USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1918 > Part 5
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ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) to be paid the North Chelmsford Fire District for hydrant service for the current year, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), to be paid the Chelinsford Water District for the current year, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) or what other sum for the purpose of buying road binder material, to be Tarvia or some other product, or aet in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of eighty dollars ($80.00) to reimburse Mr. John Curry at the North village for damages to automo- bile on Richardson road, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of forty-five hundred dollars ($4,500.00) or what other sum for the purchase of a steam roller, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to contract with the Lowell Electric Light Corporation, at the prevailing price per light, for twelve lights in addition to the number previously contracted for and said lights to be distributed along the following public ways, viz: Eight lights on Billerica road ; three lights on Russell Mill road; one light on North road, or act in relation thereto. ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00), for the pur- pose of investigating the advisability of connecting the North Chelmsford Fire District and the Chelmsford Water District, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will appoint a committee of ten citizens, two from each section of the Town, i. e., Center, North, South, East and West villages, whose duty it will be to consider what steps should be taken, either by the erection of suitable memorials or otherwise, to give due
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and proper recognition to the Chelmsford boys who re- sponded to the call of duty in the recent European con- flict; this committee to bring in their report and recom- mendations at any subsequent special town meeting, but not later than the next annual town meeting, or to act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00) or some other amount, and elect a director for demonstration work in agriculture and home economics, 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 Chapter 273, General Acts of 1918, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 17. To see what action the Town will take as evidence of its appreciation of the patriotic services of the men of Chelmsford in the Army and Navy of the United States and of the other Allies in the recent European War, and to see what sum of money, if any, the Town will raise and appropriate therefor, or act in relation thereto.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant, by posting up attested copies thereof at Post Offices in the Center of the Town, South Chelmsford, North Chelmsford, West Chelmsford, and at the Schoolhouse, East Chelmsford, seven days at least before the time appointed for holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of hold- ing the meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and nineteen.
D. FRANK SMALL, A. HEADY PARK, JUSTIN L. MOORE, Selectmen of Chelmsford.
I have served the foregoing Warrant by posting up true and attested copies of the same at the places above mentioned more than seven days before the day of holding said meeting.
JAMES S. BYAM, Constable of Chelmsford.
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Report of the Finance Committee.
Chelmsford, Mass., January 16, 1919.
To the Voters and Taxpayers of Chelmsford :
The Finance Committee chosen at the Annual Town Meet- ing of February 4, 1918, have heard the recommendations of the Selectmen, School Committee, and other Town officers for the ensuing year.
We have considered carefully each item, and also discussed each article of the warrant, wherein an appropriation of money is asked.
Your committee recommends that the following sums be raised and appropriated at the Annual Town Meeting to be held February 3, 1919, and submit same for your approval, with the exception of $15,000 for highways. We feel that our roads to- day are our most important consideration, but we do not wish to recommend the expenditure of so large a sum of money without some fixed program. We wish to go on record as favoring a defi- nite system of road construction with budget, extending over a period of years and under the supervision of an expert. At present there seems to be no defined program in view, and we do not wish to recommend that this amount be raised and expended as promiscuously as heretofore.
Teaching $28,443.00
Janitor Service 5,004.00
Fuel 5,200.00
Transportation 8,090.00
Supplies
2,500.00
Superintendent
2,000.00
Upkeep
2,000.00
Medical Inspection 250.00
Miscellaneous
1,500.00
New Equipment 500.00
School Total
$55,487.00
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Highways $15,000.00
Support of Poor
6,500.00
Street Lighting 7,360.00
Indigent Soldiers and Sailors
400.00
Industrial School (Lowell)
1,000.00
Repairs of Public Buildings
2,500.00
Tree Warden
100.00
Officers and Committees
6,000.00
Care and Improvement of Cemeteries
800.00
Memorial Day
150.00
Insurance Fund 500.00
Adams Library
1,200.00
North Chelmsford Library
800.00
Miscellaneous
3,200.00
Village · Clock
30.00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
100.00
Meat Inspection 500.00
Cattle Inspection 100.00
Public Parks
400.00
Town Treasurer's Bond
220.00
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) to be paid the North Chelmsford Fire District for hydrant service for the current year, or act in relation thereto.
We recommend that the sum of $750 be paid the North Chelmsford District for the current year.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) to be paid the Chelmsford Water District for the current year, or act in relation thereto.
We recommend that the sum of $750 be paid the Chelmsford Water District for the current year.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) or what other sum for the purpose of buying road binder material, to be Tarvia or some other product, or act in relation thereto.
Your committee considers that road binder is a good in- vestment for the Town if properly applied under the right con- ditions, and recommend the appropriation of $2,000 if we are guaranteed that it be so used.
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ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of eighty dollars ($80.00) to reimburse Mr. John Curry at the North Village for damages to automo- bile on Richardson road, or act in relation thereto.
We recommend that the sum of $80 be so raised and appro- priated.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of forty-five hundred dollars ($4,500.00) or what other sum for the purchase of a steam roller, or act in relation thereto.
After carefully considering the cost of a steam roller in com- parison with the hiring of same, and knowing of several sur- rounding towns and cities, also contractors, who have, at different times during the year, steam rollers for hire, we feel that the Town can hire a roller to much better advantage than buying after taking into consideration the first cost, hire of driver, de- preciation, housing, fuel, etc.
ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to contract with the Lowell Electric Light Corporation, at the prevailing price per light, for twelve lights in addition to the number previously contracted for and said lights to be distributed along the following public ways, viz: Eight lights on Billerica road ; three lights on Russell Mill road ; one light on North road, or act in relation thereto.
We recommend that the sum of $216 for additional lights be raised and appropriated.
ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00), for the pur- pose of investigating the advisability of connecting the North Chelmsford Fire District and the Chelmsford Water District, or act in relation thereto.
We recommend that the sum of $500 be raised and appropri- ated for this survey, in view of consolidating the two systems now in operation, and its extension to the other parts of the town. The Committee appointed by you at the last Annual Town Meet- ing tell us that nothing definite can be done until this survey is made.
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Your Finance Committee feel that it is their duty to consid- er at all times those things which are for our mutual benefit as citizens of Chelmsford, and we wish at this time to recommend that the Selectmen be instructed to install some system of Town accounting, and we believe that after a good system is properly installed, it can be used by our Town officers without an expert accountant.
The valuation of the Town in the year 1918 was $5,010,625. Estimating an average yearly increase in 1919, the tax rate will be about $23.75 per thousand, provided you raise the sums as recommended.
This report, we submit for your careful consideration.
JOHN J. MONAHAN, HERBERT E. ELLIS, JAMES P. DUNIGAN, WILLIAM H. SHEDD, WILLIAM E. BELLEVILLE,
Finance Committee.
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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF CHELMSFORD, MASS.
For the School Year Ending December 31, 1918
SCHOOL COMMITTEE. 1918
STEWART MACKAY, Chairman and Financial Secretary Term expires 1919
Ulysses J. Lupien, Purchasing Agent
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66 1920
Charles H. Ellis, Secretary
66
66 1921
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
WALTER K. PUTNEY Residence, Chelmsford Center
OFFICE HOURS OF SUPERINTENDENT. (Only when schools are in session.) At High School, Chelmsford Center-Daily 8.15-9.15 A. M. Except Monday and Friday, 3.00-4.00 P. M. At Princeton Street School-Tuesday and Thursday, 12.15-1.00 P. M.
SCHOOL PHYSICIANS.
ARTHUR G. SCOBORIA, M. D.
Chelmsford Center
FRED E. VARNEY, M. D. North Chelmsford
ATTENDANCE OFFICERS.
EDWARD FALLON WALTER E. VICKERY
North Chelsmford Chelmsford Center
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SCHOOL CALENDAR.
GRADED SCHOOLS.
WINTER TERM, 1919-15 Weeks-December 30, 1918-April 11, 1919.
VACATION-ONE WEEK.
SPRING TERM, 1919-9 Weeks-April 21-June 20, 1919.
VACATION-ELEVEN WEEKS.
FALL TERM, 1919-15 Weeks-September 8, 1919-December 19, 1919.
VACATION-ONE WEEK.
WINTER TERM, 1920-Opens December 29, 1919.
HIGH SCHOOL.
WINTER TERM, 1919-15 Weeks-December 30, 1918-April 11, 1919.
VACATION-ONE WEEK.
SPRING TERM, 1919-10 Weeks-April 21-June 27, 1919.
VACATION-TEN WEEKS.
FALL TERM, 1919-15 Weeks-September 8, 1919-December 19, 1919.
VACATION-ONE WEEK.
WINTER TERM, 1920-Opens December 29, 1919.
HOLIDAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS.
January 1, February 22, April 19, May 30, September 2, October 12, November 27-8.
"NO-SCHOOL" SIGNAL.
Signal given at 7.45 A. M. calls for no sessions during the day, and consists of six blows repeated twice, thus IIIIII-IIIIII -IIIIII.
4
Report of School Committee.
TO THE PEOPLE OF CHELMSFORD :
In submitting our report for the year ending December 31, 1918, we wish to lay special emphasis on the following :
1. Our schools, in common with all other departments, have been subjected to conditions that were adverse to good re- sults. This is not said in a spirit of complaint or apology, as we feel that our burdens have been encountered by all other com- mittees.
2. The matter of retaining and obtaining teachers has been very difficult owing to the following reasons :
(a) The inflated conditions of the labor market induced many of the teachers to venture into the industrial world and hence a great shortage of teachers.
(b) The cities and larger towns have been offering higher salaries, making it more difficult for the smaller towns to com- pete.
(c) The cost of living has increased so rapidly that many teachers were forced to look to other occupations for a liveli- hood.
(d) The fixing by State Statute of a minimum salary of $550 meant a general readjustment of salaries. In this connec- tion, we wish to make it clear that this salary is not exorbitant and that we feel that our teachers are underpaid as a general rule. Many of our teachers have given the best part of their lives in conscientious service, putting duty ahead of their own interests in many instances where it has meant sacrifice and hardship.
3. The matter of obtaining fuel has been somewhat per- plexing and has meant the expenditure of several hundred dol- lars more than would have been necessary had it been possible to obtain a full supply in June. This is a situation that has been more or less universal and one over which neither the dealers nor the committee had any control.
4. The great increase in cost of books and supplies together with the difficulty in procuring them in sufficient quantity has made it still more necessary to exercise the strictest economy.
5. The condition of the town roads, especially those lead- ing from West to North and from North to the Center, has added considerable expense to the repair of trucks.
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This is not intended as a criticism of those in charge of the roads yet the fact remains that they are in a most deplorable condition. The result is considerable discomfiture to pupils and teachers and additional expense. We wish to call attention to Supt. Putney's report on congestion in certain localities and the condition of certain buildings.
The two districts that command attention because of con- gestion are East Chelmsford and the Westlands. This proposi- tion is far reaching in that it not only affects the transportation but also because it creates congestion at the Center.
The old Princeton St. school, as well as the Center grammar school, has long since reached the stage of general debility and should be placed on the inactive list as soon as possible. The heating facilities have been sorely tried in the last two winters and found decidedly lacking.
There is an absolute necessity for a remodeled heating plant in both and we hesitate to recommend too much expenditure on either proposition.
It has been our earnest desire to bring about a "League of Sections" if we may borrow the expression, and it has been arranged to alternate the school functions between the Center and the North.
This means that the graduation will be held at the North and the reception at the Center.
Our aims have been to give satisfaction to the best of our ability and to foster school spirit which will ultimately unite the different factions into closer bonds of friendship and citizen- ship. We believe that a high standard coupled with the unsel- fish desire of the pupils to serve the whole and not a part of the town will result in benefits that cannot be measured as to their monetary value.
We wish to commend Mr. Putney for the able manner in which he has handled the entire situation and also those teachers who have stuck by their posts.
In closing, we wish to express our thanks for the hearty co-operation and unreserved support that has been accorded to us by the townspeople in general, the parents, and all connected with student life and activities.
Respectfully submitted,
STEWART MACKAY, Chairman, U. J. LUPIEN, REV. C. H. ELLIS.
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Report of the Superintendent of Schools.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF CHELMSFORD :
I herewith submit my report, as Superintendent of Schools, for the year ending December 31, 1918.
There have been many pleasing features of the work of the year and perhaps the most conspicuous is the way in which the teachers have worked to make the year worth while, notwith· standing the handicaps.
Not in recent years has there been such a break in school work as has occurred throughout the state since September. The influ- enza has made fearful inroads upon the work, but we have been fortunate, as compared with some other towns, in that we had to close for only four and a half weeks. In many places a second closing was ordered because of a recurrence of the disease. So I think it is no exaggeration to say that our schools are making far better progress at this time than eighty per cent. of the schools of the state, and I do not anticipate the need for having schools kept open into July.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
Again let me urge upon the parents the necessity of good attendance in our schools. I would ask parents to make a study of the attendance statistics as outlined in the table of this report. For the year ending June 21, 1918, figures show a deplorable lack of attendance at times for there are few rooms with a per- cent of attendance above 90 while under ordinary circumstances no room should fail to maintain a yearly average of at least 93 per cent. There was little excuse for this inasmuch as there was little serious illness until after the fall term opened. Com- paring these figures with the statistics for the fall term, I find that some of our new teachers have worked hard to obtain sat- isfactory results with fine results; in fact, some rooms have a far better attendance for the fall notwithstanding the handicap re- sulting from the influenza epidemic, than was attained last year. Let me commend those who did work so zealously and let me thank the parents who co-operated. Let us have more
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schools with the net gains shown such as was gained by the South Row School. In that district the parents have shown a fine spirit in supporting Miss Garvey, the teacher, and as a result we have had a happy, homelike school that is a decided credit to the town.
A NEW MINIMUM SALARY.
On January 1, 1919, the new law went into effect, relative to a minimum salary for teachers. The minimum for all teach. ers in towns of Chelmsford's valuation is now $550. This will mean a corresponding increase in every salary level so that the amount estimated for salaries should include what will be nec- essary, above previous costs, for experienced teachers, as well as for beginners at the minimum.
At the present time we shall have to pay at least $650 for a teacher of only one year's experience, whereas two years ago we could have obtained the same quality of work for $600, or per- haps less. That is for graded work, and in the High School we shall be obliged to set a price of at least $800 for experience or be satisfied with inexperienced candidates at from $700 to $750. A High School of our size is not properly taught if there are more than one or two inexperienced teachers in the force. Dur- ing the past year I have had an exceptionally difficult time in finding teachers at any price and at the present writing have been unable to secure a drawing supervisor at the salary Chelmsford can pay.
THE MAXIMUM SALARY.
The increased minimum brings up the point of a possible increase in the maximum salary in both grades and High School. We have, in the grades, many teachers who started when salaries were less than $400 per year. They have worked hard and have given years of faithful service. Should they, too, not be re- warded by receiving an increased maximum? Would it not be a far better incentive for new teachers to come to Chelmsford if they knew they could look ahead to a substantial maximum ? Before the new minimum went into effect a teacher would come here for about $500 and she saw an increase of perhaps $200 ahead, after three or four years of work. With the new price the outlook is for only $150 and she is going to look for another position where the maximum is greater. I would, therefore, recommend that the maximum be increased $50 per year, said increase to apply to all teachers who have taught in Chelmsford
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for six years or more. In the High School the situation is some- what different. In order to secure and hold teachers it will be necessary to look forward to a maximum of $950 in the near future. We are now paying $800 to several of our teachers and they will naturally look ahead to an increase for the coming year, if their work is satisfactory. That increase will mean the pres- ent maximum and I should like to be able to be fairly certain of their services for a year longer, at least, for the good of the school.
BUILDING NEEDS.
As suggested in my 1917 report, it was found necessary to transport pupils of Grades VI, VII and VIII from the East School to the Center School. This did not help conditions at the Center as we were already overcrowded there, and we were fortunate in being able to accommodate the extra pupils.
At South Row, pupils of Grade VI were kept and now we have the possibility of continuing next year with Grade VII there because of congested conditions at the Center.
At Golden Cove we have four grades, but there is need at once of some action relative to accommodating the pupils of this section of the town. We simply cannot send many more to the Center, where the upper grades now are located, and I would recommend that the matter of building a new school house at the Westlands be taken up at the town meeting in February, looking forward to erecting a four-room structure to be ready for occu- pancy not later than September, 1920.
Appended to this report is a table showing the pupils at the various schools and one showing the pupils transported from the various districts.
I would call your attention to the great need of some change being made in the Center School. We have had the furnaces re- paired, the windows tightened, the double windows put on and a new stack heater installed; yet there is a deplorable lack of heat in the west end of the building. The janitor has had the furnaces so hot that I have not been able to put my hand on the door handles and when the thermometer was consulted in the room above the temperature was less than 50. This shows that notwithstanding faithful service on the part of the janitor, we cannot get heat enough to make the rooms comfortable and parents have justly complained to me about it. The question is, "What can we do about it ?"
9
At the Princeton School a similar condition is found in that the old building is almost beyond repair. New ventilating sys- tem, better heating, sanitary improvements-all these can be done at a considerable cost and when we are finished we still have an unsatisfactory building. For the present I should recom- mend that a committee be appointed to look into the matter of better housing at both Center and Princeton Schools.
GROWTH OF THE TOWN.
Surprising as it may seem, our fall enrolment shows a gain over last year and that gain has not been temporary. If normal conditions existed we should have a big increase in at least two sections of the town-North Chelmsford and the Westlands. The Westland distriet will see a surprising growth during the next five years as that is the most desirable suburban district of Lowell for residential purposes and the North will receive a commercial growth that will be a healthy one.
Many of the pupils have been put to work earlier than they would naturally go, but we look to see them return soon. Juve- nile labor is being discontinued and there may not be so many proportionate returns from work as there may be laek of pres- ent pupils applying for work. This will mean a steady growth in our schools and many considerations as to teaching require- ments, supplies, etc., as well as the building needs above out- lined.
TRANSPORTATION.
A tabulated form gives a good idea of our transportation problems of today and how they are met. We have one more question that cannot be definitely settled. That is the matter of pupils' tickets. The street railway receiver has applied for a release of the requirement that calls for half rates for pupils of publie schools and the rate itself has been advanced. Our car fares will probably amount to at least twice what they did dur- ing 1918. and this will have to be anticipated in the estimated budget.
CHANGES IN THE TEACHING CORPS.
Throughout the state the chaotic labor conditions have re- sulted in an extra heavy demand upon the teaching profession. Teachers have left the work, mainly because of the lack of possi- ble remuneration for remaining, and have taken positions with the government. Chelmsford has suffered as other towns have
10
done and we have been fortunate in securing some extra good material as candidates, and our new teachers have lived fully up to what was expected of them. An appended table shows our force as it now exists with the changes that have occurred during the year. Let us hope that we shall not have as many changes dur- ing the coming year and that all of our teachers will realize that we do appreciate their worth even if we are not in a position to pay them as large salaries as some of the surrounding places give.
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