USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1955 > Part 5
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WALTER H. CAMBO
Tree Warden
85
School Committee 1956-1957
DAVITT M. ROONEY, Chairman
DONALD F. McCAFFREY, Secretary
WALTER L. CAMERON, JR.
Term expires 1956
STANLEY J. GILL
Term expires 1956
MRS. RALPH POTTER
Term expires 1957
STANLEY W. WISNEWSKI
Term expires 1957
DAVITT M. ROONEY
Term expires 1958
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held at 7 p.m. on the Tuesday before the last Friday of each school month.
All bills must be in the hands of the Superintendent on Mon- aay before the above date.
Superintendent of Schools, Donald F. McCaffrey
Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 12 m .; 1 to 4 p.m.
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CALENDAR
1955-1956
Opening, September 7, 1955. Eastern States Exposition, September 19, 1955. Columbus Day, October 12, 1955. Teachers' Convention, October 21, 1955. Veterans' Day, November 11, 1955. Thanksgiving Recess, November 24-25, 1955. Fall Recess, Week of December 25, 1955 New Year's Day Observance, January 2, 1956. Washington's Birthday, February 22, 1956. Winter Recess, Week of February 26, 1956. Good Friday, March 30, 1956. Patriots' Day, April 19, 1956. Spring Recess, Week of April 29, 1956. Memorial Day, May 30, 1956.
Closing-Grades, June 15, 1956. High, June 29, 1956.
1956-1957
Opening, September 4, 1956. Eastern States Exposition, September 17, 1956 Columbus Day, October 12, 1956. Teachers' Convention, October 19, 1956. Veterans' Day Observance, November 12, 1956 Thanksgiving Recess, November 22-23, 1956. Fall Recess, Week of December 23, 1956. New Year's Day, January 1, 1957. Washington's Birthday, February 22, 1957. Winter Recess, Week of February 24, 1957. Good Friday and Patriots' Day, April 19, 1957. Spring Recess, Week of April 28, 1957. Memorial Day, May 30, 1957.
Closing-Grades, June 14, 1957.
High, June 28, 1957.
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Annual School Report
To the School Committee of the Town of Palmer:
I submit herewith my fifth annual report, the sixty-third report of the town.
Repairs.
This past summer toilet renovations were carried out in the boys' toilets in Three Rivers and Bondsville. These renova- tions will represent a fine improvement when completed. It is planned that these rooms will be painted when the other work has been done. The School Committee plans to extend this toilet renovation as fast as available monies are appropri- ated to all schools.
Classrooms at Quabaug were repainted this year; and floors were refinished at Quabaug, Three Rivers, and Bondsville to ac- commodate the new movable furniture units. Janitors did a fine job at refinishing these floors.
Needed Repairs.
The high school roof is in poor condition and needs to be replaced.
The rear wooden section of the Bondsville School should be scraped and repainted.
Outside trim at Three Rivers and Thorndike should be com- pleted in the near future.
The School Committee definitely plans to continue renova- tion of the school toilets begun at Three Rivers and Bondsville Schools. Estimates are being secured now for the extension of this work in the boys' toilets at Thorndike and Park Street.
Flood Damage.
Considerable damage occured at the Three Rivers School. The entire basement area was flooded within six inches of the first floor. Damage within and without the building was estimated
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at $3,000. School janitors and volunteer help from students put the building back in good condition before the opening of school.
First-Grade Entrance.
At the September meeting of the School Committee, the testing program formerly administered to pupils born in Jan- uary was discontinued. Children who become six years of age on or before December 31, 1956, are eligible to enter grade one.
New Books.
Many new books were added in the schools. New arithmetic books for grades one through four and new grade four geo- graphies arrived in the schools for this school year.
In the high school, new texts in world history and English were received.
Enrollments.
Schools opened again this year with an increased enrollment. This increase appeared partially in the elementary grades, but the greatest increase occurred in the high school, which is now operat- ting at full capacity. The high school figures are as follows:
1955-1956
Expected 1956-1957
Seniors
68
94
Juniors
94
127
Sophomores
127
145
Freshmen
145
203
434
569
Even though some space can be used upstairs at the Thorn- dike Street School next year, the inescapable conclusion is that additional facilities to the high school must be planned immediately.
At a recent meeting of the School Committee, it was voted to insert an article in the warrant of the next town meeting for the formation of a building committee. The School Committee plans to confer again with the School Building Assistance Commission to discuss preliminary plans based upon forthcoming enrollments.
Budget.
The 1956 budget represents an increase of $31,350 over last year. An analysis of the budget shows that, in the main, the
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salaries of personnel and transportation are largely responsible for the increase.
A new contract to the Palmer Motor Coach Service was awarded to begin in September, 1956. Additional transportation has been planned in the new contract. This was made necessary by a permanent close-off on the toll highway; and due to an in- creased enrollment in the high school, pupils living in outlying districts, who are now being transported on elementary school busses in the afternoon, will be transported home directly from the high school at the close of school.
The School Committee voted to double the increment (a sum of $300) of all teachers who have completed study requirements. and voted a $200 increase for janitors and clerks, effective January 1, 1956.
A new salary schedule was adopted to permit Palmer to compete with surrounding communities for a fast dwindling supply of competent teachers.
Unfortunately, there are some who make light of the edu- cators' contant reference to a "teacher shortage." Palmer's turn- over has been low in comparison with other communities. How- ever, in spite of this, your superintendent can report that pro- curing competent teachers is more difficult now than in all my years of experience, and it is getting worse each year. Letters were sent to all colleges in the nearby area for available candi- dates for openings in Palmer for next September; and before Christmas, letters by return mail from most of the colleges stated that all candidates were signed up for next year. In many cases, candidates will not sign now, as they await positions out of the state at a higher beginning salary than is being paid by most communities in Massachusetts. It is a strange paradox that, in a land of plenty, our children are being short-changed because of a lack of good teachers to teach them. This surely will be written in history as the great American tragedy.
A Look At The Future
Two years ago, a Town Survey Committee took a good look at the Palmer Schools. As a result, the Thorndike Street School was renovated, enabling us to house more elementary pupils. At that time, the committee recommended the formation of another committee to take a close look at the high school facilities in 1957. Since then, the Colorado Fuel and Iron Corporation has expanded its plant, and the toll road has cut a wide swath through our com- munity, changing its appearance considerably. The toll road itself
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and the confidence of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Corporation in expanding here will have a marked influence on this community's future if we will but plan for it wisely.
An expanding community must plan its school program. Two years ago, an addition to the present high school was a foregone conclusion, but now we pause to wonder. An addition would need to house a new gymnasium, household arts facilities, up-to-date science laboratories, cafeteria, health quarters and an expansion of shop facilities. All of these are expensive units. Recently school officials conferred with members of the School Building Assistance Commission regarding an addition to the present building, and serious questions were raised as to whether it would be the wisest economical thing to do in the face of impending town growth. It is estimated that, to house the peak enrollments on known figures, the high school will need to accommodate between 600 to 700 pupils. To add the units mentioned above, plus some additional classrooms, on the present site without taking taxable property, might present a problem. Another important question has been raised regarding curriculum: Should Palmer consider a more extensive educational program for its seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-grade pupils in the way of shop for boys and household arts for girls, as is the case in many other communities ? If the com- munity should desire this, the present high school might be utili- zed as a junior high school, leaving more room in the elementary schools for future growth. This question should be explored thoroughly, as an affirmative answer in this case means a new high school building entirely, in addition to some rethinking of transportation problems that must be answered.
This problem is a community responsibility. The School Com- mittee has voted to insert an article in the warrant this year to formulate a committee to assist them in looking at this problem squarely in the best interests of the town. This committee would recommend to the people for their consideration what seems to be the best course to follow to meet adequately all the educational requirements of the children in a modern society at the most economical cost.
Conclusion
In conclusion, may I take the opportunity to express my sin- cere appreciation to the members of the School Committee, the Board of Selectmen, the Highway Department, the Police De- partment, the Park Department, all other town officers, a loyal and helpful staff, Parent-Teacher Associations, cooperative parents and friends, businessmen, community organizations, and all others
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who have given the School Department their whole-hearted sup- port in its objective to provide a successful school program for your children.
Respectfully submitted, DONALD F. McCAFFREY
Superintendent of Schools
January 3, 1956.
Statement-December 31, 1955
Appropriation
Expended
Balance
General Expenses
$14,850.00
$14,842.28
$7.72
Expenses of Instruction
231,130.00
231,115.80
14.20
Expenses of Operating
42,200.00
42,198.75
1.25
Auxiliary Agencies
37,800.00
37,739.06
60.94
Furniture and Furnishings
1,500.00
1,499.65
.35
Repairs
31,000.00
30,999.61
.39
Day Schools
$358,480.00
$358,395.15
$84.85
Trade School Expenses
13,878.00
13,588.15
289.85
Retirements
4,290.00
4,289.80
.20
$376,648.00
$376,273.10
$374.90
The above statement does not include any of the flood dam- ages.
$804.55 was expended by the School Department and reim- bursed by the Federal Government.
$1,347.78 was also expended and will be reimbursed by the Federal Government.
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Town Warrant
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
County of Hampden, ss Town of Palmer
To either of the Constables of the Town of Palmer, in said County, GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn all the inhabitants of the Town of Palmer, qualified to vote in elections of town officers, to meet at the several polling places in said Palmer, designated by the selectmen, to wit: In Precinct A, at the High School Gymnasium on Converse Street in the Depot Village; in Precinct B, at the Thorndike Grammar School in Thorndike; in Precinct C, at the Three Rivers Grammar School in Three Rivers, and in Precinct D, at the Bondsville Grammar School in Bondsville, on Monday, the sixth day of February, A. D. 1956, at ten o'clock in the fore- roon, then and there to give in their votes on one ballot to the town, for the following officers, 3 Selectmen, 5 Constables, 3 Li- cense Commissioners, Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, Tree Warden, all for the term of one year; 1 Assessor, 1 Member of the Board of Public Welfare, 1 Cemetery Commissioner, 2 Mem- bers of the School Committee, 1 Member of the Board of Health, all for the term of three years; and 1 Member of the Planning Board for the term of five years and 1 Member of the Planning Board for a term of three years to fill vacancy; and to vote YES or NO upon the following question: "Shall Chapter thirty-two B of the General Laws, authorizing any county, city, town or district to provide a plan of group life insurance, group accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and group general or blanket hos- pital, surgical and medical insurance for certain persons in the service of such county, city, town or district and their dependents, be accepted by this town ?".
The polls will be open at ten o'clock in the forenoon and will be closed at eight o'clock in the evening.
And you are further hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Palmer, qualified to vote in town affairs, to
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meet at the Town House at Four Corners in said Palmer, on Mon- day, the thirteenth day of February, A. D. 1956, at seven o'clock in the evening, then and there to act on the following articles, viz:
Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Article 2. To choose all other usual town officers.
Article 3. To act on the reports of the town officers.
Article 4. To hear and act on reports of committees.
Article 5. To choose committees and give them instructions.
Article 6. To see if the town will vote to authorize the town treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1956 and to issue a note or notes there- for, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year, in accordance with Section 17 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws.
Article 7. To see if the town will vote to authorize the treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money as permitted by law to meet any appropriations made or expenses incurred under any of the articles of this warrant.
Article 8. To raise money and make appropriations to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
Article 9. To see if the town will vote to authorize the se- lectmen to sell at public auction, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in some con- venient and public place in the town fourteen days at least before the sale, property taken by the Town under tax title procedure, provided that the selectmen or whomsoever they may authorize to hold such auction may reject any bid which they deem inade- quate, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 10. To see if the town will vote to authorize the se- lectmen to sell at public auction, after first giving notice of the
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time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in some con- venient and public place in the town fourteen days at least before the sale, or at private sale, any old and obsolete equipment or per- sonal property, provided that the selectmen or whomsoever they may authorize to hold such auction or sale may reject any bid which they deem inadequate, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 11. To see if the town will raise and appropriate or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the treasury a sum of money for Chapter 90 Highway Maintenance, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 12. To see if the town will vote to appropriate or transfer from the parking meter account any sum of money for (a) police enforcement; (b) constructing, reconstructing, resur- facing, operating and maintaining off street parking areas; (c) a miscellaneous fund under the exclusive control of the selectmen to be used for purposes authorized by law; (d) contribution to- ward cost of snow removal.
Article 13. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of money necessary to pay overdraft on snow re- moval.
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to transfer any sum of money from the Overlay Reserve account to the Reserve Fund, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to appropriate any sum of money from Free Cash to reduce the 1956 tax levy, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 16. To see if the town will vote to accept the follow- ilig Perpetual Care Funds which have been given to it during the year: Effie D. Marcy $200.00; Mabel J. Sedgwick $100.00; Charles B. Doherty $100.00; Mrs. Ralph A. Manley $100.00; Rose A. Davis $75.00; Edna Turkington $100.00; Marion Hellyar $100.00; Julia A. Heine $150.00; Raymond G. Patterson $100.00; Charles W. Bell $100.00; Elizabeth F. Wassum $200.00; Martha J. B. Jamieson $200.00; Elias S. Page $100.00; Theodore A. Norman (additional) $200.00.
Article 17. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro -. priate any sum of money to be expended in the Town by the
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Hampden County Trustees for Aid to Agriculture in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws of Massachusetts, Chapter 28, Section 42.
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to purchase a new cruiser for the police department, and raise and appropriate any sum of money therefor.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to establish a school building committee of eleven members, of which five members shall be the existing members of the School Committee and six members to be appointed by the moderator from the community at large, for the purpose of determining the need of an addition to the existing high school and to authorize said committee to obtain the necessary preliminary plans for any such addition, to give in- structions to said committee, and to raise and appropriate any sum of money for the use of said committee in carrying out its pur- poses, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 20. To see if the town will vote to accept the pro- visions of Chapter 114 of the Acts of 1955 entitled "AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF PALMER TO CONVEY CER- TAIN LAND TO AMVETS, ROMUALD RENAUD POST #74 OF THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF AMVETS, INC." which is set forth as follows: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: SECTION 1. The Town of Palmer is hereby authorized to convey to AMVETS, Romuald Ren- aud Post #74 of the Massachusetts Department of AMVETS, Inc., in consideration of nine thousand dollars, two certain parcels of real estate, with the buildings thereon, situate on the northerly side of East Main street in the village of Three Rivers, town of Palmer, which real estate was taken in fee for school purposes and described in an instrument of taking of lands owned by John F. O'Connor and Zephire LaCoste dated December tenth, nine- ieen hundred and nineteen, and recorded with Hampden County Registry of Deeds, book one thousand and forty-three, page one hundred and sixteen. The deed of conveyance may contain such restrictions as the selectmen shall deem proper and for the best interests of the town of Palmer. SECTION 2. The real estate re- ferred to in section one is bounded and described as follows :- Parcel One .- Beginning at a point in the northerly side of said East Main Street and at the southwesterly corner of land of the Otis Company, thence N. 13º 15' W. along land of said Otis Com- pany two hundred twenty feet to land of Zephire LaCoste, thence northwesterly along said LaCoste land about four hundred eighty feet to the Swift river, thence southwesterly on said river to land
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now or formerly of James Barber, thence southeasterly along land now or formerly of said Barber about five hundred seventy feet to the northerly side of said East Main street, thence easterly along the northerly side of said East Main street about eighty- one and five tenths feet to the place of beginning. Parcel Two .- Beginning at a point at the northwesterly corner of land of the Otis Company and in line of land of John P. O'Connor, said point being two hundred twenty feet northwesterly from the northerly line cf side East Main street, thence N. 77° 20' E. along land of the Otis Company and other land of said LaCoste about two hundred seventy feet to land now or formerly of Pierre and Marie Leveille, thence northwesterly about eight hundred feet along last named iand and land now or formerly of Louis Leveille, Albert Barber, Celis Camerlin, C. Paquette, Philomen Smith, the westerly terminus of Lafayette avenue, so called, and land now or formerly of E. Cantin to a stone bound in line of land of said Cantin, thence northwest- erly about one hundred thirty feet along land now or formerly of said Cantin and Riverview avenue to the Swift river, thence southerly and southwesterly on said river to land of John F. O'Con- nor, thence southeasterly along land of said John P. O'Connor about four hundred eighty feet to the place of beginning. SEC- TION 3. This act shall take effect upon its acceptance by the voters of said town at an annual town meeting or any meeting duly called for the purpose." and to authorize the selectmen to convey the real estate above described to AMVETS, Romuald Renaud Post #74 of the Massachusetts Department of AMVETS, Inc. for the sum of nine thousand ($9,000) dollars and to execute such necessary deed of conveyance in which such restrictions as the selectmen shall determine proper and for the best interests of the town are incorporated and to do all things necessary to effect the sale of said real estate above described.
Article 21. To see if the town will vote to accept the provi- sions of Chapter 347 of the Acts of 1952 providing for pay to a municipal employee of the town during annual tour of duty as a member of the organized reserve.
Article 22. To see if the voters will vote to increase the present School Committee to a 9-man committee, or take any action thereto.
Article 23. To see if the people will vote to have a represen- tative form of government, or take any action thereto.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to accept the pro- visions of Section 11 of Chapter 91 of the General Laws and to.
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authorize the selectmen to execute indemnity and save harmless agreements to the Commonwealth, its representatives and agents against all claims and demands for damages that may be sustained by any person whose land or any rights or interest therein is taken for or is injured by said work as described in said section.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to accept the provi- sions of Chapter 760 of the Acts of 1955 which provides for the establishment of contributory group, general or blanket insur- once for persons in the service of counties, cities, towns and dis- tricts and their dependents.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to instruct the se- lectmen to hold future town meetings in Palmer High School Auditorium.
Article 27. To see if the town will vote to accept the provi- sions of Chapter 670 of the Acts of 1955 which provides for pen- sion increases to certain retired former municipal employees.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate any sum of money for the collection and disposal of gar- bage and/or rubbish in the several villages of the Town of Palmer and authorize the selectmen to prepare specifications, execute a contract or contracts for a term not to exceed three years and do all things necessary to effect the collection of said garbage and/or rubbish, or to authorize the selectmen to have said garbage and/ or rubbish collected by a department of the town, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 29. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropri- ate any sum of money for engineering plans, underwater inspec- ton and any and all other expenses incidental to reconstruction, repair or alteration of the Bridge Street bridge in the Village of Three Rivers, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 30. To see if the town will vote to rarse and appro- priate any sum of money for the construction of a storage building for the Highway Department to replace the storage building lost in last year's flood, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 31. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate any sum of money to improve Central Street, Walnut Street
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and French Street in the Depot Village, said monies to be used in conjunction with the sums appropriated under Articles 42, 43, 44 and 46 of the Warrant calling the Annual Meeting of February 14, 1955, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 32. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate any sum of money for the purchase of the following pieces of equipment for use of the Highway Department:
(a) a front-end loader;
(b) a sweeper;
or take any action relative thereto.
Article 33. To see if the town will vote to appropriate and raise by taxation or otherwise, or by transfer from available funds any sum of money for construction of approaches to the proposed new Burleigh Bridge, said monies to be used in conjunction with any monies allotted for this purpose by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the County of Hampden, or take any action re- lative thereto.
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