USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1938 > Part 4
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has been fortunate in obtaining the most favorable rate for hospitali- zation at the St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, where there is no charge for doctors fees and a very reasonable charge for ward service for Relief Cases.
There were 107 different families aided last year representing a total or 425 persons. Of this number 61 were resident town cases, 20 were resident state cases, 10 were non-resident town cases living in neighboring towns, 12 resident cases but settlements in other towns, 3 inmates at the North Brookfield Infirmary, and 1 at a rest home in Worcester.
In order to keep welfare costs at a minimum we are receiving the co-operation from the Towns industrial concerns to whom we send monthly reports on the employable persons being aided. In this way any vacancies that occur at the local mills will be filled by persons receiving town aid who are employable and suited for the work. In addition to this the local mills have taken men from the W. P. A. rolls for employment in the different departments when vacancies occur and there are project workers available and suited for the work.
Beginning the first of January, 1939 a new budget system was inaugurated which we believe will be more satisfactory to relief re- cipients in that all will receive equal consideration as to their relative needs for food, shelter, and clothing.
It has been gratifying to know that of those seeking aid the majority of the employable men have been more than willing to work out on various projects the amount of their allowances and that their needy circumstances have not been due to their own actions but to general business conditions.
At the time of this writing our welfare load is at an irreducible minimum and there are no employables receiving relief. How our local welfare load has been reduced since the first of last year may be observed by referring to the table headed Welfare Expenditures for 1938. We are now operating on a normal basis and barring any unforseen business conditions our budget for this year of $12,000.00 for relief, $2,000.00 for Aid to Dependent Children, and $7,500.00 for Old Age Assistance will be sufficient.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK X. RINFRETTE, Chairman, MARINE ZONFRILLO, *RICHARD E. MOORE,
*Resigned October 1, 1938.
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CLASSIFICATION OF WELFARE EXPENDITURES
Salaries-Welfare
$717.45
General Welfare:
Postage Administration
16.71
All Other Administration
326.43
Groceries : Milk, Provisions
Thomas P. Ritchie
2,670.74
Raymond O. Decoteau
1,797.15
E. M. Marris
1,501.57
Louis Hvizdos
1,213.95
E. N. Jenckes
729.12
Douglas Town Store
684.35
Gilbert Bosma
322.91
Raymond C. Hall
263.70
F. S. Jodrey
213.24
Roy Kenyon
97.50
Harry Downs
61.83
John Meszaro
44.52
Andrew Baca
12.48
George Koslak
8.06
Edward Fedorezek
.91
.
$9,622.03
Fuel :
Robert Walker
414.50
Leon T. Sochia
289.75
Frank E. Jones
226.10
Wallis Lumber Co.
155.70
Louis B. Jussaume
64.95
Andrew Michna
32.00
Edward Therrien
3.00
Walter Lunn
2.00
Board and Care :
North Brookfield-Infirmary
1,460.95
St. Vincent Home
291.60
Russell Rest Home
190.00
$1,942.55
Medical and Hospital:
St. Vincent Hospital
742.67
R. H. Spooner
575.50
Whitinsville Hospital
90.50
$1,188.00
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Memorial Hospital
74.00
City of Worcester
48.75
H. V. Williams, M.D. 40.00
W. M. Buffum
32.16
L. H. Blanchard, D.M.D.
32.00
Reimbursement for Nurse
21.00
A. J. Frost
20.23
Dr. R. S. W. Roberts
20.00
Esther Johnson, Nurse
9.75
F. L. Cassidy, D.M.D.
8.00
T. G. Flagg
4.77
M. L. Griswold, M.D.
4.00
Carl B. Fitton Co.
3.00
L. T. Whelan
2.00
$1,719.33
Clothing :
Hermon S. Baker
432.43
Abe Solomon
30.00
Henry Janeczek-Shoes
13.15
E. Douglas Shoe Store
2.75
$478.33
Rent :
Joseph Neomany
318.00
Chloe T. Hathaway
302.50
Peter George
193.00
Bernadette Belisle
138.00
Joseph Kleya
128.50
George P. Snow
75.00
Alvah Hall
62.00
Hayward Woolen Co.
52.50
Eugenie Berthiaume
45.00
Joseph Grivalski
45.00
N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R. Co.
40.00
Walter Jones
32.00
K. Helena Wixtead
20.00
William Banaghan
15.00
Christel Brown
15.00
Mary Goulet
12.00
City of Worcester
$1,494.50 376.16
Town of Northbridge
242.94
64
Town of Uxbridge
239.44
Town of Franklin
134.97
Town of Oxford
74.31
Mothers Aid Payments
3,200.00
Cash Payments
2,911.50
All other expenses :
U.S. Government for Surplus foods Adm.
34.94
Frank E. Jones for Transportation
26.00
R. Northridge for furniture
10.50
W. H. Graham Corp. for ambulance
10.00
Herbert E. Hughes for Transportation
3.00
Chesley Johnson for repairing tenement
2.50
Walter Belisle
2.00
$24,366.99
WELFARE EXPENDITURES-1938
Exclusive of Administration cost and of $817 charged to A. D. C. Federal Grant
Month
Amount Resident Cases
All Cases
January
$ 2,798.54
3,814.55
63
276
March
1,408.78
1,610.38
57
229
March
1,408.78
1.610.38
57
229
April
2,035.50
2,443.80
68
279
May
2,367.32
2,414.38
62
253
June
1,381.46
1,744.47
51
191
July
1,267.28
1,387.31
43
157
August
1,117.32
2,265.79
37
136
September
895.98
937.46
30
96
October
803.51
954.62
30
99
November
804.17
963.97
29
90
December
510.50
2,571.12
20
47
$16,827.22
$23,499.99
107
425
SURPLUS COMMODITIES-FOOD
May 15-Dec. 31, 1938
Our Estimates of Cost
Prunes, 2,275 lbs. @ .07
$159.25
Apples, 1,125 lbs. @ .05
56.25
Dried Beans, 2,100 lbs. @ .04
84.00
Cabbage, 10,855 lbs. @ .04
434.20
Families
Persons
65
Butter, 1,148 lbs. @ .31
355.88
Rice, 1648 lbs. @ .05
82.40
Carrots, 1,815 lb. @ .04
72.60
Cracked Wheat Cereal, 392 lbs. @ .15
58.80
Fish, 880 lbs. @ .20
176.00
Beets, 1,350 lbs. @ .05
67.50
Flour, 14,394 lbs. @ .59 - 24
353.00
Graham Flour, 1,506 lbs. @ .19 - 3
142.50
Dried Milk, 400 lbs. @ .10
40.00
Raisins, 2,225 lbs. @ .072
166.87
Tomatoes, 1,500 lbs. @ .12
210.00
Oranges, 2,590 lbs. @ .18
466.20
Potatoes, 13,580 lbs. @ .29
225.00
Dried Peaches, 500 lbs. @ .06
30.00
Sweet Potatoes, 3,750 lbs. @ .06
225.00
Total 64,033 lbs.
$3,405.45
Canned Peas, 1,971 cans @ .10
$197.10
Grapefruit Juice, 1,656 cans @ .07
115.92
Evaporated Milk, 530 cans @ .06
31.80
Apple Sauce, 240 cans @ .07
16.80
Total 4,397 cans $361.62
SURPLUS COMMODITIES-CLOTHING
May 15, 1938 to Dec. 31, 1938
Our Estimates of Cost
Girl's Bloomers, 9 pcs. @ .50
$4.50
Boy's Blouses, 21 pcs. @ $1.00
21.00
Women's Blouses, 2 pcs. @ $1.00
2.00
Diapers, 96 pcs. @ $1.25
10.00
Girl's Dresses, 130 pcs. @ $1.00
130.00
Women's Dresses, 177 pcs. @ $1.25
210.25
Layettes, 5 pcs. @ $4.00
20.00
Girl's Nightgowns, 60 pcs. @ .75
45.05
Women's Nightgowns, 70 pcs. @ $1.00
70.00
Men's Nightshirts, 9 pcs. @ $1.00
9.00
Women's Pajamas, 77 pcs. @ $1.25
96.25
Men's Pajamas, 52 pcs. @ $1.25
65.00
Men's Pants, 128 pcs. @ $1.75
224.00
Child's Rompers, 7 pcs. @ .75
5.25
Men's Shirts, 272 pcs. @ .75
204.00
Men's Shorts, 46 pcs. @ .75
34.50
66
Women's Slips, 62 pcs. @ .95
57.00
Girl's Playsuits, 8 pcs. @ $1.00
8.00
Boy's Unionsuits, 31 pcs. @ .75
23.25
Boy's Overalls, 15 pcs. @ .90
13.50
Children's Pajamas, 159 pcs. @ $1.00
159.00
Boy's Pants, 81 pcs. @ $1.00
81.00
Total 1,517 pcs. $1,502.45
Our Estimate
Government Estimate
64,033 lbs Food
4,397 cans Food
3,767.07
3,819.47
1,517 pcs. Clothing
1,502.45
1,363.95
$5,269.52
$5,183.42
PUBLIC WELFARE DEPARTMENT
Temporary Aid-Accounts Receivable
Outstanding January 1, 1938 $1,653.11
Charges
6,291.73
$7,944.84
Payments to Treasurer
$4,994.19
Disallowances
740.94
Outstanding December 31, 1938
2,209.71
$7,944.84
Outstanding January 1, 1939
$2,209.71
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Accounts Receivable
Outstanding January 1, 1938 $ 852.35
Charges 1,184.00
$2,036.35
Payments to treasurer
1,308.01
Disallowances
293.84
Outstanding December 31, 1938
434.50
$2,036.35
COST OF CHARITIES IN THE TOWN OF DOUGLAS
Year
Welfare
Old Age Assistance
State Aid
Soldiers Relief
W. P.A.
Total
Per Capita
1930
8,594.92
102.00
8,696.92
3.62
1931
12,106.83
1,431.64
325.00
925.00
14,818.47
6.16
1932
12,249.63
4,543.15
240.00
888.50
14,821.28
7.45
1933
9,957.93
4,018.00
240.00
795.56
282.20
15,293.69
6.36
1934
9,255.25
4,368.00
275.00
428.50
1,054.79
15,381.54
6.40
1935
8,308.00
4,542.50
230.00
481.47
1,213.22
14,775.19
6.14
1936
10,896.44
6,193.10
120.00
664.00
58.00
17,931.54
7.46
1937
13,946.12
13,716.52
120.00
712.96
3,144.38
31,639.98
13.16
1938
25,034.44
15,340.49
30.00
656.50
4,701.92
45,639.98
19.04
67
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REPORT OF THE OLD AGE ASSISTANCE DEPARTMENT
To the Selectmen and Citizens of Douglas :
The Bureau of Old Age Assistance submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1938.
There were 53 persons who received Old Age Assistance during the year, eight of whom had settlement in other towns.
Applications received
16
denied
2
66
accepted
14
Cases closed-By death
3
Moved from town
4
Became self-supporting 3
To care of relatives 1
Transferred to Worcester
1
Transferred to Board of Health
1
Total
13
Visits to homes
196
Reports to state
230
Received
Federal Grant
$6,798.25
From other towns
467.15
From state
4,373.69
$11,639.09
Paid for Old Age Assistance
$14,214.89
Received
11,639.09
Actual cost to the town
$2,575.80
Accounts Receivable
Outstanding January 1, 1938 $ 137.84
Charges
5,266.34
Allowance in excess of charges
3.34
$5,407.52
Payments to treasurer
$4,808.35
Disallowances
32.01
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Charges reported in duplicate 467.16
Outstanding December 31, 1938 100.00
$5,407.52
Outstanding January 1, 1939
$100.00
Paid to treasurer January 1 to 30, 1939
100.00
Since the first of the year the Federal Auditors have audited the Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children accounts and have approved all charges and expenditures.
Respectfully submitted,
F. J. LIBBY, Agent,
VERA H. WARNER, Clerk.
REPORT ON THE W. P. A. WORK IN THE TOWN OF DOUGLAS
I am taking this opportunity to thank the officials and the per- sonnel at the local 1199th company C. C. C. and the officials and the personnel of the Worcester W. P. A. Office and the local project workers for their splendid co-operation in answer to an appeal from the Selectmen of Douglas for immediate relief in, first, opening up all the roads in Douglas and clearing the debris following the hurri- cane of September 21st; and secondly, opening up fire lanes through the hundreds of acres of woodland blown down; and thirdly, in re- moving the forest fire hazard from the center of the town and from dwelling houses.
Our community was one of the worst ones hit by the storm with most of the damage being done to pine groves and other heavily wooded sections. At the time of this report going to press, the work of removing the greatest forest fire hazard in the history of the Town is being carried on by these two groups the local C. C. C. personnel and the W. P. A. project workers.
Our W. P. A. work for this year consisted of gravelling and grading on West Street or Reservoir Road and on the Thompson Road, during the winter months. In the early spring a moth project was in operation in conjunction with a Welfare project whereby thou- sands of moth egg clusters were destroyed. Particular attention was given to the Reservoir section and the North West Section of the Town where heavily infested areas were reported.
The Welfare projects that were being operated during the first six months of the year consisted of the afore mentioned moth sup- pression work which was followed by the construction of a cement sidewalk on Pleasant Street.
70
The Manchaug Street W. P. A. Sidewalk project was begun about the first of May and the grade of work done on this project showed a marked improvement over the previous year's work on Main Street. This project was continued until cut short by the storm. I presume that this project will be completed before any other sidewalk project will be attempted, but whether or not it will be completed depends upon the success we have in removing forest fire hazards.
At the time of this writing there are project workers from Wor- cester, Blackstone, and Millville assisting the local men on the pres- ent projects and with the C. C. C. personnel, some 400 men are em- ployed weekly in cutting and burning fallen debris.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH S. VIROSTEK,
Local W. P. A. Project Supervisor.
TOWN EXPENDITURES CHARGED TO W. P. A. MATERIALS
1. West Street or Reservoir Rd. Project
Sponsor's Foreman-Louis Yacino
184.00
Trucks
1,113.83
Gravel
103.50
All other Expense on Project
26.13
$1,427.46
2. Moth Project
Sponsor's Foreman-Walter Belisle
87.75
Transportation
38.28
Equipment-Supplies
72.19
198.22
3. Thompson Rd. Project
Trucks
192.50
Gravel
28.80
221.30
4. Manchaug St. Sidewalk Project
Sponsor Paid Labor and Other Adm. Cost
96.70
Trucks
238.50
Gravel 168.12
Cement and Other Supplies .. .
857.91
1,361.23
71
5.
Removal of Forest Fire Hazard-Hurricane
Rehabilitation
Sponsor Administration Cost
16.00
Truck
431.74
Equipment
46.92
494.66
6. Commissary Expense Charged to W. P. A.
95.17
7. Pleasant Street Welfare Project-Sidewalk Foreman,-Louis Yacino
211.50
Trucks
260.75
Gravel 68.70
Material
252.56
Misc. Expense
10.37
803.88
7. General Administration
100.00
$4,701.92
The federal government spent a total of $33,512.35 on local W. P. A. projects last year. This expenditure was distributed as follows :
Gypsy Moth
800.20
Reservoir Road
2,924.93
Manchaug St. Sidewalk
5,273.06
Hurricane Rehabilitation
20,874.16 labor
Hurricane Rehabilitation
3,640.00 bus transportation
$33,512.35
Annual Reports OF THE
School Committee and Superintendent of Schools OF THE
TOWN of DOUGLAS
1
S
INCORP
746
D,
For the Year Ending
DECEMBER 31, 1938
3
Report of the School Committee
The School Committee submits the following report for the finan- cial year ending December 31, 1938:
The appropriations for the School were $36,700.00 at the Annual Town Meeting with an additional transfer of $325.00 from the Re- serve Fund. The total expenditures were $37,025.00. We received from the State as reimbursement:
Massachusetts School Fund Part I ..
$4,011.69
Part II Income Taxes
5,770.00
Tuition of State Wards
129.48
Individuals
110.00
School Superintendent
733.33
$10,754.50
THIS REDUCES THE NET COST OF THE SCHOOLS TO $26,270.50.
EXPENDITURES OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT- for the year ending December 31, 1938.
GENERAL EXPENSES :
Budget 1938
Expenditure
Estimate 1939 250.00
Clerk School Committee
250.00
Misc. School Committee
68.04
50.00
Superintendent's Salary and Ex.
1,528.56
1,600.00
$1,900.00
$1,846.60
$1,900.00
EXPENSES ROR INSTRUCTION :
Music Supervisor's Salary .
600.00
600.00
600.00
Principal, High, Salary
2,500.00
2,500.00
2,500.00
Principal, Elementary, Salary ..
1,500.00
1,500.00
1,500.00
Teachers, High School
7,750.00
7,975.80
8,550.00
Teachers, Elementary
10,225.00
9,746.96
9,300.00
Substitute Teacher's
150.00
153.00
150.00
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Text Books, High
400.00
337.78
400.00
Text Boks, Elementary
600.00
262.00
600.00
High School Supplies
600.00
455.65
600.00
Elementary Supplies
400.00
416.11
400.00
$24,725.00 $23,947.30 $24,600.00
EXPENSES FOR OPERATION :
Janitor, High
1,300.00
1,343.00
1,315.00
Janitor, Elementary
1,300.00
1,315.00
1,315.00
Janitor, D. C.
350.00
449.00
400.00
Fuel, High
700.00
1,006.78
700.00
Fuel, Grammar
450.00
366.30
450.00
Fuel, D. C.
200.00
119.10
200.00
Lights & Power, High
200.73
Telephone, High
55.13
Janitor's Supplies, High
45.45
Water Dept. High
325.00
10.00
325.00
Lights & Power, Elementary . .
172.13
Telephone, Elementary
75.01
Janitor's Supplies, Elementary
60.71
Water Dept., Elementary.
350.00
10.00
325.00
$4,975.00
$5,228.34
$5,030.00
MAINTENANCE-REPAIRS:
High School
400.00
104.20
600.00
Grammar Schools
600.00
1,026.64
800.00
$1,000.00
$1,130.84
$1,400.00
HURRICANE DAMAGE:
Grammar School-Reserve Fund
325.00
325.00
AUXILIARY AGENCIES:
Health, High
352.60
Health, Elementary
1,000.00
736.57
1,000.00
Transportation, High
546.66
Transportation, Elementary
2,600.00
2,152.84
2,900.00
Tuition
113.00
670.00
Athletics
250.00
327.35
300.00
$3,850.00
$4,229.02
$4,870.00
5
INSURANCE
104.83
100.00
NEW EQUIPMENT
250.00
213.07
100.00
TOTALS
$37,025.00 $37,025.00 $38,000.00
BAYLIS G. ALDRICH, 1940 MARGARET CARRICK, 1940 LILIAN G. CARPENTER, 1939 WARREN JOHNSON, 1939 ANDREW CENCAK, 1941 LOUIS CALLAHAN, 1941 School Committee.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS A. B. GARCELON
PURCHASING AGENT ANDREW CENCAK ATTENDANCE OFFICERS
PAUL RAWSON
E. L. WILLIAMS
ERWIN SMITH
6
School Calendar
1938-1939
Fall Term-September 6, 1938 to December 23, 1938, 16 weeks. Winter Term-1st period-Jan. 3, 1939 to Feb. 17, 1939, 7 weeks. Winter Term-2nd period-Feb. 27, 1939 to April 14, 1939, 7 weeks. Spring Term-April 24, 1939 to June 16, 1939, 8 weeks. For High School-April 24, 1939 to June 30, 1939, 10 weeks.
VACATIONS
Thanksgiving recess-November 24, 1938. Christmas recess-December 24, to January 2, 1939, 1 week. Mid-winter vacation-February 18 to February 26, 1939, 1 week. Spring Vacation-April 15, 1939 to April 23, 1939, 1 week.
HOLIDAYS, 1939
New Years Holiday, Sunday and Monday, January 1-2, 1939. Washington's Birthday, Wednesday, February 22, 1939. Good Friday, Friday, April 7, 1939. Patriot's Day, Wednesday, April 19, 1939. Memorial Day, Tuesday, May 30, 1939.
Labor Day, Monday, September 4, 1939. Columbus Day, Thursday, October 12, 1939.
County Convention, Friday, November 3, 1939. Armistice Day, Saturday, November 11, 1939.
Thanksgiving Recess, Thursday-Friday, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 1939 Christmas, Monday, December 25, 1939.
1939-1940
Fall Term-September 5, 1939 to December 22, 1939, 16 weeks. Winter Term-1st period-Jan. 2, 1940 to Feb. 16, 1940, 7 weeks. Winter Term-2nd period-Feb. 26, 1940 to April 12, 1940, 7 weeks. Spring Term-April 22, 1940 to June 14, 1940, 8 weeks. For High School-April 22, 1940 to June 28, 1940, 10 weeks.
7
VACATIONS
Thanksgiving recess-November 30, 1939. Christmas recess-December 23 to January 1, 1940, 1 week. Mid-winter vacation-February 17 to February 25, 1940. Spring Vacation-April 13, 1940 to April 21, 1940.
HOLIDAYS, 1940
New Years Day, Monday, January 1, 1940.
Washington's Birthday, Thursday, February 22, 1940. Good Friday, March 22, 1940.
Patriot's Day, Friday, April 19, 1940.
Memorial Day, Thursday, May 30, 1940. Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 1940. Columbus Day, Saturday, October 12, 1940.
County Convention, Friday, November 1, 1940. Armistice Day, Monday, November 11, 1940.
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28, 1940.
Christmas, Wednesday, December 25, 1940.
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL
Three blasts of the mill whistle at 7:30 A.M. closes all schools for the morning session. The same signal at 11:30 A.M. closes all schools for the afternoon session.
The same signal at 11:15 A.M., denotes that there will be one session. In case of one session all grades will close at 12:30 P.M .; except first grade which will close at noon.
If the whistle does not blow at 11:30 A.M. there will be school in the afternoon.
A. B. GARCELON, Superintendent.
8
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee and Citizens of Douglas:
I herewith submit my eleventh annual school report of the Town of Douglas, the same being the thirty-eighth superintendent's report for the Union.
Fifteen years ago the total enrollment in all the schools of Douglas was 534. Of these, 44 were in the high school and 490 were in the grades. Today we have 110 in the high school and 390 in the grades, a total of 500. Considering the figures on a percentage basis, we have the following: In 1923, 8% attended high school and 92% at- tended the grade schools. In 1939, 22% are attending high school and 78% are in the grade schools. In other words, our high school enrollment has increased almost 300%, while our grade school enroll- ent has decreased about 13%. Our high school enrollment continues to increase. Last year we had 98 pupils in the high school and this year we have 110, a percentage increase of over 12%.
In order to take care of this situation adequately we placed one more teacher in the high school building, thus relieving high school teachers from service in the seventh and eighth grades. This new ar- rangement has worked out very satisfactorily, and insures greater efficiency in both the grades and the high school.
This year our high school graduating class numbers thirty, the largest graduating class in the history of the school.
It is now conceded that the basic fundamentals can and should be completed during the first six grades, using the seventh and eighth grades as grades of orientation. In these grades new courses should be introduced, which lead to further study along the lines of business, industry, trade, technical schools and colleges. Too large a percentage of our present high school pupils are now taking courses not well suited to their particular abilities, nor do these courses fortify these pupils for the work which they will ultimately do. Drastic changes are not possible, nor are they contemplated; but the gradual introduction of pre-vocational courses should be undertaken.
One of the techniques most needed in our schools today is voca- tional guidance. Far too many pupils are taking work which has little or no relation to their future work, or aptitudes. Needless to say, this is a positive waste of time, money and energy. While the matter of
9
guidance is very difficult to administer, it should not for this reason be neglected.
Manual training and Home Economics are two courses very much needed, and will be reinstated as soon as funds are available.
Physical training, through the leadership of Mrs. Cornelius Cal- lahan, is receiving considerable attention and is accomplishing fine re- sults. Physical fitness is important and has a definite place in our school program. Every year each child has a physical examination and a record is made of all defects. The School Nurse notifies all par- ents of the defects found and encourages parents to have corrections made. During the past five or six years many parents have not been financially able to have corrections made due to curtailed family in- come. This year, however, through the cooperation and assistance of the Child Health Association and Dr. Lloyd Blanchard, the problem of dental defects is being solved through dental clinics. The School Nurse, Mrs. Esther Johnson reports 46 pupils have attended the clinic and that the list of those waiting to have work done is continually growing. For further facts and data I refer you to the report of our School Nurse.
Functional handwriting, the system now in use in our schools, continues to be very satisfactory, and Mr. W. L. Rinehart's annual report shows that there is decided improvement over that of last year. For a detailed statement of our progress in handwriting, I refer you to Mr. Rinehart's report.
Never should we forget to be thankful for the benefits we are ex- periencing from the Myron O. Mowry endowment. This fund makes it possible for us to offer to all pupils from the fourth grade up free musical instruction on any musical instrument. Mr. Dodge and Mr. Barry are doing a fine work, and about 70 pupils are now receiving free musical instructions.
I respectfully refer you to Mr. C. A. Gagne's excellent report in athletics. He has put on an athletic program as fine as we ever have had and deserves much credit.
To run a school system in any community costs a great deal of money. On the average the schools cost about one third of the total municipal expense. The fact that our schools furnish us with a most necessary and vital community service makes it possible for the School Department to get from the townspeople large appropriations. The voters, however, have a right to know how these school funds are expended and also how our expenditures compare with the average expenditures of the State. Such figures are available and are herewith submitted. The State average cost per pupil per year is $101.27. We have 500 pupils in our schools, using these figures our budget would be $50,500.00. Last year our appropriation was $37,025.00. For the
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past twelve years our expenditures have averaged $33,627.81, and for the last five years (excepting last year) our average annual expendi- ture has been considerably less.
As to teachers' salaries, the State average per pupil per year is $72.45. At this rate our appropriation for teachers would be $36,225.00. Last year we raised $22,725.
The average State expense per pupil per year for textbooks and supplies is $4.08. At this rate we would have to raise 500 x $4.08 or over $2,000.00. Last year we expended $1,471.54. According to State averages our fuel and janitor expense would be $5,500.00. Our actual expense for these items was $4,599.18. Repairs at the state average rate would have been $1,790.00. Our actual expense was $1,130.84 ex- clusive of hurricane damage. In our expense for our health program we expended $264.17 more than State average. Our transportation ex- pense is about twice what the State average would allow. We justify this expense, however, on the ground of greater efficiency.
From the above, it would appear that, while the expenditures of the School Department are large, they compare rather favorably with the State average figures.
All comparisons are more or less unfair. Often they need inter- pretation and explanation. However, the data given is exactly as it appears in the State report.
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