USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1924 > Part 2
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31 Unexpended balance of Dog
Fund and Town appropria-
tions in Town Treasury. 143 22
$149 01
ENDOWMENT FUNDS.
Mrs. Royal Keith Fund $200 00
James M. Fairfield Fund.
5,000 00
James Smith Fund
6,000 00
Arthur F. Taft Fund.
500 00
Winfield S. Schuster Fund
1,000 00
Total
$12,700 00
The endowment funds of the Library are invested as follows: In Registered 414% Liberty Bonds. $10,500 00
In Savings Banks 2,200 00
Total $12,700 00
FRANK E. JONES, Treasurer.
26
Annual Report of the
Overseers of the Poor.
From January 1st, 1924, to January 1st, 1925.
To the Selectmen and Citizens of Douglas:
Gentlemen and Ladies :- The annual report of the Poor from January 1st, 1924, to January 1st, 1925, 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, 1925 :
Household furniture and provisions ... $996 25
Contents of barn, woodhouse, wash- house, farming tools and wagons, etc.
1,435 76
1 pair horses
100 00
7 head young stock
350 00
2 cows .
250 00
1 small bull
25 00
1 large bull
15 00
167 hens 417 50
12 tons of hay at $25 per ton.
300 00
35 tons of ensilage at $8 per ton 280 00
6 cords manure at $5 per cord. 30 00
One-third interest in engine, truck,
blower, belt and saw ... 100 00
$4,309 51
1 hog 10 00
27
We have made the Superintendent debtor for labor, stock and produce, etc., as follows :
Received from sale of eggs.
$307 32
Fowls
112 19
Milk and cream
35 02
Potatoes
36 75
Calf
15 00
Pork
8 16
Hay
176 76
Board
335 17
Team labor
23 65
Standing oats
10 00
Telephone
10 30
Miscellaneous
. 68 00
$1,138 32
The Superintendent has paid out for merchandise and other expenses as follows:
Paid out for fish and meat
$24 52
Vegetables and fruit
13 10
Clothes
24 75
Labor
46 50
Seed
3 75
Miscellaneous
.. . 19 09
$131 71
OVERSEERS' CASH PAYMENTS FOR ALMSHOUSE ACCOUNT.
Paid Superintendent, salary $878 64
E. N. Jenckes, grain
586 33
E. N. Jenckes, groceries
348 21
P. D. Manning & Church, grain.
131 85
P. D. Manning & Church, groceries.
238 68
A. Lawrence, groceries
77 94
F. Rivard, fish
20 94
Worcester Suburban Electric Co., light T. E. Kelly, meat
244 49
C. Church, meat
19 74
W. Wallis, hardware
11 55
W. Wallis, blacksmith
50 95
F. Bowen, funeral for Clara Jorgenson
75 00
A. King, young stock
235 00
N. Dixson, chickens
167 50
N. Dixson, miscellaneous labor
94 00
N. Dixson, selling ice
36 55
N. Dixson, miscellaneous repairs, seed, transportation, etc. 20 30
John J. Quinn, medical service.
8 00
John Andrews, veterinary
10 00
John Andrews, plow
5 00
88 35
28
John Andrews, churn 4 50
Hayward Woolen Co., stock for well .. 96
Rob. Lunn, labor on well. 82 50 C. A. Anderson, labor and material on well 43 69
New England Tel. & Tel. Co. 17 55
$3,593 54
SUMMARY.
Superintendent has paid as per his account $131 71
Overseers have paid as per their account .. 3,593 54
$3,725 25
The Overseers of the Poor account is as follows:
Appropriation by Town $7,000 00
Cash in hands of Treasurer from farm for 1923
283 28
Cash in hands of Treasurer from auction. . 1,188 96
$8,472 24
Expenditures :
Orders on Town Treasurer.
(State) Mothers' Aid $1,848 50
(State) Temporary Aid 808 25
(Town) Outside Poor
1,147 90
Lockup 25 50
Miscellaneous 30 11
Almshouse outside .... 3,593 54
$7,453 80
$1,018 44
Farm Superintendent Receipts
$1,138 32
Farm Superintendent Expenditures 131 71
$1,006 61
$2,025 05
Amount expended over the appropriation.
$453 80
Balance unexpended at disposal of Overseers.
$1,571 25
Received from State, Reimbursements for
1923
$757 38
Received from State, Reimbursements for 1924
725 59
Town of Bellingham, 1923.
130 00
$1,612 97
Due from State, Reimbursements for 1924. $720 84 $720 84
29
Paid as follows :
MOTHERS' AID ACCOUNT.
Paid No. 1
$994 50 854 00
No. 2
$1,848 50
TEMPORARY AID ACCOUNT.
Paid No. 1
$808 25 $808 25
OUTSIDE POOR ACCOUNT.
Paid No. 1
$96 00
No. 2
6 75
No. 3
575 00
No. 4
5 00
No. 5
114 50
No. 6
72 36
No. 7
63 44
No. 8
214 85
$1,147 90
MISCELLANEOUS ACCOUNT.
Lockup
$25 50
Miscellaneous 30 11
$55 61
INMATES AT ALMSHOUSE DURING YEAR 1924.
No
Age
Weeks
Days
1
51
52
1
2
72
6
5
3
65
32
5
4
76
17
5
OVERSEERS HAVE RECEIVED FOR THEIR SERVICES.
Arthur J. Page
$100 00
Arthur Rawson
25
Walter Parker
25 00
$150 00
The Overseers of the Poor are pleased to inform the taxpayers that a never failing well has been dug at the Almshouse, the cost being approximately $230.47.
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR J. PAGE, ARTHUR RAWSON, WALTER PARKER,
Overseers of the Poor.
30
Report of Agent DEVISE OF MOSES WALLIS
To the Town of Douglas
For Year Ending December 31, 1924.
The agent charges himself with amounts due the devise Janu- ary 1, 1924, as follows:
Edward M. Southwick, Note. $200 00 Liberty Bonds 25,000 00
Deposit, Whitinsville Savings Bank. 1,189 13
Balance Deposit, Tremont Trust Co. 210 62
U. S. Certificate of Indebtedness 606 38
Whitinsville National Bank 296 30
Value of Permanent Fund $27,502 43
The Agent has received as follows:
Jan. 1 Whitinsville National Bank, Balance. $296 30
May 1 Interest, Liberty Bonds, 2nd, 41/4% $531 25
June 9 U. S. Certificate of Indebtedness 600 00
15 Interest, U. S. Certificate of In- debtedness:
$500 6/15/24 $14 38
100 6/15/24 2 88
17 26
31
Aug. 26 Tremont Trust Co., 5% of de- posit
78 97
Nov. 15 Interest, Liberty Bonds, 2nd, 4 1/4 %
531 25
Interest, Whitinsville Savings
Bank 63 68
Dec. 3 Liberty Bonds, 2nd, 41/4 %,
100-30/32 $25,234 38
Commission 31 25
25,203 13
Interest, Liberty Bonds 56 08
6
Edward Southwick Note
200 00
Interest, Mrs. Simmons 12 00
Whitinsville Savings Bank 1,189 13
22 Dayton, Ohio, School District, 4 3/4 %
10,512 00
Interest, Dayton, Ohio 225 63
$39,220 38
$39,516 68
The Agent has paid out as follows:
Dec. 8 Dayton, Ohio, School District, 43/4 %
$10,512 00
Interest
190 00
Los Angeles School District, 5%
16,201 50
Interest 256 25
22 Jersey City Water Bonds, 41/2% Interest
5,231 50
56 25
Salary Agent
75 00
Balance
$32,522 50 6,994 18
$39,516 68
PRESENT VALUE OF DEVISE.
$15,000 00 Los Angeles School District Bonds, 434% .. $16,201 50
5,000 00 Jersey City Water Bonds, 4 1/2% 5,231 50
Tremont Trust Company 131 65
Whitinsville National Bank 1,544 30
Estabrook & Company
5,449 88
$28,558 83
Due Town Treasurer
1,056 40
Value of Permanent Fund
$27,502 43
32
The past year the Agent has disposed of the Liberty Bonds, 4 14%, amounting to $25,000.00, and has bought Los Angeles School District Bonds, 5%, amounting to $15,000.00, also $5,000.00 worth of Jersey City 41/2% Water Bonds. Dayton, Ohio, School District Bonds, 434%, were bought with the understanding that bonds were to be registered. When it was found the bond could not be regis- tered, they were sold. Jersey City Bonds were bought with the pro- ceeds of this sale, and there is still in hands of brokers $5,000.00 for purchase of other acceptable municipal bonds.
Respectfully submitted,
GILBERT W. ROWLEY, Agent.
33
Report of Tax Collector.
The Assessors for the year 1924 committed to me the 13th day of May, 1924, the Collector's book with warrant to collect and pay over to Treasurer of said town of Douglas, Poll Taxes.
$1,238 00
Poll Taxes, Extra Assessment, October 22, 1924.
32 00
And on July 26, 1924, Collector's warrant to collect and pay over to Treasurer of said town of Douglas Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes ..
58,842 27
Real Estate Taxes recommitted from 1922-23. 255 98
December 15, 1924, Extra Assessment. 1,805 55
$62,173 80
Cabana costs and interest.
10 95
Condon interest
32
Fortier costs and interest.
15 81
Bank interest to January 1st.
63 01
Interest collected to February 24th
29 91
$62,293 80
I have collected and paid over to Treasurer of said town in taxes and interest to January 1st.
$58,689 00
Paid to Treasurer since January 1st.
900 00
Abatements on poll taxes. .
66 00
Abatements on property taxes.
154 77
Credit by sales deeds.
137 88
$59,947 65
Cash on hand February 24, 1925
616 97
Uncollected 1924 property taxes.
1,689 68
Uncollected 1923 property taxes
37 50
Uncollected poll tax.
2 00
$62,293 80
EDWARD L. WILLIAMS, Collector.
34
Report of Tree Warden
The following is the annual report of the Tree Warden, W. E. Carpenter, for the year ending December 31, 1924:
W. E. Carpenter 189 hours at 50c $94 50
Napoleon Bruno, 71 hours at 75c 53 25
James Falloni, 176 hours at 75c. 132 00
R. D. Carpenter, 421/2 hours at 60c. 25 50
Team, 168 hours at 25c . .
42 00
SUPPLIES.
Stephen Copp, filing saws $1 00
W. E. Davis, tree bolt. 1 00
W. R. Wallis .. . 9 23
Amount expended
$358 48
W. E. CARPENTER,
Tree Warden.
35
REPORT OF
Road Commissioner.
1924.
LABOR ON HIGHWAYS.
Henry Jarvis, 1,6951/2 hours at 50c per hr .. $847 75 John Folloni, 539 hours at 45c per hour .... 242 55
657 00
Thomas Pariseau, 1,460 hours at 45c per hr. Joseph Descoteau, 246 hours at 45c per hr .. Henry Jarvis, one double team 628 hours at 45c per hour
110 70
Henry Jarvis, 2 double teams, 969 hours at 90c per hour ..
872 10
William H. Dudley, 1 double team 132 hours at 90c per hour
118 80
G. H. Dudley, 1 double team 238 hours at 90c per hour
214 20
Albert Valcourt, 1,315 hours at 45c per hr .. Frank Jarvis, 374 hours at 45c per hour ..
168 30
George South, 1,083 hours at 35c per hr ..
379 05
Ernest Labelle, 223 hours at 45c per hr ..
100 35
Earl McCann, 110 hours at 35c per hr ..
38 50
W. H. Parker, 1 double team 976 hours at 90c per hour
878 40
J. P. Manning, 1 double team 18 hours at 90c per hour ..
16 20
37 80
67 50
George Blanchard, 84 hours at 45c per hr ... William Eldridge, 150 hours at 45c per hr .. Louis Elridge, 297 hours at 45c per hr ..... Robert Lunn, 35 hours at 45c per hr ..
133 65
15 75
Walter Lunn, 35 hours at 45c per hr.
15 75
282 60
591 75
36
Charlie Raguso, 25 hours at 45c per hr .. 11 25
Charlie Plant, 8 hours at 45c per hr .. 60
Delphis Desjourdy, 20 hours at 45c per hr .. 9 00
Louis Follomi, 602 hours at 45c per hr .. .
270 90
Louis Yacino, 79 hours at 45c per hr ..
35 55
Frank Yacino, 153 hours at 45c per hr ... .
68 85
Oliver Ballinger, 14 hours at 45c per hr .. . .
6 30
George Ryan, 14 hours at 45c per hr .. 6 30
Putnam Dudley, 120 hours at 45c per hr. 54 00
J. P. Manning, 27 hours at 45c per hr. 12 15
N. H. Dixon, 9 hours at 45c per hr.
: 05
Henry Peters, 9 hours at 45c per hr ..
4 05
Henry Pariseau, 17 hours at 45c per hr. 7 65
Roy Kenyon, 8 hours at 45c per hr .. 3 60
Howell Parker, 9 hours at 45c per hr. 4 05
John Laine, 18 hours at 45c per hr ...
10
Anthony O. Zaniak, 98 hours at 45c per hr.
44 10
Alfred Lacourse, 29 hours at 35c per hr ....
10 15
Charlie Dudley, 126 hours at 35c per hr ..
44 10
O. F. Chase, 211/2 hours at 45c per hr ..
9 67
Elwin Chase, 611/2 hours at 45c per hour ...
27 67
Jesse Chase, 681/2 hours at 45c per hr ..
30 82
O. F. Chase, 1 double team 41 hours at 90c per hour 36 90
Harry Hurd, 107 hours at 45c per hr.
48 15
Arthur Nault, 325 hours at 40c per hr.
130 00
Kenneth Parker, 1 double team 162 hours at 90c per hour
145 80
Majk Limanek, 593 hours at 45c per hr ....
266 85
Ernest Gerard, 9 hours at 45c per hr ... ..
4 05
Thomas Schmid, 447 hours at 45c per hr ...
201 15
William Lambert, 9 hours at 35c per hr ...
3 15
Edward Hughes, 501 hours at 45c per hr ...
225 45
Roy Kenyon, 1 double team 5 hours at 90c per hour 4 50
George Chandlier, 1 double team 18 hours at 90c per hour
16 20
Albert Dansereau, painting signs.
20 80
G. H. Dudley, bill in January, 1924.
63 38
Amount paid out for labor
$7,630 99
GRAVEL AND SAND FOR STONE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
W. B. Wallis, 350 loads gravel at 5c per load Stephen Kunicky, 30 loads gravel at 5c per load John Bombara, 142 loads gravel at 5c per load
$17 50
1 50
7 10
5 80
Ada Sanborn, 116 loads gravel at 5c per load Henry Jarvis, 393 loads sand at 5c per load Noe Brule, 50 loads sand at 5c per load. ...
19 65
2 50
37
F. F. Young, 127 loads gravel at 5c per load 6 35
Guy Dudley, 22 loads gravel at 5c per load Charlie Stockwell, 101 loads gravel at 5c per load
1 10
5 05
George South, 35 loads gravel at 5c per load Ernest Singleton, 48 loads gravel at 5c per load
2 40
Ray Dudley, 127 loads gravel at 5c per load A. B. Simmons, 113 loads gravel at 5c per load
5 65
Peter Laincz, 64 loads gravel at 5c per load Edward Lambert, 13 loads gravel at 5c per load
65
Frank Correll, 6 loads gravel at 5c per load N. H. Dixon, 59 loads gravel at 5c per load.
30
2 95
L. A. Fleckhammer, 78 loads gravel at 5c per load
3 90
W. H. Barker, 110 loads gravel at 5c per load
5 50
Amount paid out for gravel .
$99 85
MATERIAL.
The New Haven Trap Rock Co., 135,600 lbs. trap rock 1/2 in. at $1.60. $108 48
30,600 lbs. trap rock 34 in. at $1.35 20 66
The Good Roads Machinery Company, Inc.,
1 Broom block refilled 21 00
1 New broom 45 00
2 Scraper blades 21 00
The Barrett Company,
17,364 gals. Tarvia B at 14c per gal .... 2,430 96
1,022 gals. Tarvia cold patching mate- rial at 201/2c per gal. 209 51
The Berger Manufacturing Co., culvert pipe, 16 in., 60 ft. at $1.60 per ft ...
$96 00
14 in., 48 ft. at $1.40 per ft ... 67 20
12 in., 240 ft. at $1.20 per ft. 288 00
42 in., 76 ft. at $6.30 per ft. 478 80
30 in., 66 ft. at $3.60 per ft. 237 60
24 in., 24 ft. at $2.90 per ft. 69 60
$1,237 20
Less 15%
185 58
$1,051 62
W. R. Wallis discount 13 36
1,038 26
2 75
6 35
3 20
38
To 2 14-qt. pails. $ 80
24 lbs. spikes
1 48
" 160 ft. plank 8 80
" 2 brooms 12 25
" 1 neck yoke for scraper
1 50
1193 ft. chestnut plank.
71 58
10 bags cement
9 50
295 ft. chestnut plank.
17 70
Repairs on scraper
1 50
10 lbs. spikes
65
Labor on bridge, 2 men each 31/2 hours
2 77
" 5 picks
6 25
“ 13 spades
16 30
" 1 12-1b. sledge
2 40
1 pole for scraper
1 50
" 10 pick handles
2 80
" 2 sledge handles
80
" 2 stone hooks : 40
2 mattocks . .
2 40
" 2 bush snaths
. ..... 3 10
156 68
Alexander Supply Co., 1 lower polster plat 2 50
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., freight on 20 bbls. cold tar
26 95
Freight on 1 car crushed stone. 44 62
Freight on 1 car crushed stone. 50 95
American Railway Express Co.,
Express on brooms. $6 21
Express on scraper blades. . 2 05
8 26
Dandridge Dudley, sharpening tools,
24 picks $2 55
7 bars
70
5 mattocks 1 00
Whiffletree on scraper
50
4 75
Amount paid for material. $4,189 58
Dr. Ela, woman hurt on new road. $10 00
E. A. Gove, tending silent policeman 22 50
May Gove, drain privilege 25 00
$47 50
39
SNOW DEPARTMENT.
C. W. Goulette, repairing snow plow,
Iron for plow
$ 25
4 bolts for snow plow.
40
Brace on key 85
4 iron braces
1 60
Nose piece for wing .
85
23 bolts
2 40
2 hrs. labor on same.
1 50
$7 85
G. H. DUDLEY, ROAD SUPERINTENDENT- BILLS UNPAID.
1918.
Bought of W. R. Wallis:
102 ft. 10 in. tile
$57 12
3 10 in. T's.
5 91
2 10 in. curves 3 94
$66 97
1919.
2 qts. machine oil
$ 30
2 hoes .
1 70
3 pick handles
75
474 ft. 3-in. plank
18 96
1 keg 60d spikes
6 50
171/2 lbs. spikes 1 22
15 lbs. nails
1 05
13 lbs. spikes
.... .. .
31 39
1920.
5 R. point shovels
$9 25
43 lbs. spikes .
4 30
54 ft. 2 x 4 chestnut
2 70
784 ft. chestnut timber
40 20
58 ft. chestnut timber
2 90
2 hoes
2 20
209 ft. chestnut timber
10 45
1 Sq. point shovel
1 60
57 ft. chestnut timber
2 85
4 24-ft. bridge sleepers
32 00
1 sledge handle
40
574 ft. chestnut
28 70
Planing and splitting
4 50
1 gross 11/2 x 14 screws
52
38 bolts 5/16 x 31/4
1 52
5 lbs. wire nails
. . ... . . . . 50
91
40
Planing
50
31/2 lbs. spikes
35
520 ft. 2 x 6 and 2 x 4 chestnut.
36 00
Planing
4 50
$175 94
1921.
7 lbs. nails
$ 45
2 square point shovels
4 00
2 lbs. nails
13
5 lbs. nails
35
21 ft. chestnut timber
1 05
60 ft. roof boards
3 00
5 lbs. nails
35
Planing
1 50
2142 ft. P. L. split
107 10
10 lbs. nails
60
40 ft. chestnut
2 00
Splitting
25
8 bolts 1/4 x 31/4
24
3 sign posts
25
Bolts and labor
00
9 sign posts
6 75
1 doz. couch screws
25
2 doz. washers
10
8 bolts, 1/4 x 31/2
24
14 sign posts
7 00
140 61
Total amount
$414 90
This bill paid by Henry Jarvis, Supt., for 1924 account.
SUMMARY.
Labor
$7,630 99
Gravel and Sand
99 85
Material
4,189 58
Dr. Ela
10 00
E. A. Gove
22 50
May Gove
25 00
$11,978 27
G. H. Dudley, bills unpaid from 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921
414 90
Grand Total
$12,393 17
HENRY JARVIS,
Road Commissioner.
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
and Superintendent of Schools
OF THE
TOWN OF DOUGLAS
FOR THE
Year Ending December 31, 1924
LAS
S
46
INCORE
WHITINSVILLE, MASS. PRESS OF EAGLE PRINTING CO. 1925.
2
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
ARTHUR E. RAWSON
Term expires 1925
CLIFFORD COSTINE
1925
FRANK H. BIRD
66
66 1926
HARRY L. STOCKWELL
66
66 1926
WILLIAM T. LOOMIS ..
1927
LILLIAN G. CARPENTER
66
1927
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-December 29, 1924, to March 27, 1925, 13 weeks. Spring term-April 6, 1925, to June 19, 1925, 11 weeks.
Fall term-September 8, 1925, to December 18, 1925, 15 weeks. Winter term-December 28, 1925, to March 26, 1926, 13 weeks. Spring term-April 5, 1926, to June 25, 1926, 12 weeks.
Thanksgiving recess, Nov. 26 to Nov. 30. Christmas vacation, Dec. 19 to Dec. 28. Spring vacation, March 27 to April 5.
GRADES.
Winter term-January 5, 1925, to March 27, 1925, 12 weeks. Spring term-April 6, 1925, to June 12, 1925, 10 weeks.
Fall term-September 8, 1925, to December 18, 1925, 15 weeks. Winter term-January 4, 1926, to March 26, 1926, 12 weeks. Spring term-April 5, 1926, to June 18, 1926, 11 weeks.
Thanksgiving recess, Nov. 26 to Nov. 30. Christmas vacation, Dec. 19 to Jan. 4. Spring vacation, March 27 to April 5.
NO-SCHOOL SIGNAL.
Three blasts of the whistle at 7:45 A. M. closes all schools for the morning session.
The same signal at 11:45 A. M. closes all schools for the after- noon session.
4
Report of the SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The School Committee submits the following report of the financial year ending December 31, 1924:
The expenditures were $28,582.64, which is $89.68 more than those of the preceding year.
The school department received from the State as reimburse- ment for teachers' salaries, $7,362.03; for Superintendent of Schools, $773.34; for tuition for State wards, $319.48; from the Parent-Teacher Association, $150; and from other sources, $19.40, making the total amount received from sources other than local taxation, $8,624.25, and the net cost of the schools to the town, $19,958.39. The net cost to the town last year was $18,464.55, the difference between that amount and that of this year being occa- sioned largely by a new law, whereby the State's valuation of the towns is taken for the basis of the distribution of the school fund, instead of the local assessors' valuation, as heretofore.
This new distribution of the school fund makes the expenditure for the support of the schools in Douglas from local taxation, per pupil in average membership, $43.74. In this respect, Douglas ranks as the 333rd out of a total of 353 towns of the State, the average being $66.02 per pupil. This shows that, although we are liberal in our expenditure for school support, our appropriations could be considerably increased without being called excessive.
Following is the financial statement for the past year :
Expenses of School Committee $37 32
Superintendent's salary 1,164 00
Superintendent's traveling expenses 189 09
High School Principal's salary.
2,000 00
High School assistants' salaries 2,436 22
Elementary teachers' salaries 14,271 89
Books 638 69
Stationery and supplies 726 03
Janitor service
2,250 45
Fuel . . . 1,521 07
5
Miscellaneous
225 28
Repairs
922 06
Health
431 00
Transportation
783 00
Tuition
32 00
Sundries
188 29
New equipment
719 75
Miscellaneous
46 50
Total
$28,582 64
There have been several changes in teachers this year, Miss Mary Murphy being engaged for the eighth grade in East Douglas, Miss Helen Bradley succeeding Miss Carrie Daggett in the fourth, Miss Grace Kelliher, Miss Nellie Bowen at West Douglas, and Miss Myra Jillson going to South Douglas. Recently Miss Helen J. Har- riman, who has been assistant in the high school for a year and a half, having received the offer of a much larger salary than we could afford to pay, resigned to teach in one of the high schools of Worcester, and Miss Anne Graham, of Stonington, Conn., was elected in her place.
During the year the Committee has had new floors laid at South and West Douglas schools, put in new stoves, and repainted the walls and ceiling of the West Douglas school.
We have also remodeled the out-buildings at the Cottage Street schools, bought chairs for the recitation room opened in the town hall, and, with the assistance of the Parent-Teacher Associa- tion, partially equipped all schoolyards with playground apparatus. The latter innovation has been received with so much favor by both pupils and parents, that we plan to add to this equipment next summer. We also intend to install two metal ceilings in the high school rooms.
The following appropriations are asked for the ensuing year: General expenses, including Superintendent's sal- ary, expenses of School Committee and Attendance Officer $1,500 00
Expense for instruction, including teachers' salaries, textbooks and supplies, and miscellaneous expenses 22,000 00
Expense of operating school plants, including janitors' salaries, fuel and miscellaneous expenses of opera- tion 4,500 00
Maintenance, repairs, etc.
1,000 00
Auxiliary agencies, including health and transportation 2,000 00
Total asked for
$31,000 00
WILLIAM T. LOOMIS, FRANK H. BIRD. ARTHUR E. RAWSON,
Superintending Committee.
6
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee :
I herewith submit my tenth annual report of the schools of Douglas, it being the twenty-fourth in the series of superintendents' reports of this district.
ATTENDANCE.
The per cent. of attendance for the last school year was the same as that of the previous year, or 94 per cent., which is one per cent. higher than the average for the State. The number of tardi- nesses reported for all the schools of the town was 588, which, based on the average membership, is .33 per cent., making the per cent. of punctuality considerably higher than the average for the State.
According to the school census taken last summer there were in town 568 children between the ages of five and fifteen, which shows the school population has increased over 13 per cent. in the last five years.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
The membership of the high school has increased from 44 last year to 51 this year, and the indications are for a still larger enroll- ment next fall.
The crowded conditions in the high school were met by provid- ing a recitation room at the town hall, and also by transferring the domestic science department to that building.
The domestic science instructor now comes to us one day each week, instead of half a day as last year, and teaches classes in
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cooking and sewing in the high school and upper grades. It would conduce to efficiency if we could make arrangements by which a regular instructor in manual training could be engaged to instruct the boys in woodworking while the girls of the same grades are having work in domestic science. Mr. Holmes, who has taught the boys carpentry for the past seven years, is an excellent instructor of this subject, but has not time to devote a whole day each week to it.
The removal of the domestic science department to the town hall interrupted the serving of hot lunches to the pupils bringing their dinners, but it seems to me there is no reason why arrange- ments cannot be made to continue these lunches in the lower town hall during the cold weather next year. The conditions there in some ways are ideal for serving lunches, as the domestic science quarters are in close proximity to the hall, and regular tables can be set, which is much better than for the pupils to eat their lunches off the school desks.
Of course every precaution would have to be taken against injury to the hall, but we believe thus far in our use of it there has not been a single case of injury to the building or its appurte- nances, and with the proper supervision, the serving of school lunches ought not to result in any improper use of the building.
MUSIC.
It is impossible for the music supervisor of Douglas to visit all the schools every week, and for several years she has had to alter- nate some of the lower grades, with the result that those grades do not receive the supervision they should receive.
Some arrangement should be made with some adjoining town or towns, whereby Douglas could have the services of a music super- visor two days a week. Then every school in town, except the two rural schools, would receive instruction by the supervisor once each week. Opportunity then would be given for glee club work by pupils of the high school, and also for the organization of a high school orchestra, as in adjoining towns, as there is plenty of talent in our high school for this form of music.
SCHOOL SAVINGS.
From January 1, 1924, to January 1, 1925, the school children of Douglas deposited in the school savings banks $1,200.99, of which amount $1,031.15 have been transferred to the Uxbridge Savings Bank, and this amount is drawing interest at the regular rate for the depositors.
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