USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Hatfield > Hatfield Annual Town Report 1951-1957 > Part 32
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School Lunch Workers
Hazel Roberts, Manager Susan Zima Helen McGrath
Irene Labbee Winifred Betsold Phyllis Kuzontkoski
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Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of Hatfield:
Your school committee herewith submits its annual report for the year 1957. The committee held 12 regular and 14 special meetings during the year. It has been the purpose of the committee to maintain and improve the physical, material and educational structures of the Hat- field schools and to give the pupils those educational op- portunities which they rightfully deserve and merit.
The educational problems which your committee con- siders to have been the most pressing during the past year are: 1. The alterations and repairs to the Center School. 2. Teacher supply. 3. Rising enrollments of the local schools. 4. Classroom space. 5. Problems of cur- riculum, and 6. Finance.
Center School
A complete and detailed report of the alterations and repairs to the Center School is contained in this school report under a separate section. The report contains a detailed chronology of events and a detailed financial ac- counting of the project is appended. Your attention to this report is respectfully requested.
Personnel
During the year three teachers resigned and one teacher retired from our schools. Two teachers former- ly appointed on a temporary basis were elected to perma-
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nent positions, three teachers were elected to fill resigna- tions and retirement openings and one teacher was elect- ed to meet the needs of increased enrollments.
An account of our staff changes follows :
Mrs. Moira Callahan, resigned to be at home.
Mrs. Jane Blauvelt, resigned to teach at Greenfield, Massachusetts.
Mrs. Joyce Prince, resigned to be at home.
Miss Sarah Kiley, retired.
Mrs. Eleanor Stenglein, elected teacher of grade two. Mrs. Elizabeth Brassord, elected teacher of grade five.
Mrs. Anne Labbee, elected teacher of grade three.
Mrs. Margaret DeCarolis, elected teacher of grades 6, 7, 8.
Mr. George Rudzik, elected teacher of grades 6, 7, 8.
Mr. John Gallagher, Jr., elected teacher of grades 6, 7, 8,
Some changes in assignments were made in both the elementary and secondary staffs and these changes are reported in the report of the Superintendent of Schools.
Enrollment
The school year beginning September 1957 again found the local schools faced with an increased enrollment in both the elementary and secondary levels. On October 1, which is the official census date for school purposes, there were 449 pupils enrolled in grades one through twelve. Three hundred and forty-seven pupils were enrolled in grades one through eight, which was twenty-five more than the previous year and eight more than predicted. One hundred and two pupils were enrolled in grades nine through twelve, which was ten more than the previous year and five less than predicted. The total overall in en- rollment for all grades was thirty-five pupils.
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Expanding enrollments continue to impose the great- est immediate problem on the community and the school committee.
The prospect for continued increases in enrollment is very real. Without extending enrollment projections for the elementary grades beyond a six-year period, which includes children born and residing in Hatfield at the pres- ent time, there is every reason to expect increasing en- rollments in our elementary grades. The same prediction for increased enrollments is also true for the secondary grades.
A summary of past and predicted future enrollments is presented in chart form in another section of the school reports. Your careful attention is called to them.
Classroom Space
During the past year the school committee has con- verted the last available space in the Center School base- ment to temporary classroom use to meet increased en- rollments. There are now three temporary basement classrooms in use. Although these temporary rooms may be attractive, they do not meet the requirements of the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety for school purposes at any time.
Curriculum
During the past year the committee has continued to provide educational materials and equipment to facilitate the educational program of the schools.
The committee has noted the strengthening of the science instruction in the schools, more and effective use of audio-visual materials, and the further departmental- ization of instruction in grades six, seven and eight.
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Reading instruction in grades six, seven, and eight has been departmentalized and more time is now devoted to this very important phase of the school program. Spell- ing texts based on selected word listing and continuous progress in difficulty have been introduced in the elemen- tary grades five through eight.
The scope of extracurricular activities for the boys in grades six, seven and eight has been broadened with the assignment of Mr. Gallagher as junior high school coach in basketball and baseball.
Both the Superintendent's and Elementary Princi- pal's reports carry a more detailed account of the activi- ties in the curricular area. The afore-mentioned reports have been delivered to, read and approved by the school committee and your attention is called to them.
Finance
During the past year it became necessary to request an additional appropriation to effect the repairs and alter- ations for the Center School building as demanded by the Department of Public Safety. A full and detailed report of this appropriation and expenditures is contained in a separate section of this report. Your attention is direct- ed to the report.
The school committee directed an inquiry into Fed- eral Aid to the local schools under Public Law 874, which assists schools with direct aid if certain qualifications are met for attendance by pupils whose parents are employed on federal property. The committee found that the schools did qualify for aid for the school year 1956-1957 and forthwith made application for assistance.
During the year the committee received $2,194.72 in Federal Aid for local education which, by law, it expend- ed to meet current expenses.
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The committee has already voted to investigate its eligibility for Federal Aid for the school year 1957-1958. However, because of the attendance qualifications, no as- surance is possible that aid will be received from this source. Federal Aid is a possibility but not a foregone conclusion.
The regular school budget for 1958 has been careful- ly prepared and submitted to the Town Accountant as required by law. The Hatfield Finance Committee and the School Committee have met and discussed the school budget.
Of special interest, the committee wishes to report that upon the retirement of Miss Sarah Kiley, the school committee, with the able and willing co-operation of the Hatfield Teachers Club, held an open house in the Com- munity Rooms of the Town Hall in her honor. A large number of friends and former pupils extended Miss Kiley their best wishes and presented her with a purse of money which was contributed by the townspeople.
Miss Kiley devoted forty-nine years to teaching the pupils of Hatfield. Her warm, kindly manner and devo- tion to the pupils entrusted to her care will be long and fondly remembered. The school committee wishes to take this opportunity to publicly record its sincere appre- ciation and gratitude to Miss Kiley and to extend every best wish for her enjoyment in retirement.
The school committee wishes to take this opportuni- ty to express its sincere appreciation to the townspeople and school personnel for their support, understanding and co-operation during the year just passed.
Respectfully submitted, EUGENE F. PROULX HENRY F. KULESZA ARTHUR E. FITZGERALD
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Special Appropriation, Center School
During 1957 the School Committee found it neces- sary to request a Special Appropriation to carry out alter- ations and repairs to the Center School building as a result of the action taken by the Massachusetts Depart- ment of Public Safety.
On November 13, 1956, the Department of Public Safety Inspection Certificate expired on our Center School building and in keeping with Section 52, Chapter 143 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth which reads: "No person shall occupy or use any building or part thereof as a theatre, special hall, public hall, miscellaneous hall or schoolhouse until a license therefor has been issued by the commissioner or a certificate therefor by an inspector, whichever is required under this chapter ... ," a new cer- tificate was requested prior to November 13, 1956. Dur- ing the month of November the Department of Public Safety Inspector, Mr. James J. Lane, agreed to re-inspect the Center School building and to consider the renewal of the Inspection Certificate. However, because of delays, Mr. Lane did not inspect the building until April 1, 1957.
Upon the completion of Mr. Lane's inspection of April 1, 1957, a renewal of the Inspection Certificate was denied and on April2, 1957, the following letter was re- ceived from the Department of Public Safety :
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Greenfield, Mass. April 2, 1957
To :
Eugene S. Proulx,
Chr. of School Committee,
Hatfield, Mass.
Subject : Central Grammar School
1. On April 1, 1957, I inspected the above building. The forces acting on the roof of this building has disturbed its equilibrium which in turn has caused other members of the structure to be effected. It is my judgment the loading combinations is the cause; such as dead loads, wind loads and snow loads etc. Before certificate of in- spection can be renewed it will be necessary to have a survey made by a State Registered Engineer, and his re- port sent to this office.
2. Your immediate attention to this matter is urgently requested as present certificate has expired which is issued subject to Sec. 52 Chap. 143 G. L. (Signed) JAMES J. LANE State Building Inspector
MO
Copy to Arthur T. Scott Jr., Supt. of Schools
On April 8, 1957, Mr. Lane attended the regular monthly meeting of the School Committee at the request of the Committee and discussed the situation caused by the denial of a re-issuance of the Center School Inspection Certificate and other matters pertaining to temporary certification of basement classrooms and the School Street School. The following from the minutes of April 8, 1957, School Committee meeting and approved by the Committee in its regular meeting of May 6, 1957, is the report of the discussions held with Mr. Lane on April 8, 1957 :
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Mr. James Lane, Massachusetts State Build- ing Inspector, arrived at the meeting to discuss the conditions of the present facilities and to discuss with the committee the temporary per- mite now in existence and also the possibility of providing an additional classroom within the ex- isting facilities for the 1957-58 school year.
Mr. Lane informed the committee that he would not issue a certificate for the Center School until a registered engineer had surveyed the con- dition of the building and had ascertained the condition of certain timbers in the attic and the general structural safety of the entire building.
The Committee was further informed that henceforth the School Street and Smith Academy buildings would be issued certificates good for only six months, as he, Mr. Lane, wants to keep an eye on them.
The Committee asked Mr. Lane if he would continue to issue "temporary" certification of the two Center School basement rooms. Mr. Lane replied that the committee-"Won't have them long." Mr. Lane stated that unless definite progress toward new facilities was made he would not certify the two rooms. Mr. Lane stated that progress meant a building committee with an architect who could design new facilties.
Mr. Lane stated that as far as his records are concerned there are no basement rooms in the Center School. The rooms are used only be- cause of verbal agreements and could be lost for use at any moment.
The Committee asked, "Is there any area in ยท our present schools-Center or School Street- which could be finished off for an additional classroom next year?" Mr. Lane replied that
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the School Street School was definitely out-that there was no possibility for expansion in the building. In regard to the Center School, Mr. Lane would not commit himself. He did state that if he approved expansion, there would be a definite cut off date of less than two years, and that no expansion could be considered a perma- nent solution.
Mr. Lane stated that the people of the com- munity must realize that the conditions of school housing are not good, that they can't continue indefinitely and a solution must be found by them. Mr. Lane stated that unless a site, archi- tect, etc., for new facilities were forthcoming he would not renew the temporary certification for the Center School basement rooms.
In regard to the present certification of the Center School building, Mr. Lane stated that it was illegally open until such time as an engi- neer's report was returned. He further stated that the engineer's report would be a big guide for further action and that if the report was un- favorable, all needed work would have to be com- pleted before the building could be re-opened in September 1957.
Mr. Lane was asked if rooms in the Town Hall could be certified for school use. In reply Mr. Lane stated that he would have to look at them, but at best any certification would be tem- porary and with a time limit specified.
During the ensuing twelve days inquiries were com- pleted in an attempt to locate and interview a "State Reg- istered Engineer." Five engineers were contacted-one each from Fitchburg, Pittsfield, and Springfield, and two from Holyoke, Mass. Of the five engineers contacted only one evinced any interest in making the survey as required by the Department of Safety.
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On April 20, 1957, a special meeting of the School Committee was held. A copy of the minutes of that meet- ing approved by the School Committee on May 6, 1957, follows :
On April 20, 1957, a special School Commit- tee meeting was called for the purpose of meet- ing Mr. Charles W. Carroll, a registered profes- sional engineer.
The meeting was held in the Hatfield Center School with Mr. Henry Kulesza, Secretary, and Mr. Arthur E. Fitzgerald present. Mr. Arthur G. Scott, Jr., was also present.
Mr. Carroll appeared and met with the com- mittee.
Henry Kulesza made the motion to retain Mr. Carroll's services to comply with the demand of the Massachusetts Department of Public Safe- ty Inspector for a survey of the Center School. Mr. Fitzgerald seconded the motion. The com- mittee voted two in favor of Mr. Carroll's reten- tion.
Mr. Carroll was directed to proceed with the survey and report to the Committee at the earli- est possible time.
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR G. SCOTT, JR. Recording Secretary
The first order of business after the retention of Mr. Carroll's services was to legalize the use of the Center School building for school purposes and in the next six- teen days this was accomplished. Although Mr. Lane was on vacation, the work proceeded through the office of the Department of Public Safety, Pittsfield, Mass., Mr. David C. Milne, Inspector.
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The following letters are self-explanatory and are communications between Mr. Carroll, Mr. Milne, and the School Committee :
May 1, 1957
Town of Hatfield Mr. Arthur G. Scott, Jr. Superintendent of Schools
Hatfield, Mass.
Dear Sir:
I am enclosing copy of letter sent to the Common- wealth of Massachusetts, Dept. of Public Sofety, Att. Mr. David C. Milne, as requested by him, in a telephone con- versation today. He stated that he would issue satisfac- tory permit to you, based upon this letter.
For your information, Mr. Milne is handling this work for Mr. Lane, who is on vacation.
Very truly yours, (Signed) C. W. Carroll CHARLES W. CARROLL, R. P. E. CWC:C
May 1, 1957
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Safety State Building Inspector 246 North Street Pittsfield, Mass. Att. Mr. David C. Milne
Gentleman :
Confirming telephone conversation of today relative to work needed to be done at the Hatfield School, roof framing for this building is definitely in a dangerous con- dition.
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Framing for this roof is of wood construction, com- posed of wood trusses, wood pulins, wood posts and wood rafters for roof deck. There is a serious condition of splitting in nearly all of the main members and requires definite reinforcement or replacement. All bearings for the main framing are on brick walls, being transferred either by wood beams under posts to masonry walls, or, as where trusses occur, directly on masonry walls.
I am preparing design and specifications for re- inforcement of this roof, with possibly one or two alter- nates, any of which will make roof safe and meet require- ments of building code.
Although I have stated the condition is dangerous, I do not believe the building needs to be closed before the end of this term, basing this decision on the fact that framing now in place has withstood all stresses caused by high wind and usual live and dead loads for a period of about 43 years, and that checking has been a gradual process over this period of time, and also that danger signs, such as cracking of main ceilings below has not yet occurred. However, the condition will gradually be- come worse and actual reconstruction should be started as soon as possible.
There is another condition existing on the northwest wall of the west wing, and to the south of the main en- trance, where corner of two intersecting walls has appar- ently settled, causing severe cracks which have been patched up at various times.
Again, although the condition should be corrected as soon as possible, it has not in my opinion reached the stage of seriousness.
There is one item that should be corrected without delay, and that is the spire on top of cupola which has a dangerous list, and if it were to fall, it could cause seri-
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ous injury to students, teachers, or any others who might be in the immediate vicinity.
Therefore, I suggest that you issue to Mr. Arthur G. Scott, Jr., Supt. of Schools, Town of Hatfield, Mass., permit or permits necessary for him to keep school open until the closing of school for the vacation period when all work necessary can be accomplished, with the provi- sion that spire on cupola be immediately corrected, either by removal, or otherwise.
For your information, I am registered to practice en- gineering under the title of "Registered Professional En- gineer", as provided in Chapter 643 of the Acts of 1941, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. My registration num- ber is 804.
Yours very truly, CHARLES W. CARROLL, R. P. E.
CWC:C
Copy of this letter is being sent to
Mr. Arthur G. Scott, Jr., Supt. of Schools,
Town of Hatfield, Hatfield, Mass.
DIVISION OF INSPECTION 246 North St., Pittsfield May 2, 1957
To: Eugene F. Proulx, Chairman, School Committee, Main St., Hatfield, Mass.
Subject : Hatfield Central Grammar School.
1. You are directed to arrange for the removal of, or adequate repairs to the spire on the cupola of the Hatfield Central Grammar School before school sessions are re- sumed on Monday, May 6, 1957. This instruction was
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conveyed by telephone conversation this morning to the office of your Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Arthur Scott.
2. Upon completion of work on the spire, a certificate of inspection will be issued for the building, permitting use for school purposes until July 1, 1957. After July 1, 1957, use of the building will not be approved until repairs have been completed to make safe the roof framing of the building and any other alterations directed by the State Building Inspector in accordance with regulations of this Department for schoolhouses.
(Signed) David C. Milne DAVID C. MILNE State Building Inspector.
DCM: AML
C.C .: Supt. Scott
Chief of Inspections, Boston Greenfield office Charles W. Carroll, P. E.
On May 4, 1957, the spire on the cupola of the Center School was removed. The conditions of the Department of Public Safety were met and a Certificate of Inspection, which was in force until July 1, 1957, was issued May 6, 1957, as pe rletter of Mr. Milne of May 2, 1957.
Mr. Carroll submitted his preliminary survey and drawings, No. 1 and No. 2, to the School Committee in a letter dated May 14, 1957, and at the same time submit- ted an identical report to the Mass. Dept. of Public Safe- ty. A complete copy of the letter follows. The drawings are incorporated in the minutes of the meetings for 1957.
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May 14, 1957
Town of Hatfield Hatfield School Committee Hatfield, Mass.
Att. Mr. Eugene F. Proulx, Chairman Mr. Arthur G. Scott, Jr., Supt. of Schools
Gentlemen:
Re: Hatfield Center School
In accordance with your letter of April 26, 1957, with instructions to conduct a preliminary survey relative to structural stability and safety of the Hatfield Center School, I submit the following report:
North wall of Southwest wing has pulled away from main building, causing severe cracks from top to bottom, terminating in most instances at bottom of window lintels and sills. From visible evidence, these cracks have been filled with mortar at different periods and cracking has reappeared.
At the Northwest corner of this wall, brick masonry has been removed and replaced, using enlarged joints be- tween replaced brick work, in order to maintain as closely as possible a level line of coursing. This has occurred from water table to grade.
Construction of wall from top of grade to top of water table was originally to have been constructed of cast stone facing, with solid brick backing, and concrete footing below basement level. The cast stone was elim- inated, and brick facing was substituted at time of con- struction.
I do not claim this substitution to be cause of crack- ing, but merely call attention to deviation from original design, and have suspicion that other substitutions may have been made.
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New cracks have occurred since last patching. At top of wall, and for several courses under wall plate, light shows through from outside, and new cracks are showing on outside, and although of minor nature, prove to me that this wall is still moving outward, and will continue to do so until definite failure occurs, or until remedied.
There is no excessive loading of this part of build- ing, and I therefore conclude that foundation, particular- ly at corner referred to above, has, for some unknown reason, settled sufficiently to cause this condition, and is continuing to do so. The cause of this settlement can best be determined by digging a hole at outside, to a depth of bottom of footing, exposing wall, and footing be- low grade. I suggest outside, rather than inside, because I believe any defect will be more clearly seen. Care should be used when digging, and should be made at the North side of corner, and back toward Main Building, as corner is slipping toward the West, and in all probability is ob- taining some support from thrust of ground at the West side. Under no condition should this operation take place without my supervision.
I have checked walls outside and inside throughout building, and find them in good condition generally. How- ever, a complete job of pointing should be done, particu- larly on the East Wall. Coping stones and stones around window lintels should be repointed where necessary, and a complete job of caulking done. Main entrance should receive special attention, including steps.
Hump in floor through center of classrooms running North and South, first floor, is caused by the method of construction. There is a line of steel beams running through center of these rooms, supported on concrete filled columns and bearing walls. These beams in turn support 21/2" x 14" wood joists, which have been framed flush with top of steel beam. The joists, because of their
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porosity, shrink from drying, which causes their top to take a position below top of steel beam, and because steel beam does not shrink, permits the floor to rest directly upon top flange, resulting in a hump in floor. This condi- tion could have been avoided, if, at time of construction, wood joists were framed 1" above top flange of steel beam. To remedy this condition would be expensive, and as strength has not been impaired in any way, can, in my opinion, be left in its present status.
I have investigated the condition of roof supports and find a serious condition exists. There is unusual split- ting of truss members. This splitting is partially due to the usual aging and drying out of the timbers. However, I believe the main reason for such severe splitting to be overloading.
This building has been subjected to some terrific wind storms during its existence, and apart from method of construction used, probably has been the largest factor to cause overloading and resulting overstress.
You will note that where splitting is most severe in a member, the member has a tendency to bulge at center, or in other words, attempting to part along the line of the neutral axis. This is definitely a sign of overstress of the member.
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