USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > Official reports of the town of Wayland 1954-1956 > Part 28
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
By September 1958 the Superintendent believes that a conservative estimate in the annual increase will be approximately 200 pupils, or eight classrooms per year. It is the Superintendent's belief that this increase will continue until at least 1960, for this estimate is based on children who are already born and who are living in the Town of Way- land. To further illustrate the growth in the school population, the incoming first grade in 1955 totaled 219 children, whereas the 12th grade at the same time totaled 45 boys and girls. It is imperative, therefore, that immediate steps be taken to initiate the building of a new senior high school to be ready for occupancy by September of 1959. It is the Superintendent's belief that the high school could well be a four year high school, containing grades 9 through 12. He estimates that the minimum school population in September of 1959 for grades 9 through 12 will be 375 boys and girls. This, it must be emphasized, is a conserva- tive estimate. At that time the present junior-senior high school could be converted to a junior high school, and grades 6, 7, and 8 could then be housed in the present junior-senior high school. The estimated population at that time for grades 6, 7, and 8 will be a minimum of 537 pupils. Moving grade 6 from the elementary school to junior high school will relieve the elementary schools and possibly delay the con- struction of another elementary school from one to two years. A com- plete breakdown of the estimated school enrollment, by grades, is in- cluded elsewhere in this report.
Whereas, the expansion of the school plant is an immediate and serious problem, there are two other problems which are equally if not more serious in nature.
During the past school year there was a 1/3 turnover in the teaching staff. The Superintendent believes that this problem is one of the most serious of all Wayland's school issues and is one which must
200
be corrected at the earliest possible date. The lack of a stable faculty is the number one deterrent to improving the educational program.
The excessive turnover in the teaching staff does not permit the proper development of the educational program as the continuity of subject matter from grade to grade is not carried forward from year to year in the best interest of Wayland's boys and girls. The unity required to build a proper educational program cannot be developed with the rapid change in teaching personnel.
Therefore, in the Superintendent's opinion, one of the most im- portant problems facing the schools is the question of adequate teacher salaries. An adequate teacher salary in Wayland may not be the same as an adequate salary in a nearby town.
Wayland is so situated that an automobile is essential for a teacher. Housing is scarce and cannot be obtained at the same level it is available in most nearby towns. As a consequence only one of four principals and nine of more than sixty teachers reside in Wayland. Faculty mem- bers living outside the Town do not, as a rule, have the same feeling of loyalty to the Wayland schools as those who are active members of the community. The feeling of permanence and of belonging and being an integral part of the community does not exist in the degree it should if the schools are to have the unity of purpose so essential in a proper educational program.
There are on the faculty many excellent teachers who want to become a part of Wayland, but the present salary schedule makes this economically impractical. The solution to this problem is a salary schedule which will attract and retain in Wayland those teachers who will owe their loyalties to the Town above loyalties to any other community.
The press and radio have given a great deal of space and time to the teacher shortage with which the entire country is now faced and will be faced to a still greater extent with each passing year. The teacher needs in Wayland for the next five years will be considerable. Preliminary enrollment estimates for 1960 indicate that the school population will be in excess of 2,400 pupils, a minimum increase of more than 900 pupils within the next five years.
In order to maintain the present standards an additional 36 to 40 teachers will be required, an increase of more than 50% in the faculty in a period of five years. In order to meet the demand for additional teachers, there is a tendency in many areas to lower the standards, however, it is the Superintendent's belief that Wayland does not wish to lower the standards in teacher selection but to improve those stand- ards .. In-service teacher training programs and a more careful selection of teacher personnel are necessary if the educational program is to be improved.
It is essential that the very highest type of teacher be brought into the system to complement the excellent staff which Wayland now has. It is the belief of the Superintendent of Schools, after a careful review of the teaching needs of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, New England, and the country as a whole, that in the foreseeable future not enough fully qualified teachers will be available. In the areas of science and mathematics there will be a shortage of teachers which
201
cannot be filled. The man-power shortage exists not only in the public schools, but it exists in almost every phase of our professional and industrial life. In order to attract the very highest calibre of person into the teaching profession, it is essential that salaries be paid which will permit the teachers in a given town to live in that town as a first class citizen. During recent years the School Committee and the citizens of Wayland have made a concerted effort to improve the teachers' salary schedule. It is essential that this schedule be increased still further and at a more rapid rate.
There is a distinct possibility that during the coming years the teacher shortage will make it impracticable to maintain the desirable class size of 25 per classroom. Therefore, it is essential that planning be made at an early date to provide some means of alleviating the teaching load when classes grow to far larger sizes. The School Com- mittee has authorized the Superintendent to set up in the Wayland public schools a pilot program for teacher training in connection with North- eastern University, which will provide well-trained, thoroughly qualified teacher interns to help relieve the anticipated teacher shortage and at the same time provide more and better trained classroom teachers.
The third and most important problem facing the Wayland schools and the Town is the improvement in the educational program.
Wayland's boys and girls are emerging from high school into a highly competitive society. They must be equipped to compete with the youth emerging from the best public and non-public schools all over the country. They must have an adequate academic background if they are to be accepted into the top colleges and universities. Those who leave school and go directly into the professions and trades must be prepared to compete with the best trained youth from the finest schools.
The strength of any school is no greater than the strength of its faculty. No school can be any better than the teaching which goes on in that school.
During recent years the entire curriculum for all grades has been undergoing a marked change. This change is now being accelerated to meet the needs of the boys and girls in the Wayland schools. As an example, the guidance program has been accelerated to meet the indi- vidual needs and provide individual counseling, and academic and voca- tional guidance for all boys and girls. There has been an acceleration in the close cooperation of parents and teachers in order that the faculty and the administration know more accurately the hopes and desires of the parents for their boys and girls.
The year 1955 saw the expansion of the testing program in grades 9 through 12, and also in the lower grades. Strengths and weaknesses in the curriculum are being isolated and corrective measures are being undertaken to build a stronger educational program. Toward the end of 1955 a faculty committee began to study the science curriculum in all grades, and by the end of spring a course of studies for science will have been drawn up and put into effect. Early in 1956 a similar study of the mathematics program will be undertaken ,and it is anticipated that a course of studies which will meet the needs of the present student body will be in operation by September 1956. As soon as the math- ematics study has been completed there will be a complete study of
202
the social studies curriculum. This study will in all probability not be completed until the end of the 1956-57 school year.
These curriculum studies are placing and will continue to place a heavy burden upon the faculty. The long work day which now exists will be extended for all members of the faculty. However, this is essential, for the educational program cannot be improved without con- centrated effort on the part of every professional member of the staff.
One important aspect of the school program is guidance. With the expansion of the guidance personnel, considerable improvement has been made in the guidance program. Vocational and academic guidance has been improved with equal weight in both areas, as the present high school student body is almost equally split between academic and non- academic students. Home visitations have been increased and a closer relationship between parent and school has been established.
By taking advantage of the delay in the opening of school in the fall, parent-teacher conferences were held, with the parents of all children in the elementary schools, prior to the opening of school. These conferences were found to be extremely valuable and provided the teacher with essential information needed in dealing with each individual child on a basis of providing the best possible opportunities for the child to learn. This program will be continued next year at the request of the staff.
Part of the guidance program has been concerned with an expanded testing program. In grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 the Iowa Test battery was administered to all students. The results of the tests have been reviewed individually with each student. All parents interested in reviewing the results of the test with the Guidance Department have been invited to do so. In this way it is felt that a considerable improvement can be made in offering each youngster the kind of educational program which will be of greatest benefit to him and better prepare him for the college or university of his choice, or entry into a profession or trade of his choice, immediately upon graduation from high school. Every effort will be made during the coming school year to expand and improve individual counseling with both the student and the parent.
As part of the educational program, the school health program is an essential element, for good health is a vital and determining factor in the educational accomplishments of young people. The School Com- mittee in cooperation with the Board of Health and the Parmenter Health Center have made important strides in improving the school health program. Since September the health program has been as follows:
1. A nurse has been available in each school to examine boys and girls returning to school after being absent with an illness.
2. Nurses are on call to meet all emergencies at any time during the school day. The school doctor is also available if needed. There has been close contact between nurses and faculty.
3. Accumulative health records are being prepared and by the end of the school year each child will have a carefully documented health record on file in the schools.
4. Thorough physical examinations have been given to every child in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11.
203
5. A complete dental survey is being made of all children in grades 2, 5, 8, and 11, with a dental screening for all children in all other grades.
6. There have been vision tests for all children in all grades.
7. There have been hearing tests for all children in all grades.
8. Volunteer women drivers provided transportation for the chil- dren between the schools and Parmenter Health Center. The Superintendent of Schools wishes to thank the drivers for giving so generously of their time.
The nurses will follow up on all youngsters and where deficiencies have been discovered and where preventive and corrective measures need to be taken to remedy these deficiencies.
The Superintendent of Schools is most appreciative of the strong support the community is giving to its schools. It is his belief that considerable progress has been made during recent years in improving the educational offering of the schools, and that the immediate years ahead will see an acceleration in the advancement of sound educational practices. With the proper support Wayland's schools will be on a par with the finest public schools in New England.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD J. ANDERSON, Superintendent of Schools.
204
CLASS OF 1955
OFFICERS
President, Edward Francis Powers, Jr.
Secretary, Shirley Louise Stevens
Vice-President, Paul Henry Coyne Treasurer, Arthur Wilbert Holmes, Jr.
GRADUATES
Judith Marie Ahlman
Thomas Brian Longtine
William Butler Archer
Mary Ann Lundy
Neil Dennis Ballard
Anthony Paul MacDonald
Beverly Charlene Berkebile
Patricia Ann Marotte
Franklin John Bigwood
Jacqueline Jean Masse
Elfrieda Louise Boesenberg
David James Meuse
Lenore Adrienne Butler
Mary Evelyn Mussmacher
Maureen Crosby Carroll Paul Henry Coyne
Elizabeth Louise Pettigrew
Richard Francis Crowley
Edward Francis Powers, Jr. Priscilla Reid
Charles McLean Dickie Richard Dana Estey
Karen Patricia Riggs
Donald Raymond Gonsalves
Susan Hamilton Robinson
Sandra Jean Herland
Paul Winfield Shapter, Jr.
Edith Irene Hilton
Timothy Wilder Smith
Robert Warren Hilton
William Louis Smith
Julia Rose Hollis
Joan Spencer
Arthur Wilbert Holmes, Jr.
Shirley Louise Stevens
Catherine Frances Houston
Marion Louise Thorne
Andrew Pitman Kerr
Patricia Ann Wade
Patricia Ann Lacey
David Charles Weeks
Albert Andrew LaBlanc
Carol Faye Yarrish
AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
The Cochituate Mother's Club Scholarship to Karen Riggs.
The Wayland Women's Club Scholarship to Shirley Stevens.
Kiwanis Club Scholarship to Catherine Houston.
The Junior-Senior High School Parent-Teacher Scholarship to Arthur Holmes, Catherine Houston and Shirley Stevens.
The Bausch and Lomb Science Award to Arthur Holmes.
The Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award to Shirley Stevens.
The American Legion Women's Auxiliary Social Studies Award to Shirley Stevens.
205
Marilyn Elizabeth Payson
INDEX
Animal Inspector, Report of 175
Appeals, Board of 182
Board of Assessors, Report of the 98
Statistical Report 98
Board of Fire Engineers, Report of the 169
Location of Fire Alarm Boxes Red Sheets
Board of Health, Report of the
158
Board of Public Welfare, Report of the 185 Statistical Report 186
Board of Selectmen, Report of the 48
Building Inspector, Report of 167
Cemetery Commissioners, Report of the 164
Chief of Police, Report of 178
Civil Defense Director, Report of 176
Commissioners of Trust Funds, Report of 165
Finance Committee, Report of the 29 Budget for 1956 33
Highway Surveyor, Report of 174
163
Inspector of Plumbing, Report of
Jury List - 1955 115
Mosquito Control in Wayland - 1955
162
Moth Superintendent, Report of
166
Nursing Service, Report from
159
Officers of the Town of Wayland
3
Park Department, Report of 171
Planning Board, Report of
180
Public Library, Report of the 172
Results of Town Election, March 7, 1955 120
Road Commissioners, Report of 184
Sanitation Inspector's Report 160
School Department Report:
School Organization, 1955 - 1956 192
School Committee 191
Calendar and Information 193
Class of 1955, Wayland High School 205
Enrollment Forecast by Grade - October, 1955 198 Membership by Age and Grade 194
Organization of Teaching Staff, January 1, 1956 196
Superintendent of Schools, Report of 199
State Audit ... 117
Tax Collector, Report of the
96
Town Accountant, Report of the:
Receipts
50
Expenditures 55
Recapitulation 79
Reserve Account
81
Excess and Deficiency
82
Water Available Surplus
82
Water Rates and Meter Accounts Receivable
83
Water Miscellaneous Accounts Receivable 83
Balance Sheet 84
Town Clerk's Report:
Births 102
Deaths
112
Marriages 108
Dog Licenses - 1955
114
Town Treasurer, Report of 88
Trust Fund Accounts
89
Reserve Fund for Investment
92
Maturing Debt and Interest
93
Insurance
95
Tax Titles
95
Tree Warden, Report of 168
Veterans' Services Department 163
Votes Enacted at the Annual Town Meeting, March 9, 1955 122
Votes Enacted at Special Town Meeting, February 9, 1955 152
Warrant for Annual Town Meeting 9
Water Commissioners, Report of 174
Wayland Kindergarten Study Committee 187
Wayland Public Library
Official Reports
TED
LA
EAST
1635
FOUNDED
SUDBURY
17
183
Town of Wayland
MASSACHUSETTS
FOR ITS ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SEVENTH MUNICIPAL YEAR
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST
1956
Official Reports
TED
LA
NO.
1635.
FOUNDED
n
EAST SUDBURY
F
:183
5
Town of Wayland MASSACHUSETTS
FOR ITS ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SEVENTH MUNICIPAL YEAR
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST
1956
MURPHY & SNYDER, INC. - MAYNARD, MASS.
OFFICERS OF THE TOWN OF WAYLAND
MODERATOR
Term Expires
Howard S. Russell 1957
TOWN CLERK
Leila Sears
1957
SELECTMEN
Frank S. Tarr
1957
Thomas Francis Linnehan 1958
John R. McEnroy 1959
TOWN TREASURER
Dorothy Small Damon
1957
TAX COLLECTOR
Theodore H. Harrington (deceased) 1957
Walter A. Cheslak (appointed to fill vacancy) 1957
TOWN ACCOUNTANT
Norman E. Taylor
1957
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Ronald H. Wood 1957
J. Sidney Stone 1958
Carlisle D. Scotland
1959
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Cornelius J. Maguire 1957
John Bernard Butler 1958
William A. Waldron
1959
ASSESSORS
B. Allen Benjamin 1957
George C. Lewis
1958
William S. Lewis
1959
WATER COMMISSIONERS
Alfred C. Damon
1957
George K. Lewis
1958
Fern A. Taylor
1959
3
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Hugh F. Colliton, Jr.
1957
Egon Weiss 1957
George C. Bogren 1958
Theone H. Morgan
1958
Helen C. Morgan
1959
William R. Hulbert
1959
CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
Warren D. Valentine 1957
Ernest W. Schleicher
1958
Ralph H. Yetton
1959
TREE WARDEN
Charles L. Fullick 1957
HIGHWAY SURVEYOR
Albert E. Potvin 1957
BOARD OF HEALTH
John C. Quinn 1957
Charlotte A. Stewart 1958
David R. Corey 1959
PARK COMMISSIONERS
Nathaniel Hamlen 1957
Frank S. Tarr
1958
Thomas F. Murray
1959
ROAD COMMISSIONERS
George I. Emery 1957
Gustaf M. Blomgren
1958
Ronald S. Campbell
1959
PLANNING BOARD
Edward F. Thorburn 1957
Bruce F. Kingsbury 1958
L. William Bertelsen, III 1959
Katharine Hodges 1959
Frederick G. Perry, Jr. 1960
George F. Bowers, Jr. 1961
1
COMMISSIONERS OF TRUST FUNDS
Allan R. Finlay J. Sidney Stone
Thomas B. Gannett
1959
CONSTABLES all until 1957
Maunsell Blake Babin
Ernest H. Damon
George J. Butler
John P. Butler
Philip R. Gladu Richard A. Gladu
Thomas Francis Linnehan
TRUSTEES OF THE ALLEN FUND
John Connelly 1
Frederic A. Gibbs
.....
1957
George W. Shepard J
MEASURERS OF WOOD AND BARK
Joseph H. Decatur ?
Thomas F. Linnehan
1957
Arthur Marston
SURVEYORS OF LUMBER
Thomas F. Linnehan (
Arthur F. Marston
1957
FENCE VIEWERS
Board of Selectmen
1957
FIELD DRIVERS
Constables
1957
MEMORIAL DAY COMMITTEE
F. Clifton Haynes
Ivan E. Beal
John C. Bryant John E. Fitzgibbon
James E. Garvey Paul E. Kohler George J. Monreau
Ronald H. Wood
DOG OFFICER
Ernest H. Damon
.... 1957
5
1957
1958
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
Warren F. Lawrence 1957
DISTRICT NURSE
Mary E. McNeil 1957
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Edward T. Damon 1957
MOTH SUPERINTENDENT
John E. Nelson 1957
FOREST FIRE WARDEN AND OIL BURNER INSPECTOR
F. Clifton Haynes 1957
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Theodore R. Magoun 1957
Georgia V. Alstad 1957
Frank A. Larson 1958
Edward A. Veno
1958
Robert M. Morgan
1959
George Vinsonhaler
1959
BURIAL AGENT AGENT VETERANS' BENEFITS
Ivan E. Beal 1957
ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT 1957
F. Clifton Haynes, Chief
Francis J. Hartin, Asst. Chief
Frank H. Carter, Deputy Chief
George F. Johnson, Clerk Parker H. Groton, Deputy Chief
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
and PLANNING BOARD OF APPEALS
Roger E. Ela 1957
George G. Bogren 1958
Frank A. Smith
1959
6
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Kimball C. Powning 1957
Frank A. Larson 1956
ZONING BOARD INSPECTOR WIRING INSPECTOR BUILDING INSPECTOR
Homer L. MacDonald 1957
PERSONNEL BOARD
John Simoni 1957
Henry G. Pearson, Jr. 1958
Archibald Cox 1959
Theodore W. Fabisak
1960
Edward A. Veno
1961
TOWN COUNSEL WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION AGENT
Frank W. Kilburn .... .....
1957
PLUMBING INSPECTOR
Timothy John Daly 1957
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
Leila Sears, Republican (Clerk) 1957
Grace I. Courchine, Democrat 1957
William R. Gallagher, Democrat 1958
Waldo H. Russell, Republican
1959
ELECTION OFFICERS
Precinct 1
Willard B. Dik, Warden 1957
Claire T. Keller, Clerk
1957
Daniel H. Sheehan, Inspector 1957
David R. Turner, Inspector 1957
William B. Ryder, Deputy Warden 1957
Mary S. Trageser, Deputy Clerk 1957
Charles M. Gillespie, Deputy Inspector 1957
Dunbar Holmes, Deputy Inspector
1957
7
Precinct 2
Alvin B. Neale, Warden
1957
Madeline T. Hampstead, Clerk 1957
Frank A. Burke, Inspector 1957
Mary E. Payson, Inspector
1957
Parker H. Groton, Deputy Warden 1957
John J. McCann, Deputy Clerk
1957
N. Lawrence Ekdahl, Deputy Inspector 1957
Joseph Germano, Deputy Inspector
1957
8
WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MIDDLESEX, SS.
LAND
1635.
AS
d3ONnos
SUDBURY 1780
#1835#
To any of the Constables of the Town of Wayland, in said County: Greetings:
In the name of the Commonwealth you are required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town qualified to vote in Town election to meet at their respective polling places, Precinct I in the High School Gymnasium, Precinct 2 in the Cochituate Grammar School, on
MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1957
at 6:45 o'clock in the forenoon, there and then to bring in their ballots for a Moderator, Town Clerk, Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, one member of the School Committee, Tree Warden and seven Constables, all for one year.
One Selectman, one member of the Board of Public Welfare, two members of the School Committee, one Assessor, one Water Commis- sioner, two Trustees of the Public Library, one Cemetery Commissioner, one member of the Board of Health, one Park Commissioner, one Road Commissioner and one Commissioner of Trust Funds, all for three years.
One member of the Planning Board for five years.
All the foregoing to be voted on the official ballot. The polls will be open at 6:45 o'clock in the forenoon and will remain open continuously until 8:00 o'clock in the afternoon, when they shall be closed.
And you are required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town qualified to vote in Town affairs to meet at the High School Gymnasium on
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1957
at 7:45 P. M., then and there to act on the following articles:
Article 1. To hear the reports of the Town Officers, Agents and Committees and act thereon.
9
Article 2. To choose all necessary Town Officers, Agents and Committees not elected by the official ballot.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town by-law establishing the Wage and Salary Classification Plan, as amended, in any of the following respects, and to appropriate and assess a sum of money for the purposes thereof, or take any other action relative thereto:
(a) Amend Article II, Section 1, of said Plan by increasing each hourly wage rate established March 7, 1956, in the sum of 10 cents an hour effective January 1, 1957, and by increasing each salary rate then established in the sum of $300 effective January 1, 1957.
(b) Further amend Article II, Section 1, of said Plan by adding the following new classifications and wage and salary rates effective January 1, 1957:
1 yr.
2 yrs. 3 yrs. 4 yrs. 10 yrs.
Position
Min. after
after
after after after
Fireman (52 hrs. a week)
$3,600 $3,720
$3,840 $3,960
$4,080 $4,200
Board of Health
Inspector (Agent)
$1.80 an hour (part time work not in excess of 65 hours monthly)
(c) Further amend Article II, Section 1, by deleting the rates for Police Chief and Building Inspector and substituting the following effective January 1, 1957:
Position
Min. after
2 yrs. 3 yrs. after after
4 yrs. 10 yrs.
Police Chief
$4,700 $4,820
$4,940
$5,060 $5,180 $5,300
Inspector - Bldg., Wire
$3,050 $3,140
$3,230
$3,320 $3,410 $3,500
(32 hrs. a week)
Junior Clerk - part time $1.30 an hour
(d) Amend Article III - A, Section 1, by inserting the following sentence between the first and second sentences thereof: "The regular work week for firemen shall be 52 hours."
(e) Amend Article V - A, Section 2, by adding the following sen- tence: "In the cases of nurses and the Library staff the Personnel Board may establish a vacation program in accordance with the general custom of such professional groups."
This article has been inserted in the Warrant by the Personnel Board to effect adjustments needed to fit changing conditions in employment of town personnel. The recommendations are made by the Board after soliciting the views of the respective departments and appropriate consultation. The following explanation is offered by the Board:
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.