USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1956-1960 > Part 11
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Janitors' salaries $300.00
Recreation Directors
550.00
229
Heat, lights, telephone
720.46
Repairs
171.52
$1,741.98
Town Retirement System
Operational Costs
Balance of
Appropriation
$ 461.80.
Appropriation 6,915.40
$7,377.20
County of Plymouth Clerical
$6,915.40
70.83
$6,986.23
Unclassified
Appropriation $830.00
Dog Officer, salary
$150.00
Care of Dogs
18.00
Clock Custodian
60.00
Oil and Repair Clock
73.78
Flag Custodians
120.00
Flags and Rope
74.34
All other
16.39
$512.51
Workmen's Compensation Insurance
Appropriation
$5,000.00
Transfer from
Reserve
1.07
$5,001.07
Insurance $5,001.07
$5,001.07
(Recreation and Unclassified - Total $44,344.93)
230
ENTERPRISE AND CEMETERIES
Water Commissioners' Salaries
Appropriation $450.00 Salaries
$356.25
(See also Water M. & O.)
$356.25
Water Department
Maintenance and Operation
Appropriation $30,840.00
Refund 117.83
Petty Cash refunded 92.00
$31,049.83
Salaries:
Water Commissioners $ 93.75
Eugene Redlon, Supt. 3,936.72
Kenneth O. Macomber, Supt.
1,216.99
Edwin M. Noyes, Collector
874.90
Priscilla H. Noyes, Clerk
111.52
Labor 8,727.87
Stock
3,619.66
Pump maintenance and repairs
167.43
Trucks, maintenance and repairs
1,396.19
Power (electricity) 4,458.24
Buildings, maintenance 792.41
Equipment, and repairs to equipment
478.04
Rental 100.00
All other, including water treatment
807.56
Petty Cash Advance
41.00
Printing, stationery, postage and
other office costs 1,060.44
$27,882.72
231
Water Department
Service Connections
Appropriation $7,000.00
Labor Stock
All other
$1,291.63 3,507.79 18.15
$4,817.57
Water - Griswold Land Purchase
Appropriation $4,200.00
Purchase Price, Griswold Land $4,200.00
$4,200.00
Duck Hill, Shipyard Lane,
Priscilla Avenue, Mains
Balance of
Appropriation $5,725.22
Labor
$ 300.31
Laying pipe
3,317.87
$3,618.18
Engineering Services and
New Sources of Water Supply
Balance of 1955
Appropriation $2,922.67
Engineering, Delano & Keith
$176.10
Easement
100.00
All other 1.25
$277.35
Water System Expansion Survey
1956
Appropriation
$3,500.00
Whitman & Howard, Engineering
$3,120.00
$3,120.00
232
West Duxbury Water System Expansion
Appropriation $20,000.00
Borrowed Money 46,000.00
$66,000.00
Labor $ 1,194.13
Pipe and Fittings
41,264.38
Laying Mains
10,979.10
Engineering and Sterilizing
1,600.00
All other
60.89
$55,098.50
New Well and Equipment
and Depot Street Extension 1954 Appropriation Balance $4,990.55
C. A. Batson, construction
$689.00
All other 15.11
$704.11
Lake Shore Drive Water Source
Appropriation $5,500.00
Land Purchase $4,000.00
$4,000.00
Water, Out of State Travel
Appropriation $100.00
Travel costs $18.55
$18.55
Cemetery, Hathaway Fund
Distribution of
Income $300.00
Top Soil
$24.00
$24.00
Boomer Square
Appropriation $60.00
Labor
$49.50
Material
10.05
$59.55
233
Cemetery
Appropriation
$17,516.44
Sale of Lots
520.00
Perpetual Care
Fund Income 3,437.23
$21,473.67
Superintendent's Salary
$ 4,166.00
Secretary's Salary
240.00
Labor
13,408.12
Loam, etc.
1,095.50
Trees and Shrubs
84.50
Equipment and Material
1,143.44
Trucks and Mowers, Maintenance and Repairs 854.74
Office expense, including telephone
276.34
Membership dues and attendance 101.76
All other, including water and insurance 102.35
$21,472.75
Cemetery, Out of State Travel-
Appropriation $40.00
Travel $40.00
$40.00
Mayflower Cemetery Avenues
Resurfacing
Appropriation $800.00
Labor
$113.31
Truck rental
64.00
Material
622.69
$800.00
Cemetery Lot - Repurchase
Appropriation
$75.00
Purchase Price - Lot 1365A
$75.00
$75.00
234
George H. Wood Fund
Fund Income $27.00 Flowers $27.00
$27.00
F. & H. Partch Flower Fund
Fund Income
$7.50
Flowers
$7.50
$7.50
Lucy A. Ewell Cemetery Fund
Fund Income $20.00 5 loads Fill $20.00
$20.00
(Enterprise (Water) and Cemeteries - Total $126,619.03)
REVOLVING FUNDS
Athletic Association
Balance from 1955 $ 39.04
1956 Receipts 283.90
$322.94
Referees' fees and other costs
$225.76
$225.76
School Lunch Program
Balance from 1955 $ 560.59
Refund
2.86
Receipts 1956
31,246.90
$31,810.35
Salaries
$ 8,587.00
Food
19,543.27
Telephone
113.18
Equipment, Gas, and all other
743.32
$28,986.77
(Revolving Funds - Total $29,212.53)
235
INTEREST AND MATURING DEBT
Interest (Town Debt)
Appropriation
$11,780.00
Interest on General Debt $11,127.50
$11,127.50
Interest (Water Debt)
Appropriation
$783.75
Interest on Water Debt $783.75
$783.75
Maturing Debt - Water Department
Appropriation
$9,500.00
Notes paid
$9,500.00
$9,500.00
Sea Wall Notes
Appropriation
$2,000.00
Notes Paid $2,000.00
$2,000.00
Elementary School Wing
Appropriation
$15,000.00
Bonds retired $15,000.00
$15,000.00
High School Wing
Appropriation
$15,000.00
Bonds retired
$15,000.00
$15,000.00
Elementary School
Appropriation
$15,000.00
Bonds Retired
$15,000.00
$15,000.00
Vendor's Trustee Account
Checks held under
Trustee Process
$3,138.90
Trustee account Liquidated
$3,138.90
$3,138.90
-----
236
Unpaid Bills of 1955
Appropriation $1,365.91
Miscellaneous accounts paid $1,363.91
$1,363.91
Unpaid Bills of 1954
Appropriation $2.75
1954 Account paid $2.75
$2.75
Interest on Temporary Loans
Paid from Estimated Receipts
Interest $29.15
$29.15
(Interest and Maturing Debt - Total $72,945.96)
AGENCY, TRUST, AND INVESTMENT
Plymouth County Hospital $11,080.03
County of Plymouth, County Tax 34,336.02
Rockland Trust Co.,
Withholding Taxes 45,717.06
Plymouth County Treasurer,
Retirement Funds 8,713.53
Perpetual Care Funds, deposited in Savings Banks 8,050.00
Plymouth Savings Bank, General Care and Improvement Fund 250.00
J. & R. Ford Fund, Income deposited 690.00
Stabilization Fund, deposited in Savings Banks 15,000.00
County of Plymouth, Dog Licenses 1,240.40
Division of Fisheries and Game, Sporting Licenses 736.00
Lucy Hathaway Fund,
Income deposit 1,714.45
237
Stock purchase 1,014.14
State Parks and Reservations 1,399.35
State Audit of Municipal Accounts 1,676.04
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Gypsy and Brown Tail Control
1,790.61
Planning Board Deposits
costs and refunds
26.07
Liquor Ad Deposits, publishing
38.00
Blue Cross-Blue Shield,
Group Hospital Deductions 1,583.00
$135,054.70
(Agency, Trust and Investment, $135,054.70)
Transfers from Reserve
Appropriation $10,000.00
To Snow and Ice Removal
$1,000.00
To Highway Tractor Mower
266.50
To Finance Committee
2.75
To Workmen's Compensation Insurance
1.07
To Veterans Benefits 2,000.00
To Election and Registration 175.00
To Building Inspector's Dept.
200.00
To Veterans Benefits 800.00
To Police Department
600.00
$5,045.32
REFUNDS
1952 Real Estate Tax $ 43.00
1952 Real Estate Tax District 3.00
1955 Personal Property Tax 16.80
1955 Personal Property Tax District
1.95
1955 Real Estate Tax 311.08
1956 Poll Tax
16.00
1956 Personal Property Tax
60.42
1956 Real Estate Tax
1,731.91
- -=
238
1955 Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
295.81
1956 Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
2,238.62
Water Rates Building Permits
14.00
22.00
(Total Refunds - $4,754.59)
Total Expenditures
$1,132,810.78
CEMETERY TRUST FUND ACCOUNT
Total Amount of Cemetery Perpetual Care
Funds January 1, 1956: $125,829.31
Accumulated Interest
3,910.19
Total January 1, 1956:
$129,739.50
Amounts added in 1956:
William J. Alden
$150.00
Frederick P. Drew
100.00
Muriel W. Murphy
100.00
Abbot Peterson
100.00
Arthur W. Wright
200.00
William Barstow
150.00
Nellie C. Burdett
200.00
Virginia R. Morgan
200.00
Henry Anderson, et al
200.00
Florence B. Beal
100.00
Joshua M. Cushing
400.00
Herman H. Delano
100.00
William Facey
400.00
Mary L. Freeman
200.00
Hervey W. King
400.00
Elizabeth Marshall
200.00
Harvey W. Morton
50.00
Bertha A. Niles
300.00
Oscar H. Simmons
200.00
$4,754.59
239
Minnie Teravainen
200.00
Arthur Teulon
300.00
Carlton Torrey
200.00
Charles Wright
100.00
Mary E. Hyslop
100.00
Margaret Kendall
100.00
Gertrude Ladd et als
200.00
Jeannette B. Welch
200.00
Mayflower Cemetery Fund
200.00
Harry C. Burns
200.00
Rosalie Ames
200.00
Kenneth D. Wakefield
300.00
Sylvanus Sampson
George Winslow
500.00
Elizabeth Owen
George W. Davis
100.00
*Total additional funds Interest added in 1956
$6,650.00
3,438.94
$139,828.44
Income withdrawn for use of Cemetery Dept.
3,437.23
Balance December 31, 1956
$136,391.21
Total Funds: $132,479.31
Accumulated Interest 3,911.90
$136,391.21
* $50.00 received on account of the Mayflower Cemetery Fund which was erroneously credited to "Sale of Cemetery Lots" will be transferred to the Cemetery Trust Fund Account on January 2, 1957.
Correction: Trust Fund previously reported under name of James W. H. Myrick - corrected to read as follows:
Myrick, Grace and Gertrude and James W. H.
240
1956 APPROPRIATION BALANCES RETURNED TO TREASURY
Selectmen's Salary
$ 103.99
Selectmen's Department
530.39
Treasurer's Department
670.51
Accountant's Department
5.03
Accounting, Out of State Travel
2.25
Assessors' Salary
121.77
Assessors Department
523.96
Tax Collector
.96
Town Clerk
143.96
Appeal Board
88.25
Election and Registration
1.55
Town Historian
41.70
Personnel Board
39.19
Planning Board
619.16
Law Department
206.55
Town Office
1,111.22
Fire Department
181.70
Fire Dept., Out of State Travel
2.44
Police Department
65.53
Insect Pest Control
794.77
Control Dutch Elm Disease
38.21
Tree Department
42.63
Forest Fire Department
214.70
Sealer of Weights and Measures
39.14
Bounties
50.00
Health
480.22
Town Dump
318.33
Vital Statistics
14.00
241
Highway Department
1,121.02
Bridge Department
42.76
Snow and Ice Removal
19.73
Town Landings
2.54
Street Lights
337.12
Public Welfare, Out of State Travel
100.00
Public Welfare Control
940.54
Veterans Benefits
37.80
Vocational & Americanization
1,597.98
Vocational Training Adult
80.25
School Department
1,859.41
Library
1.55
School, Out of State Travel
.47
Fire Insurance Schedule
220.54
Floodlights - Train Field
52.62
Harbor Master
167.29
Life Guard - Duxbury Beach
248.00
Memorial Day
45.70
Parks and Playgrounds
14.14
Poison Ivy Extermination
198.21
Shellfish Constable
236.55
Town Hall Recreation
3.02
Unclassified
317.49
Boomer Square
.45
Cemetery Department
.92
Interest - Town
652.50
Unpaid Bills of 1955
2.00
$14,752.71
1956 APPROPRIATION BALANCES TRANSFERRED TO WATER SURPLUS Water, Maintenance and Operation $465.85 Water Commissioners' Salaries 93.75
242
Water, Out of State Travel
81.45
Water, Service Connections
2,182.43
$2,823.48
APPROPRIATION BALANCES OF 1956 - RETAINED
Treasurer's Department - Contract $ 225.00
Assessors' Map 931.09
Fire Department Rescue Boat
135.39
Tree - Hathaway Fund
88.76
Well Child Clinic 242.66
Highway - Hathaway Fund 430.98
Lumber for Bridge Department
6,000.00
Bridges - Hathaway Fund
129.21
Winter, Temple and Autumn Avenue, Resurfacing 2,260.47
Street Lights, Elm and Summer Streets
442.00
Highway Dept., Sand Spreader
2,400.00
Ch. 90 Highway Construction 1955 2.61
Ch. 90 Highway Maintenance 1956 22.23
Ch. 90 Highway Construction 1956
6,025.77
Howland's Landing Road 15.26
Eagles Nest Road, Construction
56.47
Brewster Street Construction
257.51
Old Colony Road, Construction 464.08
Highway Tractor Mower .30
Town Landings - Hathaway Fund
308.33
Alden St., Curve Reduction
193.38
Blue Fish Tidegates 122.31
Arrowhead Road, Construction 49.05
Bay View Road, Construction 4.65
Midway and Elderberry Lane
304.54
Indian Trail, Storm Sewers
497.33
243
Damage Awards, Church and Tremont Sts. 52.00
Temple, Winter and Bow Streets, Resurface 14.56
Disability Assistance, Federal Grants 281.69
D.A., Federal Grants, Administration 87.50
A.D.C., Federal Grants
1,191.20
A.D.C., Federal Grants, Administration
20.94
O.A.A., Federal Grants
3,904.05
Elem. School, New Wing
9,291.41
Elem. School, Bldg. Committee 141.90
Adult Education - Smith-Barden Fund
668.38
Schools - Hathaway Fund 1,420.19
Elementary School, 2 room Wing addn. 38,951.60
Damage Awards, Autumn Avenue
32.00
Damage Awards, Bay Road
15.00
Damage Awards, Congress St.
6.00
Damage Awards, Valley & Franklin Sts. 4.85
Damage Awards, Tobey Garden St.
205.00
Civil Defense
352.75
Ellison Beach Improvements
135.84
Greenhead Fly, Town Project
200.00
Job Evaluation Study
450.00
Little League Bleachers
52.00
Mosquito Control, Town project
150.00
New Town Dump - Survey
200.00
Partridge Academy - Marker
82.44
Tax Title Accounts
359.32
75 Foot Baseball Diamond
25.66
Propagation of Shellfish 336.69
244
Special Shellfish Account
781.99
Storm Sewer - Bay Avenue
750.00
Town Clock, Electrification
20.00
Town Retirement - Expense account 390.97
Water, M & O, Contract 680.00
Water, Alden St., 1952
1,710.47
Water, Clearing Mains 1954
996.40
Water, Duck Hill, etc.
2,107.04
Water, Engineering Services etc. 1955
2,645.32
Water System Expansion Survey
380.00
1956 W. Duxbury Water System Extension 10,901.50
New Well and Depot St., Extension
4,286.44
Water, Tremont and Elm Sts., 1946
1,660.48
Water, Tremont St., 1953
429.85
Water Main Extension for Develop- ments under Planning Board 10,000.00
Lake Shore Drive Water Source
1,500.00
Cemetery - Hathaway Fund
276.00
Premium, West Duxbury Water Notes
51.06
Evening Vocational Arts
127.60
$119,937.47
TOWN OF DUXBURY Balance Sheet - December 31, 1956 GENERAL ACCOUNTS
ASSETS
LIABILITIES AND RESERVES
CASH:
Petty Cash Reserve $275.00
General
$435,095.62
Revenue: Reserved until Collected
Advanced for Petty:
Motor Vehicle Revenue $13,232.65
Collector
250.00
Special Assessment Revenue
132.57
Town Clerk
25.00
Tax Title Revenue
1,851.64
$435,370.62
Aid to Highways Revenue 20,000.00
Departmental Revenue 7,365.70
42,582.56 245
Poll
52.00
Collections in Advance of Commitment:
Personal
4,181.70
Water Rates
10,818.08
Real
36,655.44
Service Connections 1,768.18
12.586.26
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
Beaver Brook Service Connection
4.55
Levy of 1954
196.37
Levy of 1955
560.35
Levy of 1956
12,475.93
Overlay Surplus - Reserved
48,321.74
13,232.65
Point and Green Schools Proceeds of Sale Reserved
8,989.20
Sea Wall Assessments
80.58
Agency:
Sea Wall Interest
51.99
132.57
Planning Board Deposits Revolving Funds:
.74
Accounts Receivable:
Taxes: Levy of 1956
40,889.14
Overlay Reserved for Abatement: 1956 Overlay
6,290.46
Special Assessments:
BALANCE SHEET - Cont'd.
Tax Titles and Possessions:
School Lunch Program Athletic Association 97.18
2,823.58
Tax Titles
1,739.06
Tax Possessions
112.58
2,920.76
1.851.64
Water - Stock Reserve Hathaway Fund Income Reserved until Deposited
12,028.97
Aid to Highways:
Ch. 90 State
13,000.00
58.50
Ch. 90 County
7,000.00
Sale of Cemetery Lots
240.00
20,000.00
Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund erroneously credited to
Departmental:
A.D.C.
1,215.90
Sale of Lots 50.00
290.00
Health
968.50
Overestimates of 1956:
246
O.A.A.
26.30
State Audit
19.86
Veterans Benefits
5.050.00
7,365.70
Plymouth County Hospital
2,198.27
Water:
3.237.67
Meter Removals
10.00
Excess Sale of Land of Low Value
516.29
Water Revenue Reserve
12.576.26
Gifts:
Eben Ellison Beach
18.65
Cable Office Flag Pole
60.50
12,586.26
79.15
Water Department:
Unidentified Cash
16.00
Stock Underestimates of 1956:
12,028.97
Tailings
860.49
876.49
Cemetery
105.00
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth
1,019.54
(See Receipts in advance of Commitment)
BALANCE SHEET - Cont'd.
State Parks and Reservations
580.99
County Tax
271.28
852.27
Temporary Account - Reserved subject to vote of Town to accept: Myles Standish Cellar Lot, gift 10.00
George Chandler Flower Fund 100.00
110.00
Appropriation Balances - Reserved 119,937.47 Water Surplus 38,607.22
Excess and Deficiency
246,596.79
$544,309.82
$544,309.82
* Subject to verification by State Auditors.
247
DEFERRED REVENUE SECTION
Apportioned Sea Wall Assessments Not Due
$6,027.34
Due in 1957
$603.68
Due in 1958
578.81
Due in 1959
573.02
Due in 1960
378.34
Due in 1961
378.35
Due in 1962
350.89
Due in 1963
326.17
Due in 1964
320.67
Due in 1965
251.75
Due in 1966
251.75
Due in 1967
251.76
Due in 1968
248 251.76
Due in 1969
251.76
Due in 1970
251.76
Due in 1971
251.75
Due in 1972
251.70
Due in 1973
251.70
Due in 1974
251.72
Apportioned Sea Wall Assessments:
$6,027.34
$6,027.34
Net Funded or Fixed Debt
NET FUNDED OR FIXED DEBT $575,000.00 Sea Wall Notes, 1953
$12,000.00
Miscellaneous Water Loans (notes)
53,000.00
West Duxbury Water Extension, 1956
46,000.00
Elementary School Loan, 1948
154,000.00
High School Wing Loan, 1951
75,000.00
Elementary School Wing, 1953
235,000.00
$575,000.00
$575,000.00
249
TRUST AND INVESTMENT FUNDS
Trust and Investment Funds
$224,039.98
Stabilization Fund
$26,122.29
Lucy A. Ewell Cemetery Fund
514.26
William Penn Harding Library Fund 1,147.99
Post War Rehabilitation Fund Myles Standish Cellar Fund
139.43
1,430.96
Thomas D. Hathaway Fund
3,088.35
George H. Wood Cemetery Fund
1,030.74
F & H Partch Flower Fund
315.94
Agnes S. Ellison Trust Fund
1,093.40
Lucy Hathaway Trust Fund
22,258.04
Jonathan and Ruth Ford Fund
28,895.05
Mayflower Cemetery General Care Fund
1,612.32
Cemetery, Perpetual Care Funds
** 136,391.21
***
$224,039.98
$224,039.98
** $50.00 received on account of Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds erroneously credited to "Sale of Cemetery Lots". Transfer to this account will be made January 2, 1957.
*** The King Caesar Poor and Hospital Funds are reported to have a book value of $37,773.04 as of January 1, 1957.
250
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF DUXBURY
MAAS'S
S
637
STANDISH
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31 1956
3
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Year Ending December 31, 1956
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Term Expires
Albert P. Richards, Chairman 1957
Edward L. Butler, Secretary
1959
Mrs. Elizabeth U. Nickerson
1959
Earle C. Grenquist 1958
Dominic LaGreca 1957
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Everett L. Handy
SECRETARY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT
Miss Helen F. Hanigan
4
REPORT OF THE DUXBURY SCHOOL COMMITTEE For the Calenad Year - 1956
To the Citizens of Duxbury:
It is extremely difficult, in a few printed words, to attempt to summarize all of the various endeavors involved in the op- eration of our school system.
Your School Committee is sincerely appreciative of the many uncredited efforts on the part of the members of the community and school staff which have made another success- ful year possible, and which have made its work not only easier but a real pleasure.
We hope that you will give your careful attention to the most excellent and complete review of the activities, accom- plishments and problems of your schools as outlined by our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Everett L. Handy. The Com- mittee would like to take this opportunity to compliment him on his devotion to his work and offer its thanks to him for his most sincere efforts to furnish Duxbury with the type of school system of which it can be proud.
As you read his report you will see that Duxbury has prob- lems which must be faced, however, it must be realized that these problems are not peculiar to this community but rather are of national concern. In fact, an examination of the prob- lem will show that Duxbury has to date escaped most of the undesirable situations confronting an all too large number of communities today. This is because the citizens of Duxbury
5
have always tended to look into the future and plan well in advance.
Your Committee is principally concerned with furnishing the town with a school system which meets both the require- ments and approval of a majority of its citizens. This is not always an easy task. During the past year a conference was held under the auspices of a number of town organizations at which very definite and challenging questions were dis- cussed. The organization of the all day meeting was such that the problems were discussed in small round table groups in order to encourage frank discussion under informal condi- tions. A number of actions taken during this year by your Committee were based on the desires expressed at these meet- ings. This year a similar session is planned and it is the hope of those concerned that you will attend and participate in these exchanges of ideas. It is by such means that the Duxbury schools can become what you want them to be.
The School Committee recognizes a number of funda- mental problems facing educators during these changing times. One of the more serious ones is that of assembling and main- taining a teaching and administrative staff with qualifications better than average, and to furnish this staff with reasonable security, together with working and living conditions which will lead to a satisfactory educational growth of our children. This year a committee composed of a group representing a cross section of our citizens has been at work studying plans by which it would be possible to make a teaching career in Duxbury indeed desirable. The emphasis in this direction should be toward long range benefits both in security and of a monetary nature based, however, on meritorious and loyal service.
Another problem of serious concern is that of school housing. Up to the present time Duxbury has fared very well
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in this respect. However, from time to time, it has been necessary to resort to relatively minor inconveniences in order to find adequate space. As may be seen in Dr. Handy's school population charts the increase in school population has not been gradual. The need for space at the High School level will be acute in the immediate future. Because of the time required for the details of planning and construction, it is now imperative that steps be taken by the town to meet this need. With these facts in mind the School Committee will seek ac- tion at the forthcoming town meeting and respectfully solicits your support.
Adequate moral and intellectual growth of our youth re- quires a concentrated effort toward these ends on the part of parents, school and community. You will always be welcome to consult with teachers, administrators, and members of your School Committee whenever they can be of assistance to you. Indeed, you are sincerely urged to do so whenever possible.
ALBERT P. RICHARDS, Chairman EDWARD L. BUTLER, Secretary MRS. ELIZABETH U. NICKERSON EARLE C. GRENQUIST DOMINIC E. LAGRECA
Duxbury School Committee
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Honorable School Committee, Duxbury, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
In examining this report I think you will agree that it indicates that 1956 has been a year of activity in the Duxbury schools. This activity has not been limited to any one group, but has included almost everyone. There have been curricu- lum changes, special courses and workshops for teachers, gen- eral participation in school affairs by the community through the parent-teacher meetings and through the community con- ference on education, a school-community study of merit salary schedules, long range planning by the School Com- mittee to meet future school building needs, and special attention to the teaching of the fundamentals. While these and other activities are discussed in some detail in the pages which follow, I should like to underline certain features of the report for your special attention.
First of all, please note that the number of years of ex- perience of teachers in Duxbury is continuing to increase. The average number of years of experience of all teachers, prin- cipals and supervisors is 5.2 years in Duxbury, and, counting experience elsewhere, is 9.8 years. This means that, on the average, a parent can consider his child to have a teacher with nearly ten years experience. Further, this teacher will know the community and school system well for he will have been in Duxbury an average of 5.2 years.
Nine teachers will be eligible for tenure at the end of the present school year.
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We have recognized for some time the need for con- tinued stress on the teaching of the fundamentals. During 1956, faculty meetings, special courses for teachers, and dis- cussions with parents have been organized to give special attention to this area of study. This section of the report will give you an analysis of our present situation in this regard.
Organizing the teachers of English at the High School into a department has proven to be a good step forward. Already, many improvements have been made under the leadership of Mrs. Irene Sherwood, department head.
The new technical course, courses in music and art ap- preciation, and the development of a plan to give special aid to students preparing for College Board examinations are worthy of your attention.
I would like to emphasize the importance of giving con- stant study to the problem of long range school building planning. To have new housing ready by 1959 or 1960 will require some action at the town meeting in March relative to the appointment of a building committee. While we are concerned with the need for a new high school building, we should keep in mind that the need for elementary classrooms is a parallel problem. This matter is discussed in considerable detail in the report which follows.
Further study of the report will show activity in regard to school finances through the work of the merit salary com- mittee. In general, the conclusions of the merit salary com- mittee have found acceptance with school personnel, and it is hoped that the new schedule can go into operation in 1957.
Finally, new emphasis on health education will show our intention to keep up with the national effort to improve the health of all young people.
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