USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1934 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
381.33
Holbrook Street
66.79
Gravelling Sundry Roads
543.25
Ruggles Street
92.73
Hog Hill Road
28.33
Reservoir
63.79
Water Hole
673.87.
Lake Thompson Road
11.80
Surveying
435.00
Transportation
100.05
Sundry Items
163.71
$4247.70
$745,564.97
Cash on hand Dec. 31, 1934
$78,818.81
$824,383.78
Non-Revenue Accounts
Cash and Securities :
Thompson Fund
$951.28
Merrick Fund
850.00
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds 31,114.95
$32,916.23
96
Debt Account
Net Funded Debt
$122,500.00
Bondsville Grammar School
Loan
11,000.00
School Loan-Acts 1920
64,000.00
School Loan-Acts 1920 "B"
13,500.00
New High School Loan
4,500.00
Wire Mill School Loan
24,000.00
East Main Street Improve- ment Loan
4,000.00
Cemetery Land Loan
1,500.00
$122,500.00 122,500.00
HARRIETTE PAINE
Town Bookkeeper
97
BALANCE SHEET FOR TOWN OF PALMER
Appropriations Refunds and Transfers
Amount Expended
Balance
Selectmen :
Salaries of Board $
1440.00 $
1440.00
Expense Account
575.00
559.20
15.80
Contingent Account
3500.00
2947.64
552.36
Auditing and Accounting :
Salaries
1701.00
1701.00
Treasurer :
Salary
1620.00
1620.00
Bond & Other Expense
525.00
519.80
5.20
Collector :
Salary of Previous years 608.00
608.00
Salary of 1934
1440.00
1296.00
144.00
Clerical Work
620.00
620.00
Bond & Other Expenses 1015.00
1010.89
4.11
Assessors :
Salaries of Board
2160.00
2160.00
Clerical Work
936.00
936.00
Other Expenses
1500.00
1149.60
350.40
Town Clerk :
Salary
405.00
405.00
Clerical Work
100.00
100.00
Other Expenses
125.00
88.26
36.74
Law:
Salaries & Claims
2500.00
854.23
1645.77
98
Appropriations Refunds and Transfers
Amount Expended
Balance
License Commissioners : Expenses
100.00
99.94
.06
Election & Registration :
Expenses
1803.00
1620.82
182.18
Town Offices :
Rent, Care & Lights
1900.00
1885.51
14.49
Town House :
Care, Lights & Repairs
100.00
99.65
.35
Town Dump:
Labor
400.00
382.74
17.26
Police :
Chief
2700.00
2700.00
Deputy Chief
2151.00
2151.00
Day Patrol
1971.00
1971.00
Extra Patrol
1971.00
1971.00
Night Patrol
2463.75
2463.75
Special Police
1884.60
1879.80
4.80
Lockup
1600.00
1576.02
23.98
Chief's Office
336.00
319.94
16.06
Motorcycle Upkeep
200.00
151.09
48.91
Equipment
500.00
401.43
98.57
Incidentals
200.00
147.05
52.95
Forest Fires :
Fighting Fires & In- cidental Expenses
1000.00
834.63
165.37
Moth Department: All Expenses
1000.00
999.29
.71
99
Appropriations Refunds and Transfers
Amount Expended
Balance
Sealer's Department :
Salary
800.00
800.00
Expenses
150.00
139.16
10.84
Tree Department :
Planting
200.00
199.78
.22
Preservation
600.00
598.97
1.03
Health Department:
Salaries of Board
157.50
157.50
Salary of Clerk
90.00
90.00
Toxin-Antitoxin
100.00
100.00
Tuberculosis-Contagious
Diseases and Sundry
Expenses
6000.00
5353.66
646.34
Vital Statistics
500.00
348.25
151.75
District Nurse
1000.00
1000.00
Hampden County Hospital
1463.62
1463.62
Meat & Milk Inspection
450.00
288.42
161.58
Animal Inspection
400.00
376.36
23.64
Highway Department:
General Repairs
19870.76
19832.43
38.33
Thorndike Road 1933
3219.37
3219.37
Thorndike Street 1934
(Open Account)
20545.66
28735.30
*8189.64
Park Street
(Open Account)
22856.70
25484.05
*2627.35
Longview Road
500.00
500.00
Hills-Hobbs & Harding
Streets
700.00
699.89
.11
Oiling Roads
3000.00
2977.43
22.57
Equipment
6350.00
6275.00
75.00
Snow Removal
3709.37
3933.91
*224.54
100
Appropriations Refunds and Transfers
Amount Expended
Balance
Sewers & Culverts
2500.00
2499.95
.05
South Main Street Sewer "A" (E. R. A.)
5100.50
5100.50
Bourne Street Sewer "C"
(Open Account) (E. R. A.)
2595.00
2595.00
Pleasant Street Sewer
"C" (E. R. A.)
2092.50
2028.10
64.40
South Street Sewer
"C" (E. R. A.)
2447.00
1481.98
965.02
Sidewalk Repairs
1500.00
1499.76
.24
Sidewalk-Thorndike to Four Corners
350.00
340.24
9.76
Sidewalk-Hobbs & Hill
Streets
75.00
75.00
Bridges & Railings
1050.00
1049.60
.40
Street Lighting
10962.60
10416.20
546.40
Public Welfare:
Salaries of Board
540.00
540.00
Clerical Work
990.00
990.00
Town Physician
225.00
225.00
Support of Poor
34160.65
34160.65
Old Age Assistance :
Salaries of Board
200.00
200.00
Salary of Clerk
365.00
365.00
Old Age Asst. Expenses
5439.00
5133.69
305.31
Wing Memorial Hospital :
For Bills Approved
500.00
498.03
1.97
Soldier's Relief
6500.00
6713.93
*213.93
State Aid
400.00
160.25
239.75
Military
350.00
170.00
180.00
Education
151160.00
151159.00
1.00
101
Appropriations Refunds and Transfers
Amount Expended
Balance
Y. M. Library Assn.
3500.00
3500.00
Memorial Day
200.00
150.00
50.00
General Insurance
1000.00
969.17
30.83
Workmen's Compensation
Insurance
2500.00
734.90
1765.10
Printing Town Reports
660.00
660.00
Town Engineer
50.00
50.00
Edward T. Goodreau Post No. 1813
150.00
150.00
Care of Cemetery
4800.00
4844.59
*44.59
Neglected Graves
250.00
250.00
Maturing Debt
18500.00
18500.00
Interest on Maturing
Debt
5850.00
5850.00
Interest on Temporary
Loans
8000.00
3174.16
4825.84
Reserve Fund
5000.00
5000.00
C. W. A. and E. R. A. Fund
4281.94
4247.70
34.24
*Denotes Overdrafts.
102
Trial Balance
Cash
$78,818.81
Taxes 1930
188.77
Taxes 1931
353.00
Taxes 1932
5,201.38
Taxes 1933
26,493.86
Taxes 1934
76,876.82
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax 1930
35.40
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax 1931 3.80
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax 1932
306.40
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax 1933 219.34
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax 1934
1,802.02
Tax Title Acct. 5,228.77
Old Age Assistance Tax 1931
9.00
Old Age Assistance Tax 1932 57.00
Old Age Assistance Tax 1933 97.00
Sidewalk & Curbing Assessments
1,645.27
Accounts Receivable-Board of Health
696.43
Accounts Receivable-Highways
97.02
Accounts Receivable-Public Welfare 8,067.36
Accounts Receivable-Selectmen
61.25
Accounts Receivable-Schools 63.00
Accounts Receivable-Old Age Assistance 1.46
Temporary Loan
$75,000.00
Overlay 1930
207.57
Overlay 1931
355.00
Overlay 1932
3,546.20
Overlay 1933
4,716.47
Overlay 1934
7,522.30
103
Overlay Reserve
9,132.65
Old Age Abatement
169.00
Departmental Revenue
8,986.52
Sidewalks & Curbing Assessment
1,645.27
Tax Title Revenue
5,838.65
District Tax Title Revenue
350.84
Fire District No. 1 Tax Titles
6.51
Fire District No. 2 Tax Titles
54.81
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Revenue
2,366.96
Old Age Assistance Revenue Excess and Deficiency Fund
94,876.03
Auditing and Accounting
81.00
Tax Collector's Salary 1930
160.00
Tax Collector's Salary 1931
160.00
Tax Collector's Salary 1932
144.00
Tax Collector's Salary 1933
144.00
Tax Collector's Salary 1934
144.00
Forest Lake Road 1931
1,272.65
Thorndike Street
8,189.64
Park Street
2,627.35
Snow Removal
224.54
Bourne Street Sewer "C"
2,595.00
Pleasant Street Sewer "C"
64.40
South Street Sewer "C"
965.02
Soldiers' Relief
213.93
Cemetery Acct.
44.59
$219,064.86 219,064.86
1.66
104
Report of The Board of Health
To the Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Palmer:
The Board of Health of the Town of Palmer here- with submit its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1934.
TABLE NO. 1
Chicken Pox
Dog Bite
Lobar Pneumonia
Measles
Scarlet Fever
Tuberculosis
Septic Sore Throat
Diphtheria
January
5
February
1
24
6
March
1
2
71
3
1
April
19
2
May
11
2
June
2
8
1
July
3
1
August
1
1
2
September
1
1
October
November
December
1
1
-
-
-
-
1 7
3 134
15
7
3
1
105
TABLE NO. 2
Number of deaths reported from January 1, 1934 to January 1, 1935.
January
8
February
13
March
15
April
1
May
6
June
6
July
5
August
7
September
3
October
10
November
7
December
5
-
86
106
TABLE NO. 3
Total
Male
Female
Less than 1 year
6
3
3
1 to 4 years
0
0
0
4 to 5
1
1
5 to 10
1
1
10 to 15 „
0
0
0
15 to 20
1
1
20 to 30
4
2
2
30 to 40
9
5
4
40 to 50
2
1
1
50 to 60
17
10
7
60 to 70
22
14
8
70 to 80
"
11
5
6
80 to 90
3
1
2
90 to 100
"
2
2
0
Stilborn
7
6
1
-
86
49
37
RECEIPTS
From Appropriations :
Salaries
$247.50
Tuberculosis and Contagious Diseases
6000.00
Toxin-Antitoxin
100.00
Meat and Milk Inspection
450.00
$6,797.50
From Licenses :
Inn Holders
$10.00
Bottling
15.00
"
107
Pasteurization
10.00
Alcohol
24.00
Undertakers
6.00
Milk and Oleomargarine
59.50
$ 124.50
From State:
Tuberculosis and Contagious
Diseases $756.70
$ 756.70
Total Receipts
$7,678.70
EXPENDITURES
For:
Salaries of Board
$157.50
Clerical Work
90.00
Printing and Postage
47.87
Telephone
67.83
Transportation
111.80
Sundry Items
13.73
$
488.73
Contagious Diseases :
Board and Treatment
$41.41
Medicine and Medical Attendance
39.25
Hospitals
78.14
Clothing and Provisions
8.93
$
167.73
Hospitalization at:
Hampden County Sanatorium $1,815.40
Rutland State Sanatorium 2,266.53
Westfield State Sanatorium 365.00
108
Lakeville State Sanatorium 471.00
$4,917.93
Vital Statistics :
Births
222.00
Deaths
74.75
Marriages
51.50
$348.25
Fumigation :
$26.77
$ 26.77
Toxin-Antitoxin :
$100.00
$ 100.00
Inspection :
Meat
$ 83.20
Milk
205.22
$ 288.42
District Nurse :
$1,000.00
$ 1,000.00
Total Expenses Bills Receivable
$ 7,337.83
$ 696.43
109
INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
Palmer, Dec. 30, 1934.
To the Board of Health of Palmer:
I have made the following inspections since February 1st, 1934.
Hogs
41 Condemned 1
Beef 8
Veal
17
Respectfully submitted,
A. F. BENNETT, Inspector of Slaughtering.
REPORT OF MILK INSPECTOR
Palmer, Dec. 30, 1934.
To the Board of Health of Palmer:
I have granted the following Permits and Licenses.
Dealers' Licenses 114 @ .50 $57.00
Oleo Licenses
5 @ .50 2.50
Producers' Permits
73
No Fee
Respectfully submitted,
A. F. BENNETT,
Milk Inspector.
110
License Commissioners
The following licenses were granted during the year 1934.
Sunday licenses 65
Common victualers 51
Innholders
16
Druggists
4
All alcoholic beverages malt and wine.
Innholders
3
Common victualers 4
Package store
1
Clubs
3
Druggists
4
Malt beverages and wines.
Common victualers
7
Package store
1
Clubs
1
One day licenses
4
Board of License Commissioners FRANK G. ROGERS
Clerk
111
Auditors' Report
TREASURER'S REPORT
Receipts
Balance on Hand January 1, 1934
$62,072.75
Anticipation of Revenue Loans $325,000.00
John T. Brown, Tax Collector :
Taxes,
1930
68.84
Interest,
1930
11.26
Taxes,
1931
2,133.46
Interest,
1931
312.32
Taxes,
1932
25,136.79
Interest,
1932
2,514.51
Taxes,
1933
45,119.03
Interest,
1933
1,777.27
Taxes,
1934
229,394.71
Interest,
1934
107.47
Redemption of Tax Titles.
3,552.32
Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
Taxes, Reimbursements, etc. 67,570.16
Federal Emergency Relief Fund 3,554.45
Chap. 90, Thdke. Rd. (1933 Acct) 2,412.38
Chap. 90, Park St. Acct. 10,974.10
Chap. 90, Thorndike St. Acct. 5,624.33
112
County of Hampden : Chap. 90, Thdke. Rd. (1933 Acct) 800.00
Chap. 90, Park St. Account
5,445.60
Chap. 90, Thorndike St. Acct. 5,624.33
All Other Sources
25,177.70
762,311.03
$824,383.78
Disbursements
Paid out on Selectmen's Warrants $745,564.97
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1934 78,818.81
$824,383.78
TOWN CLERK'S ACCOUNT
Dog Licenses 1933 Account Receipts
Balance, Cash on Hand $224.40
Expenditures
Paid Town Treasurer $224.40
1934 Account
Receipts
Fees Collected 52 @ $5.00 $ 260.00
Fees Collected 546 @ $2.00 1,092.00
598 $1,352.00
118
Expenditures
Paid Town Treasurer
$1,232.40
Paid John T. Brown, 598 fees @ .20
119.60
$1,352.00
CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS' ACCOUNTS REGULAR APPROPRIATIONS ACCOUNT
Receipts
Appropriation
$
4,500.00
Transferred from Reserve Fund
300.00
$4,800.00
Expenditures
Expenditures, as per books $4,844.59
Overdrawn
$
44.59
CARE OF CEMETERIES
Receipts
From Perpetual Care Funds
$1,000.00
For Soldier's Graves
180.00
Other sources
1,431.54
$2,611.54
Expenditures
Paid Town Treasurer $2,611.54
SOLDIER'S GRAVES
Appropriation
Receipts $250.00
114
Expenditures
Paid Cemetery Commissioners
$180.00
Paid Rev. D. E. Hennessey
52.00
Paid P. Coache
18.00
$250.00
PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS
Balance, Jan. 1, 1934
$30,398.05
Receipts
New Funds received during year $725.00
Interest for 1934
991.90
1,716.90
$32,114.95
Expenditures
Care of Lots for 1934
1,000.00
Balance, Dec. 31, 1934
$31,114.95
(Principal of the Funds is $28,046.00)
BILLS RECEIVABLE
As per books.
Angeline Adams,
$ 2.00
Benjamin Biron,
1930
13.00
Yale Brown,
1934
2.00
George Buck,
1932
2.00
W. F. Cahill,
1934
52.15
F. P. Carroll,
1928
13.50
Fred I. Collis,
1933/4
4.00
Elizabeth M. Cross,
1932
20.00
Grover C. Goodes,
1934
5.00
Mrs. B. F. Hathaway,
1930/1
4.00
E. F. Hulett,
1934
2.00
115
Archie T. Kenyon, 1934 (lot)
24.00
Mrs. W. H. Kenyon,
1931
7.14
Mrs. L. C. Langewald,
1934
2.00
A. H. La Valle,
1931/2
6.00
Hilmar Lindquist,
1934
10.65
Mrs. B. B. Manchester,
1934
2.00
Leonard Manhart,
1933
5.00
Raymond Milligan,
1933/4
4.00
Mary P. Moore,
1934
12.00
Irving S. Rhodes,
1933
2.00
Geo. Sessions' Sons Co.,
damage
5.00
Philip C. Story,
1933
3.00
Mrs. Amy B. Studley,
1934
1.50
Mrs. Sadie Trumble,
1932
2.00
$ 205.94 L
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
TOWN INFIRMARY
1933 Accounts Receipts
Joseph Fila
$240.97
Dept. of Public Works, State of Mass. 25.00
J. Topor 72.00
Less Abatement
21.00 51.00
316.97
Expenditures
Paid Town Treasurer by Infirmary $240.97
Paid Town Treasurer Direct 76.00 $316.97
116
1934 Accounts
Receipts
Receipts as per books
$2,966.29
Charges as per books
306.00 $3,272.29
Expenditures
Paid Town Treasurer by Infirmary $2,966.29
Paid Town Treasurer Direct
306.00
$3,272.29
Total Receipts 1933 and 1934
$3,589.26
Bills Receivable to the Town
Forest Lake Dairy
$34.05
E. Maccabee
5.00
Thos. Sherwood
184.00
Town of West Springfield
215.00
$438.05
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
1933 Accounts Receipts
Fees collected as per books
$117.26
Expenditures
Paid Town Treasurer April 2, 1934
$117.26
1934 Accounts
Receipts
Fees collected as per books $136.88
117
Expenditures
Paid Town Treasurer July 3, 1934
$75.03
Paid Town Treasurer Dec. 31, 1934
61.85 $136.88
1932 Accounts
Receipts
Receipts Adjusted
.10
Expenditures
Paid Town Treasurer
.10
Respectfully submitted,
WILLARD S. FRENCH
FRED S. POTTER
ELMER J. THOMAS
Auditors
COLLECTOR OF TAXES
Account of 1930
Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State
Audit report (including cash on hand)
$306.01
Interest
3.51
$309.52
Paid Treasurer
27.05
Abatements
57.04
Cash on hand
36.70
120.79
*Outstanding December 31, 1934
$188.73
*To be closed out by abatements to be granted
118
Account of 1931
Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State
Audit report (including cash on hand)
Interest
$1,862.10 117.95
1,980.05
Paid Treasurer
894.55
Abatements
718.34
Cash on hand
21.18
1,634.07
*Outstanding December 31, 1934
$345.98
*To be closed out by abatements to be granted
Account of 1932
Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State Audit report (including cash on hand)
$23,460.11
Interest
1,991.29
$25,451.40
Paid Treasurer
19,160.16
Abatements
112.00
19,272.16
Outstanding December 31, 1934
$6,179.24
Account of 1933
Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State Audit report (including cash on hand) $53,504.93 1,411.08
Interest
119
Motor vehicle taxes abated after payment 10.57
54,926.58
Paid Treasurer
27,484.27
Abatements
7.89
27,492.16
Outstanding December 31, 1934
$27,434.42
Account of 1934
Assessors' Warrants to be collected
$309,114.48
Interest
107.47
Motor vehicle taxes abated after payment
126.01
309,347.96
Paid Treasurer
229,502.18
Abatements
863.67
230,365.85
Outstanding December 31, 1934 $78,982.11
FRED S. POTTER, ELMER J. THOMAS, WILLARD S. FRENCH,
Auditors
120
Report of Tax Collector
Account of 1930
Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State
Audit report (including cash on hand)
Interest
$306.01 3.51
$309.52
Paid Treasurer
27.05
Abatements
57.04
Cash on hand
36.70
120.79
*Outstanding December 31, 1934
$188.73
*To be closed out by abatements to be granted
Account of 1931
Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State Audit report (including cash on hand)
$1,862.10 117.95
Interest
1,980.05
121
Paid Treasurer
894.55
Abatements
718.34
Cash on hand
21.18
1,634.07
$345.98
*Outstanding December 31, 1934
*To be closed out by abatements to be granted
Account of 1932
Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State
Audit report (including cash on hand)
$23,460.11
Interest
1,991.29
$25,451.40
Paid Treasurer
19,160.16
Abatements
112.00
19,272.16
Outstanding December 31, 1934 $6,179.24
Account of 1933
Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State
Audit report (including cash on hand)
$53,504.93
Interest
1,411.08
Motor vehicle taxes abated after
payment 10.57
54,926.58
Paid Treasurer
27,484.27
Abatements
7.89
27,492.16
Outstanding December 31, 1934
$27,434.42 .
122
Account of 1934
Assessors' Warrants to be collected
$309,114.48
Interest
107.47
Motor vehicle taxes abated after payment
126.01
309,347.96
Paid Treasurer
229,502.18
Abatements
863.67
230,365.85
Outstanding December 31, 1934 $78,982.11
JOHN T. BROWN,
Tax Collector
123
School Committee, 1934-1935
CARL KING, Chairman CLIFTON H. HOBSON, Secretary
Florence Callahan
Term expires 1937 Term expires 1937
Joseph Russell M. Rachel Holbrook Term expires 1936 Carl King Term expires 1936
Dr. Charles Giroux
Term expires 1935
Dennis J. Horgan
Term expires 1935
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held at 8 p. m. on the Tuesday before the last Friday of each school month.
All bills must be in the hands of the Superintendent on the Monday before the above date.
Superintendent of Schools, Clifton H. Hobson Office, High School Building, Telephone 54. Office Hours :- 8 a. m. to 12 m., 1 to 5 p. m. Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 12 m.
124
CALENDAR
HIGH SCHOOL
Winter Term:
Begins January 2, 1935; ends February 22, 1935
Spring Term:
Begins March 4, 1935; ends April 26, 1935
Summer Term:
Begins May 6, 1935; ends June 28, 1935
Fall Term:
Begins September 3, 1935; ends December 20, 1935 Winter Term:
Begins December 30, 1935; ends February 21, 1936 Spring Term :
Begins March 2, 1936; ends April 24, 1936
Summer Term:
Begins May 4, 1936; ends June 26, 1936
OTHER SCHOOLS
Winter Term:
Begins January 2, 1935; ends February 22, 1935 Spring Term:
Begins March 4, 1935; ends April 26, 1935
Summer Term:
Begins May 6, 1935; ends June 14, 1935 Fall Term :
Begins September 3, 1935; ends December 20, 1935 Winter Term:
Begins December 30, 1935; ends February 21, 1936 Spring Term :
Begins March 2, 1936 ; ends April 24, 1936
Summer Term:
Begins May 4, 1936; ends June 12, 1936
125
VACATIONS-ALL SCHOOLS
Winter:
February 23, 1935, to March 3, 1935, inclusive
Spring :
April 27, 1935, to May 5, 1935, inclusive
Summer:
(Grades) :
June 15, 1935, to September 2, 1935, inclusive (High) :
June 29, 1935, to September 2, 1935, inclusive
Fall :
December 21, 1935, to December 29, 1935, inclusive
Winter:
Feburary 22, 1936, to March 1, 1936, inclusive
Spring :
April 25, 1936, to May 3, 1936, inclusive
Summer:
(Grades) :
June 13, 1936, to September 1, 1936, inclusive (High) :
June 27, 1936, to September 1, 1936, inclusive
HOLIDAYS
Washington's Birthday, Patriot's Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Convention Day, Ar- mistice Day, Thanksgiving (with day following).
126
Report of Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of the Town of Palmer:
I herewith present my twenty-fourth annual report as Superintendent of Schools in Palmer. This is the forty- second in the series of reports issued by the superinten- dents of the Town.
ATTENDANCE
The attendance statistics for the school year of 1933-34 were as follows :- Enrollment, 2,189; Average Membership, 2,107.34; Average Attendance, 2,029.23; Per Cent of Attendance, 96.29; Tardinesses, 540.
The percentage of attendance still continues high. During the twenty-three years of my incumbency, the average percentage has been 96.09%. An attainment of 95% for percentage of attendance is regarded as ideal.
HEALTH WORK
Many health activities are carried on under the direction of the school nurse and school physicians. No one, not in immediate contact with the schools, can begin to visualize the fine piece of work that is being done. State health officials commend our work highly.
127
The annual physical examination this fall has dis- closed these defects :- Nutrition, 10; Posture, 27; Skin, 34; Teeth, 462; Eyes, 2; Ears, 1; Throat, 148; Thyroid Gland, 11; Heart, 21; Nose, 4. With the exception of teeth and throat, the number of defects is not high. The num- ber of underweights is as follows: 7%, 93; 10%, 132; 15%,87.
This fall one hundred seventy-five (175) school chil- dren and fifty (50) pre-school children were given the Toxin Anti Toxin preventive for Diphtheria.
A recent report on the status of immunization among school children in the State revealed these facts :- In Group IA, cities of 25,000 and above, 64% have been immunized; in Group IB, cities between 10,000 and 25,000, 58% ; in Group II-our group- towns of 5,000 to 10,000, 64% ; Group III, under 5,000, 41% ; State, 48%. Palmer's 81% far exceeds any of these and shows the effectiveness of the work that has been done.
Eighteen (18) of our school children, pre-tuber- cularly inclined or contacts, spent a total of three hun- dred and eighty-five days this summer at Camp Fred- erick Edwards, the preventorium of the Hampden County Tuberculosis Association, where they showed an average gain in weight of three and one-fifth pounds.
Tubercular clinics, where both children and adults were examined, were held at which the Von-Pirquet- the skin-test, and X-Ray, if necessary, were given. This work has been done yearly for some fifteen years.
On Health Day, the following tags were issued :- Physical Fitness, 291; Teeth, 270; Improvement, 1,045. Through the local Red Cross, local Rotary Club, and other agencies, glasses have been purchased; tonsils and
128
adenoids have been removed; and teeth have been ex- tracted. The Town should provide money for the doing of this work.
PROMOTIONS
The promotion statistics in the grades for the last school year were as follows :- Number of Pupils, 1,490; Promoted Unconditionally, 1,221-Percent, 81.94; Pro- moted Conditionally, 168-Percent, 11.28; Not Promoted, 101-Percent, 6.78.
SCHOOL SAVINGS
The report of school savings for the last school year, September, 1933, to July, 1934, is as follows :- Number of Collections, 197; Number of Deposits, 14,209; Amount of Deposits, $3,834.99.
The combined School Savings from date of incep- tion, November 1, 1921, to July 1, 1934, are :- Number of Deposits, 293,326; Amount of Deposits, $80,400.02.
C. W. A. - E. R. A.
A comprehensive maintenance painting job - in- volving painting, carpentering, plastering, cementing, etc.,-was carried on in the schools from December 1, 1933, to October 1, 1934, a period of ten months. As a result, physically the schools are in the best condition they have been during my term of office.
This work was necessary. When, if ever, it could be financed by the Town alone, it would be presumption to assert. With governmental aid, it was possible to finance it without local strain.
The total cost of the project was $21,570.40. The federal contribution was $17,315.45; the town, $4,254.95.
129
The federal contribution was 80% of the total cost; the town, 20%. In other words, of every dollar spent, the federal government contributed 80 cents; the town, 20 cents. Proportionately considered, Palmer fared well.
In the spring, if this class of work is supported, a project of putting school grounds in condition should be undertaken. If this is undertaken, a special appropriation should be made. Several thousands of dollars cannot be extracted from the regular school budget to do this, especially when the school budget is held at the lowest possible minimum.
Of the $4,254.95 spent by the town for the painting project, only $1,066.65 was provided by a special appro- priation. The balance, $3,188.30, was taken from the reg- ular school budget-$1,064.49 from the 1933 budget and $2,111.81 from the 1934 budget, a total of $3,176.30. This policy should not be continued.
Under E. R. A. a five-week playground project was run during the summer vacation. The total weekly at- tendance on the four playgrounds-one in each village- was 3,600, a season total of 18,000. The cost of giving en- tertainment and recreational activity, keeping the chil- dren off the streets, providing proper supervision, etc., did not exceed two cents for each child per day.
Also, under F. E. R. A. a recreational program was carried on last winter and spring, and salaries, in part, of evening high school teachers were paid.
The schools have not fared badly in the matter of governmental grants.
130
ENROLLMENT
The total enrollment in September, 1934, was forty (40) less than that of the same month in 1933. The enrollment in the elementary schools throughout the country is growing smaller; the enrollment in the high school is getting larger. One financial difficulty is in- volved in this shift of enrollment. The cost of educating a child in the high school is much greater than that in the grades. The cost often runs two to one. Locally, our high school has been increasing rapidly in enrollment. This means that the cost of educating the same number of pupils must be greater.
Throughout the depression, the school department has labored hard to keep costs at an absolute minimum. With many difficult situations confronting it, the depart- ment has succeeded in doing this. In actuality, the schools have been run, the past two or three years, upon about seventy-five percent (75%) .- 34-of the amount of money that would be spent in normal times.
COST
The annual report of the State Department of Education for the year ending November 30, 1934, shows some interesting facts regarding educational costs.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.