USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1937 > Part 9
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Ann E. Hehir, B. S. E., I, Sept. 1935, Lowell.
QUESSY
V. John Rikkola, B. S. E., Principal, VII-VIII, Salem. Isabell M. Doyle, B. S., V-VI, Sept. 1936, Boston University. Josephine M. Quigley, B. S. E., III-IV, Sept. 1934, Lowell. Alice P. McEnaney, I-II, Jan. 1936, Lowell Normal.
SOUTH
Nora E. Miskell, B. S. E., IV-VI, Sept. 1937, Lowell. Veronica M. McTeague, B. S. E., I-III, Jan. 1936, Lowell.
WESTLANDS
H. Jean Rafuse, Principal, VII-VIII, Sept. 1920, Martin's Point, N. S .. High School.
Vera G. Rafuse, V-VI, Sept. 1921, Truro Normal.
(Mrs.) Charlotte K. Duffy, III-IV, Sept. 1932, Lowell Normal.
(Mrs.) Marion S. Adams, I-II, Jan. 1928, Lowell Normal.
SUPERVISOR
Charlotte L. Hyde, Music, Oct. 1927, Lowell Normal.
TRANSPORTATION
George W. Marinel, North Chelmsford.
JANITORS
High School, C. O. Robbins, Chelmsford Centre. McFarlin, Otis Brown, South Chelmsford. East, Bernard Mclaughlin, East Chelmsford. Highland Avenue, Edward Fallon, North Chelmsford. Princeton Street, Patrick Cassidy, North Chelmsford. Quessy, John Boutilier, West Chelmsford. South, George Burton, South Chelmsford. Westlands, E. Berg, Westlands.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of the Town of Chelmsford :
We herewith submit the report of the School Committee for the year 1937.
May we again call your attention to conditions in the High School. This is an old story and has been mentioned in the report of every Com- mittee since 1928, when the enrollment was 200. This figure has been in- creased every year, and on Oct. 1, 1937 we had an enrollment of 445 pupils.
The Senior Class going out in June 1938 has 83 members. The Eighth grade pupils who will graduate in June and thus become eligible to enter High School, number 156.
If the parents of these 156 boys and girls decide to send them to High School, the enrollment at the opening of school in September will be 518.
On the other hand, if only two-thirds of this number enter we will have 466 students to care for.
Under these conditions the faculty is badly handicapped, not only in teaching but in trying to safeguard the health of your children. We are using rooms in the McFarlin School for High School work, and the changing between buildings for classes involves difficulties for the teach- ers and pupils concerned.
Your Committee commends the teachers of the High School for their loyalty and willingness to help in the problems we have had to face.
This is a plain statement of facts given for the serious consideration of the Citizens of Chelmsford.
FINANCES
The annual school reports for the past several years have included statements which showed in detail the manner in which the school ap- propriation is expended each year. It has been the effort of this com- mittee, and committees which have preceded it, to keep the school bud- get within the means of the inhabitants of the town.
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Our school costs in Chelmsford are very low. There are eighty- two Massachusetts towns of over 5000 population maintaining high schools. Only two of these towns run their school departments at a less cost per pupil than Chelmsford does. The cost in the remaining towns is higher than in Chelmsford, in some cases being more than double the amount spent here. The annual school budget of Chelmsford accounts for less than $12.00 of the tax rate.
The bonds on all school buildings, except the McFarlin School, are completely paid off; the last payment on the McFarlin School bonds will be made in 1940.
These facts are stated here briefly in order to remind you that your school costs are low and have been low for many years. If the Town could afford greater expenditures for schools, it would probably be wise to make them, but we feel that present industrial and financial condi- tions require us to keep school costs down where they are.
TRANSPORTATION
We are at present transporting 619 pupils to and from the various school buildings each day throughout the school year.
The contract between the Town of Chelmsford and George W. Mar- inel of North Chelmsford runs out in June, 1938, a new contract will be drawn up and bids called for, the details of which will be worked out at that time.
The service given by Mr. Marinel has been very satisfactory, he having cheerfully co-operated with the Committee at all times.
The teachers in the elementary schools are to be commended for the loyalty and attention to detail displayed by them in the training of the children entrusted to their care.
The Committee also thanks the teachers and Principals for the ex- tra work performed over and above actual requirements.
The Janitor service for 1937 has been excellent, the money saved the town by these men in the way of repairs amounts to a considerable sum in the course of a year.
Edward Fallon, Janitor at the Highland Ave. School resigned fromn service this year. Mr. Fallon was appointed Janitor when the school was built and has given many years of good faithful service. We wish our friend years of happiness and contentment in his retirement.
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The work of the Parent-Teacher Associations in Chelmsford during the past year has been very helpful and the School Committee wishes them success in their efforts for the betterment of our School system during 1938.
We recommend that the Citizens read carefully the report of the Superintendent of Schools, in which will be found information of value.
JOHN A. McADAMS.
WENDELL P. HARVEY. JAMES P. CASSIDY.
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT
To the School Committee :
My tenth annual report is hereby submitted through you to the cit- izens of Chelmsford.
FINANCIAL
The reports of 1930 and 1934 analyzed in detail school costs in Chelmsford, and compared them, item by item, with costs in other towns. Since these change little from year to year such a study is not given in this report. The report of the Town Accountant shows how the ex- penditure in 1937 of $102,813.64 was distributed in salaries, fuel, repairs, transportation, etc. The Town received the following sums in 1937, paid directly into the treasury, which should be deducted from the total ex- penditure to find the net cost of the schools to taxpayers.
The largest item was $16,040, received as a credit from the State Part 1, Chapter 70, General Laws, provides for reimbursement from the income tax for salaries paid teachers. The rate of reimbursement de- pends on several factors, such as training and length of experience of the teacher and salary received, the average membership of the schools, and a figure furnished by the State as indicating the proportionate amount of the state tax paid by the town. The aim of the law is to aid the less wealthy towns by giving them a larger part of the proceeds of the income tax.
The State paid tuition for 72 state wards amounting to $3,111.90, and tuition paid by (or due from) towns amounted to $524.80.
A total of $30.00 was received for sales by the School Department.
Deducting from these receipts on school account the cost of the schools raised by local taxes was as shown below :
Total Expenditure by School Committee
$102,213.64
Receipts and Credits
Reimbursement for salaries
$16,040.00
Tuition of state wards
3,111.90
Tuition from towns 524.80
Sales 30.00
Total receipts on school account 19,706.70 Net cost from local taxation $83,106.94
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To raise this amount a tax of $12.83 was required on the valuation of 1937. That is, the net cost of the schools in 1937 represented $12.83 out of the total tax rate of $30.70.
The Annual Report of the Department of Education for 1937, Part II, gives full details concerning school enrollment, tax rate, expendi- ture, number of teachers, etc. for each of the 355 cities and towns of the Commonwealth. These are divided into four groups, cities in group I, towns over 5000 population in group II, towns under 5000 and maintain- ing high schools in group III, and the remaining small towns in group IV. Costs are given on a unit basis, the cost per pupil, which is the only way in which a fair comparison can be made.
Chelmsford is the 58th in population of the 83 towns in group II, which is headed by Brookline with 47,490 and ends with Easton, 5293 Chelmsford had 7,022. (Census of 1930.)
In wealth per pupil, valuation of 1936, Chelmsford is 75th with $4,379. Brookline leads with $25,564 for each pupil, the average in the 83 towns is $8,306, and the lowest is $2,918.
In total town tax rate (1936) Chelmsford is 46th with $33.80. The highest was $53.40 and the lowest, Somerset, was $21.50.
In the total expenditure per pupil for the year ending Dec. 31, 1936, Chelmsford was 81st of the 83 towns with $65.57. Brookline expended the largest amount,, $149.62 for each child in school, and the lowest was $63.15. In the other two groups of towns there were six which expended less than Chelmsford. All the cities were higher.
In expenditure from local taxation, after receipts from the State and other sources were deducted from the total expenditures, Chelmsford was 25th in 1936, with a rate of $11.97. The highest was $18.62, and Brookline, the lowest, required only $5.46.
Put in another way, Chelmsford has less wealth for each child in school than most towns in her clcass, 74 of the 83 having more; the total tax rate is near the medium, 45 towns having a higher rate and 37 low- er ; 80 towns expend more per pupil than Chelmsford and only two ex- pend less ; 24 towns need a higher tax rate for the cost which is borne locally, and 58 require less.
The low cost per pupil in Chelmsford is due largely to these fac- tors : salaries below the average, a ratio of number of pupils to the to- tal number of principals, teachers, and supervisors that is higher than the average (31 pupils to a teacher in Chelmsford, very few towns hav- ing so high a ratio); and the absence of special departments such as drawing, physical education, household arts, etc.
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Tuition to Lowell Vocational School for 1937 amounted to $3,014.27, and the rebate from the State was $1,492.37.
TEACHERS
The report of last year noted the retirement of Miss Bertha H. Long, after a service of forty years in the schools at West Chelmsford. This year another faithful and honored teacher of long service has given up active work in the classroom. After teaching primary grades in West Chelmsford and in Dunstable for several years, Miss Ella A. Hutchinson in 1905 began her service to the children of North Chelmsford in the Princeton St. School, and became Principal of the school in November, 1933. During these years, both by her classroom teaching and by her life in the community, she has been a powerful agent in molding the lives and characters of hundreds of pupils. Her influence will persist long after these years of faithful service. Her colleagues, her former pupils, and the community at large wish for her many happy years.
In the High School Miss Catherine Coughlan, and in the McFarlin Miss Myrtle Greene and Miss Clara Dexter resigned in June, as they were to be married, and in November Miss Charlotte Hyde, music su- pervisor, resigned for the same reason.
On Miss Long's retirement, Miss Isabell M. Doyle was transferred from Princeton St. to the Quessy School, and Miss Rita Ryan of North Chelmsford was engaged as substitute teacher for the Princeton St. 8th grade. In September Miss Ryan was transferred to the vacant position in the High School. She is a graduate of Emmanuel College in 1936.
At Princeton St. Miss Genevieve E. Jantzen, a teacher in the same school since 1911, was made Principal. Mrs. Reid was transferred from 6th grade to 7th, Miss Hutchinson's grade, and Miss Roberta Small from South Chelmsford to the 6th grade. For the 8th grade position Miss Sally T. Conlon of Lowell was engaged. She had had two years ex- perience in the Greek Parochial School, and had served several weeks as substitute in our upper grades.
For the two positions in the McFarlin School Miss Muriel Bridges and Miss Edna Hoyt were engaged, and for the South Chelmsford pos - ition Miss Nora Miskell. These young ladies are residents of Chelms- ford and all are graduates, with degrees, of Lowell Teachers College. Miss Hoyt had one year of experience in Vermont and one year in Sut- ton, Mass., and Miss Bridges had one year in Vermont.
For the music supervisorship Miss M. Marion Adams of Chelmsford was engaged to begin work in January. She formerly held this position in the schools, and for the last ten years has served as music teacher in Townsend and Ashby, and for five years in Tewksbury.
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ENROLLMENT
A table at the end of this report shows the enrollment by buildings and by grades on October 1, 1937, and also total enrollment for the last ten years. As is the case generally with towns and cities which are not growing in population, the enrollment in the primary grades has fallen off. From an elementary enrollment of 1265 in 1933 the number dropped to 1158 in 1937, but the enrollment in the High School reached a new high point, 445. With one exception the present 8th grade of 156 is the largest recorded; in 1934 that grade had 162. We may expect an in- crease in the High School for at least one more year. Whether the elementary enrollment will again increase probably depends on the num- ber of new families which may enter the town. The Westlands offered the most serious problem in seating pupils this year. The 7th and 8th grade room could not possibly accomodate all who were entitled to at - tend that school. Five pupils volunteered to go a greater distance to the McFarlin school, which relieved the situation for the time being There is considerable home building in the Westlands, which indicates that a permanent solution has not been found.
The Quessy School has been small for several years, while the en- rollment at McFarlin has steadily increased. By changing transporta- tion routes about 25 pupils could be shifted to the Quessy School. This would be done by requiring pupils living on Smith St., Parkhurst Road. Davis Road, and beyond, who now are transported to the Center, to take busses which would leave them at the Quessy School. I recommend that you give this matter early consideration, and that if any change be made it become effective in September.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
The report of 1936 gave a brief description, with dates of construc- tion, of the buildings now in use. Advantage has been taken of Federal work relief agencies in securing certain repairs to all the buildings ex- cept the High School and the McFarlin. These repairs have included carpenter work, painting, and cement work, but have not included any work on the heating systems or in plumbing. The reports from 1933 to 1936 indicate what was done in each building. In 1937 no work was donc inside the buildings under Federal grants.
By special appropriation in 1929 the Old Building at Princeton St. was given modern, sanitary toilets. In 1935 PWA labor was used in re- modeling the basement of the New Building, providing two new, well- lighted rooms for toilets. Out of the regular appropriation that year new toilet fixtures were installed. One building is left which needs sim- ilar attention, Highland Ave. The toilet fixtures are in poor condition, they have been in use over 25 years, and are of a type which cannot now
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be matched for repair parts. If WPA labor should be available next summer for work in that building, it would be advisable to make changes in the, boiler room in the interests of convenience and safety, in addition to renovating the toilet rooms.
SCHOOL GROUNDS
The WPA project back of the Westlands School has been completed this year. The lot back of this building was of no use till 1929, when a special appropriation was used for grubbing up the bushes, plowing, smoothing and seeding. The seeding was a failure, owing to the poor soil. At that time the ground in front of the building was covered with the coarse gravel that had been used for filling. One of the first Fed- ral school projects was to remove the stones, spread a layer of loam, and seed these grounds. This project was favored by a wet summer, the grass made a good start, and a good lawn has resulted. The last project was confined to the grounds in the rear of the building. The area was leveled, a standard baseball diamond laid out and built, and the field seeded. The Parent-Teacher Association furnished material for bleach- ers, and had previously provided a volley ball court and a tennis court. The school deportment paid the wages of the driver of a town truck, amounting to $217.80. This part of the town now has a good athletic field for the use both of the school and of the community. The Town should make adequate provision for its continued maintenance.
The two and one-half acre field adjacent to the school at East Chelmsford has been of very little use because of the uneven surface and many boulders. This field is now being leveled as a WPA project, and it is planned to provide a standard baseball diamond.
It is not possible to make use of WPA labor on the land back of the Highland Ave. and the Quessy schools, since these fields are privately owned.
Work was done on the school grounds at the Center three years ago, consisting of leveling the field and removing a sand bank to make the field longer. If a Federal project is desired for another season there is opportunity here for a comprehensive development which would ben- efit the entire town by improving the facilities of the school which is at- tended by all the older pupils. Such a project might include :
1. Providing an adequate sewage disposal system for the two schools Previous reports have emphasized this need in pointing out the cost of maintaining the present unsatisfactory systems. No trouble was exper- ienced in 1937, but at any time, without warning, sewage may again back up into the McFarlin School, or break out on the surface back of either school.
2. Fencing the grounds. The lack of a fence, especially along Lowell Road, is a constant source of danger to the children at play. This is probably the most dangerous playground.
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3. Rebuilding and hard-surfacing the tennis courts. These were originally provided, I understand, by the V. I. A. They have not received care for years and are useless in their present condition.
4. Building a standard baseball diamond and back-stop.
5. Providing a field house for athletic teams, which would obviate present very unsatisfactory conditions in the McFarlin School.
TRANSPORTATION
On October 1, 1937, a total of 619 pupils were being carried to and from school, 297 to the High School, 157 to McFarlin, 70 to Princeton St., 60 to Quessy, and 35 to South. The average number carried for the last five years is 608. This is the last year of the third three-year con- tract which the Town has had with George W. Marinel. His service during these nine years has been extremely satisfactory. The systm used is the so-called multiple-trip, which has the advantage of being less expensive than a system under which each section of the town would have its own bus, and the disadvantage of bringing pupils to the schools in some instances long before the hour when school work begins. At the present time one bus leaves West Chelmsford at the Post Office at 7.25 A. M. and takes a load of students from West and North to the High School; then goes down Boston Road and back to McFarlin; then over Littleton Road and Garrison Road to South Chelmsford, to the High Schol; then back to North Chelmsford over Groton Road to near the Westford line and to the Quessy School; then back over Groton Road to Princeton St. at 8.55. It has carried five loads.
Another bus leaves North Chelmsford at 7.15, picks up students on Tyngsboro and Dunstable roads, and goes to High School; then over Turnpike, Mill Road and Billerica Road to High School; then over Westford Road to Quessy; then over Old Westford Road and North Road to High School at 8.25. It has carried four loads.
A third bus leaves North Chelmsford at 7.30 for the High School : then goes to East Chelmsford and back to High School; then goes about a mile over Billerica Road and back to High School; then over Carlisle and Proctor roads to South Chelmsford; then to High School at 8.20. It has carried four loads besides relieving an over-crowded bus on Billerica Road.
A fourth bus leaves Princeton St. School at 7.30 for the High School; then goes to East Chelmsford and back to High School; then to North Chelmsford and back to High School; then over Dunstable and Tyngsboro roads to Princeton St. at 8.50. It has carried four loads.
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A fifth bus is held in reserve in case any of the regular ones is dis- abled or unduly delayed. Generally the busses run very close to the scheduled time when the roads are dry; in bad weather they run be- hind.
Since the present contract expires in June, a careful study should be made of the present routes, the probable school enrollment in each building next September, and possible changes for the improvement of the system.
I call attention to the reports of the Principal of the High School and of the School Nurse.
Mr. Burns quotes ten principles drawn up by the National Associa- tion for guidance in planning courses and administering high schools These are worded in professional terms, hard for the layman to under- stand. In effect, they mean that education in high school should aim at the harmonious and continuous development of the personality of cachi individual student, fitting him for a useful place in society, which will be within the scope of his powers and which will satisfy his ambi- tions. To this end there should be an offering of many different kinds, so that so far as possible each student may find work which will appeal strongly to his interests and which he will gladly pursue with enthusiasm through school and beyond. When the school can no longer hold his interest he is better off somewhere else, either in another type of school or at work.
Applying these principles to Chelmsford High School, we find we have but few courses, consisting almost wholly of languages, mathe- matics, natural science, and history. We are not meeting the needs of young men and women who are hand-minded, rather than book-minded. For many students a shop, a household arts laboratory, or a practical project outside the school building is more vitally necessary than ordin- ary classrooms. These needs cannot be met till the voters of Chelms- ford provide more adequate quarters and facilities.
Lowell Teachers College continues to use some of our classrooms for the training of cadet teachers. Three or four students in the 3d year of their course work for periods of twelve weeks with teachers who are selected for that purpose by the College. They have the benefit of observation in the classroom and practice under a successful teach- er, and the teacher gets considerable help from them, especially during the last part of their three months training period.
Our schools are truly a community enterprise. Outside those who are employed by the Town many citizens are rendering service to our
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boys and girls, through the Parent-Teacher Association, the Boy and Girl Scouts, the Four-H Clubs, and other groups. To all these, and es- pecially to you, the members of the School Committee, I express ap- preciation in behalf of the teachers and school pupils of Chelmsford.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE S. WRIGHT.
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REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
January 17, 1938.
Mr. George S. Wright Superintendent of Schools Chelmsford, Massachusetts
My dear Mr. Wright :
In this, my eighth annual report as principal of Chelmsford High School, I hope to tell, besides the usual statistics, of some of the trends in secondary education.
There were 216 boys and 216 girls enrolled September 8, 1937. On January 3, there were 223 boys and 214 girls. The total enrollment for the present school year up to January 1 is 454. This is eight more than were enrolled January 1, 1937.
The commercial enrollment continues to increase. Because of this fact it is more and more difficult to satisfy the requests of pupils, en- rolled in the other curriculums, to elect typewriting and stenography. It has seemed wise by the school authorities to require each pupil to meet the requirements of one of the three curriculums, this we have tried to follow. Pupils may elect into other curriculums, after they have met the requirements of the one curriculum chosen, if there is room, and if they can do so without conflicting with the required courses. This regulation, although not perfect, was made because of the physical im- possibility of doing otherwise.
May I emphasize, again this year, that each member of the faculty stays for at least two afternoon sessions (2.30 to 3.45) each week to help pupils who, for any reason, need extra assistance in their work. This is not a punishment but rather an opportunity for those pupils, by extra effort and help, to complete their work satisfactorily. Many pupils take advantage of this privilege. More should do so.
We belong to the Massachusetts High School Athletic Association and are governed by its rules and regulations in all athletic contests. It is our policy to play only those schools which are governed by the same regulations.
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