Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Williamsburg 1957, Part 4

Author: Williamsburg (Mass. : Town)
Publication date: 1957
Publisher: Town of Williamsburg
Number of Pages: 102


USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Williamsburg > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Williamsburg 1957 > Part 4


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Mrs. Margaret Madison accepted the position of School Nurse, replacing Mrs. Ruth McAvoy. Mr. Frank Vayda


85


replaced Mr. Royce Martin as custodian of the Anne T. Dunphy School.


At the annual meeting of Union #52 held at Smith's School in Northampton, I was elected as Superintendent of Schools for three years. Mr. N. Deming Hoyt was elected as Adjustment Counselor for the towns, of Wil- liamsburg, Westhampton, and Worthington. Mrs. Robert O'Neill was elected as Secretary for Union #52. We are most grateful to Mr. Lauri Ronka, Director, for giving us the opportunity to meet at Smith's School where we were taken on a tour of the entire plant. The educational and vocational opportunities provided to younsters who wish to further their education were explained. At this meet- ing, Mr. Kenneth Sherk of Williamsburg was elected Union Chairman and Mrs. Robert Lucey was elected secretary.


This fall another Curriculum Workshop for teachers in Union #52 and the Ashfield Union took place. Teachers indicated through a survey that Arithmetic was the sub- ject they wished to re-evaluate. The Massachusetts De- partment of Education has been most helpful in making this day possible. Miss Margaret Shea, Elementary State Supervisor, again this year furnished us with outstanding consultants who met with groups of teachers and dis- cussed all areas of arithmetic learning in elementary schools. These one-day workshops, we feel, do much to stimulate and redirect the thinking on the part of teachers, which in turn should result in richer learning experiences for children.


Williamsburg for the first time qualified under Public Law 871 to receive federal assistance due to a number of children in our schools, whose parents are federal em- ployees. The entire amount received was $3,184.00.


On September 4, 1957, the minimum salary for teachers in Massachusetts was raised from $3,000.00 to $3,300.00. This new minimum again affected our salary


86


schedule as our maximum until this year had been $4,200.00. The chairman of the School Committee has given more detailed information on teachers' salaries in his report.


Since the beginning of this school year, teachers in grades 1 through 8 have been re-evaluating our Arithme- tic program. Various series were studied and finally in December the Silver Burdett series was adopted and put into use immediately. These new texts will constitute the core of our arithmetic program and should bring stability and continuity in all grades. Diagnostic and standardized tests will be used at intervals not only to measure pupil progress but also to see how our children measure up on a national scale.


Major improvements and repairs made during the year 1957 are as follows :


1. A new roof was installed on the old section of the Helen E. James School.


2. New furniture was installed at the Haydenville Center School and in one room at the Jr .- Sr. High School.


3. A section of colprovia was applied next to the Helen E. James School as a parking area.


4. A new ceiling was installed in the boiler room of the Haydenville Center School.


5. Repairs were made on the heating system at the Haydenville Center School.


Our Basic Reading Program now includes grades seven and eight. We have felt for some time that this should be done to enable grade level pupils to extend further the in- terpretative skills and abilities learned in the lower grades and also give these pupils who were still below par in reading more time to acquire the necessary skills.


Mr. Deming Hoyt, Adjustment Counselor, has carried on an excellent guidance program in grades one through


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eight. In our high school, Mr. Henry Sim administered the Kuder Preference test to all Freshmen this year and discussed the results with each pupil. All high school pupils have taken the California Test of Mental Maturity. It is the intention of the Williamsburg School Committee to further develop Guidance in high school in the near future.


New activities in high school include the Library Club formed by Mrs. Marie Thomas. At present the members of this club are cataloging books and developing a filing system.


Under Mrs. Ann Belk's guidance a Science Club has also been formed. A science Fair was held in the Spring where special projects were on display.


F. N. Graves & Sons, Inc., has again made our Driver Education program possible by donating a new dual- control car. Mr. Earl Tonet has 27 students enrolled in this elective course.


Special Supervisors of Music, Physical Education and Art have carried on very successful programs in all grades. The cafeteria under the management of Mrs. Helen Wells continues to serve excellent balanced meals and has been self-supporting during this past year.


I am deeply grateful to the School Committee, teachers, other staff members, Mrs. O'Neill, Union Secretary, the P.T.A. and the many parents of Williamsburg for their help and cooperation throughout the school year.


Respectfully submitted,


J. WALTER RICHARD


Superintendent of Schools


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Report of School Nurse


Mr. J. Water Richard Superintendent of Schools Williamsburg, Mass.


Dear Mr. Richard :


The annual report of the school nurse is herewith sub- mitted for January 1, 1957 - December 31, 1957.


All primary grade children were weighed and meas- ured twice during the year. The junior high and high school students were weighed and measured once. If a child was underweight, we then weighed him or her more frequently.


All pupils in Haydenville and Williamsburg schools had the hearing test in March and April. The parents of 23 children were notified of defective hearing. Most of them were taken to the family physician or a specialist.


The immunization clinic for diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus was held in April and May. Dr. Hemen- way was assisted in Haydenville and Dr. Hobbs in Wil- limsburg by the school nurse and the town visiting nurse. 285 school children and 79 pre-school children received their booster shots.


The third in the series of Salk vaccine shots was given in June by Dr. Hemenway in Haydenville and Dr. Hobbs in Williamsburg. The school nurse and the visiting nurse assisted. 441 children were given the booster.


Miss Genevieve Ely, State Dental Hygienist, examined the teeth of 459 pupils in Haydenville and Williamsburg schools during April. 73% of the school population were


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found to be in need of dental corrective care at the time of the inspection. Cards were sent home notifying par- ents of dental work needed. Pink cards were given to children who didn't need treatment or had completed treatments. The children were taken to the family den- tist.


Dr. Hobbs was assisted with physical examinations during the fall in Williamsburg and Dr. Hemenway was assisted in Haydenville. No serious defects were found.


Vision testing was completed in the 3 schools with 8 children needing further testing by an optometrist. No- tices have been mailed to parents and were readily taken care of.


Ear and Vision testing was demonstrated to me by Mr. Reardon of Boston from the Department of Public Health as a refresher course. This is the reason the vision test- ing was done somewhat later this year.


Several cases of measles were reported in the spring and several cases of chicken pox and mumps this winter. Many children were absent from school in November on account of the "Flu".


Visits were made in several homes and classroom in- spections were made in all primary grades. Also, follow up work is being done in regard to defects found during physical examinations.


I wish to thank Mr. Richard, the School Committee and all parents for their cooperation.


Respectfully submitted,


MARGARET MADISON, R.N.


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State Audit TOWN OF WILLIAMSBURG Balance Sheet - September 30, 1956 GENERAL ACCOUNTS


Cash,


ASSETS


$38,388.92


LIABILITIES AND RESERVES State and County Assessments 1956: State Recreation Areas $260.35


Accounts Receivable :


Taxes :


Audit Municipal Accounts 65.17


Levy of 1954:


County Tax 10,350.88


Personal Property


$307.05


County Retirement 1,233.94


$11,910.34


Levy of 1955:


2,032.54 Payroll Deductions : Federal Taxes Contributory Retirement System


$1,625.74


Poll


8.00


Personal Property


1,436.67


88.38


Real Estate


5,656.60


1,714.12


7,101.27


Water Connection Deposits


87.00


Levy of 1956 :


Agency :


Poll


110.00


Dog Licenses-Due County


$143.20


Personal Property


16,813.35


Collector's Costs


37.35


Excess-Sale Lands of


Low Value


226.49


Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise :


Levy of 1954:


$195.20


Levy of 1955


591.28


1,007.04


Levy of 1956


12,137.43


12,923.91


Trust Fund Income: Henry M. Hills Memorial


Real Estate


128,164.35


145,087.70


Land Purchase-Anne T.


Dunphy School 600.00


Real Estate


1,725.49


Tax Titles Tax Possessions


$398.87 192.43


591.30


465.58


Departmental:


Aid to Dependent Children


178.27


Water Department:


Rates


$3,423.85


Miscellaneous


1,004.95


Petticoat Hill Extension


27.50


Onslaw G. Spelman School Fund 126.77


Byron Loomis School Fund 478.12


Aid to Highways:


State


$20,294.50


Albert D. Sanders School Fund 426.44


County


4,722.25


Ellsworth H. Hyde School Fund


253.52


25,016.75


5,209.64


Federal Grants:


Disability Assistance:


Administration


$62.05


Due from Post-War Rehabilitation Fund


5,300.00


Assistance


1,942.43


Due from Collins School Fund


36.17


Aid to Dependent Children :


Overdrawn Appropriations :


346.89


Dutch Elm Control $5.80


5,595.99


Highways:


Old Age Assistance :


Chapter 90 Construction- 1955


.06


Assistance


14,888.52


Chapter 90 Construction- 1956


4,971.12


Chapter 81-1956


4,505.99


Veterans' Services


157.16


9,640.13


Revolving Funds: School Lunch


$1,128.79


Bed Fund Whiting Street Worthy Poor Fund Mary L. Main Worthy Poor Fund 463.50


Electa Waite Charity Fund 316.72


Lyman D. Waite Charity Fund 195.70


Albert S. Hills Charity Fund 762.06


C. J. Hills Charity Fund 618.31


4,456.30


Ethel Curry School Fund 102.50


Estimated Receipts-to be Collected


19,285.91


Unprovided For or Overdrawn Accounts :


Dog Officer-Due from County


6.50


Administration Aid


Administration


2,073.35


Federal Works Agency- Water Plans and Emergency 12.00


24,921.23


$1,000.42


School Athletics 1,713.06


2,841.85


Appropriation Balances: Revenue : General $93,767.96


Non-Revenue :


New Elementary School Construction 4,846.55


Helen E. James School Repairs 6.348.45


104,962.96


Road Machinery Fund


5,266.71


Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus


4,398.17


Overlays Reserved for Abatements:


Levy of 1954


$1,254.88


Levy of 1955


4,875.10


Levy of 1956


6,539.64


12,669.62


Revenue Reserved Until Collected : Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise


$12,923.91


Tax Title and Possession


591.30


Departmental


178.27


Water


4,456.30


Aid to Highway


25,016.75


43,166.53


Surplus Revenue : General


$49,822.87


Water


2,067.59


51,890.46


$270,045.67


$270,045.67


DEBT ACCOUNTS


Net Funded or Fixed Debt: Inside Debt Limit : General Outside Debt Limit : General $195,000.00


$20,000.00


Serial Loans : Inside Debt Limit : Helen E. James School Repair Loan Outside Debt Limit : General: Anne T. Dunphy Elementary School Loan $195,000.00


$20,000.00


Public Service Enterprise :


Water


22,500.00


217,500.00


Public Service Enterprise : Water:


Water Main South Street Extension Loan 3,500.00


Water Main Sanatorium


Extension Loan 2,000.00


Underground Water Supply Loan 17,000.00


217,500.00


$237,500.00


$237,500.00


TRUST AND INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS


Trust and Investment Funds : Cash and Securities : In Custody of Town Treasurer


In Custody of Trustee


$119,404.93 3,876.74


In Custody of Town Treasurer : Henry M. Hills Hospital Bed Fund $17,649.07


Whiting Street Worthy Poor Fund 5,574.25


Mary L. Main Worthy


Poor Fund 3,000.00


Henry W. Warner Worthy


Poor Fund 5,638.82


Electa Waite Charity Fund 1,773.51


Lyman D. Waite Charity Fund 700.00


Albert S. Hills Charity Fund


5,000.00


C. J. Hills Charity Fund


5,000.00


Collins School Fund


12,423.45


Onslow G. Spelman School Fund 36,947.77


Byron Loomis School Fund


7,436.51


Ethel Curry School Fund


1,000.00


Albert D. Sanders School Fund 6,508.30


Ellsworth H. Hyde


School Fund 3,004.77


Cemetery Perpetual


Care Funds


1,325.00


Post-War Rehabilitation


Fund


6,423.48


$119,404.93


In Custody of Trustee: Helen E. James School Fund


3,876.74


$123,281.67


$123,281.67





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