USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1920-1924 > Part 16
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No two upper grades can be cared for in the South School. because under the present system of classes, the best results can be obtained by employing a teacher as instructor in all the upper grades on those subjects in which he or she has specialized. For instance, the higher mathematics of grammar school can be taught by one teacher in all the upper grades. and the other subjects in a similar way. The teachers for these grades are selected with this in view, and it can be readily seen that greater advancement will be effected and the work can be better carried on from class to class by this method than by any arrangement where each teacher instructs in all the subjects in one grade.
There is one big objection to the use of the South School. This is that the children of North and East Lincoln must be transported not only to the Center School, but from there to the South School, which in severe weather is not desirable unless great care is exercised that all those so transported are taken into the Center School to become thoroughly warm before starting for the South School. In addition, the problem
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of supervision becomes more difficult, although from now on, being required by law to employ a union superintendent in- stead of a teaching superintendent, this problem will not be a serious one.
The Committee believes that the town does not wish to spare any expense in order to obtain for our children the best education that can be imparted to them, and that when such education is assured insofar as that is possible, that most rigid economy must be practised in the expenditure of the money of the citizens of the town. Believing that the education of our children will not suffer at present through the maintenance of the South School, and after carefully considering the ad- vantages and disadvantages of this plan, the Committee recom- mends to the town that no action be taken at present to enlarge the Center School plant, but, that the town keep watchful eye upon the situation, so that when and if the large size of the present lower grades is maintained as these grades pass on through the school, that the town will be prepared to build for them such an enlargement or addition to the present build- ing as at that time careful study for future needs will deter- mine.
CHESTER G. PECK, GEORGE G. TARBELL, ANTHONY J. DOHERTY, EDITH B. FARRAR, C. LEE TODD, THOMAS J. DEE,
Committee.
r
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF LINCOLN
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1922
COL
126
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
ANTHONY J. DOHERTY, Chairman, Term expires 1925
GEORGE G. TARBELL, Secretary, Term expires 1923
EDITH B. FARRAR (MRS.) Term expires 1924
Superintendent of Schools CHARLES H. MORSS, Resigned
Principal CHARLES M. ROBINSON
Teachers
Junior High Grades VII-VIII-IX ELIZABETH S. CAVERNO MARION D. PARKER
Grammar Grades V-VI MARY D. WADE MYRTLE C. ELLIOTT
Grammar Grade IV OLIVE G. RICH
Primary Grade III JENNIE M. WHEATON
Primary Grade II VERA B. ALLEN
Primary Grade I ELLA WESTON, Resigned JOSEPHINE C. DOHERTY
Manual Training and Drawing ERNEST T. THOMPSON, Resigned
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School Physician DR. HENRY E. WOOD
School Nurse
CAROLYN VIETS
Attendance Officer JOHN J. KELLIHER
Janitor EDWARD GRAF
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Winter Term, first half, begins Tuesday, January 2, 1923, ends Friday, February 16, 1923; seven weeks.
Winter Term, second half, begins Monday, February 26, 1923, ends Friday, April 13, 1923 ; seven weeks.
Spring Term begins Monday, April 23, 1923, ends Friday, June 15, 1923; eight weeks.
Fall Term begins Tuesday, September 4, 1923, ends Friday, December 21, 1923.
Winter Term begins Wednesday, January 2, 1924.
Length of school year, 1923-1924, thirty-eight weeks.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The Committee at its first meeting for the year 1922, organ- ized with Anthony J. Doherty as Chairman and George G. Tarbell as Secretary.
For the first time in a number of years and with a great deal of satisfaction to the Committee, it has been able to report very few changes in the "Teaching Staff." This is attributed to the fact that all teachers re-engaged receive an increase in salary of one hundred dollars a year for Elementary teachers until the maximum of fifteen hundred dollars is reached, and one hundred and fifty dollars a year for High School teachers, until a maximum of sixteen hundred fifty dollars a year is reached. This plan now in force has resulted in the Commit- tee being able to retain practically all teachers of the previous year and at salaries more in keeping with the average paid in other towns included in the group of which Lincoln is a part.
The past year saw the opening of the South School, both rooms, and the removal of grades one and two from the Center School. This arrangement has greatly relieved the congestion existing at the Center School and provides room that has been sadly needed there for some time, and if continued will obviate the necessity of providing a new building or any addition to the present building in the Center, at least for the present. There is one feature, however, in connection with the opening of the South School, that is a draw-back; that is the trans- portation of the children of these two grades who come from the North and East sections of the Town. This makes for
129
them a much longer ride, and in the Winter months, carries with it certain inconveniences. If, however, motor trans- portation could be provided for the North section, the objec- tion of long time on the road, the principal inconvenience, would be eliminated to a very great extent. The Committee have great hopes of bringing about in some way an arrange- ment whereby the children of the North section will have this motor transportation. Grade one at the South School has now a membership of 32 and grade two, a membership of 24; thus taking from the Center School a total of 56, or about one-fourth of the full membership of the Lincoln Schools. This change has both its advantages and disadvantages. The chief advantage being that the younger children are by them- selves and not in contact with the larger and older children. The chief disadvantage being that these grades do not have the supervision they would naturally have if all were in one building. On the whole, however, the change appears to be working out very satisfactorily.
But few changes in the matter of transportation were neces- sary during the past year. It is quite obvious, however, that changes will have to be made in the future as the vehicles of transportation on several of the routes are greatly over- crowded and not satisfactory from several points of view. The congestion as applied heretofore to membership in the Center School is equally applicable to the matter of transportation.
At the close of the Fall term in December, the resignation of Mr. Morss as Superintendent of Schools took effect, he having reached the retirement age and being eligible to apply for a pension. During his services of five years, Mr. Morss established a complete reorganization of the schools, thereby greatly increasing their efficiency. He also was able to keep in close touch with those of our pupils attending High School at Concord and Waltham. The introduction of the ninth grade
130
of Junior High School during his Supervision has, in a great measure, helped to bridge a gap that had for some time existed between the Eighth Grade of the Lincoln Schools and the Ninth Grade or First Grade of the High School at Concord. This he brought about by adopting certain of the courses as given in these grades in the Concord Schools. Mr. Morss brought to Lincoln Schools a valuable experience attained by long and active service as a Teacher and Administrator in the public schools of Massachusetts and also outside of the State of Massachusetts; that Lincoln Schools have received the benefit from this service and experience, there is no ques- tion. The School Committee wishes to recognize this service and extends to Mr. Morss their well wishes for a long and well deserved period of rest.
Upon the resignation of Mr. Morss, the Committee were informed that Lincoln, under the law, was obliged to enter a Superintendency Union with other towns and could not employ a Superintendent of its own as heretofore. After conferences with representatives of the State Board of Educa- tion, the matter was left in abeyance pending negotiations with other towns with the view of planning a combination that would be suitable and effective. Your Committee were then confronted with the task of securing a man to fill the position of principal and were fortunate in being able to engage Mr. Charles M. Robinson, who at the time held the position of Sub-Master in the High School at Sharon. The Committee feels that it was doubly fortunate in engaging Mr. Robinson in that he could come to Lincoln at the beginning of the January term, thus taking up the work where it was left off by Mr. Morss.
School Finances
During the past year the tuition of our High School pupils attending Concord High was again raised so that the Town
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is now paying the amount of One Hundred Twenty-five Dol- lars per year with 5% off for payment within thirty days. This as compared with Waltham, where the tuition charge is Seventy-five Dollars per year, makes a very substantial dif- ference in the cost of attendance at the two places. Our present enrollment at Concord is 32 pupils and at Waltham 2. Other than the increase in High School tuition as above, and the yearly increase in the salaries of the teachers, there has been very little increase in the past year over that of the previous year in the running expenses of the schools. There is one exception, however, that of the District Nurse, for whose services the School pays the sum of Four Hundred Dol- lars a year.
In the year 1922, there has been received from the Common- wealth and other sources, the amount of $3,528.44, as is shown on summary of school expenses for the year 1922, included in this report.
To carry on the school work for the year 1923 will require an appropriation of $29,500.00. The excess over that of last year is due to the general increase in the salaries of the teachers, the proportionate part to be paid toward the salary of a Union Superintendent, and the additional expense in connection with the conducting of the South School. This sum is recom- mended by the Committee.
The Committee would recommend also that the Town make an appropriation sufficient to properly grade the Center School grounds. This is work that should be done for the protection of the children who use the grounds for their different forms of play and recreation and for which the grounds are not entirely suitable or safe.
Owing to the resignation of Mr. Morss, there has been no Superintendent's report prepared. That part of the Super-
132
intendent's report, however, relating to school statistics is hereto annexed and made a part of this report.
Respectfully submitted,
ANTHONY J. DOHERTY, GEORGE G. TARBELL, MRS. EDITH B. FARRAR.
Statistics for Year Ending June 30, 1922
Pupils enrolled,
223
Boys,
118
Girls, 105
Pupils for whom town paid tuition elsewhere,
36
Non-resident pupils attending school in Lincoln,
20-30
Average daily attendance,
191
Number of days schools were in session,
179
Average membership,
207
Registration of minors, April 1, 1922 :
5 years and under 7,
20
7 years and under 14,
164
14 years and under 16
35
16 years and under 21,
4
223
ยท Membership by Age and Grade, June 30, 1922
Age
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Total
Grade I.
20
8
28
II.
12
17
4
0
1
1
35
III.
1
11
11
3
1
27
IV.
1
10
8
5
5
2
2
33
V.
2
10
11
3
1
27
VI.
3
5
7
5
1
21
VII.
5
7
7
2
1
22
VIII.
2
5
6
4
3
20
IX.
2
0
1
7
10
Total
20
21
29
27
21
21
23
22
21
14
4
223
.
133
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SUMMARY OF EXPENSES FOR YEAR 1922
Salaries, Supt., Teachers and Janitor $12,931.50
School Supplies 1,176.82
High School Tuition 5.030.94
High School Transportation
1,191.28
Miscellaneous 263.34
Local Transportation 3,059.55
Fuel
999.88
Physician and Nurse
686.73
New Equipment
297.30
Barge Repairs
20.50
$25,657.84
RECEIPTS ON ACCOUNT OF SCHOOLS
Com. of Mass. School Fund
$294.36
Com. of Mass. High School Transportation
(1920)
574.20
Com. of Mass. Tuition of Children
921.00
Com. of Mass. General School Fund
1,510.00
Com. of Mass. Vocational and Industrial Schools
26.45
Trustees Grammar School Fund (1921) 61.21
South School Coal 102.00
Materials and Damage 9.33
Rebate New Eng. Tel. and Tel. Co. 29.89
$3,528.44
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NOTICE:
Business Meeting, Monday, March 5th, at 1 P. M.
WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
MIDDLESEX, ss.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Lincoln in said County : GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby required to notify the legal voters of said Town of Lincoln, qualified to vote at Town Meeting for the trans- action of Town affairs, to meet in the Town Hall in said Lincoln on Monday, the fifth day of March next at one o'clock P. M., then and there to act on all of the following Articles, except Article 2, and to meet in said Town Hall on Tuesday, the sixth day of March next at 12:30 o'clock P. M., then and there to act on the following Article 2, by posting a copy of this Warrant, by you attested, in each of the Post Offices and in some other public place in said Town seven days at least before the fifth day of March next :
The polls for voting the Australian ballot on Tuesday, March 6th, will be open at 12:30 o'clock P. M. and may be closed at 6.30 o'clock P. M.
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator.
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ART. 2. To bring in their votes for the following Town Officers and any other officers required by law to be elected by Australian ballot :
One Town Clerk for one year.
One member of the Board of Selectmen for three years.
One member of the Board of Assessors for three years.
One member of the Board of Health for three years.
One Treasurer for one year.
One Collector for one year.
One Auditor for one year.
Two Constables for one year.
One Tree Warden for one year.
One member of the Trust Fund Commissioners for three years.
One member of Trustees for Free Public Lectures for three years.
One member of the School Committee for three years.
One member of the Board of Water Commissioners for three years.
One member of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners for three years.
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Also to vote "Yes" or "No" upon the following question :
"Shall licenses be granted for the sale of non-intoxicating beverages in this Town?"
ART. 3. To bring in their votes for any committees, com- missioners, trustees and officers required by law to be elected by ballot or otherwise.
ART. 4. To hear and act upon the reports of Town Of- ficers, Committees, Commissioners and Trustees.
ART. 5. To appropriate money for necessary and expe- dient purposes of the Town and enact anything in relation to the same.
ART. 6. To determine the manner of collecting taxes for the ensuing year.
ART. 7. To determine the compensation of the Collector of Taxes for the ensuing year.
ART. 8. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the muni- cipal year, beginning January 1st, 1923, in anticipation of the collection of taxes for the said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current expenses of the Town, but not exceeding the total tax levy for the said year, giving the notes of the Town in payment therefor payable in one year from the date thereof. All debts incurred under authority of this vote shall be paid from the taxes of the present municipal year.
ART. 9. To see if the Town will authorize any extension of street lighting or take any action with reference to the matter.
138
ART. 10. To see if the Town will authorize any extension of water pipes or take any action with reference to the matter.
ART. 11. To see if the Town will authorize the employ- ment of a Visiting Nurse or take any action with reference to the matter.
ART. 12. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $200, or some other amount and elect a director, the money to be expended by and the director to serve in co-operation with the County Agricultural Trustees of the Middlesex County Bureau of Agriculture and Home Economics, under the provisions of Sections 40 to 45, Chapter 128, General Laws of Massachusetts.
ART. 13. To see if the Town will acquire, by purchase or otherwise, sufficient land for a playground or athletic field and appropriate any money for the same, or take any action in relation thereto.
HEREOF FAIL NOT.
And make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at or before the time for the meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this 12th day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twenty- three.
CHARLES S. SMITH, JOHN F. FARRAR, ROBERT D. DONALDSON, Selectmen of Lincoln.
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The Committee, to whom was referred the question of pre- paring a new set of By-Laws or amending those already in existence, report minor changes in the present By-Laws. These are presented to the Town for such action in the premises as they think best :
Proposed By-Laws of the Town of Lincoln
"ARTICLE I.
TOWN MEETINGS.
Section 1. The annual town meeting shall be held on the first Monday of March in each year.
Sect. 2. Notice of every town meeting shall be given by posting copies of the warrant calling the same, attested by the officer making service thereof, in each of the post-offices within the town, and in one of the churches, or one other public place, within the town, not less than seven days be- fore the day appointed for such meeting. But when, in the judgment of the selectmen, the interests of the town require a meeting to be held without giving so long a notice, a meeting may be called by posting attested copies of the warrant in the places above mentioned, and by leaving a printed copy thereof at each dwelling-house within the town, at least three days before the time appointed for the meeting ; pro- vided that in such cases the selectmen shall certify that, in their opinion, the interests of the town require that a town meeting be called upon a notice of less than seven days, which certificate shall be made upon, or attached to, the original warrant, and shall be served as a part thereof.
140
ARTICLE II.
FINANCES.
Section 1. The financial year shall commence with the first day of January and end with the thirty-first day of December annually.
Sect. 2. The town treasurer shall have the custody of all funds belonging to the town except sinking funds, trust funds and funds for which other provision is made by law; and he shall pay no money from the treasury except upon a draft signed by a majority of the selectmen, stating the account to which the same is chargeable. Such draft shall be sufficient authority to the treasurer to pay the same, and the payment thereof shall discharge him from all liability on account of the money so paid.
Sect. 3. The water commissioners and all other boards, committees and officers shall, on the first day of each month, pay to the town treasurer all sums collected by them the month previous to the custody of which the treasurer is entitled.
Sect. 4. A majority of the water commissioners; school committee, or of any board, or committee, and any officer hav- ing charge of the expenditure of an appropriation, shall approve in writing all accounts, claims, bills and pay-rolls properly chargeable to such appropriation, and shall trans- mit the same with his or their approval to the selectmen. All other accounts, claims, bills and pay-rolls shall be examined by the selectmen and, if proper, shall be approved by them. The selectmen shall label all accounts, claims, bills and pay- rolls which have been approved either by themselves or by the other officers before mentioned, and shall keep a record thereof in a book kept for the purpose, stating the persons to whom payable, the amounts and dates thereof, and the funds, or appropriations, from which the same are payable.
141
Sect. 5. Drafts signed by a majority of the selectmen, stating the accounts to which the same are chargeable, shall be drawn upon the treasurer for the payment of all sums by law payable from the treasury to the commonwealth or county, final judgments of courts, bonds, notes, and scrip of the town and interest thereon and money payable to the commissioners of the sinking fund and to the trustees of the public library ; and also for the payment of all accounts, claims, bills and pay-rolls which have been approved in the manner provided in the previous section. Such drafts shall not be negotiated, but shall be transmitted by the selectmen directly to the treas- urer accompanied by the approved bills or other documents for the settlement of which the drafts are drawn.
Sect. 6. The treasurer shall file and safely keep all ap- proved and receipted accounts, claims, bills, and pay-rolls, and all vouchers, cancelled bonds, notes, scrip, and other evidences of indebtedness of the town which have been paid from the treasury.
Sect. 7. No draft shall be drawn by the selectmen unless there is sufficient appropriation to pay the same, except for sums by law payable to the commonwealth or county, final judgments of courts, bonds, notes and scrip of the town and interest thereon, and money payable to the commissioners of the sinking fund.
Sect. 8. The selectmen and treasurer respectively shall make a record, in a book kept for the purpose, of each ap- propriation, with a list of the drafts drawn against such appropriation, and shall make a record of all bonds, notes, scrip or other evidence of indebtedness of the town, signed or countersigned by them.
Sect. 9. When the bills contracted or approved by any board, committee, or officer have exhausted the entire ap- propriation for such board, comm itee or officer, they shall
142
incur no further expenditure, except in cases where such expenditure may be required by law; and it shall be the duty of each board, committee or officer before the close of the financial year to approve all accounts, claims, bills and pay-rolls chargeable to their appropriation. During the interval between the thirty-first day of December in each year and the time of making the next annual appropriations, the selectmen, school committee and water commissioners, in order to meet the liabilities of their several departments, incurred in the carrying on of the work entrusted to them, shall have authority to make expenditures and payments from the treasury from any available funds therein, and the same. shall be charged against the next annual appropria- tion. Such expenditures and liability incurred for any purpose shall not exceed one-fourth the entire amount appropriated for that purpose in the previous year.
Sect. 10. Unless the town shall expressly otherwise vote, no extension of water pipes shall be made unless before the work of construction is begun one or more of the persons whom it is proposed to supply with water by means of such extension, shall file with the town clerk a bond with sureties satisfactory to the water commissioners, conditioned to pay to the town for five years next following the completion of such extension and the letting of water into the same, a sum sufficient, together with the net anuual income from such extension, to amount annually to five per centum of the total cost thereof.
ARTICLE III.
TOWN SEAL.
Section 1. The design of the town seal shall be : a circle, in the border the words "Lincoln. Incorporated in 1746 as a precinct; in 1754 as a Town"; in the center, a shield, in
143
the chief or upper part of which on a cross, gules, a fleur- de-lis, gold, from the old seal of Lincoln, England, and in the base of the shield a view of the present town hall ; crest, the old chestnut tree standing upon the common in Lincoln ; in saltire two shepherd's crooks; the device thereof being as follows :
Sect. 2. All deeds and other legal documents made, given or entered into by the town requiring a seal shall be sealed with the town seal, and signed in behalf of the town by a majority of the selectmen.
Sect. 3. The town clerk shall have the custody of the town seal.
ARTICLE IV.
RECORDS.
Section 1. The town clerk shall record in full in a book kept for the purpose all written contracts, deeds and other instruments to which the town is a party except such in- struments as may by law be recorded in the Registry of Deeds; and it shall be the duty of any board or officer exe- cuting or receiving such written contract, or other instru- ment, to deliver the same forthwith to the town clerk for the purpose of record. It shall be the duty of the town clerk to see that all conveyances of real estate to the town are properly recorded in the Registry of Deeds.
Sect. 2. Except in cases of public calamity or extreme necessity, whenever any work is required to be done for the Town or any contract for labor or materials, or both is to be made in behalf of the Town, for an amount exceeding the sum of $500.00, the town officer, having the matter in charge, shall solicit proposals for the same from two or more reliable par- ties, regularly engaged or employed in such work or business,
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