Hatfield Annual Town Report 1958-1963, Part 17

Author: Hatfield (Mass)
Publication date: 1958
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 758


USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Hatfield > Hatfield Annual Town Report 1958-1963 > Part 17


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Spent


Balance to Revenue or Forward


Moderator


$ 25.00


$


$ 25.00


$ 25.00


$


Selectmen's Salaries


1,200.00


1,200.00


1,200.00


Selectmen's Clerk


200.00


200.00


200.00


Selectmen's Expense


200.00


75.00


275.00


174.55


100.45


Accountant's Salary


1,975.00


1,975.00


1,975.00


Accountant's Expense


150.00


150.00


143.29


6.71


Treasurer's Salary


2,075.00


2,075.00


2,075.00


Treasurer's Expense


575.00


575.00


572.12


2.88


Collector's Salary


1,800.00


1,800.00


1,800.00


Collector's Expense


900.00


900.00


899.98


02


Assessors' Salaries


2,400.00


2,400.00


2,400.00


Assessors' Expense


700.00


700.00


676.42


23.58


Equalize Assessments


1,000.00


1,000.00


1,000.00


Attorney's Fees


500.00


500.00


500.00


Town Clerk's Salary


1,775.00


1,775.00


1,775.00


Town Clerk's Expense


350.00


350.00


348.75


1.25


Election & Registration


1,175.00


1,175.00


1,173.65


1.35


Elector's Salary


10.00


10.00


10.00


Town Hall


7,000.00


2,000.00


9,000.00


8,706.15


293.85


Police


3,750.00


3,750.00


3,550.05


199.95


65


Fire


3,300.00


1,000.00


4,300.00


4,085.68


214.32


Tree Work


2,200.00


1,200.00


3,400.00


3,086.81


313.19


Moth Work


2,600.00


2,600.00


2,205.27


394.73


Civil Defense


1,000.00


1,000.00


520.35


479.65


Sealer Weights & Measures' Salary


200.00


200.00


200.00


Sealer Weights & Measures' Expense


100.00


100.00


94.85


5.15


Public Health


700.00


700.00


168.84


531.16


School Physician


500.00


500.00


500.00


Insp. School Children-Immunization


150.00


150.00


149.49


51


Insp. School Children-Tuberculosis


75.00


75.00


15.00


60.00


Well-Child Clinic


200.00


200.00


154.64


45.36


Insp. of Animals & Slaughter


240.00


240.00


240.00


Visiting Nurse


1,200.00


1,200.00


1,200.00


Advance Sewer Survey


2,000.00


2,000.00


2,000.00


Const. Sewer-Prospect St.


5,000.00


5,000.00


5,000.00


Highway General


8,000.00


8,000.00


7,999.98


02


Highway Chap.81


22,250.00


22,250.00


22,168.41


81.59


Highway Chap. 90 Maint.


1,800.00


1,800.00


1,800.00


Highway Chap. 90 N. C.


20,800.00


20,800.00


20,799.97


.03


Road Machinery Operating


4,000.00


4,000.00


3,992.26


7.74


Purch. Truck for Highway


8,500.00


8,500.00


8,500.00


Purch. Sand Box & Sander


2,800.00


2,800.00


2,800.00


Street Lights


4,950.00


200.00


5,150.00


4,992.00


158.00


Bridge Repairs


400.00


400.00


163.78


236.22


Dike Repairs


200.00


200.00


196.80


3.20


Fence Repairs


200.00


200.00


163.80


36.20


Reconstruct Main St. Sidewalk


800.00


800.00


469.75


330.25


66


North St. Sidewalk


1,000.00


1,000.00


1,000.00


Public Welfare


2,000.00


600.00


2,600.00


2,322.93


277.07


Disability Assistance


1,000.00


1,000.00


263.58


736.42


Disability Assistance-Fed.


89.50


89.50


89.50


Disability Assistance-Fed. Adm.


19.39


19.39


19.39


A.D.C .- Town


2,000.00


2,000.00


824.78


1,175.22


A.D.C .- Federal


1,429.60


1,429.60


1,429.60


A.D.C .- Fed. Adm.


122.87


122.87


122.87


Old Age Assistance-Town


7,500.00


7,500.00


5,618.25


1,881.75


Old Age Assistance-Federal


4,255.65


4,255.65


3,985.38


270.27


Old Age Assistance-Fed. Adm.


621.51


621.51


589.40


32.11


Med. Assistance for Aged-Town


7,500.00


7,500.00


5,853.37


1,646.63


Med. Assistance for Aged-Federal


6,193.30


6,193.30


6,193.30


Med. Assistance for Aged-Fed. Adm.


281.18


281.18


278.08


3.10


Veterans' Benefits


2,000.00


2,906.34


4,906.34


4,906.34


School Comm. Exp.


200.00


200.00


200.00


Schools


181,913.00


181,913.00


181,912.91


.09


Schools-P. L. #864


1,187.52


1,187.52


707.55


479.97


Schools-P. L. #874


11,633.36


11,633.36


1,637.95


9,995.41


School Athletic Fund


4,668.28


4,668.28


2,416.67


2,251.61


Vocational Tuition & Transportation


9,500.00


9,500.00


7,792.12


1,707.88


School Bldg. Comm. Exp.


242.31


242.31


242.31


Const., Equip, Furnish New School


7,206.42


7,206.42


6,645.05


561.37


Elem. School Equip. Purch.


1,000.00


1,000.00


999.00


1.00


School Lunch Coll.


21,156.34


21,156.34


16,279.09


4,877.25


School Lunch C. D. F.


6,222.06


6,222.06


6,222.06


Library


4,847.50


106.87


4.954.37


4,953.93


.44


67


Bind Town Records Care of Town Clock


75.00


75.00


20.75


54.25


50.00


50.00


50.00


Industrial Development Comm.


300.00


300.00


300.00


Insurance


6,300.00


6,300.00


5,237.50


1,062.50


Insurance Chap. 32B


5,700.00


5,700.00


4,433.69


1,266.31


Memorial Day


300.00


300.00


250.58


49.42


Planning Board Expense


300.00


300.00


299.76


24


Print and Deliver Town Reports


750.00


750.00


701.25


48.75


Reserve Fund


6,159.26


6,159.26


5,175.30


983.96


Retirement Assessment


2,796.00


2,796.00


2,796.00


Telephone


300.00


300.00


300.00


Unclassified


100.00


100.00


76.80


23.20


Tax Title


100.00


100.00


100.00


Unpaid Bills


729.75


729.75


729.75


Water Comm. Salaries


900.00


900.00


900.00


Water Department


7,000.00


393.96


7,393.96


7,391.31


2.65


8" Water Main-Gore Ave.


4,600.00


4,600.00


4,592.28


7.72


6" Water Main-Pantry Road


18,000.00


18,000.00


17,142.30


857.70


Cemeteries


1,100.00


589.72


1,689.72


1,546.35


143.37


Interest


500.00


500.00


500.00


Interest-School Loans


15,000.00


15,000.00


15,000.00


School Loans Chap. 645


15,000.00


15,000.00


15,000.00


School Loans Chap. 44 G. L.


10,000.00


10,000.00


10,000.00


Interest-Water Mains


507.50


507.50


507.50


Water Main Loan


5,000.00


5,000.00


5,000.00


$509,282.30


$ 9,071.89


$518,354.19


$465,897.36


$ 52,456.83


68


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


OF THE


TOWN OF HATFIELD


FOR THE


YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1961


71


School Organization


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


Henry F. Kulesza, Chairman


Term Expires 1962


Ethel I. Byrne, Secretary


Term Expires 1963


Joseph J. Wendlowski, Jr. Term Expires 1964


Regular school committee meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month or at a time convenient to the members of the school committee at the Elementary School


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS John A. Skarzynski


School Office : High School Building


Telephone: CH 7-2361


Home Address : 44 Elm Street Hatfield, Mass.


WORK CERTIFICATES AND SCHOOL CLERK Marie P. Sheehan 15 Chestnut Street Office telephone CH 7-2361


SCHOOL PHYSICIAN


Robert C. Byrne, M.D. 46 Main Street Telephone CH 7-2661


SCHOOL NURSE Mrs. Lucille Godek, R.N. 19 Prospect Street Telephone CH 7-2921


72


CORPS OF TEACHERS 1961-1962


Superintendent of Schools and Principal of Smith Academy John A. Skarzynski


Smith Academy Florence E. Muller, Assistant Principal French I, II, III; Latin II; Guidance Conversational French - Junior High


Margaret Pruzynski Typing I, II; Shorthand I, II; Bookkeeping; Secretarial Practice; Personal Typing


Leonard A. Yarrows Algebra II; Plane Geometry; Senior Math; Chemistry ; Physics


John H. Naumowicz English II-A, II-B, III-A, IV-A, III & IV-B James E. Galvin Problems of Democracy; Civics ; U. S. History; Spanish


Mary A. Spakowski Home Economics; Biology; Junior Business Math


John A. Skarzynski Driver Education


John F. Symancyk Junior Business Training; Physical Education World History ; General Science - Junior High


Center School - Junior High Grades 7, 8, 9 Dorothy Breor, Principal Jean Kempisty, Assistant Principal Grades 7, 8: Social Studies, Music, Glee Club


73


Maxwell Moczulewski; Grade 9A : Math, Algebra, High School Basketball Coach


Joseph F. Savage; Grade 8A : Reading, English, General Math, School Paper


Judith Colby ; Grade 9B: Reading, English, Penmanship, Library Club


James A. Devlin; Grade 8B : English, Reading, Latin, Spelling, School Paper


Arthur Andrews; Grade 7A : Science, Art, Science Club, Basketball Coach


Elementary School Dorothy Breor; Principal: Remedial Reading


Grade 6


Frances Celatka


Patricia Lannaville


Jane Cook


Jean L. Siano


Hilda Fortsch


Patricia Doppmann


Anne Tierney


Grade 2


Martha Boyle


Grade 1


Helen Kostek


Enid Miller


Supervisors


Music-Esther Norris Penmanship-William Rinehart Co.


Grade 5


Grade 4


Grade 3


Ann Labbee


Eleanor Stenglein


74


Custodians


Elementary-Mitchell Kempisty Center School-Chester Celatka High School-John Besko


Transporters


John W. Maroney-Regular School Transportation Frank Skroski, Jr .- Vocational School Transportation


School Lunch Workers


Winifred Betsold, Manager


Hazel Roberts, Asst. Mgr.


Irene Labbee Wanda Shea


Susan Zima Helen Kugler


75


Report of the School Committee


To the Citizens of Hatfield:


The annual report of the Hatfield School Committee for the year 1961 is presented to you for your considera- tion. With the rapid changes continuing in education, the school committee is faced with a tremendous problem. It must keep pace with these changes, but in doing so, it is also faced with obstacles. The school committee, through combined efforts in solving the problem of local education, has always kept in mind not only the students, but also the welfare of the town.


The school committee brings to the attention of the townspeople the fact that its functions are many and varied. In general, policies by which the schools are run must be determined; proposals and criticisms - construc- tive and otherwise - submitted to the committee must be reviewed and the school committee continuously evaluates the school program for which it is responsible.


The school committee has been aided in carrying out its responsibilities during the past year by citizens, indi- vidually and in groups, expressing constructively their concern with school matters under consideration.


The school committee recognizes the need for provid- ing our steadily growing school population the education adapted to enabling our young people to go into the world equipped with a basic education which will help them take their places effectively in the communities in which they live. At the same time, the school committee holds to the premise that the satisfactory job done by our schools must be done economically.


76


Many changes in educational techniques and the addi- tion of some studies and courses which might improve our program are not included, either because the school com- mittee feels the immediate tax burden would be too great or because it did not want to be the first and yet not be the last. But adequate training and evaluation of our growing faculty, proper maintenance of our expanded facilities involve expenditures which cannot be post- poned. More pupils make more teachers, more school- rooms, more custodians and more supplies necessary ; and here the unit costs increase each year, as they have throughout the economy.


With the above in mind, the school committee, in the year 1961 met in 12 regular meetings and 6 special meet- ings for the purpose of providing the type of education necessary in meeting the challenges of the times and to carry out planned procedures and policies.


The school committee has also been keeping a watch- ful eye on the enrollment increases in the Hatfield Public Schools. On December 1, 1961, there were 515 pupils en- rolled in grades 1 through 12. Last year there were 494 pupils enrolled in grades 1 through 12. Grades 1 through 6 had 280 pupils enrolled and this year have 282 pupils. Grades 7 through 9 had 127 pupils enrolled and this year have 140 pupils. Grades 10 through 12 had 82 pupils en- rolled and this year have 93 pupils. A change in the school set-up also took place in September 1961. Grades 1 through 6 are housed in the elementary school, grades 7 through 9 in Center School - Junior High - and grades 10-12 in Smith Academy. This set-up alleviates, for the present, a crowded condition in the high school. A sum- mary of past and anticipated enrollments is presented in charts to be found incorporated in this School Department Report on another page. You are encouraged to turn to and examine these charts closely.


77


A complete list of school personnel will be found in another section of this report. In reviewing the teaching staff situation, we found that three changes took place in the high school, two changes in Center School and four changes took place in the elementary school.


Miss Ellen Verchot, resigned to teach in the Berk- shires.


Miss Veronica Frost, resigned to teach in Holyoke.


Mrs. Anne Melnick, resigned to be at home.


Mrs. Phyllis Belden, resigned, moved to Virginia. Mrs. Rachel Atkinson, resigned, to be at home.


Mrs. Mary Holdsworth, resigned, to be at home. Miss Mary E. Ryan, retired.


Mr. Francis Kiely, resigned to teach in Holyoke.


Mrs. Ann Labbee, returned from leave of absence to teach grade 3.


Mrs. Jean Siano, elected teacher of grade 5.


Mrs. Jane Cook, elected teacher of grade 5.


Mrs. Patricia Lannaville, elected teacher of grade 6. Mrs. Judith Colby, elected teacher in Junior High. Mr. James Devlin, elected teacher in Junior High. Mr. Leonard Yarrows, elected teacher in High School. Mr. John Naumowicz, elected teacher in High School. Mr. James Galvin, elected teacher in High School.


Many improvements took place in all grades. Audio- visual equipment and teaching aids were purchased, as were text books and classroom supplies. In the elemen- tary school the following new items were purchased : a rec- ord player for all grades, athletic mats for the gym, sci- ence equipment and additional janitorial equipment. In the Junior High, a new film projector was purchased as well as additional science equipment. In the Senior High School, new items purchased were typewriters, furniture for the Commercial Room, sewing machine for the House- hold Arts Room, lockers for physical education, choral


78


stands and also additional science equipment. Also pur- chased from the government were trucks to be used for transportation of school supplies and materials and a school bus to be used for field trips and athletic contests. The school committee wishes to express its thanks to Smith's Agricultural School for repairing the bus and putting it in good running condition.


Many needed repairs were taken care of at the Center Junior High School. The windows and doors were sealed and painted on the exterior side of the building, the com- plete basement and three classrooms on the lower floor were painted by the custodians, the roof was repaired in several places, the fire hose on one floor was replaced, as were all of the fire alarm boxes; piping was replaced and a water shut-off was placed in the front of the building. The flag poles at the junior and senior high schools were also painted.


The school committee wishes to publicly thank Fire Chief Yarrows and his staff for inspecting the school's fire fighting gear and for recharging the fire extinguishers in all school buildings.


The trustees of Smith Academy carried out neces- sary maintenance and repairs to the Smith Academy building. All corridors were painted, new lighting placed on first and second floor hallways as well as in two class- rooms, panic bars were placed on exit doors, the main hall- way was tiled, the office was painted and tiled, the guid- ance room was painted and the front porch was reinforced and sealed. These were taken care of without cost to the town. The trustees have been very co-operative in main- taining the building.


Contracts this past year were awarded to the follow- ing concerns: the oil contract to the Maroney Oil Com- pany and the vocational transportation contract to the Skroski Bus Company.


79


The regular school budget and the vocational school budget for 1962 have been carefully prepared and submit- ted to the town accountant as required by law. The Hat- field Finance Committee and the school committee have met and discussed the school budget.


The school committee once again found that the Hat- field Public Schools were eligible for Federal Aid to public 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. Assistance was also received under Public Law 864, Titles III and V, which deal with the fields of guidance, science, math and languages. Applications were made for assist- ance and the aid received is used to meet current expenses. Surplus materials were also purchased from the Federal Government and were used throughout the school system.


The committee is pleased to acknowledge the inter- ests of the following citizens and civic clubs in the educa- tion of our students. The following honors are awarded to deserving members of the high school graduating class :


American Legion Post Awards Hatfield Book Club Award Lions Club Award Woman's Endeavor Society Award M. Larkin Proulx Award


The Parent-Teacher Council Awards


Woman's Club of the Holy Trinity Church Award Hatfield Teachers Club Award


Both the superintendent's and elementary principal's reports carry a more detailed account of the activities of the Hatfield Public Schools. These reports were read and approved by the school committee and your attention is called to them.


80


The school committee wishes to express appreciation for services rendered to a former member of the school board, Mr. William H. Burke, Jr., who retired from the school board in February 1961.


The school committee wishes to express its apprecia- tion to Miss Mary E. Ryan for many years of fine service rendered to the pupils and the community and extends best wishes in her years of retirement.


The school committee also wishes to extend its appre- ciation to the administrative and teaching staff, employees of the school department, the School Building Committee, the Parent-Teacher Council, town officials, parents and pupils for their co-operation.


Respectfully submitted, HENRY F. KULESZA ETHEL I. BYRNE JOSEPH J. WENDLOWSKI, JR.


81


Superintendent of Schools


To the School Committee and Citizens of the Town of Hatfield :


I hereby submit my fourth annual report as Superin- tendent of Schools of Hatfield.


During the past several years there has been a grow- ing emphasis on adding to and improving the curriculum in the public schools throughout the nation. This trend initiated action for research and development of many new innovations as : foreign language laboratories, educational television and various other teaching machines. Science facilities in all grades have been expanded and programs for teaching the academically talented have also appeared in school systems.


It is natural for education to resist change, but the current problems facing our nation demand a change. The strength of our nation and any nation depends on the strength and effectiveness of our schools in preparing our future citizens for the problems of this ever changing world, especially those brought about by the nuclear and space ages. The future needs of the public schools will demand obligations, both financially and morally, from the citizens who support its purpose and ideals. We must direct our educational system toward the research and ex- perimentation of the vast wealth of technological knowl- edge in order to keep pace with our rapidly changing society and to provide new concepts and methods in edu- cation. This responsibility belongs to us, the present gen- eration. Scientific advances have created a new way of


82


life for our youth and this way demands knowledge and training to insure success in the future. The new trends in education were recognized and methods and curricula in our school system undergo constant evaluation.


A change in the junior high program of studies took place and is so listed in the principal's report. Curriculum changes and additions also took place in the high school. For the first time physics and chemistry are offered every year, this being necessary because of the increased enroll- ment in each of the courses; the sophomores have the op- portunity of taking college or commercial English. Pre- viously only one English class had been taught to the sophomore class, but because of class size, English 2A and English 2B are now being taught. Personal typing has been added to the program of studies and Spanish I is also being taught as an elective. In addition to these and the regular program of studies, the high school students also have the opportunity to participate in several extra- curricular activities.


On June 20, 1961, twenty-four young men and women were graduated from Smith Academy. At the present time better than 50% of this number are furthering their education.


The identification of aptitudes and abilities was the purpose of the testing program that was held during the year. The program used the Differential Aptitude Tests and the Otis Gamma I.Q. as a basis. Results of these tests are available to parents so that they and the school may intelligently plan for the student's future.


An outstanding event of the year was the presenta- tion of the first Science Fair at the school. A great deal of planning and work went into this most successful ven- ture. Many students participated in the Science Fair. Projects were judged and the three top winners exhibited their projects at the Regional Science Fair held at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Massachusetts.


83


The rule regarding the entrance age of pupils is as follows: Any child who attains the age of six during the year in which entrance to the first grade is sought may attend school beginning in September of that year. For example : a child having his sixth birthday on any day, including or between January 1, 1962, and December 31, 1962, may enroll and attend school beginning September 1962.


It is the policy of the Hatfield School Department to hold regular sessions when it is practicable to operate the school buses. Parents are asked to use their own discre- tion as to the wisdom of sending their children to school on stormy mornings. In the event that it becomes neces- sary to cancel school sessions, the "No School Signal" will be broadcast over radio station WHMP starting at 6 a.m. and continuing through to 8:30 a.m. The authorities of WHMP request that parents not call the radio station for this information, but listen for the announcements.


Revisions and additions were made to the report card of the senior high school. The card now shows the scho- lastic work of the student, his personal characteristics in certain categories and the number of detentions received. After three years of experimentation, the Hatfield Public Schools have developed a report card which we feel is ex- cellent in reporting the progress of students to parents. The report cards of the elementary school, the junior high and Smith Academy follow the same marking and rating system.


National Education Week was observed from Novem- ber 6-10, 1961. Special times were set aside throughout the week for private parent-teacher conferences. The schools held open house on Thursday evening of that week. The large number of parents who scheduled conferences and visited the schools was heart-warming and once again it showed that interest in the children and schools is high.


84


Education Week was concluded by the showing of the senior high school play entitled "Boarding House Reach" under the direction of Mr. John Naumowicz of the Smith Academy faculty.


An open-door policy is a vital part of our community- centered schools. Our teachers are an integral part of the open-door policy and are willing to help any parent. Parents are invited to visit us and see what and how their children learn in the classroom but are requested to check through the principal's office first.


The Massachusetts Division of Employment Security again administered vocational tests to all concerned sen- iors and consulted with each student prior to graduation regarding the results of these tests. The College Board tests are taken by the college seniors at a neighboring school. These are administered nationally and arrange- ments are made on an individual basis. Also given at the high school was the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test and the National Merit Examination.


Mid-year and final examinations were once again held in the high school.


The bus routes were revised in September and the routes will be adhered to for the remainder of the year. A copy of the present routes follows this report.


Released time for religious instruction was offered again this year. The following times are set aside each week so that pupils may benefit from religious instruction in denominations of their own choosing. Released time started on September 17, 1961, and will end on May 16, 1962.


Wednesday 10:45-11:30 High School pupils


Wednesday 1:00- 1:50 Grades 6, 7, 8, and 9


Wednesday


1:50- 2:45 Grades 2, 3, 4, and 5


85


Charts concerning past enrollments and predicted fu- ture enrollments follow this report and are placed there for your information and consideration.


On behalf of the high school and myself, I sincerely wish to express our appreciation to the Hatfield Lions Club for their donation of a beautiful and much needed trophy case. It has been placed in the main hallway at Smith Academy and is definitely a worthwhile addition. Housing many of the most recent trophies, visitors can now see the fabulous accomplishments of our athletic teams. I also wish to express appreciation to the Class of 1961 for its gift of a Webster unabridged dictionary and stand. It certainly will be an asset to our students at Smith Academy and especially to the English department. I would also like to thank the Board of Selectmen for mak- ing a larger room in the town hall available to our athletic department. We are now able to store all our equipment in one room in that building.


I also wish to publicly acknowledge our appreciation to Miss Mary E. Ryan for her many years of fine service to the community. Miss Ryan has been an important fac- tor in the education of our youth. Fortunate, indeed, were the students who attended school under her instruction. Miss Ryan retired this past June and I extend sincere best wishes to her in her years of retirement.




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