USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1923 > Part 10
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$15,000.00
Collections
9.90
Expenditures:
Pay Rolls
$11,408.44
Stock
467.94
Teams
1,385.02
13,261.40
Balance
$1,748.50
Snow Removal Equipment
Receipts:
Jan. 1, 1923, Balance
$15.00
Appropriation
3,000.00
Transfers
2,740.00
Expenditures:
Snow Plows
5,740.00
Balance
$5,755.00
15.00
$15,009.90
204
CITY OF MELROSE
Collection of Ashes
Receipts:
Appropriation
$13,000.00
Cash Receipts
55.56
Transfers
2,253.75
$15,309.31
Expenditures:
Labor
$9,783.96
Teams
4,275.45
Materials
240.13
Advertising
3.00
Insurance and Tools
1,158.77
15,461.31
Overdraft
152.00
Collection of Garbage
Receipts:
Appropriation
$11,218.00
Transfers
900.00
Cash Receipts
227.50
$12,345.50
Expenditures:
Jan. 1, 1923 Overdraft
$2,163.37
Supplies
61.97
Teams
1,114.48
Materials
2,790.51
Insurance and Tools
604.55
Labor
5,354.15
12,089.03
Balance
256.47
Planting New Trees .
Receipts:
Jan. 1, 1923 Balance
$275.31
Appropriation
500.00
Cash Receipts
174.00
$949.31
Expenditures:
Pay Rolls
$410.12
Stock
465.17
Teams
11.37
Insurance and Tools
42.15
928.81
Balance 20.50
205
REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Care of Trees
Receipts:
Jan. 1, 1923 Balance
$1,772.18
Appropriation
5,000.00
Cash Receipts
53.42
$6,825.60
Expenditures:
Pay Rolls
$3,886.39
Horse Hire
59.67
Supplies
10.10
Sundries
39.44
Teams
44.66
Stock
276.52
Insurance and Tools
82.92
Liability Insurance
32.75
Transfers
1,000.00
5,432.45
Balance
1,393.15
Street Cleaning
Receipts:
Appropriations
$6,000.00
Transfers
85.45
$6,085.45
Expenditures:
Teams
$176.83
Insurance and Tools
445.36
Pay Roll
5,396.22
6,018.41
Balance
67.04
Street Sprinkling
Receipts:
Appropriation
$1,000.00
Cash Receipts
5,583.52
$6,583.52
Expenditures:
Pay Rolls
$752.38
Materials
1,594.33
Teams
272.06
Insurance and Tools
102.44
2,721.21
Balance
3,862.31
206
CITY OF MELROSE
Street Guide Boards and Numbers
Receipts:
Appropriation
$600.00
Expenditures:
Sand and Crushed Stone
$5.00
Insurance and Tools
9.56
Teams
18.75
Sundries
10.36
Freight and Express
2.97
Paint
46.77
Materials
427.55
Labor, Pay Rolls
67.11
588.07
Balance
11.93
Street Lighting
Receipts:
Appropriation
$26,000.00
Cash Receipts, Park Dept.
270.00
$26,270.00
Expenditures:
Malden Electric Co. Contract
25,010.77
Balance
1,259.23
DIVISION OF SEWERS AND DRAINS
T
SEWERS:
Demands for extensions of the sewerage system were less than in most years and due to the temporary ill health of the head of the Division it seemed best to confine the activities to necessary exten- sions and private sewers or house connections.
DRAINS:
A relatively small amount of surface drainage work was done during the year.
A concrete culvert was constructed on the southerly side of Crescent Avenue, replacing an old drain which was in bad condition.
By permission of the Board of Aldermen about seventy-five feet of Ell Pond Brook was covered in by Friend Brothers, the City furnishing plans, engineering and inspecting, and laying the con- crete bottom as its share of the work.
Several small connections and extensions were made in various parts of the City.
207
REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
BROOKS:
The open brooks have been widened and cleaned. As new tracts of land are developed opening new streets, the improvements of the present highway and surface drainage systems, the care of the open brooks becomes more important and will require constant attention.
The following tables give the details of work performed by the Division, together with existing conditions:
SEWER CONSTRUCTION-1923
Pipe
STREET
LOCATION
Size Inches
Length Feet
Man. Holes
Pilgrim Rd.
Wentworth Rd., westerly ..
6
188
1
Howard St ..
Extension, easterly
10
100
Spear St ...
Southerly end completed ..
6
270
1
Wentworth Rd.
W. Emerson St., southerly.
6
617
3
Argyle St
1
Totals
1175
6
SUMMARY
1,175 total lin. ft. laid in 1923. 100 ft. 10 inch
1,075 ft.
6 inch
SEWERAGE SYSTEM AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1923
Number of feet of 6 inch pipe
129.101
Number of feet of 8 inch pipe 56,029
Number of feet of 10 inch pipe 17,629
Number of feet of 12 inch pipe .10,281
Number of feet of 15 inch pipe
.3,839
Number of feet of 18 inch pipe . 5,150
Number of feet of 20 inch pipe
.2,788
Number of feet of 24 inch pipe
. 1,213
Number of feet of 18x20 inch brick 3,035
.
Number of feet of 20 inch brick
111
Number of feet of 24 inch brick
.28
Total length of sewers 229,204
feet or 43.41 miles, 2.40 miles of which are owned and controlled by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but by Act of Legisla- ture Melrose is permitted to use in the same manner as local sewers.
SURFACE DRAINAGE CONSTRUCTION-1923
Pipe
Number Man
Number Catch
STREET
LOCATION
Size Inches
Length Feet
Holes
Basins
Crescent Ave.
Concrete Culvert south side
142
Ell Pond Brook
Concrete Bottom at Friend Bros.
75
Lynn Fells Parkway
At Sewall Woods Rd.
15
100
2
Main Street.
Near Sylvan St.
8
55
Orris St.
At Vinton St.
Perkins St.
West Side (unfinished)
18
250
Porter St.
Culvert, low point
18
10
2
Potter St.
At Washington School
10
35
North Ave.
North side, private land
2' X 2'
35
Stone Culvert
1
209
REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
IMPROVED DRAINAGE SYSTEM AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1923
8 inch Akron pipe
863 lin. ft.
10 inch Akron pipe
5,116 lin. ft.
12 inch Akron pipe 33,031 lin. ft.
15 inch Akron pipe
17,618 lin. ft. 284 lin. ft.
16 inch Akron pipe
18 inch Akron pipe
7,149 lin. ft.
20 inch Akron pipe
6,232 lin. ft.
20 inch Iron pipe
120 lin. ft.
24 inch Akron pipe
2,436 lin. ft.
Brick Conduit
659 lin. ft.
Concrete Conduit
9,179 lin. ft.
Number of manholes
373
Number of concrete culverts
8 :
Number of catch basins
664
Total length of improved surface drains, 15.66 miles.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT Sewer Construction
Receipts:
Appropriation
$10,000.00
Jan. 1, 1923, Balance
420.24
Collections
88.86
Transfers
9,680.55
$20,189.65
Expenditures:
Pay Rolls
$9,946.93
Invoices
2,622.51
Transfers, Teams, Insurance, Stock ..
1,900.36
14,469.80
Balance
$5,719.85
Sewer Maintenance
Receipts:
Appropriation
$2,500.00
Collections
116.23
Transfers
1,059.72
$3,675.95
Expenditures:
Pay Rolls
$1,761.09
Insurance and Tools
188.37
Rubber Boots
23.34
Sundry
153.40
Materials
135.49
210
CITY OF MELROSE
Teams
176.62
Auto Expense
2.00
Transfers
877.57
3,317.88
Balance
358.07
Private Sewers
Receipts:
Collections
$9,537.65
Transfers
53.63
$9,591.28
Expenditures:
Jan. 1, 1923, Overdraft
$986.23
Pay Rolls
6,757.05
Invoices
51.75
Stock, Teams, Insurance and Tools ...
3,612.56
11,407.59
Overdraft
$1,816.31
Surface Drainage Construction
Receipts:
Jan. 1, 1923, Balance
$5,901.10
Collections
60.00
Transfers
90.76
$6,051.86
Expenditures:
Construction
6,186.63
Overdraft
$134.77
Surface Drainage Maintenance
Receipts:
Appropriation
$4,500.00
Collections
403.32
Transfers
9.00
$4,912.32
Expenditures:
Pay Rolls
$1,782.35
Rubber Boots
23.33
Teams
271.78
Stock
121.55
Insurance and Tools
235.37
Transfers
1,338.33
3,772.71
Balance
$1,139.61
211
REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Cleaning Brooks
Receipts:
Appropriation
$3,000.00
Expenditures:
Pay Rolls
$2,262.72
Rubber Boots
23.33
Teams
54.48
Insurance and Tools
194.99
2,535.52
Balance
$464.48
Financial Statistics
Cost of Sewerage System to December 31, 1922.
$543,528.11
Cost of Construction during 1923
14,469.80
Cost of System to December 31, 1923
$557,997.91
Cost of Surface Drainage System to Dec. 31, 1922 ..
$290,862.06
Cost of Construction during 1923
3,772.71
Cost of System to December 31, 1923 $294,634.77
ENGINEERING DIVISION
Synopsis of Work Done
Highway Division: Street lines and grades have been given for construction of new streets, including gutters, crossing, guard rails, etc., and record plans made for same and for abuttors in 78 cases.
Sewer Division: Estimates have been rendered, lines and grades given, records kept of "Y" locations, plans and profiles made, and schedules for assessing all sewers constructed.
Water Division: Estimates have been made and lines given for water mains constructed and relaid. For locations, lengths and size of mains see table under "Water Division."
Surface Drainage: Surveys, computations and plans have been made, lines and grades given, and records kept of "Y" locations of all new work constructed.
Sidewalks: Plans and profiles have been made. Lengths and radii of curbing computed, work measured and schedules of as- sessments made.
Assessment Plans: New buildings have been plotted. Com- mon and private sewers have been added and sewer assessments data recorded on plans.
Street Numbering: All new houses have been located and numbered. Numbers have been furnished and put on 143 build- ings.
212
CITY OF MELROSE
Financial Statement Salaries and Wages
Receipts:
Appropriation
$6,500.00
Transfers
1,259.69
$7,759.69
Expenditures:
Pay Rolls
7,252.57
Balance
507.12
Other Expenses
Receipts:
Appropriation
$1,500.00
Cash Receipts
5.27
$1,505.27
Expenditures:
Supplies
$336.07
Invoices
490.84
Sundry Expenses
124.94
Liability Insurance
11.72
Sundries
.
19.82
983.39
Balance
521.88
Survey Plans-Tremont Street
Receipts:
Jan. 1, 1923 Balance
$225.00
No Expenditures
GENERAL
There are various Departmental activities not possible of classi- fication under the various Divisions which may be termed General, this Department acting as custodian and disbursing agent for the funds provided.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
City Hall Salaries and Wages
Receipts:
Appropriation
$2,500.00
Transfers
155.40
$2,655.40
REPOR OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
213
Expenditures:
Pay Rolls
$2,645.08
Transfers
10.32
$2,655.40
Other Expenses
Receipts:
Jan. 1, 1923, Balance
$500.50
Appropriation
5,000.00
Transfers
328.24
Cash Receipts
9.48
$5,838.22
Expenditures:
Gas Lighting
$86.04
Electric Lighting
1.002.45
Coal and Wood
31.64
Repairs
1,450.87
Supplies
601.51
Sundries
1,324.68
Cleaning
10.15
Water Rates
92.16
Teams
10.78
Miscellaneous
145.00
Transfers
1,000.00
5,755.07
Balance
$83,15
Board of Survey
Receipts:
Appropriation
$150.00
Expenditures:
Jan. 1, 1923, Overdraft
6.25
Balance
$143.75
Insurance
Receipts:
Appropriation
$5,000.00
Cash Receipts
909.88
$5,909.88
Expenditures:
Premium
$4,817.83
Transfers
115.42
4,933.25
Balance
976.63
214
CITY OF MELROSE
Ice for Drinking Fountain
Receipts:
Appropriation
$50.00
Expenditures:
Ice
26.25
Balance
$23.75
Tremont Street Fence
Receipts:
Transfers
$1,800.00
No Expenditures
Tremont Street Property
Receipts:
Cash Receipts (rent)
$64.00
No Expenditures
Pensions
Receipts:
Appropriation
$8,400.00
Expenditures:
Pay rolls
$7,607.95
Transfers
114.00
7,721.95
Balance
678.05
Vacations
Receipts:
Appropriation
$5,000.000
Transfers
248.00
$5,248.00
Expenditures:
Pay Rolls
$5,247.83
Balance
.17
Junk Sales
Receipts:
Cash Receipts
$116.48
No Expenditures
Equalization of Soldiers' Pay
Receipts:
Jan. 1. 1923 Balance .. $155.87
No Expenditures
215
REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STATISTICS of
CITY OF MELROSE, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
Location 7 miles north of Boston
Population April 1, 1923.
19,368
Number of Voters 7,562
Greatest extent of city north and south.
2.44 miles
Greatest extent of city east and west .. 2.95 miles
Valuation of real estate $22,769,000
Valuation of personal property
$2,710-800
Tax rate per thousand ..
$30.80
Area of City Land 3,079.50 acres
Water
35.50 acres ... 3,115.00 acres
Length of Public Streets
49.85 miles
Length of Private Streets
14.96 miles
Total length of water mains
57.53 miles
Total length of sewers
43.41 miles
Range of pressure on mains from. 100 to 23 lbs.
Number of 250 candlepower incandescent lights
59
Number of 60 candlepower incandescent lights
834
Number of luminous arcs, all night. 47
To midnight. 23
70
Areas of Parks:
Lincoln School Playground
1.60 acres
Horace Mann Playground
.60 acres
Messengers Meadow Playground
2.89 acres
Melrose Common
4.4
acres
Sewall Woods Park
9.0
acres
Ell Pond Park
30.41 acres
Pine Banks Park
81.8
acres
Middlesex Fells
170.0
acres
Area of Wyoming Cemetery
43.5 acres
Bowden Park
.62 acres
Elevation Main Street at City Hall .. 61 feet above mean low tide
Elevation Franklin Square
85 feet above mean low tide
Report of Registrars of Voters
The Registrars held eight meetings during the year, the voting lists were corrected to date, then a special election was called for July 24, 1923, referendum on Washington school appropriation of $75,000. for addition. One registration was held, the lists stood as follows:
WARDS
1
2
3-1
3-2
4
5
6
7-1
7-2
Totals
1066
1273
568
593
1026
874
1172
848
194
7614
The jury lists were prepared containing 250 names.
The city having accepted the Biennial elections, this year there was only the special election.
Respectfully submitted,
Edwin L. Cragin John J. Keating Edwin J. Tirrell W. DeHaven Janes
Registrars of Voters.
Annual Report of the School Dept. School Committee for 1924
Name
Residence
Term Expires
William Coggeshall
158 E. Foster St. 1924
Mrs. Mabel B. Dole
24 W. Emerson St. 1924
Josiah D. Bullens
254 Porter St. 1924
Harry F. Sears
44 Orris St. 1926
Henry N. Andrews
54 York Terrace 1926
Frank J. Sherman
167 Porter St. 1926
Mrs. Isabelle Stantial
146 Florence St. 1924
Elmer O. Goodridge
463 Lebanon St. 1924
*Mrs. F. Janet Habberley
17 Bellevue Avenue 1924
William Coggeshall, Chairman
Herman H. Stuart, Secretary * Deceased
Meetings of the Committee
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held in the Committee Room, High School Building, on the first Monday of every month, except during July and August, at 7:30 p. m.
Superintendent of Schools
Herman H. Stuart 48 Henry Avenue Office: High School Building-Tel. Office Melrose 2284 and 2285 Residence, Melrose 2690
Secretary
Gladys W. Tower 109 Highland Ave., Melrose Telephone Melrose 1039-R
Clerk
Ethel M. Spaulding
81 Lynde Street, Melrose Telephone Melrose 0688-J
STANDING COMMITTEES
Finance and Supplies
Mr. Bullens Mr. Goodridge Mr. Sears Mr. Andrews Mr. Sherman
Schoolhouses and Janitors
Mr. Sherman Mr. Goodridge
Mr. Bullens
Teachers and Salaries
Mr. Sears Mrs. Habberley Mrs. Dole Mrs. Stantial
Textbooks and Courses of Study
Mrs. Stantial Mrs. Habberley Mrs. Dole Mr. Andrews
The Chairman of the School Committee is a member, ex-officio, of all standing committees.
218
CITY OF MELROSE
SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Mr. Coggeshall
Legistlative Mr. Sears
Mr. Bullens
VISITING COMMITTEES
High School School Committee
Franklin and Whittier Schools
Mrs. Dole
D. W. Gooch School . Mrs. Stantial
Mary A. Livermore School Mrs. Habberley
Washington School . Mr. Sears
Lincoln School . Mr. Sherman
Warren School Mr. Andrews
Sewall and Ripley Schools Mr. Goodridge
Winthrop School . Mr. Bullens
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1923-1924
FALL TERM 1923
Opens September 12
Closes December 21
WINTER TERM 1924
First Half: Opens Jan. 2, 1924 and closes Feb. 21.
Second Half: Opens March 3 and closes April 25
SPRING TERM
Opens May 5 Grades Close June 20 High School Closes June 27
FALL TERM
Opens Sept. 8, 1924
Holidays-Oct. 12, Thanksgiving with day following. Memorial Day.
"NO SCHOOL" SIGNAL
Notice of "no school" will be given by striking the number 22 four times upon the fire alarm, and by sounding the whistle at Factory No. 2 of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company.
The signal will be sounded at 7:15 a. m. for no session in the High School, and at 8:15 for no morning session in all grades below the High School. In case there is to be no afternoon session, the signal will be sounded at 12:45.
219
SCHOOL REPORT
Report of Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of Melrose,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I take pleasure in presenting for your consideration my second annual report as Superintendent of Schools, which is also the thirty-fourth in a series of similar reports.
Statistical material pertaining to costs and enrolment will be found in another part of this report, to which I respectfully call your attention.
School Enrolment and Attendance
In Table 1 I am presenting figures showing the enrolment in both the elementary schools and the High School for the last fifteen years. These figures have been obtained from the school reports on file in this office.
This exhibit also contains information concerning average membership and number of graduates from both the High School and the grades. This table shows that the enrolment in our Public Schools has constantly increased. Up to the present school year the increase in the High School has not been so marked as that in the grades. During the last eleven years the increase in the grades has been, on the average, fifty pupils a year. The increase of the elementary schools in 1922-23, however, was one hundred thirty- four over that of 1921-22. The figures of enrolment at this time for the present school year would indicate that the increase in the number of pupils in our elementary schools for the school year 1923-24 will not exceed fifty in number.
It is evident from this table that there has not been a marked yearly increase in the number of pupils enrolled in our schools, but that such increase has been steady during these years is evident. Therefore, there appears to be no reason to expect that large in- creases in the elementary schools will complicate the building pro- gram in the immediate future, but I believe we are warranted in the assumption that in providing for future accommodations we should look forward to increases from year to year approximating those which have taken place during the last ten years.
That the children attend school with satisfactory regularity is readily seen from Table 1. The regularity of attendance of all groups of children in the City of Melrose, both in the elementary
220
CITY OF MELROSE
and the High School, is unusually high, which indicates that both Principals and teachers have paid particular attention to this phase of the work.
The next question which we may ask ourselves is "Are the children attending the Public Schools of Melrose located in the grades where one would expect to find them according to age?"
Inasmuch as the age requirement as fixed by the School Com- mittee for entrance to the first grade is six years, we would expect to find the child, if his progress were normal, in the second grade at seven years of age, in the fourth grade at nine, and in the eighth grade at thirteen.
Tables II and III give the distribution of pupils by both ages and grades as of the date April first, 1923. If we assume from this table that children falling within the groups of those of age six and seven as normal age for grade one, and those having an age of seven and eight as normal for grade two, pupils should graduate from the grammar school at thirteen or fourteen years of age, and from the High School at seventeen or eighteen years of age.
Bold face figures in the tables referred to indicate the number of children who are located in the grades where we would expect to find them if normal progress were mad? The figures above the bold face type indicate the number of children who are retarded, and the figures below indicate the number of children who have been accelerated.
Reference to these tables shows that 77.6 per cent of the boys are of normal age for their grade, that 20.5 per cent are retarded, and that 1.9 per cent are accelerated; and of the girls 80.5 per cent are where we would expect to find them in the grades, 17.4 per cent are retarded, and 2.1 per cent are accelerated.
One fact in this connection stands out as worthy of serious consideration, namely, 2 per cent only of Melrose children are accelerated, while recent figures for the whole country show that 10 per cent ought to be accelerated. I think the question may be properly raised as to whether or not we are doing for the ex- ceptional child what we ought to do. If it is a serious matter to attempt to force a slow child to the pace of the more rapid, it is even more serious to keep a child who has exceptional ability from following the pace which his capabilities entitle him. It is evident that only a small percent of our bright children are being adequately provided for in our schools.
It will also be seen that children of any given age group except the lowest are scattered through four or five grades. For instance, we find ten year old children in grades two, three, four,
221
SCHOOL REPORT
five, and six. Furthermore, in any given grade of the school sys- tem we find children ranging all the way from one year below normal to four or five years above normal. Thus, in the fifth grade we find children ranging in age from nine years to sixteen years.
These conditions are likely to be duplicated to a degree in almost any school system, but they indicate a situation which is a serious one from the standpoint of class room teaching. One does not need to be engaged in educational work to be convinced of the difficulties attending the instruction of a class which has in it children ranging in age from nine to sixteen years of age.
The thing that we need to work for more than anything else, I believe, is the grouping of our children so that we may have as nearly as possible a homogeneous group for the purpose of instruction. Much can be done by the way of subject and psy- chological testing to improve the basis of classification of pupils.
It will be seen from Tables II and III that 19 per cent of the elementary school pupils are retarded in their progress through the grades. We may well ask ourselves the question "How much of this is due to late entrance in school, and how much to failure of promotion ?"
From Table IV it may be seen that non-promotion accounts for 9 per cent of the retardation. The remaining 10 per cent must therefore be due to either late entrance in school or the fact that sickness has compelled children to remain away from school, and therefore they were not present at the end of the year, to be promoted or retarded. In looking over Table IV and comparing our rate of non-promotion with the standards given on the same page, it will be seen that on the whole we conform very closely to the general practice as shown in other schools systems. I think we might properly wonder, however, why the percent of non-promotion should jump from nine in the sixth grade to nearly thirteen in the seventh, and then recede to six in the eighth. Such lack of uniformity would immediately raise the question as to whether or not uniform standards of promotion should not be given more attention, especially in light of figures for the same item in other cities.
Finances
The subject of school finances is always one of interest, especially to the tax paying public. Periodically in every community an individual or a group of individuals raise an alarm concerning the large amount of money expended for the support of schools.
222
CITY OF MELROSE
Too often this takes the form of loose talk because it is not pre- dicated on accurate information.
"How well does Melrose provide financial support for its schools in comparison with its ability to do so?"
"Do the schools receive a fair proportion of the city's funds?"
"Are the funds of the school department distributed over the various items in the right proportion ?"
These questions may well receive consideration in the dis- cussion of school finances.
Statistics for the school year ending June 30, 1923 and fiscal year ending December 31, 1922 show that Melrose has back of every pupil in average membership $7,538 of valuation. The average wealth back of each pupil in the thirty-nine cities in Masschusetts is $7,978. Melrose ranks seventeenth in the list of cities in wealth per pupil in average membership.
That Melrose has been willing to tax herself for the support of schools to a degree somewhat greater than other cities is indicated by the fact that although Melrose stands seventeenth in valuation 'per pupil, she ranks eleventh in the tax rate for the support of schools. One must not infer from the foregoing state- ments that this rather large expenditure has been . devoted to unusual extensions of educational opportunities offered to the chil- dren of the city. Such things as low valuation, type of organiza- tion of the school system, and number and size 'of school buildings, may combine to produce a situation which makes it desirable that Melrose stand among the upper third of the cities in the proportion of the tax money devoted to schools.
The expenditure per pupil for High School support for the school year ending June 30, 1923 was $107.85 and for elementary schools $64.23. The average for all cities was High School $114.04; elementary schools $66.53. Melrose ranks twentieth in expenditure per pupil in the High School and twenty-first in expenditure per pupil in the grades among the thirty-nine cities. These facts would indicate that the relative high expenditure per pupil per valuation was due not so much to the high cost per pupil as to the relatively low valuation back of each pupil.
That the school department of Melrose receives its share of the tax money is undoubtedly true. Statistics of municipal finance for the year 1922 show that Melrose devoted 37.4 per cent of its tax money to the support of schools. This is in about the right proportion as measured by the body of best practice in other cities in the state.
"Are the funds of the school department distributed over the
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