Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1922, Part 2

Author:
Publication date: 1922
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 78


USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1922 > Part 2


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2 00


5,000 book charging slips 7 35


Library Bureau, cards


5 20


P. O. Box rent


2 40


Repairing lawn mower


1 00


Electric heater


6 62


Boiler inspection


2 00


Removing ashes


2 00


J. W. Wixtead, supplies


4 30


$1,009 16


1922


Dec. 31 Unexpended balance of 1922 town appropriation, in town treasury .


$455 96


31 Dog fund, 1922, in town treasury 356 77


31 Balance on deposit 93 17


$905 90


$1,915 06


ENDOWMENT FUNDS.


Mrs. Royal Keith fund. $200 00


James M. Fairfield fund.


5,000 00


James Smith fund


6,000 00


Arthur M. Taft fund


500 00


Winfield S. Schuster fund


1,000 00


$12,700 00


The endowment funds of the library are now invested as follows:


In Registered 414% Liberty Bonds. $10,500 00 In Savings Banks 2,200 00


CHARLES J. BATCHELLER, Treasurer.


29


Annual Report of the


Overseers of the Poor.


From January 1st, 1922, to January 1st, 1923.


To the Selectmen and Citizens of Douglas:


Gentlemen and Ladies :- The annual report of the Poor from January 1st, 1922, to January 1st, 1923, is hereby submitted.


Valuation of real estate, 170 acres of land, house, barn and sheds $7,000 00


Personal property at Almshouse as per inventory Jan. 1st, 1923:


Household furniture and provisions. .. $1,227 64


Contents of woodhouse, washhouse, fowls, farming tools and wagons, etc. 1,738 55


1 pair horses 200 00


15 head of cattle 1,300 00


6 hogs 180 00


25 tons hay at $25 per ton.


625 00


50 tons ensilage at $15 per ton.


750 00


2 sets team harnesses 150 00


1,500 lbs. grain 38 58


35 bu. corn on ear


17 50


15 bu. pop corn 22 50


1 electric motor 55 00


1 feed cutter 25 00


30


20 cords manure 100 00


1 barn spray 15 00


Miscellaneous 53 90


One-third interest in engine, truck,


blower, belt and saw. 100 00


2,000 ft. sq. edge boards 70 00


Logs at mill 60 00


Decrease during year


$6,728 67 $691 45


We have made the Superintendent debtor for labor, produce, etc., as follows:


Cash on hand as per report Jan. 1st, 1922. . $17 62


Received from sale of butter


834 68


Cream


353 57


Eggs


376 36


Vegetables


1 20


Poultry


99 45


Board


280 14


Meat


412 78


Miscellaneous


109 65


$2,485 45


The Superintendent has paid out for merchandise and other expenses as follows :


Sale of butter on account.


$824 02


Eggs


146 32


Groceries


69 25


Dairy furnishings


27 75


Blacksmith, repairs and farm tools. ..


98 63


Medical attendance and drugs


97 44


Telephone


6 70


Electricity and repairs to line.


125 81


Meat and fish


174 58


Household furnishings


169 48


Labor


491 70


Garden seed, fertilizer, etc.


23 18


Express


6 19


Live stock


121 00


Cash balance on hand.


103 40


Cash balance on hand


$103 40


Bills payable E. N. Jenckes 77 64


$2,485 45


Superintendent's cash balance


$25 76


31


OVERSEERS CASH PAYMENTS FOR ALMSHOUSE ACCOUNT.


Paid Superintendent, salary $1,080 00


Paid P. D. Manning, grain 1,116 04


Paid P. D. Manning, groceries 460 17


Paid W. R. Wallis, seed, etc 29 61


Paid E. D. Kelly, meat


52 64


$2,738 46


SUMMARY.


Superintendent has paid as per his account. $2,382 05


Overseers have paid as per their account ... 2,738 46


$5,120 51


The Overseers of the Poor account is as follows:


Appropriation by the Town $5,000 00


Appropriation, Selectmen 3,400 00


$8,400 00


Expenditures :


Orders on Town Treasurer:


(State) Mothers' Aid $2,967 08


(State) Temporary Aid 1,400 50


(Town) Outside Poor


704 96


Bellingham


438 35


Lockup and Miscellaneous


66 62


Almshouse Outside


2,738 46


$8,315 97


$84 03


Farm Superintendent Receipts.


$2,467 83


Farm Superintendent Expenditures 2,382 05


85 78


Balance unexpended $169 81


Received from State, Reimbursements for


1921


$1,666 94


Received from State, Reimbursements for 1922 1,238 40


Received from Town of Bellingham 438 35


$3,343 69


Due from State, Reimbursements for 1922. $1,200 76 Paid as follows:


32


MOTHERS' AID ACCOUNT.


Paid No. 1


$997 00


No. 2


1,029 00


No. 3


572 00


No. 4


369 08


$2,967 08


OUTSIDE POOR ACCOUNT.


Paid No. 1


$104 00


No. 2


16 00


No. 3


113 40


No. 4


371 56


No. 5


100 00


$704 96


TEMPORARY AID ACCOUNT.


Paid No. 1


$516 00


No. 2


884 50


$1,400 50


Town of Bellingham


.$438 35


Lockup payments


$25 36


Miscellaneous payments


41 26


$66 62


INMATES AT ALMSHOUSE JAN. 1st, 1923.


No.


Age


Weeks


Days


1


94


52


1


2


48


52


1


3


70


52


1


4


67


52


1


OVERSEERS HAVE RECEIVED FOR THEIR SERVICES


Arthur J. Page


$100 00


Orlan Chase


25 00


Charles Church


25 00


$150 00


Respectfully submitted,


ARTHUR J. PAGE, ORLAN CHASE, CHARLES CHURCH,


Overseers of the Poor.


33


Report of Agent DEVISE OF MOSES WALLIS To the Town of Douglas For Year Ending January 1st, 1923.


The Agent charges himself with amounts due the devise Jan- uary 1, 1922, as follows:


Notes due devise and accrued interest $637 00


Balance deposit Tremont Trust Co


1,052 98


Deposit R. I. Hospital Trust Co.


3 86


Liberty Bonds


25,000 00


Accrued interest


125 00


New Bedford Bonds


10,000 00


Accrued interest


137 50


City of Boston Bonds


14,307 00


City of Boston Bonds


967 10


Accrued interest


2 92


Deposit Massachusetts Trust Co.


500 00


Accrued interest


1 90


Deposit Whitinsville Savings Bank.


1,100 00


Deposit Whitinsville National Bank.


70 29


U. S. Certificates of Indebtedness


606 38


Accrued interest 17 24


$53,892 17


34


The Agent has received as follows:


1922


Jan. 1 Cash on deposit Whitinsville Na- tional Bank $70 29


April 3 Received from sale New Bedford bonds


10,000 00


Received from interest New Bed- ford bonds 275 00


Received from interest U. S. Treasury notes 17 24


May


18 Received from interest U. S. bonds 500 00


Received from interest bank de- posit 13 48


June 1 Received from interest City Bos- ton bonds 17 50


July


1 Received from interest City Bos- ton bonds 262 50


Received from interest U. S. Treasury notes 17 26


Aug.


1 Received from sale City Boston bonds


15,827 42


8 Received from 16 2/3% dividend Tremont Trust Co. 263 24


Received from R. I. Hospital Trust Co., balance account ...


3 86


Sept. 8 Received from interest bank de- posit 21 19


Oct.


4 Received from interest bank de- posit


12 25


Nov. 15 Received from interest U. S.


bonds


500 00


Dec.


31 Received from 16 2/3% dividend Tremont Trust Co. . 263 24


Received from Frank Duval, in- terest on notes 25 50


$28,089 97


35


The Agent has paid as follows:


1922


April 12 To Town Treasurer, Town Hall Account $2,000 00


May 2 To Town Treasurer, Town Hall Account 8,000 00


July 25 To Town Treasurer, Town Hall Account 1,000 00


Aug. 4 To Town Treasurer, Town Hall Account 5,000 00


Sept. 5 To Town Treasurer, Town Hall Account 5,000 00


Oct. 4 To Town Treasurer, Town Hall Account 6,000 00


Dec. 31 To Agent, for services 75 00


$27,075 00


1923


Jan. 1 Cash on deposit Whitinsville Na- tional Bank 1,014 97


$28,089 97


While the sum invested the past year has grown steadily less, by payments on the new Town Hall Account, commencing in April, however, the Agent is pleased to report a total earning for the devise in the year 1922 of $2,215.24.


1923


Jan. 1 Present value of devise :-


Frank Duval note


$300 00


Frank Duval note


125 00


Edw. M. Southwick note.


200 00


Accrued interest


24 00


$649 00


Liberty Bonds, 41/4 %


$25,000 00


Accrued interest


132 81


Deposit, Massachusetts Trust Co


500 00


Accrued interest


24 40


36


Deposit, Whitinsville Savings Bank. 1,100 00


Accrued interest 49 50


Balance deposit, Tremont Trust Co 526 50


U. S. Certificates of Indebtedness


606 38


Accrued interest 17 24


Deposit, Whitinsville National Bank.


1,014 97


$28,971 80


$29,620 80


1921


March 14 Permanent fund established by Probate Court $27,502 43


1923


Jan. 1 1 year and 9 months' interest on above, 4% 1,925 16


$29,427 59


Balance belonging to Town Hall Building Fund ...


$193 21


On petition in equity of the inhabitants of the Town of Doug- las, March 14, 1921, Judge William T. Forbes of the Probate Court set aside as a permanent fund from the Moses Wallis Devise, the sum of $27,502.43, allowing the interest which shall thereafter accrue to the maintenance of the Moses Wallis town hall, the sup- port of paupers and the repairs of highways, and for other relief.


The permanent fund thus set aside was the total of the devise sixty years after the acceptance of the bequest by the town, Feb. 10, 1904. The Court decree allowed the interest which had accrued between Feb. 10, 1904, and March 14, 1921, to be used for the build- ing of a town hall. That interest amounted to $27,193.21. As will be seen from the above report, $27,000.00 of that sum has now been used by the building committee.


CHAS. J. BATCHELLER, Agent.


37


Report of Tax Collector.


To January 1st for Year 1922.


The Assessors for the year 1922 committed to me April 26th, 1922, the Collector's book with warrant to collect and pay over to the Treasurer of said Town of Douglas, Poll Taxes


$3,260 00


And on August 14, 1922, warrant and Collector's book to collect and pay over to Treasurer of said Town of Douglas, Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes .. 38,936 12 December extra assessments 16 25


Total to be collected. $42,212 37


I have collected and paid over to Treasurer of said Town in cash and abatements. 41,212 64


Leaving balance uncollected January 1st. $999 73


I have collected since January 1st and paid to Treasurer


500 00


Leaving balance uncollected


$499 73


Interest collected to date. 12 97


EDWARD L. WILLIAMS, Collector.


38


Report of Tree Warden


PAYROLL OF THE TREE WARDEN DEPARTMENT FOR YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1922.


W. E. Carpenter, 759 hours at 50c. $379 50


Lincoln Carpenter, 347 hours at 75c. 260 25


J. J. McGrath, 161 hours at 40c. 64 40


James Falloni, 236 hours at 40c, 151 hours at 60c, 330 hours at 75c 432 50


Napoleon Bruno, 137 hours at 40c, 317 hours at 60c.


245 00


Edw. Cook, 296 hours at 75c.


222 00


Louis Titus, 15 hours at 40c.


6 00


Geo. South, 13 hours at 40c. .


5 20


Cyrus Sweet, 17 hours at 40c.


6 80


Cyrus Sweet, team 17 hours at 25c.


4 25


Palmer Converse and 2-horse team 301/2 hours.


31 52


Carpenter team, 182 hours at 25c. 45 50


R. D. Carpenter, 3 hours at 40c.


1 20


SUPPLIES.


Frank Bowen, filing saws $18 20


W. E. Jones, axes, bolts, etc .. 9 00


W. R. Wallis, paint, brushes, rope, etc. 36 10


E. N. Jenckes, axe-handle


50


Barrett Co., 10 gals. paint


5 88


Walter Stanley, irons ยท


65


39


Arthur F. Whitin, 100 lbs. lead.


20 00


C. W. Goulette, irons 85


2 saws 4 25


Safety belt


9 50


Cavity-cleaner


4 00


Stephen Copp, filing saws


8 10


$1,821 15


CREDITS.


By amount returned by private individuals


$319 88


$1,501 27


The amount, as shown above, expended on the town trees, has by no means wholly repaired the damage of the great ice storm. So far in the work I have aimed to save all of the trees I could. Now it is necessary to go through each tree carefully and take out all splintered and cracked branches, as such cause decay. Some of our shade trees in the outlying parts of the town are not yet repaired.


W. E. CARPENTER,


Tree Warden.


40


REPORT OF


Road Commissioner.


LABOR ON HIGHWAYS.


G. H. Dudley, 1,223 hours at 50c. $611 50


G. H. Dudley, 1 horse 1,217 hours at 25c ... 304 25


G. H. Dudley, 2 horses 8 hours at 50c 4 00


G. H. Dudley, 2 horses 721 hours at 45c. . .


324 45


W. H. Dudley, 28 hours at 40c. . 11 20


W. H. Dudley, 771 hours at 371/2c. 289 17


W. H. Dudley, 2 horses 40 hours at 50c. . 20 00


661 95


W. H. Dudley, 2 horses 1,471 hours at 45c ..


131 29


A. P. Dudley, 349 hours at 371/2c. 139 05


A. P. Dudley, 2 horses 309 hours at 45c ....


J. P. Manning, 76 hours at 371/2C


28 51


J. P. Manning, 2 horses 81 hours at 45c. . . Jos. Horton, 16 hours at 40c. 6 40


Jos. Horton, 220 hours at 371/2c. 82 50


Geo. Hemingway, 16 hours at 40c 6 40


Geo. Hemingway, 690 hours at 371/2c. 258 80


Albert Valcourt, 8 hours at 40c. 3 20


Albert Valcourt, 1,115 hours at 371/2C. 418 17


Chas. Dudley, 8 hours at 371/2C. 3 00


L. A. Buffum, 8 hours at 371/2c .. 3 00


L. A. Buffum, 1 horse 8 hours at 25c. .


2 00


Elmer Dudley, 28 hours at 371/2C. 10 51


36 45


41


Elmer Dudley, 2 horses 28 hours at 45c. . 12 60


Robert Lunn, 18 hours at 50c. 9 00


Robert Lunn, 9 hours at 371/2c. 3 38


Donald McMahon, 89 hours at 371/2C.


33 39


John Friery, 429 hours at 371/2c.


160 92


Wm. Murphy, 197 hours at 371/20


73 87


George South, 965 hours at 371/2c.


361 94


Andrew Sanborn, 8 hours at 371/2c.


3 00


Paul Bonbear, 36 hours at 371/2c.


13 50


Ernest Lunn, 85 hours at 371/2C.


31 88


Earl Ballou, 4 hours at 371/2c.


1 50


Albert Eaton, 507 hours at 371/2c.


190 18


L. B. Titus, 114 hours at 371/2c.


42 77


Raguso & Filone


11 05


W. J. H. Dudley, labor on Silent Cop


6 50


$4,311 28


GRAVEL.


W. W. Buxton, 366 loads at 5c $18 30


Ray Dudley, 121 loads at 5c 6 05


Peter Laincz, 86 loads at 5c. 4 30


Geo. South, 22 loads at 5c. 1 10


W. E. Carpenter, 24 loads at 5c.


1 20


L. A. Buffum, 37 loads at 10c.


3 70


L. A. Buffum, 13 loads at 5c


65


Thos. Lapham, 24 loads at 5c.


. 20


N. F. Stearns, 12 loads at 5c


60


A. H. Brown, 50 loads at 5c


2 50


Ada Sanborn, 18 loads at 5c.


90


B. F. Aldrich, 40 loads at 5c 2 00


Ed. Lambert, 31 loads at 5c.


1 55


C. L. Church, 45 loads at 5c.


2 25


Dutee Caswell, 42 loads at 5c.


2 10


W. R. Wallis, 90 loads at 5c


4 50


Albert Valcourt, 11 loads at 5c.


55


SUNDRIES


Dyon Supply Co., repair parts for scraper. . $18 40


3 New blades


31 50


Grinding blades


2 00


Express on repairs


2 84


Freight on repairs


8 50


$53 45


42


S. P. Copp, repairs, etc. 5 35


W. R. Wallis, 2 bush scythes and snaths. 6 50


P. D. Manning, 10 shovels 12 00


P. D. Manning, 1 gal. oil.


75


D. W. Dudley, sharpening tools.


4 50


Lantern for Silent Cop


1 25


Care of Silent Cop


24 00


Signs


25 00


Dump signs


5 10


Damage 7 50


25 00


Eagle Printing Co.


19 00


Express on grating


1 55


Dynamite, fuse and caps.


7 19


W. H. Parker, 1 tie 6x8 inches.


1 20


W. H. Parker, 250 feet 3-inch plank.


3 75


N. E. Culvert Co., drain pipe


138 00


Freight on 10 bbls. Tarvia. 15 13


$371 01


$4,735 74


LABOR ON STONE ROADS.


G. H. Dudley, 280 hours at 50c. $140 00


G. H. Dudley, 1 horse 280 hours at 25c. . . ..


70 00


G. H. Dudley, 2 horses 389 hours at 45c .... 175 05


W. H. Dudley, 90 hours at 371/2c. . 33 76


W. H. Dudley, 2 horses 212 hours at 45c ... 95 40


Geo. Hemingway, 122 hours at 371/2C. 45 78


Wm. Murphy, 272 hours at 371/2c.


102 03


Ernest Girard, 4 hours at 371/2c. 1 50


Ernest Girard, 2 horses 4 hours at 45c.


1 80


A. P. Dudley, 117 hours at 371/2c.


43 89


A. P. Dudley, 2 horses 117 hours at 45c. 52 65


Elmer Dudley, 22 hours at 371/2c ..


8 26


Elmer Dudley, 2 horses 22 hours at 45c ....


9 90


Kenneth Parker, 106 hours at 371/2c.


39 76


Kenneth Parker, 2 horses 106 hours at 45c.


47 70


J. P. Manning, 45 hours at 371/2 c


16 88


J. P. Manning, 2 horses 45 hours at 45c .... John Minion, 6 hours at 371/2C. 2 25


20 25


Albert Eaton, 117 hours at 371/2c. .


43 87


George South, 248 hours at 371/2C. 93 03


Jos. Horton, 163 hours at 371/2C. 61 14


Gove drain


43


Albert Valcourt, 175 hours at 371/2c. 65 66


Ernest LaBell, 171 hours at 371/2C. 64 14


L. B. Titus, 303 hours at 371/2c. 113 65


Wm. Eldredge, 32 hours at 371/2c.


12 00


Donald McMahon, 117 hours at 371/2c.


43 90


John Friery, 9 hours at 371/2c 3 38


Earl Ballou, 59 hours at 371/2c.


22 13


N. Coppola, 9 hours at 371/2c. 3 38


Ed. Cook, 32 hours at 371/2C 12 01


$1,445 15


SUNDRIES.


The Barrett Co., 490 gals. K. P. patching ..


$93 10


Tarvia


2,191 20


Connecticut Quarries Co., 1 car trap rock ...


94 08


Waldo Bros. & Bond Co., 2 sand screens ...


21 00


Gravel-W. W. Buxton, 164 loads at 5c ....


8 20


$2,407 58


$3,852 73


SNOW ROADS.


G. H. Dudley, 97 hours at 50c. $48 50


G. H. Dudley, 1 horse 8 hours at 25c .. 2 00


G. H. Dudley, 2 horses 89 hours at 50c. 44 50


H. T. Barton, 3 hours at 40c


1 20


Roy Kenyon, 4 hours at 40c. 1 60


Roy Kenyon, 1 horse 4 hours at 25c.


1 00


S. K. Foster, 3 hours at 40c.


1 20


H. Wylie, 5 hours at 40c. 2 00


O. F. Chase, 1 horse 33 hours at 25c. 8 25


Edwin Chase, 50 hours at 40c. 20 00


Jesse E. Chase, 50 hours at 40c.


20 00


Elmer Kenyon, 24 hours at 40c. 9 60


John Doublwater, 4 hours at 40c


1 60


J. P. Manning, 3 hours at 40c 1 20


Morton Simmons, 6 hours at 20c


. 20


Carl Simmons, 6 hours at 20c.


1 20


Lafayette Taft, 20 hours at 40c.


8 00


Clifford Lunn, 89 hours at 40c. 35 60


Albert Valcourt, 92 hours at 40c. 36 80


44


Norval Dixson, 12 hours at 40c. 4 80


George Chandler, 31 hours at 40c. 12 40


E. C. Esten, 10 hours at 40c. . 4 00


M. B. Chase, 71 hours at 40c.


28 40


B. F. Aldrich (2 men), 32 hours at 40c.


12 80


Harold Southwick, 7 hours at 40c.


2 80


Dutee Caswell, 11 hours at 40c.


4 40


Wm. J. Caswell, 7 hours at 40c.


2 80


$317 85


G. H. DUDLEY, Road Commissioner.


ANNUAL REPORTS


OF THE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


and Superintendent of Schools


OF THE


TOWN OF DOUGLAS


FOR THE


Year Ending December 31, 1922


LA.


a


S


INCOR


46


WHITINSVILLE, MASS. : PRESS OF EAGLE PRINTING CO. 1923.


2


SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


FRANK H. BIRD, Term expires March, 1923


HARRY L. STOCKWELL,


66 March, 1923


66 March, 1924


WILLIAM T. LOOMIS,.


66 March, 1924


ARTHUR E. RAWSON,


66 March, 1925


66 March, 1925


SUPERINTENDING COMMITTEE.


WILLIAM T. LOOMIS, Chairman


ARTHUR E. RAWSON, Secretary


FRANK H. BIRD


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. C. L. JUDKINS


PURCHASING AGENT. W. T. LOOMIS


ATTENDANCE OFFICERS.


THOS. P. RITCHIE C. L. JUDKINS


3


SCHOOL CALENDAR.


HIGH SCHOOL.


Winter term-Jan. 2, 1923, to March 30, 1923, 13 weeks. Spring term-April 9, 1923, to June 22, 1923, 11 weeks.


Fall term-Sept. 4, 1923, to Dec. 21, 1923, 16 weeks. Winter term-Dec. 31, 1923, to March 28, 1924, 13 weeks. Spring term-April 7, 1924, to June 20, 1924, 11 weeks. Thanksgiving recess-Nov. 22 to Nov. 26. Christmas vacation-Dec. 22 to Dec. 31. Spring vacation-March 29 to April 7.


GRADES.


Winter term-Jan. 8, 1923, to March 30, 1923, 12 weeks. Spring term-April 9, 1923, to June 15, 1923, 10 weeks.


Fall term-Sept. 4, 1923, to Dec. 21, 1923, 16 weeks. Winter term-Jan. 7, 1924, to March 28, 1924, 12 weeks. Spring term-April 7, 1924, to June 13, 1924, 10 weeks. Thanksgiving recess-Nov. 22 to Nov. 26. Christmas vacation-Dec. 22 to Jan. 7. Spring vacation-March 29 to April 7.


NO SCHOOL SIGNAL.


Three blasts of the whistle at 7:45 A. M. indicate "no-school" for the morning session.


The same signal at 11:45 A. M. signifies "no school" for the afternoon session.


The "no-school" signal does not apply to the high school.


4


Report of the SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


The School Committee submits the following report for the year ending December, 1922:


During the last financial year the School Committee has expended $28,381.31. This amount is necessarily somewhat in excess of the expenditure for the previous year. The membership of the schools is considerably larger, which of course increases the expense, over $1,000 was expended for equipment for the new build- ing at Douglas Center, $175 was spent for pupils' desks at the High School building, and $350 for painting this building, the Douglas Center building and West Douglas schoolhouse.


Reimbursements from the State were received amounting to $9,460.84, making the net cost of the schools to the town but $18,920.47, which cannot be considered excessive, as the average expenditure for each pupil was $39.09, while the average for the State was $68.64.


This year there will be needed for all expenses for the schools $28,500. This increase is necessary for several reasons. We have been receiving from the State between $600 and $700 each year as High School reimbursement, but this has been cut off, owing to the fact that the number of families in town is now 500, and the town is obliged to maintain a High School without State aid, the price of fuel has greatly increased (last year we had considerable coal on hand), and the expenses for fuel and janitor service at the Douglas Center school is much larger than formerly.


Attention is called to the reports of the Superintendent of Schools, High School Principal, and various other appended reports.


W. T. LOOMIS,


Chairman Superintending Committee.


February 14, 1923.


5


FINANCIAL STATEMENT.


Appropriation by the Town


$28,000 00


Expended 28,381 31


Reimbursements by the State.


$9,460 84


Paint sold 7 95


$9,468 79


Net cost of Schools to the Town $18,912 52


ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES.


Teachers' Salaries


$17,934 88


Superintendent's salary


1,080 00


Superintendent's traveling expenses.


178 02


Janitor service


1,965 05


Fuel


1,427 37


Text-books


817 24


General expenses


244 03


New equipment


1,092 86


Supplies


1,279 95


Manual training and domestic science.


62 90


Transportation


1,316 20


Repairs


849 34


Health


133 47


$28,381 31


6


The following appropriations are asked for :-


General expenses, including superintendent's salary, expenses of school committee and enforcement of the law $1,500 00


Expense for instruction, including teachers' salaries, text-books and supplies, and miscellaneous expenses Expense of operating school plants, including janitors'


21,000 00


salaries, fuel and miscellaneous expenses of operat- ing schools 4,000 00


Maintenance, repairs, etc.


500 00


Auxiliary agencies, including health and transportation 1,500 00


$28,500 00


WILLIAM T. LOOMIS, FRANK H. BIRD, ARTHUR E. RAWSON,


Superintending Committee.


7


Report of the Superintendent of Schools


To the School Committee:


I herewith submit my eighth annual report of the schools of Douglas, it being the twenty-second in the series of superintendents' reports of this district.


SCHOOL ENROLLMENT.


The enrollment of pupils in the schools of Douglas is steadily increasing. For the school year, 1920-21, it was 503, which was an increase of 33 per cent over that of the preceding year. The past year it has been 548, the largest in the history of the schools of the town. The per cent of attendance was 93.22, and the whole number of tardinesses but 126, or nearly 10 per cent less than that of the previous year.


THE HIGH SCHOOL.


The enrollment in the high school this year is 44 pupils, which is the largest for many years at least. This leads to the considera- tion of future high school accommodations, as there are only two suitable classrooms available for recitations, while there should be four at least.


8


Of course the present is an inopportune time to advise the erection of a new high school building, but if the school continues to grow, or even continues at the same size, more adequate accom- modations will have to be provided.


Viewing this matter from every angle, it seems to me that the best and most satisfactory solution of the problem will be the erec- tion of a new high school building, with an assembly room, a recita- , tion room, a science laboratory, a room for typewriting, and per- haps a room for domestic science. This arrangement will release one room at the present high school building for grade one, at present located in the engine house.


It has been suggested that the high school be moved to the old town hall building, but this plan would not provide the space needed for a high school. Besides, there should be a suitable playground for high school pupils, as well as for grade pupils.


No doubt this high school problem will be wisely and satisfac- torily solved in the not too distant future.


THE NEW DOUGLAS CENTER SCHOOL.


The new building at Douglas Center has proved to be all that was predicted for it. Parents, teachers and pupils are all proud of their new quarters, and visitors to the school from outside the town have commented very favorably on the structure and its equipment. In fact it has been recommended by superintend- ents of other towns as a model for their towns.


Some grading has already been done, and it is anticipated that more will be done the coming spring. It is hoped by next fall the grading will be completed, the lawn seeded down, cement walks and driveways laid out, and shrubbery planted, all in accordance with a definite and well conceived plan.


SCHOOL LUNCHES.


Hot lunches have been served at the high school building by the domestic science department since the cold weather began, and recently they have been extended to the Town Hall and the Fire King schools, and also to the Douglas Center schools. As pointed out in our report of last year, the providing of these lunches involves no expense to the town, it being met by the pupils paying for the cost of the food served.


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The thanks of the town are due to the Parent-Teacher Associa- tion for the hot-lunch equipment at the Douglas Center school, as well as for the hot-water heater installed in the domestic science room at the high school building.


In connection with the matter of school lunches may be men- tioned the fact that the Worcester County Extension Service has supervised the weighing and measuring of all pupils in our schools in the interest of better nutrition for school children.


PLAYGROUNDS.


If the rear of the yard at the high school building were leveled off, it would considerably increase the area of the playground, which at the most is not too large for the number of pupils attending there. Two or three swings, as many see-saws, a giant-stride apparatus, and perhaps a slide should be installed. This equip- ment would add to the enjoyment of the smaller children, who are necessarily debarred from taking part in baseball and volley-ball games. Basketball for boys and also for girls might also be added, as this game provides sport for pupils of various ages. Similar apparatus should also be installed, so far as practicable, in the other schoolyards in town.


THE EIGHTH GRADE AT DOUGLAS CENTER.


There are eight grades at Douglas Center, which are too many for two teachers to instruct, especially as there have been as many as seventy pupils in attendance at this school at once during a part of the year.




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