase of $100 for each janitor be granted.
This would give the following scale :
High school,
$700.00
Union Street and Town House,
700.00
School Street,
760.00
Forest Street,
340.00
West Side,
400.00
This makes a total of $2900 a year compared with $2400 the present time. Our janitors are a conscientious body of men and are deserving of this increase.
THE GRADING PROBLEM.
The number of pupils in the central elementary schools next September will be greatly in excess of the number last
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year, and the question of how to regrade the schools so as to accommodate all these pupils is getting to be a very serious one.
A consideration of a few phases of this problem will more clearly show the need of more accommodations. There are 60 pupils in the ninth grade of the School street school, 50 of whom will be eligible to enter the High school next September; 10 of this grade on account of low standing will probably fail of promotion. There were over 120 pupils in the first grade last September and the number will be as large probably next year.
The present eighth grade numbers 97 pupils, with nine at South Middleboro school who will have to be transferred to the School street school next September to relieve the congestion in that school.
There will, therefore, be two ninth grades of 58 pupils each next year, based on present enrollment, or 116 pupils in all compared with 60 at the present time. The eighth grade in the Town house school will number 98 pupils. com- pared with 70 at the present time. The third grade at Union street school of 46 pupils, the third grade at Forest street school of 46 pupils, and the fifth and sixth grades at the West Side school of 45 pupils and six pupils from the sub- urban schools must under the present plan of grading go to the School street school. With 148 pupils going out of this building next September, 50 to enter the High school and 98 to enter the Town house school and 213 to enter the School street school from the above schools and suburban schools, it becomes a serious problem how to find room for 65 more pupils entitled to go in than will go out, with the rooms already filled to the limit of their seating capacity. In this connection the following phases of the problem have an important bearing: The November enrollment last year showed a gain of 52 pupils in the central elementary schools over the enrollment of November, 1918. The increase in population at the center, with an outlook for excellent busi- ness activities with the enlargement of factories for increased business, tending to bring more families here to live, thereby affecting the school enrollment of the future will add to the seriousness of the situation. Under the present child labor law a pupil must complete the work of the sixth grade if he is between the ages of 14 and 16, before he can receive a certificate to go to work. With the requirement for such a certificate up to last July only being the completion of the fourth grade, many left school after completing that grade in former years.
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