USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1938-1943 > Part 12
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Haskell, Charles J., Clerk Hanley, John P., Real Estate Flannigan, Walter J., Salesman Heim, Herman H., Painter Hutchinson, Ralph H., Mechanic Jorgenson, Carl J., Painter Kane, Charles E., Salesman Kelliher, Joseph P., Foreman Keefe, James F., Salesman Lyons, C. Fred, Retired Lynch, James, Foreman Lyons, Raymond, Merchant Mann, Arthur L., Plumber Mann, Waldo E., Real Estate Mazzeo, Anthony, Shoeworker McAuliffe, Eugene L., Real Estate McMahon, Joseph H., Clerk McGrath, Laurence E., Painter Morgan, Howard, Tile Setter Mulvey, Gerald R., Shoeworker Murphy, Edward, Laborer Nelson, Edwin A.
O'Connor, William J., Manager McDermott, Joseph F., Plumber O'Gorman, Patrick, Clerk O'Riley, Thomas, Plumber O'Mahoney, Joseph W., Foreman Peters, Gerald J., Chauffeur Pearce, Albert S., Painter Poole, Herbert A., Oil Dealer Powers, Stanley, Mechanic Roel, George, Electrician Sampson, Clifford, Mechanic Sawyer, George, Laborer Sarni, Rocco, Horse Shoer Smith, Herman H., Merchant Stephens, Charles, Shoeworker
696 South Main St. 1210 North Main St. 85 Canton St. 14 Casleton Ave. 439 North Main St. Lafayette St. Van Beal Rd. 5 Norfolk Rd. 1120 North Main St. Wales Ave. North St. 15 Cole Ter. Mt. Pleasant Sq. 618 North Main St. 40 Maitland Ave. 39 Roel St. 47 South St. 89 Cross St. Linden Rd.
15 Cottage St. West St. 2 Gordon St. 19 Roel St. 31 Fowler St. 84 Lafayette St. Druid Hill Ave. 85 Pleasant St. Morgan St. Hall St. Highland Ave. Howard Ave. 33 Liberty St. 200 Pond St. Liberty St. 26 Maitland Ave. 50 Pond St. North St.
243
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
Sullivan, Peter B., Retired Teed, Frank F., Builder Tierney, William, Chauffeur Thompson, Percy H., Shoe Cutter Wales, Joseph B., Retired Wilbur, Herbert C., Painter Woodward, Walter, Salesman Whitney, John B., Superintendent Wing, Mortimer O., Polisher Wright, John H., Expressman
24 Fowler St. 50 Oak St. North St.
410 North Main St. 38 Woodlawn St. Wales Ave. Russ St. 66 Allen St. 8 School St. 1138 North Main St.
CHARLES F. BLAKELY, HAROLD W. MACAULEY, THEODORE S. LUDDINGTON, Selectmen of Randolph.
244
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Report of Randolph Municipal Light and Power Plant Committee
To the Citizens of the Town of Randolph :
Your Committee organized and held its first meeting on April 5, 1938 and, to date, has met twenty-four times, during which attendance averaged better than 50% of the seventeen members comprising the Committee.
In an endeavor to fully and fairly investigate the acknowledged exorbitant rates now charged for electric current in Randolph and to seek a solution we had before us managers of municipally owned plants at Middleboro, Braintree, Reading and Hudson; and representatives of the New England Power Association, which now sup- plies Randolph with electric current, through its affiliate the Weymouth Light and Power Company.
Your Committee cannot be too vehement in telling you that which you already know, that you are being grossly overcharged and without reason. By way of illus- tration and comparison the Town of Hingham, of approx- imately the same population and type of user, charges its users $1.00 for 25 KWH; $3.70 for 100 KWH; and $6.70 for 250 KWH, whereas, for the same quantity the users in Randolph are charged $2.00; $5.40 and $9.90. Although both towns are supplied by the Weymouth Light and Power Company, the Town of Hingham distributes by a municipal department over its own lines, whereas, Randolph is supplied through privately owned lines. In addition, the Hingham Municipal Light Board made a net profit of $16,400.00 in 1937 after turning over to the Town
245
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
Treasurer $4,000.00 and providing for depreciation and replacement, as required by law. The Town of Braintree, a municipally owned plant generating its own power, fur- nished 100 KWH to its customers for $2.93, which is twenty-five cents less than this quantity can be bought for in any other town or city in the Commonwealth. The Town of Middleboro, which has a very low population density and difficult to supply, and which operates a muni- cipal plant, makes a sizeable annual profit in the operation of its electric department which it turns back to the Town to relieve general taxation. The prices paid for 25, 100 and 250 KWH in that town are $1.25, $4.40 and $8.40 respectively. Rates in towns operating municipal plants are uniformly lower than the towns serviced by private companies.
Committees such as ours are always handicapped by lack of technical knowledge of electricity and its distri- bution. The experience of prior committees which sought rate reductions through the medium of a petition to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities indicates the futility of such a petition, unless the petitioner is pre- pared to meet the opposition of technically trained coun- sel and rate experts with the same type of ammunition and information. We are confident that a wrong is being done which ought to be and can be remedied.
In order to fight your battle we must employ engin- eering assistance to serve a two-fold purpose; to secure information as to values in support of a rate reduction which the Weymouth Light and Power Company will not give us, and to prove beyond a doubt that Randolph can own and operate a municipal electric plant and pay for it entirely out of operating revenues within a period of from eight to ten years, as two hundred sixty other towns and cities in the United States have done.
246
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
The primary purpose of your Committee is to save money for the town and its citizens. The first method of doing so is by a substantial reduction in rates. Your Committee feels that the appropriation of a sufficient sum of money to employ competent engineering assistance will assure such a saving and that the cost will be minute.
In the words of a former Mayor of Auburn, New York, which community experienced the same difficulties with excessive electric rates and successfully coped with it-"Auburn is no different from other cities in the State -whether you know it or not, you are all being robbed, and there is one way and only one to get electric rates down-START A VIGOROUS FIGHT FOR A MUNI- CIPAL LIGHT PLANT". .
Respectfully submitted,
THEODORE S. LUDDINGTON, Chairman,
CARL S. GOVE, Secretary.
January 31, 1939.
247
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the School Committee
The School Committee herewith submits its annual report for the year 1938. It should be borne in mind that the definite function of the School Committee is to act as a board of directors for the public school system. The superintendent of schools is the executive officer of that board. We earnestly recommend that you read his report, together with the reports of the various depart- ments which are appended hereto.
It is no longer necessary to prove that an efficient public school system is the corner stone of civilization and
-- necessary to the democratic form of government. During the years of depression education has faced a severe ' crisis. That crisis has not passed and cannot be met by the individual efforts of those who control and operate the schools. The problems facing education today, can only be met by the intelligent cooperation of the school officials, the parents, and the citizens of the town, who, through their appropriations finance the public school system and share the responsibility for its continued success. It is by intelligent foresight and by free expression of opinion, without thought of personal, selfish interests that progress can be made. Education is the most valuable form of capital. No industry can be more productive than an effective public school system.
248
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
It has been the earnest endeavor of the School Com- mittee during the past year to operate the schools econom- ically and at the same time to meet the needs of the citizens and to keep the school property in a healthy state of repairs. Your committee has honestly and sincerely en- deavored to operate the schools within the total budget appropriated by the town. There will always be the thoughtless critic who tries to make the public believe that the schools are not operated efficiently or economically. While it is impossible to substantiate these charges it is true that thoughtless criticism needs no proof; only the sincere constructive critic needs to marshal his facts and present his proofs. Every interested citizen and tax payer should feel justified in seeking to know the real facts.
The influences that inevitably increase the cost of schools are the demand of parents that their children be given the same educational opportunities that are en- joyed by the children of other communities; the increased number of children who are taking advantage of the four year high school course, which course is the most costly in our school organization; the increased cost of teaching service, because more teachers must be added in propor- tion to the increased enrollment; and finally the desire for a more diversified curriculum.
The schools of Randolph are being operated at a per capita cost which is surprisingly low. Of the eighty-three towns over five thousand population and operating high schools in the Commonwealth, the town of Randolph shows a per capita cost lower than eighty-one of these towns. Randolph is number eighty-two and Saugus eighty-three.
249
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
During the school year of 1936-37 the cost per pupil in our high school was $77.75 and in the grade school $52.12. These figures dropped for the school year of 1937-38 to $62.08 for the high school and $48.46 for the grades.
The cost of operating the schools of Randolph as compared with some of the surrounding towns for the school year of 1937-38 as taken from the last published State Report of that year, is shown in the following table :
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
Town
High
Grades
All Grades
Randolph
$73.06
$48.46
$62.08
Holbrook
128.82
64.94
89.33
Avon
107.98
56.14
95.03
Hingham
115.97
84.14
100.91
Abington
105.47
70.84
85.56
Canton
109.41
101.26
119.85
Wareham
130.13
83.83
99.63
Whitman
89.73
67.79
89.80
Stoughton
76.36
64.29
71.96
As compared with the cost of all the cities and towns in the Commonwealth, (355 cities and towns), the town of Randolph ranks 349, that is only six towns in the whole state of Massachusetts operate at a lower per capita cost than the Town of Randolph. These figures are taken from the State Report of 1936-37.
The public school registration this year, as formerly, fluctuates slightly from month to month. The November registration for 1938 was 1839 pupils, approximately the same as for the school year for 1937. A comparison of size and change in membership over a period of years, is indicated in the following table:
250
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
HIGH SCHOOL
Pupils per
Teacher Pupils Teacher tration
1920
7
156
22.29
18
759
42.17
915
1921
7
182
26.
18
808
44.09
990
1922
7
194
27.7
21
869
41.38
1063
1923
8
215
26.88
23
925
41.39
1167
1924
10
215
21.5
24
962
40.08
1177
1925
10
227
22.7
27
958
35.48
1185
1926
10
230
23.
27
1027
38.04
1257
1927
10
214
21.4
28
1081
38.71
1295
1928
10
252
25.2
28
1116
39.86
1368
1929
10
252
25.2
32
1201
37.53
1453
1930
10
288
28.8
35
1256
35.71
1544
1931
13
338
26.
38
1335
37.76
1673
1932
13
393
30.02
37
1327
35.86
1720
1933
14
417
29.8
38
1378
36.3
1795
1934
16
440
27.5
38
1362
35.84
1802
1935
17
425
25.
38
1370
36.05
1795
1936
17
429
25.24
38
1368
36.
1797
1937
18
490
27.22
38
1348
35.5
1838
1938
20
533
26.65
38
1306
34.37
1839
GRADE SCHOOL Pupils
Total
per
Regis-
Year
Teachers Pupils Teacher
Although the school registration for this year is about the same as for the school year of 1937, there is a con- tined increase in the high school enrollment which will, judging from the present enrollment in the various grades, continue to increase at approximately the same ratio until the year 1942. During this year there would be no increased enrollment in the high school but the fol- lowing year would again show a return to the normal increase. These facts concerning the most expensive unit of our school system are significant with relation to the amount of money spent for schools. It is evident that if our present per capita cost were to remain stationary, the increased enrollment in the high school would natur- ally increase the total amount of money spent.
No doubt it will be seen from the foregoing tables that the high school is being crowded beyond the limit of
251
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
elasticity. The building was designed to accommodate, at the most, 380 to 400 pupils. That the building should be called upon to house this year 533 pupils and next year approximately 580, is evidence that concern must be felt for the adequacy of the housing. The difficulty may be solved temporarily by the adoption in our public school system, of the six, three, three plan which would give us a three year junior high and a three year senior high school system. Much thought has been given to this dif- ficult problem and it seems advisable to recommend that serious consideration be given to the addition of six rooms at the rear of the high school building, with a consequent addition to the lunch room and auditorium. It is the intention of this committee to sponsor an article in the Town Warrant, asking for the appointment of a commit- tee to report at a later meeting. We sincerely hope the article will be acted upon favorably.
DEDICATION EXERCISES-TOWER HILL SCHOOL
252
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
TOWER HILL SCHOOL
253
ONE HUNDRED 'AND THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
The new Tower Hill School will serve to relieve any crowding in the grades for a few years to come. The building was opened to the children in March 1938 and was dedicated with appropriate services. Much credit was due the G. A. R .; the American Legion; the Veterans of Foreign Wars and other patriotic organizations for their help and assistance at these dedication exercises.
The grading and the driveway and walks at the front of the building were built under the direction of the high- way surveyor, Mr. L. Courtney, ably assisted by his super- intendent Mr. J. Lynch. We wish to thank them for their intelligent and willing cooperation. We are indeed in- debted to them for a splendid job. To the Tower Hill Improvement Association, the School Department wishes to extend a most heartfelt thanks for the flag pole which they donated for use at the Tower Hill school.
The new household arts class which was authorized by a vote of the town at the last annual election, has been established and is operating successfully. Next year this course will be crowded beyond capacity. In connection with this course the School Committee was enabled to secure an allotment of federal money from the George Dean Fund, which is approximately sufficient to pay the salaries of the teachers in this department. This Fund will continue over a period of three years and at the end of that time, will be reduced at the rate of 25% per year until it is entirely eliminated. The town of Randolph will receive a 50% reimbursement from the Common- wealth for all money spent, both for salaries and expense, in this department, for all time.
At the last annual town meeting, an appropriation of $1,000.00 was given the School Committee for the pur- pose of correcting the water seepage through the parapet of the high school. This was one-half of the amount asked for by the committee and was insufficient to make a
254
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
FOODS LABORATORY-STETSON HIGH SCHOOL
-
SEWING ROOM-STETSON HIGH SCHOOL
255
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
thorough job. Your committee, therefore, decided to do one-half of the work and do that half properly. Con- tracts were let to Mr. G. Mellon and Mr. J. Cotter covering the total amount of the appropriation and calling for the removal and rebuilding of the parapet on the southerly side and front of the building. The work was satisfac- torily completed and a permanent cure has been effected. The School Committee has included in their regular budget for the year, the sum of $600.00 to complete the work on the north side of the building, it being thought advisable not to do any work on the rear, as a possible future addition would eliminate any difficulties in that area.
We hereby submit the annual budget of the School Department :
COST OF INSTRUCTION
Salary Expense Total
Salaries of teachers, principals
and Supervisors
$85,277.00
Less Dean Fund
2,194.59
$83,082.41
Books and supplies and miscellaneous $5,760.00 $88,842.41
COST OF OPERATING SCHOOL PLANT
Janitors' supplies, telephones and other expense
$1,700.00
Fuel
3,800.00
Light and power
1,470.00
$14,499.00
AUXILIARY AGENCIES
School Nurse
School Physician
$1,350.00 700.00 3,800.00
Transportation
Trade School
$2,000.00
Medical supplies
150.00
Total
$5,850.00
$2,150.00
$8,000.00
256
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
COST OF MAINTAINING SCHOOL PLANT Equipment
Repairs, replacements and renewals
$1,261.50 4,634.00
Total
$5,895.50
GENERAL CONTROL
Superintendent
$1,604.44
Clerks
544.66
Attendance Officer
250.00
School Committee expense
100.00
Miscellaneous office expense
50.00
Superintendent's expense
175.00
Total
$2,409.10
$325.00
$2,734.10
Total Salaries
$98,870.51
Total expense
$21,100.50
Less Coddington Fund $962.74
Less Dog Tax 56.20
1,018.94
Total Appropriation
$98,870.51
$20,081.56 $118,952.07
RECEIPTS FROM STATE AND OTHER SOURCES
General School Fund
$19,915.25
Tuition, State Wards
2,716.74
Tuition, City Wards
2,961.96
Continuation School
1,013.05
Miscellaneous Tuition
32.89
Total Total cost of Schools from LOCAL TAXATION
$26,639.89
$92,312.18
Respectfully submitted,
(Sgd.)
JOHN E. KELLEY, Chairman EDMUND J. BRADY, MRS. GEORGE W. BREWSTER, GEORGE H. CHASE, WALTER J. FLANAGAN,
School Committee.
257
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee, Randolph,
Mr. Chairman and Members:
Proposed Legislation Increasing State Aid for Schools
Nine-tenths of the cost of public schools is borne by taxation on real and personal property in the various cities and towns throughout the State.
In a recent survey, the annual cost of the public schools in Massachusetts was stated to be in the neigh- borhood of $73,000,000.00 of which $66,000,000.00 was raised by local taxation and the remaining $7,000,000.00 distributed by the Commonwealth. These figures show clearly that real estate is unquestionably bearing more than its just share of the school cost. The survey shows further that there are 35 states in the Union that dis- tribute more to their schools than the *10% now furnished by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, our State, the home of the public school system in America.
On the basis of ability to pay, Massachusetts has taxable resources to rank 7th among the 48 states and not 23rd as it now does. With such wealth at its disposal, it should be entirely unnecessary for real estate to be taxed $12.00 to $20.00 per $1,000.00 for the support of schools as is the case of one-fifth of the towns in the State.
To lighten this burden on home-owners and to make for greater educational opportunities throughout the state, the Massachusetts School Superintendents' Asso- ciation has proposed legislation which, if adopted, will pro-
258
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
vide for an additional distribution of about $16,000,000.00 annually from an Equalization School Fund. This money will in no way affect the present state aid now received under Parts 1 and 2 of Chapter 70, General Laws. Ac- cording to a proposed formula for allocation, Randolph would be eligible to receive $46,711.00, whereas the town now receives about $24,000.00. Whether or not these figures would be the actual sum established, they would, in effect, be substantially large enough to bring about an actual and noticeable reduction in local taxation. They would represent a more equitable distribution of state wealth and enable the smallest or poorest town to raise its school standards. The proposed legislation is con- structive and far-reaching; a real investment in human resources and should, therefore, have our support.
The median (average) for the 48 states was 21%.
Enrollment
There has been little or no perceptible drop in the school enrollment. There were 1830 registered last Octo- ber and a slight increase since then.
The crowded situation in the high school has reached a point where some definite measure of relief must be taken. The Principal's report indicates the many trying and disturbing factors which greatly hinder his work and classroom results. If our high school at present is over-crowded with an enrollment of 533 pupils, it is need- less to say that it will be worse next September when we must accommodate about fifty pupils more. What- ever "grouping" plan studied to relieve the situation, the fact remained, the absorption point has been reached. We have not the accommodations.
I recommend, therefore, that the Committee with a Committee of Citizens study this problem with a view to high school enlargement.
259
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
School Tests
The use of tests to determine the progress of pupils has been observed in the various schools. I feel the need, however, of a testing program which will cover the fun- damental subjects in both high and grade schools. The value of such tests is far-reaching for they show not only progress made but they make for uniformity of work; reveal individual weaknesses; diagnose difficulties and assist in remedial work.
Arbor Day
The recent destruction of so many of our beautiful trees in town will be an added incentive for school children to observe Arbor Day next Spring. It is our plan to plant trees and shrubs on school grounds, in home gardens and on our public streets where such will meet with the interest and approval of citizens and town officials.
Hallowe'en Activities
The interest which the teachers manifested in the Hallowe'en activities in the various schools is commend- able. A large number of pupils attended. The evening was well spent with games, stunts and appropriate plays. Chief of Police, McDonnell and Chief Bailey of the Fire Department were high in their praise of teachers and children of the town.
Rural School Survey
An interesting as well as instructive grade survey was submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Edu- cation this year. Very likely the information will be used as a basis for the establishment and organization of a minimum course of study for all grade schools through- out the state.
260
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
The report gave a good and satisfactory cross section of our community, schools and their general activities although it exposed the fact that we could improve in the matter of more and better library books for schools, ref- erence books, modern wall maps and physical education.
Extension of Vocational Training
The study now being made by the Norfolk County School Committee Men's Association with Robert O. Small, Director of Vocational Education, State Department of Education, is worthy of our attention and cooperation.
Our present vocational schools are crowded, partially with respect to certain courses. They are too remote and scattered. Their heavy local enrollment has a tendency to crowd out the non-local boys. This is not fault finding but an excellent example of what boys want when they find the school they want near their homes. In order, therefore, that this type of education may be available to a larger number of boys in their respective commun- ities, the Association is working for a better distribution of such institutions in the county. These schools could be set up as "branch" schools, conveniently located in a district and would not necessarily entail a heavy cost of construction and upkeep for idle shops. Certain types of buildings, not in use, could be refitted and recondi- tioned and made into very respectable trade schools for boys.
Our School Endowment
This heading is misleading if one thinks of money and wealth. There are other forms of endowments.
A School Superintendent might well omit, once in a while, his dry, statistical report of figures and things and give it over to a study of boys and girls or the social
261
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
and human background of our schools. I fear sometimes that too often the schools give the impression that they are doing it all. They do not mean to monopolize this achievement, merely a happy expression of pride as an agency in the achievement. But what are the other agencies ? They are the Homes, Churches and Organiza- tions in Randolph. It is to them I humbly extend my deepest appreciation for their many-sided educational cooperation. Without their help and high ideals of life and service, character building and applied citizenship, no school could hope to function, much less exist. They constitute our school endowment and happy is the com- munity that can boast of such wealth.
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