USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Hatfield > Hatfield Annual Town Report 1951-1957 > Part 3
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School Athletic Fund 253.85
School Lunch Collection 6,946.83
Library Bldg. Repairs 851.59
Land Purchase Adjoining Sunset Avenue 300.00
14" Water Main to Chestnut and Prospect Sts. 20,139.63
Purch. or Take Land Within Watershed 2,800.00
County Aid to Highways Outlays
$7.83
$38,144.55
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Reserved Until Collected : Departmental Revenue $955.19
Motor Vehicle Excise Revenue 9,715.56
Water Revenue
2,162.02
State and County Aid to Highway Rev. 26,070.83
$38,903.60
Overlay Surplus
2,705.52
Water Available Surplus
13,926.53
Tailings
146.85
State Parks Tax Overestimate
68.43
County Tax Overestimate
1,473.04
Overlays Reserved for Abatements :
Levy of 1946
$4.00
Levy of 1947
311.31
Levy of 1949
2,180.48
Levy of 1950
3,158.53
Levy of 1951
4,295.16
62
$9,949.48
Surplus Revenue
$78,024.52
Total Assets
$189,788.97
Total Liabilities and Reserves
$189,788.97
DEBT ACCOUNT
Net Funded or Fixed Debt
$37,000,00
Water Main Chestnut & Prospect Streets Loan
$37,000.00
TRUST AND INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS
Trust and Investment Funds, Cash and Securities $15,312.75
Cemetery Perpetual Care
$13,273.09
Firemen's Relief Fund 45.08
General Care Fund- Main Street Cemetery
10.00
Hatfield Library Fund
747.94
Hill Cemetery General Care 765.29
Rehabilitation Fund
471.35
.
$15,312.75
$15,312.75
GERTRUDE B. ROGALESKI,
Town Accountant.
63
Appropriation Table
1951 Approp.
Additional
Total Available
Spent
Balance To Revenue or Forward
Moderator
$25.00
$25.00
$25.00
Selectmen's Salary
750.00
750.00
750.00
Selectmen's Clerk
150.00
150.00
150.00
Selectmen's Expense
150.00
150.00
132.39
$17.61.
Accountant's Salary
1,150.00
1,150.00
1,150.00
Accountant's Expense
100.00
$85.00
185.00
184.26
.74
Treasurer's Salary
1,250.00
1,250.00
1,250.00
Treasurer's Expense
275.00
44.41
319.41
319.41
Purch. Check-Writer-Treas. Dept.
190.00
190.00
190.00
Collector's Salary
1,100.00
1,100.00
1,100.00
Collector's Expense .
400.00
400.00
337.72
62.28
Assessor's Salary
1,500.00
1,500.00
1,500.00
Assessor's Expense
300.00
14.12
314.12
314.12
Purch. Adding Mach .- Assessors
160.00
160.00
155.00
5.00
Attorney's Fees
400.00
400.00
180.00
220.00
Town Clerk's Salary
1,250.00
1,250.00
1,250.00
Town Clerk's Expense
250.00
20.00
270.00
265.97
4.03
Election and Registration
350.00
350.00
285.40
64.60
Elector's Salary
10.00
10.00
10.00
Town Hall
5,500.00
5,500.00
5,480.82
19.18
64
Police Dept.
1,200.00
1,200.00
1,035.25
164.75
Fire Dept.
2,500.00
29.23
2,529.23
2,529.23
Purch. Hose and Fog Nozzles-Fire Dept.
900.00
825.00
1,725.00
1,696.95
28.05
Purch. Hose Dryer
665.00
665.00
655.00
10.00
Pur. Dual Wheels (to Hose a/c)
490.00
490.00
490.00
Tree Work
1,500.00
400.00
1,900.00
1,829.70
70.30
Moth Work
700.00
700.00
571.25
128.75
Sealer of Weights and Measures Salary
200.00
200.00
200.00
Sealer Weights and Measures Expenses
50.00
50.00
38.70
11.30
Public Health
500.00
3,000.00
3,500.00
2,978.00
522.00
School Physician
300.00
300.00
300.00
Insp. of Animals
480.00
480.00
480.00
Insp. of Children-Pre-School
100.00
100.00
86.50
13.50
Insp. of Children Tuberculosis
75.00
75.00
75.00
Dental Clinic
450.00
450.00
148.00
302.00
Well Child Clinic
200.00
200.00
185.00
15.00
Visiting Nurse
700.00
700.00
700.00
Highway General
5,500.00
392.85
5,892.85
5,892.85
Highway Chapter 81
22,250.00
22,250.00
21,248.03
1,001.97
Highway Chapter 90 Maintenance
1,800.00
1,800.00
1,498.61
301.39
Road Machinery
3,000.00
3,000.00
2,819.03
180.97
Purch. Pick-Up
1,600.00
1,600.00
1,450.00
150.00
Purch. Road Grader
7,000.00
7,000.00
6,775.00
225.00
Street Lights
3,600.00
3,600.00
3,521.13
78.87
Bridge Repairs
2,492.66
2,492.66
1,258.14
1,234.52
Purch. and Erect Fencing
360.23
360.23
175.29
184.94
65
Public Welfare
5,000.00
5,000.00
4,128.14
871.86
Aid to Dependent Children
3,500.00
3,500.00
2,448.54
1,051.46
Aid to Dependent Children Fed. Gr.
2,732.59
2,732.59
2,628.30
104.29
Aid to Dependent Children Fed. Gr. Adm.
88.69
88.69
83.19
5.50
Old Age Assistance
11,000.00
11,000.00
9,082.23
1,917.77
Old Age Aissistance Fed. Gr.
10,266.06
10,266.06
8,921.38
1,344.68
Old Age Assistance Fed. Gr. Adm.
452.60
452.60
426.10
26.50
Veterans' Benefits
500.00
500.00
103.64
396.36
School Comm. Exp.
100.00
100.00
45.90
54.10
Schools
73,252.00
1,300.00
74,552.00
74,549.73
2.27
Schools-Geo. Barden
2,463.14
2,463.14
1,321.00
1,142.14
New Heating System-Center
25,000.00
25,000.00
21,573.71
3,426.29
School Athletic Fund
987.16
987.16
733.31
253.85
School Lunch Coll.
13,286.49
13,286.49
6,339.66
6,946.83
School Lunch C. D. F.
3,562.67
3,562.67
3,562.67
Vocational School Tuition and Trans.
2,600.00
2,600.00
1,518.45
1,081.55
Library
2,200.00
274.56
2,474.56
2,473.96
.60
Library Building Repairs
851.59
851.59
851.59
Binding Town Records
50.00
50.00
50.00
Care of Town Clock
50.00
50.00
50.00
Civil Defense
1,000.00
1,000.00
74.28
925.72
Insurance
2,500.00
750.00
3,250.00
2,945.60
304.40
Land Purch. Adjoining Sunset Avenue
300.00
300.00
300.00
Memorial Day
350.00
7.10
357.10
357.10
Print. & Deliver Town Reports
475.00
180.71
655.71
655.71
Purch. or Const. Bleachers
1,000.00
1,000.00
906.86
93.14
66
Reserve Fund Retirement
3,400.00
3,400.00
1,798.53
1,601.47
971.60
971.60
971.60
Telephone
225.00
225.00
166.82
58.18
Unclassified
50.00
50.00
49.55
.45
Unpaid Bills Prev. Years
674.81
16.25
691.06
691.06
Water Comm. Salaries
425.00
425.00
425.00
Water Dept.
4,525.00
376.85
4,901.85
4,901.85
Dam at Small Reservoir
1,800.00
1,800.00
1,311.44
488.56 20,139.63
14" Main to Chestnut and Prospect
115,000.00
115,000.00
94,860.37
Lay 4" Main on Raymond Avenue
527.40
319.30
846.70
846.70
Lay 4" Main on Sunset Avenue
466.83
466.83
258.88
207.95
Improve of Watershed at Reservoir
1,106.88
1,106.88
30.00
1,076.88
Purch. or Take Land Within Watershed
4,000.00
4,000.00
1,200.00
2,800.00
Cemeteries
800.00
261.96
1,061.96
913.24
148.72
Land Purch. No. Hatfield Cem.
300.00
300.00
300.00
$371,713.40
$8,297.34
$380,010.74
$326,946.25
$53,064.49
-
67
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
OF THE
TOWN OF HATFIELD
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1951
71
School Organization
-
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Dr. Robert C. Byrne, Chairman Term expires 1953
Edward S. Kowalski, Secretary Term expires 1954
Joseph F. Baceski Term expires 1952
Regular school committee meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at the Center School.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Gordon C. Getchell
Office in Center Elementary School Telephone 3553
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN Alfred J. Kaiser, M. D. 33 Maple Street Telephone 551
SCHOOL NURSE Marion Holmes, R. N. 29 Harrison Ave., Northampton Telephone Northampton 3759-W
72
Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of Hatfield :
The report of the Superintendent of Schools has been read, approved and adopted as the official report of the School Committee.
During the year 1951 the School Committee held eleven regular and fourteen special meetings.
In the course of the above listed meetings the Com- mittee has adhered to the functions of good, modern, edu- cational administrative procedure. These functions are (1) to determine the policy under which the Hatfield schools are to operate; (2) to review all proposals and criticisms submitted to the Committee; and (3) to evalu- ate the schools in terms of community needs The School Committee legislates and the Superintendent executes the policies determined by the Committee.
During 1951 the schools were operated at a cost of $74,549.73. Credited to the account of schools was an in- come of $21,307.34 from all sources. This lowered the net cost to the taxpayer to $53,242.39.
During the coming year 1952, the Committee is re- questing $83,330.38 to operate the schools. In this same year (1952) it is estimated that the total income to the Town on account of schools will be $22,553.46. This will lower the overall cost to the taxpayer to a total of $60,- 776.92.
73
To all those who contributed to the successful opera- tion of the School Department during the past year, the Committee desires to express their heartfelt thanks.
ROBERT C. BYRNE, M. D., Chairman. EDWARD S. KOWALSKI, Secretary, JOSEPH F. BACESKI.
74
Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of the Town of Hatfield :
It is with pleasure that I submit my second annual report on the overall operation of the Hatfield Public Schools.
This report is rendered at a time when the world is searching for security. In times of uncertainty people find solace in words, "Security" is a word that has much solace for us today. It has become a habit with us to say that the baby needs the security of being warm and fed; the child needs the security of being loved; the adolescent needs the security of belonging to a group; the adult needs economic security; the country needs the security of a large army; the world needs the security of peace.
Behind the shadows of these words, in which we put our trust and hope, is the same reality-the need to under- stand. This is the real security for which we search- in the family, the country, and the world. Understanding -- from whence we have come, why we are here, and where we are going-understanding ourselves and our world-is our basic security. We cannot "take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing, end them" un- less we understand the cause of our troubles, the reason for opposing them, and the effect of our actions.
Modern teaching techniques and materials must de- velop security of understanding-must help children ac- quire fundamental knowledge of themslves and their world. We cannot be content with merely presenting in an interesting and meaningful way just the skills, facts,
75
and ideas that children need. We must so plan our teach- ing techniques and materials that they will reflect an un- derstanding of the learning process and the learner. They must provide rich learning experiences. They must or- ganize these experiences in such a way that relationships, attitudes, and fundamental understandings emerge clear- ly for the child. This is our challenge.
In times of uncertainty "understanding" is the only security.
Personnel
During the year 1951 it was necessary to hire but one new teacher. In June, 1951, Mr. Edward R. Cassidy re- signed as teacher-coach at Smith Academy. Mr. Rus- sell Bastin was elected to succeed him. While the town was able to retain the balance of its teaching staff, the full efficiency of this staff was marred by an outbreak of illness amongst the teachers during the latter part of 1951. It was necessary to employ several substitute teachers who very capably filled the gap. Due to the small number of names on the substitute list, it was some- what difficult to obtain a teacher on short notice. Addi- tional substitute teachers are urgently needed.
As in former years, several members of our staff are endeavoring to improve their teaching abilities through the pursuit of advanced study. This work is being done at Springfield College and the University of Massachu- setts.
One of the absolute necessities in attracting and main- taining a capable teaching staff is a modern and adequate salary schedule. The schedule as presented in my An- nual Report of last year, while it was adopted on March 1, 1950, soon became obsolete and neecssitated revision. Consequently it was revised on October 8, 1951, and is
76
now in conformity with the teachers' minimum salary law of Mass. (chapter 684, acts of 1951). A copy of the new- ly revised schedule follows :
Step
1
Non- Degree 2300
Bachelor's Degree 2400
Master's Degree 2500
2
2400
2500
2600
3
2500
2600
2700
4
2600
2700
2800
5
2700
2800
2900
6
2800
2900
3000
The annual step rate increases of each teacher are de- pendent upon continued satisfactory service and upon the earning by him of at least 4 semester hours of credit for approved professional studies. This credit of 4 semes- ter hours must be earned before a teacher will be ad- vanced across a training bar shown in paragraph 6 .- Ap- proved by the Hatfield School Committee September 4, 1951.
Teaching Materials
With the tremendous increase in the price of teaching materials it was not possible to add as many new items of teaching equipment as in former years. However, every pupil was provided with all the necessary basic materials for his education.
In the first grades the latest revision of the Curricu- lum Foundation Reading Series of the Scott Foresman Co. was purchased. This series is the most widely used reading program in the country, it being adopted by 80% of the towns and cities in the U. S. The new revision of the series, as used in Grade 1, is a parallelly constructed
77
reading program in that each child starts off in his read- ing readiness program at the same time. They are then tested and those who have satisfactorily completed this phase of the work move on into the pre-primer work. The others move into further training to strengthen their weaknesses and through the parallel set-up of the pro- gram they progress down through the program and even- tually catch-up with the other group. Both groups make use of filmstrips and recordings to assist them in their phonetic training.
The latest and most complete U. S. History textbooks were adopted for the eighth grade.
A new 1951 revision of the Black & Davis Physics book was adopted for the high school physics class. This text includes the subject of nuclear physics and is thus an excellent companion text for the chemistry set adopted in 1950.
Two new supplementary sets of literature texts were adopted for the high school English classes.
A gift of loose-leaf notebook covers, suitably inscribed with the school colors and name on the cover was received by Smith Academy. These were donated by Mr. John Toczko of Hatfield.These are sincerely appreciated by the School Department.
A gift of paper book covers of the highest grade was received from the Hatfield Lions Club. These will lengthen the life of the textbook and consequently effect a saving for the town. The donation is deeply appreciated.
Testing Program
After a town provides good teachers and the best in teaching materials, it cannot relax and be sure that good
78
learning is taking place. It is necessary that the entire program be evaluted. One of the methods of evaluating os through the use of standardized tests.
In the Center School ,the "Iowa Every-Pupil Tests of Basic Skills" was again used. However, the method of administering the tests was changed. The tests, former- ly given in May or June, were not given until September. By giving the tests in September the teacher was given an excellent idea of the exact grade-level of her pupils. This is of inestimable value to her in the grouping of her pupils according to ability. It will also enable her to plan her year's program of work to fit the needs and abilities of her children.
The following table represents the average achieve- ment of each of the grades tested (Gr. 3-8) :
GRADES
3
4
5
6
7
Score that grade should have
32
41
51
61
71 81
Reading level
28
40
49
55
65
83
Work-study habits
31
35
48 52
64 74
63
83
Language skills
31
39
66 88
Arithmetic skills
43
39
51
61
61
80
According to the authors and publishers of the above test, a variance of five points in the score is permissible. From an examination of the above chart it can be seen that in most areas the work of our elementary school chil- dren is up to the proper grade level. Areas of weakness can also be seen.
As measures of I. Q., the Henmon-Nelson Test was administered in the elementary school and the Science Research Associates Test of Primary Mental Abilities in the high school. It was found that the vast majority of our children have normal or above normal intelligence. This should be gratifying to parents as well as to teachers.
79
The high school testing program has included the ""'Kuder Preference Record-Vocational" test. This is a test to indicate fields of vocational interest on the part of the students. Various standardized achievement tests in the different subject-matter fields were also administered.
Curriculum Changes
In an attempt to modernize it and to make it more in- clusive, the course of study for the upper three (Gr. 6, 7, 8) elementary grades has been revised. In the fall of 1950 a formal course in General Science was instituted in the above listed grades. Because of the question of time, it was then possible to devote only two class periods per week to it. When planning for the opening of school in the fall of 1951, it seemed, that in view of the importance of science in the world of today, that it would be well to expand this program. Consequently, five periods a week are now devoted to this vital subject. It now ranks along with the other "majors" in the departmental set-up of the Center School, the majors being English, the Social Studies (history and geography), Mathematics, and Gen- eral Science. This change necessitated the re-assigning of teaching personnel. The following subjects now are in charge of: Mrs. Breor, English; Miss Kiley, Social Studies; Miss Kempisty, Mathematics; Mr. Jenness, Gen- eral Science.
In the high school, a club-activity program was insti- tuted in the fall. This has proven popular and worth- while. There are, however, certain shortcomings which it is planned to correct in another year.
In the Vocational-Agriculture program, the subject of Arc-Welding was added to the Farm-Shop Course. The equipment, while expensive, was procured without any cost to the town, it being paid for by a grant of Federa!
80
money which is expressly for vocational purposes. The equipment did not arrive until the latter part of Decem- ber. Therefore, not much teaching was done in the field during 1951. It is anticiptaed that during 1952 this sub- pect will be one of the most popular in the vocational course.
Growth of Parent-Teacher Council
During the past year the growth of the Hatfield Par- ent-Teacher Council has been phenomenal, the attendance rising from 25 or 30 parents to a high of 125. This inter- est in the schools is most gratifying to the School Depart- men. It is an indication of parental interest in our work as well as a compliment to the leadership of the officers of the Council.
School Banking
The interest in school banking has remained at a high level during the year. This year the program has been expanded and now goes through the sophoomre class at Smith Academy. The cooperation of Mrs. Connors, the School Savings Representative, has been excellent. A de- tailed summary of this activity appears elsewhere in this report.
Care of School Property
The citizens of Hatfield are indeed fortunate to have two such capable janitors in charge of the school property. A school janitorship is a position which entails long hours and at times the position seems to be rather thankless. During the past year the work of the janitors, especially the Center school janitor, has been made needlessly more difficult by the thoughtlessness of some of the residents of the town. Reference is made to the card games and drinking parties held on the lawn of the Center School. This disgraceful spectacle has become repugnant not only
81
to school officials, but also to an ever increasing number of Hatfield citizens who take pride in the appearance of their town. During the good weather, scarcely a morn- ing goes by without the necessity of the janitor, the prin- cipal or the superintendent, picking up a plentiful supply of cards or bottles about the building. This utter disre- gard for public property was climaxed by the building of a small bonfire on the steps of the North entrance to the building. It is sincerely hoped that vigorous public opin- ion coupled with effective police action will put on end to this entirely inappropriate activity about a public school building.
New Center School Heating Plant
The pupils and faculty of the Center School are sin- cerely appreciative of the new heating and ventilating system provided them by the taxpayers of the town. This type of plant is listed as the most efficient and healthful type for public buildings. The air is drawn directly into each individual classroom, heated and dispersed through- out the room. This is all under automatic, thermostatic regulation. Nearby communities using this same sort ot plant are the Hooker School addition in Hadley, the Sun- derland School, the new $855,000 school in East Long- meadow and the new Memorial School in North Wilbra- ham. The new schools to be constructed in Northampton this year will also be so heated and ventilated. Parts of the Cooley Dickinson Hospital also utilize this kind of plant. During the first few months of the cold weather, considerable work was necessary on the part of the tech- nicians in the balancing, adjusting and coordinating of the various automatic controls. This was a major task as there are twenty-three of them in all. The understanding patience of all during this period-parents, faculty, and pupils-is sincerely appreciated.
82
Other Repairs and Improvements
The repairs and improvements accomplished this year, while not so numerous, are nevertheless broader in scope. They are as follows:
Center School-
1. All exterior brick pointed up.
2. Capstones pointed up.
3. Foundation strengthened on southwest cor- ner.
4. Call bell and fire alarm systems checked and corrected.
5. Entire basement newly painted.
6. New lights in basement playrooms.
7. Additional all-purpose room constructed in basement.
8. All cracked window glass replaced.
School St. School-
1. Check valve on return line to boiler repaired.
2. New light installed in dark hallway to boys' basement.
3. New smoke-pipe installed in boiler-room.
4. New bubbler fountain installed in west room.
5. New 220 volt line installed in shop for arc- welder.
The Trustees of Smith Academy, through their far- sightedness and interest in the youth of Hatfield cared for many hundreds of dollars worth of repair at the Acad- emy. The School Department recognizes and sincerely appreciates their contributions to education in Hatfield. Their repairs and improvements are as follows:
1. Assembly hall floor sanded and refinished.
2. New auditorium, theater-style, seating installed.
83
3. All electric light switches replaced with modern types.
4. Bell system repaired.
The recommended repairs for 1952 are as follows :
Center School-
1. All exterior woodwork painted. . .
2. New flagpole.
School St. School-
1. Paint both classrooms.
2. Wash all paint and walls in hallways and stairwells.
School Lunch Program
The Hatfield School Lunch staff has again, in spite of greatly increased costs, been able to, through judicious planning and management, serve wholesome, nourishing meals with no financial help from the town. As tes- timony to the efficient management of the lunchroom, is the fact that while the year started with $6,599.08 on hand in the School Lunch Reserve, it was possible to end the year with $6,946.83 on hand-a net increase of $347.75. This gain was realized in spite of the increase in food prices, the granting of a pay increase to the staff, and the purchase of $432.50 worth of new chairs for the dining room.
It was voted in 1951, that effective in January, 1952, the lunchroom staff should be entitled to five days sick- leave with pay and pay for all holidays that occur during a school week.
84
The following information is submitted for examina- tion :
Month
No. of Lunch Days
No. of Meals Served
January
22
4,740
February
14
3,006
March
21
4,464
April
16
3,415
May
22
4,518
June
11
2,043
September
18
4,359
October
21
5,172
November
21
4,585
December
15
3,664
Total
181
39,966
In addition to the above "paid-for" meals, a total of 780 free meals were served those children, who, in the opinion of school authorities, were deserving of a balanced meal, but through no fault of theirs, were unable to buy one.
School Lunch Financial Summary
1. Expenditures :
1950
1951
Food
$5,256.37
$5,715.83
Wages
3,034.00
3,336.50
All other
1,078.22
846.35
Total
$9,388.39
$9,898.68
85
2. Sources of above expended money :
1950
1951
Taxation $ 600.00
none
Fed. reimbursement 2,485.06
$3,562.67
Lunch Reserve
6,303.33
6,336.01
Total
$9,388.39
$9,898.68
3. Income:
1950
1951
Receipts from sale
of lunches (to lunch
reserve for 1952)
$6,527
$6,684.26
From Fed. Funds 2,485.06
ยท3,562.67
Total
$9,012.44
$10,246.93
School Enrollment-Oct. 1,1951
Center Elementary School by Grades
I
II
III
IV
V
VI VII
VIII
1950
35
36
39
26
21
25
22
29
1951
35
38
35
36
28
18
22
22
Comparative Totals for Center School
Year
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
Total Pupils 228
224
229
243
233
234
Smith Academy Enrollment by Classes
Freshmen Sophomores Juniors Seniors Total
1949
23
20
16
15
74
1950
23
24
17
14
78
1951
25
26
20
17
88
86
Totals for Hatfield Public Schools
Year
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
Totals
319
296
300
317
311
322
Conclusion
In the writing of this report, I have purposely omitted an explanation of certain aspects of our work. These have been referred to members of our professional staff who are better qualified to explain them than I am. Their reports are included elsewhere in this over-all School Department report.
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