USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1960 > Part 3
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The most frequent question before the Board in 1960 was for an interpre - tation of Chapter 492 of the Acts of 1958. This statute became Section 5A of G. L. Chapter 40A -- The Zoning Enabling Act. The statute said, in effect, that where two contiguous non-conforming lots were owned by the same per - son; they could not be built upon separately.
The Board, following the advice of Town Counsel, found that this statute did not apply to the Town of Ipswich Zoning By-Law. This section has recent - ly been clarified by the legislature with the result that this regulation does not apply to our By-Law.
This year, as in the past, the Town Counsel has been most helpful to the Board.
Although the Board's decisions have not satisfied everyone, they have tried to be fair to all concerned and to act in the balanced best interests of the citizens and the Town.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Russell L. Scahill, Chief
The Fire Department answered a total of 383 calls during the past year. Of these 259 were still alarms, 73 were bell alarms and 51 were ambulance calls. 21 of these calls were for houses and buildings, 60 were for grass and brush fires, 32 were for dump fires and 9 calls were for car and truck fires . The number of false alarms was very low in comparison with last year: There were only 6 in 1960. Many of the calls were for emergencies, such as persons locked out, leakly refrigerators, flooded oil burners, flooded cellars and use of the inhalator and resuscitator. The department's vehicles covered a total of 15, 525 miles during the year. We also used a total of 9450 feet of 1 1/2 inch hose, 19, 050 feet of 2 1/2 inch hose, raised 710 feet of ladders, and a total of 79, 500 gallons of water from the booster tanks was used during the year.
The total value of property threatened was $50, 000, but the losses wer e only about $5500 and the insurance paid out on these fires was only about $3800.
The upstairs dormitory for the men was completely renovated with most of the work being done by the permanent men. The work included putting up a new ceiling, all the walls were sheetrocked, and the entire room was painted.
28
A second-hand fire truck was purchased through Civil Defense. It should be ready for use in the grass fire season in order to avoid running our larg - er trucks to grass fires.
The following is a miscellaneous report of other activities of the depart- ment:
Inspection of oil burners
375
Connection of Country Gas Installations
140
Spraying of Christmas Trees
400
Complaints investigated 315
Blasting permits
75
Checking and filling soda and acid extinguishers
275
Checking and filling foamite extinguishers
50
Fire Burning permits issued
575
The department also made its usual inspections of all nursing homes, rest homes, the hospital, churches and all business establishments.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Stanley J. Surpitski, Chief of Police
Demand for police service is constantly increasing, and with the increas - ing numbers of motor vehicles, summer resident colony, enforcement of traffic problems are created in the business area and on the highways leading to the beaches and summer colony.
The traffic and parking problem in the business area is still a problem, and it is a situation that can be greatly relieved by a little more cooperation from the motorists.
There were three hundred and ninety seven arrests during the year of 1960 and are classified as follows:
Assault
14
Assault on police officers
2
Breaking and entering
3
Allowing improper person to operate
2
Delinquents
26
Disturbing the peace
1
Drunkeness
62
Excessive speed
93
Failing to keep to the right of road
2
Lewd and lascivious speech and behavior
5
Larceny
22
Leaving scene of accident after causing property damage
6
Misappropriation of car
1
Operating under influence of liquor
19
Operating so as to endanger
6
Operating after revocation or suspension of license
5
Operating without a license
9
Operating unregistered car
4
Violation of inspection sticker
2
Passing car where view is obstructed
6
29
Vagrancy Violation of stop sign Non support Contributing towards delinquency of minor Miscellaneous
9
20
6
10
62
These cases were disposed as follows:
Appealed
17
Discharged
44
Filed
27
Filed cost of court
72
Fined
168
Probation
8
Restitution
4
Suspended sentence
15
Sentenced to House of Correction
29
Turned over to other police departments
7
Committed to Danvers State Hospital
2
Committee to Youth Service Board
4
POUCE DEPARTHO
-
Other Activity :-- The two police cars traveled 46, 374 miles and the ambulance, 3487 miles.
Automobiles stolen 1
Automobiles recovered 2
Ambulance runs 184
Automobile accidents reported over $200 damage or injury 112
30
Automobile accidents reported under $200 damage and no injury 180
Automobiles transferred
1513
Animals found
50
Animals lost
81
Animals destroyed
36
Animals reported killed
44
Animals reported injured
59
Assistance rendered to persons in distress
22
Persons bitten by dogs
53
Bicycles registered
177
Business establishments found open at night and secured
168
Clam permits issued -- non-resident
984
Clam permits issued -- resident
713
Criminal summons served
115
Persons reported injured
70
Persons reported missing from home and found
19
Sudden deaths investigated
3
Parking summons issued
713
Resident Crane Beach stickers issued
2150
Summer resident Crane Beach permits issued
429
Complaints investigated
1580
HARBOR DEPARTMENT
Arthur Moon, Harbor Master and Clam Commissioner
Service to the public using the water ways in 1960 included placing of Town floats and channel markers, removal of trees, blasting of six rocks from the river channel, 16 searches for missing persons, 42 searches for lost boats with 33 recoveries, and two other emergency calls.
Water traffic regulation was a necessity with over 1000 boats counted in the area at one time on some weekends. Special weekend and night patrol result - ed in 89 tickets issued for minor violations or for removal of boats. Of 261 boats inspected, nine were sent in for faulty equipment and two for no regis - tration. There were 103 patrols to Hoods Pond. Dispite the heavy boat traf - fic, there was only one collision. The court fined the owner and ordered him to pay for the damages. The Harbormaster reports that boat owners were very cooperative.
Clamming dropped off from 1959, although 1961 is predicted as a good year. The commercial take dropped from 14, 000 bushels to 11, 165 with 97 permits issued. Family digging produced about 2, 500 bushels of soft shells and 1, 100 bushels of sea clams with 1, 697 permits issued,
Efforts to build up the clam yield included opening and closing of areas, catching clam seed with 200 square yards of plastic screen in spring and fall, destruction of almost 12, 000 horseshoe crabs, cooperation on a federal pro - ject to develop seed bed protection, and enforcement of shellfish laws and regulations.
Clams were confiscated from 41 unlicensed diggers. Five commercial diggers suffered permit revocations of one month to a year. These digger s were fined for violations.
31
LIST OF JURORS
These are the citizens who are eligible to be drawn for Jury Duty during 1961.
Alphonse A. Gallant
13
Brown Square
Dishwasher
Arthur P. Marcorelle
32
Central Street
Clerk
Warren E. Grant
43b Turkey Shore Road
Retired
George Mourikas
14 Brown Street Clerk
Peter A. Johnson
10
Putnam Road
Clam Dealer
Charles C. Stevens, Jr.
15
Depot Square
Retired
Sylvester D. Conley
90
Central Street
Salesman
Louis Bournazos
39 Estes Street Old Right Road
Salesman
James M. Stewart
5 Sawyer Street
Laborer
Carl G. Woodbury
5 Labor-in-Vain Road
Sexton
Raymond T. Hull
19 Newmarch Street
Boat Repairman
James R. Marsh
23 High Street
Sales Engineer
Benjamin W. Alhowik
15 Mineral Street High Street
Retired
Charles S. Mansfield
40 Upper River Road Argilla Road Topsfield Road
Retired
Chester G. Brockelbank
Summer Street
Sylvania
Chester S. Bartnicki
15 Second Street High Street
Retired
Frank J. Kaspryzk
31 Washington Street Southern Manor
Retired
Gardiner A. Bolles
12
Woods Lane
Salesman
Samuel Aitken
34 Central Street North Gate Road Winter Street
Electrician
Joel Camacho
7 Broadway Avenue Labor-in-Vain Road Turnpike Road
Manager
Albert W. Enos
150
Manager
Edward P. Hetnar
8 Kimball Avenue
Cabinet Maker
Percy R. Dort
5 Mineral Street
Salesman
Paul R. Owens
4 Brown Street Essex Road
Manager
Percy R. Dort, Sr.
5 Mineral Street
Carpenter
Stephen Harasen
27 Farley Avenue Cameron Avenue Topsfield Road
Sylvania
Brainard C. Wallace
56 North Main Street
Retired
John J. Michon
Sylvania
Edward Kozeneski
Dairy Farmer
Robert N. Raymond
Salesman
Gordon Gunn
9 Liberty Street
Salesman
Alice V. Trocki
13 Peatfield Street Linebrook Road
Saleswoman
Winifred Wegzyn
Assembler
Ruth M. Parr
11 Topsfield Road Summer Street
Clerk
Elizabeth E. Arthur
4 Grant Court
Bookkeeper
Gretchen M. Perkins
Cafeteria
Agnes Jodoin
Housewife
Helen F. Peters
Reporter
Eleanor Burns
Retired
Mary B. Miller
Jeffreys Neck Road Jeffreys Neck Road
Housewife
Housewife
Florence B. Dove
28 Green Street Jeffreys Neck Road Meetinghouse Green Manning Street
Receptionist
Barbara Daugherty
3 Lafayette Road Linebrook Road Essex Road
Draftsman
Bernard V. Farley
Inspector
Charles E. Dagnall, Jr.
Custodian
Donald L. Comeau
Carpenter
Frank Slysz
Laborer
Daniel B. Lunt, Jr.
Bricklayer
Manley Butler
Artist
Henry A. Dondero
Sylvania
George R. Hovey
Leather Worker
Herman J. Young
Machinist
William V. Arsenault
Machinist
Charles W. Herrick
32
Mill Man
Philip Abell
Alice Wass Helen E. Cooke Barbara Young Anna J. Orchard
High Street Linebrook Road
Linebrook Road
102
Linebrook Road
Irene B. Gillespie
17 Elm Street
Housewife Shirt Packer Clerk Bookkeeper Sylvania
Emma Lemieux Lillian M. Brown Doris Arnold
Kathleen Brockelbank
21 North Main Street
Waitress
Agnes Robishaw
41 Market Street
Housewife Housewife Housewife
22 1/2 Lafayette Road Turkey Shore Road
34 Central Street
Receptionist
33
THE MUNICIPAL FAMILY
December 31, 1960
TOWN MODERATOR Edmund Kelleher
BOARD OF SELECTMEN John A. Pechilis, Chairman Nathaniel M. Quint Frank J. O'Malley John W. Trudel John F. Conley
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Dr. Robert E. Waite, Chairman Dr. William Wigglesworth
George J. Geanakos Garry P. Somers
James Smyth Leon K. Purington Terrance F. Perkins
HOUSING AUTHORITY
Stanley Eustace Glenfred A. Wanzer Fred C. Whittier, Sr. Christopher Karras Donald Hazen
BOARD OF ASSESSORS Seward S. Tyler David Claxton Charles Pickard
BOARD OF HEALTH Lawrence M. King Dr. Frank Collins Dr. Ernest Smith
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Charles R. Passales Timothy F. Carey, Jr. Richard W. Davis H. Ernest Stone Edward Wegzyn George A. Pechilis James Austin Daniel B. Lunt Charles A. Mallard
CONSTABLE Bernie Spencer
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Robert E. Curtis
PLANNING BOARD Chester J. Patch, Jr., Chairman Joseph Weltchek John Logan John G. Markos Charles W. Herrick
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE George R. Hovey Charles Rose Edward S. Graffum
RECREATION COMMITTEE
James H. Daly, Jr., Chairman Stanley Eustace June Jolly Carolyn Cruikshank Richard Burke
BOARD OF REGISTRARS Henry Hills John A. Kobos James Lampropoulos
TRUSTEES OF TRUST FUND Edward J. Marcorelle Charles E. Goodhue George C. Parsons
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Arthur W. Marsh, Chairman William H. Davis
James Theodosopoulos
Armand M. Brouillette
Daniel Lunt, Jr. Thomas Gregory, Jr., Assoc. Mbr
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
. Nathaniel R. Harris, Chairman John F. Dolan George C. Mourikas Carroll B. Hills A. W. Smith
SCHOOL BUILDING NEEDS COMMITTEE John W. Trudel James Smyth Richard W. Davis Joseph McGee
James McManaway
Frank Mackey Philip Pattison
34
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
1960
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
TERM EXPIRES
Dr. Robert E. Waite, Chairman
1961
Mr. Leon Purington
1961
Mr. Gary Somers
1961
Mr. George Geanakos
1962
Mr. James Smyth
1962
Dr. William Wigglesworth
1963
Mr. Terrance Perkins
1963
Meetings of the School Committee are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month at the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, in the Tyler Build- ing, 2 Central Street, Ipswich, Massachusetts at 8:00 P.M.
RODNEY R. WOOD - SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
ADMINISTRATION OFFICE- -2 Central Street
OFFICE HOURS- 8-4 and by appointment
Summer Schedule Arranged.
35
STATEMENT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
TO THE CITIZENS OF IPSWICH:
In the interest of economy and to avoid duplication, the School Com- mittee report is contained in the report of the Superintendent.
Dr. Robert E. Waite, Chairman
Mr. Leon Purington
Mr. Gary Somers
Mr. George Geanakos
Mr. James Smyth
Dr. William Wigglesworth
Mr. Terrance Perkins
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
TO THE CITIZENS OF IPSWICH:
The annual report of the Superintendent of Schools is divided into sev- eral parts:
1. The Superintendent's Report.
2. The Report of the High School Principal.
3. The Report of the Junior High School Principal.
4. The Report of the Intermediate School Principal.
5. The Report of the Primary Schools Principal.
6. Special Reports.
7. Statistics.
Section 1 deals with the broader aspects of the program, pointing out the problems, emphases and achievements. Section 2 through 7, deals.in the reporting of specific information concerning the educational program. The first section will consider such topics as housing and safety, maintenance, special projects, improvements and personnel and curriculum.
HOUSING. Schoolhousing remains as the outstanding unsolved prob- lem in the Ipswich School System. Double sessions continue as they have for six years. In this connection, it is interesting to note that when other systems contemplate "going on double sessions" while awaiting new buildings, Ipswich is consulted for suggestions and experience.
School bond referenda failed to receive the necessary two-thirds vote by narrow margins. It is hardly necessary to define the issue here as the citizens have been adequately supplied with information on the subject from many sources. Perhaps it is sufficient to say that the problem remains and grows more acute each year. Ipswich is spending money in the school budget to acquire classrooms that are ordinarily financed by bond is- sues in other places.
B. SCHOOL SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE. This year the School Committee posed the question, "how safe are our schools?" Both outside and local agen- cies contributed to an extensive survey of the school plant. A partial list of physical and procedural changes considered necessary for optimum safety follows :
Installation of automatic fire detectors.
= supplementary fire escapes.
11 = more emergency lighting.
Replacement of cement block for wooden partitions in boiler room.
=
steel grating for wooden planking in boiler room.
11
= aging electrical circuits and fixtures.
= aging plumbing and heating equipment.
Modification of some oil burners.
36
Replacement of, and modification of, ventilation systems. Installation of new doors.
= safety hardware on some existing doors. Changes in storage areas.
Some Changes in Procedures:
Off-street bus loading and unloading at the Shatswell and Burley Schools.
Banning of private automobiles in the bus loading and the unloading school areas.
Transporting all first graders.
Transporting of all the Junior High School pupils homeward during the dark winter months at 5:30 P.M.
Monthly fire inspections by the Principal and the Janitor. Frequent fire and safety inspections by outside agents. Quarterly fire inspections by the local fire chief. Introduction of safety programs.
c. MAINTENANCE OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS: The average classroom in Ipswich is approximately thirty years old:
13 are over 50 9 are over 37 16 are over 24 16 are over 5 Like homes, public buildings enter a period of high maintenance experience after twenty or thirty years. Much has been done in remodelling and replac- ing; much remains to be done. The Dutch Elm and other diseases have caused the loss of many trees on the Winthrop School grounds and at the High School. It is hoped that a program for replacement can be initiated. With the coop- eration of the town and other groups, many unsightly materials have been re- moved from the school areas, fields fertilized, bushes pruned, roadways and playground areas resurfaced.
D. CURRICULUM. Curriculum studies on all grade levels resulted in con- solidation of previous studies and formalization and publication of curricu- lum guides. The High School and Junior High School programs of study were re- vised and published as bulletins. Levels of reading and arithmetic in grades one through six were established to become the standards for instructional groups and progress.
Both the High School and Junior High School days were lengthened so that an extra period of instruction could be included. A longer intermediate day allowed for greater time allocations in the language field. Perhaps three emphases; identification of the talents of individual students, strengthening of the curriculum at all levels, and development of teaching methods and materials characterized the educational effort this year.
E. REMODELLING PROJECT. The 'old shop building', now the High School Annex building which houses the heating plant of the high school was remod- elled to provide approximately 6000 square feet (equivalent to 6 rooms) of instructional spaces. Briefly, the physical structure and the mechanical systems of the building were repaired, replaced, or remodelled. The building is certified by the State Department of Public Safety for 100 pupils.
F. PERSONNEL. A continued shortage of qualified teachers at all levels of instruction-kindergarten through the university-seriously hampers the American educational effort.
Many of you have read of the attempts to ease this con- dition by recruiting more young people for teaching, re-training college graduates, local school system in-service training programs, employment of qualified retired people on a part-time basis and the use of assistant tea- chers.
37
The demand for good teachers has created, to say the least, a highly com- petitive situation.
Retirements, marriages, and resignations for professional advancement, coupled with need for new faculty members has aggravated the National teacher shortage problem in Ipswich. A table may help to illustrate personnel turn- over during 1960-1961:
New High School Principal 1 New Junior High School Principal 1
New High School Teachers 8 New Junior High School Teachers 2 New Elementary Teachers 11
23
How well do our schools serve the young people of Ipswich? Since there is no government agency or individual who can answer this question about the Town of Ipswich, or any other Massachusetts community, school systems are evaluated by outside teams of educational consultants. Business has used this approach to increase efficiency for many years.
The New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools is the ac- crediting agency for all secondary schools, public and private, in the New England area. Since 1954 this agency has been sending visiting committees to inspect every facet of the educational program and physical plant of New Eng- land high schools. Ipswich has invited a visiting NEACSS committee to evalu- ate its educational program in the Spring of 1961.
All citizens of Ipswich are invited to confer with the Superintendent or any other administrator on personal or larger problems concerning the schools. An interested citizenry is the first asset of good schools.
Respectfully submitted,
Rodney R. Wood Superintendent of Schools.
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS :
ORGANIZATION: Ipswich High School is a four-year secondary school com- prising grades nine through twelve. The school day of seven periods commen- ces at 7:30 A. M. and ends at 1:00 P. M. After-school activities, athletics, and educational programs share the facilities with a junior high school in a two-platoon system.
Grade
Girls
Boys
Total
9
72
72
144
10
58
49
107
11
38
40
78
12
55
51
106
223
212
435
Community and service organizations support athletic endeavors and pro- vide scholarships for graduates. Among these are a Parent-Teacher Associa- tion and the Band-Parents.
CURRICULUM : The curriculum consists of College Preparatory, Business, and Technical courses.Special programs may be approved after consultation and guidance.
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Language
Mathematics
English I Algebra I
English II
Algebra II
Biology
English III
Plane Geometry
Biology
English IV
Solid Geometry
Adv. Biology
Adv. Composition
Trigonometry
French I
Gen. Math. (10)
French II
Mathematics (9)
French III
Advanced Math.
Latin I
Latin II
French IV (1962)
Business
Business Math.
Salesmanship
Other Subjects
Gen. Business
Business Machines
Typing I
Office Practice
Art
Cooperative Work Program
Driver Education
Shorthand II
History of Art History of Music
Transcription
Bookkeeping I
Homemaking I and II
Industrial Arts I and II
Mechanical Drawing I and II
World History Lectures
PUPIL PERSONNEL. Ipswich students are enrolled in the various curricu- lum departments approximately as follows:
College Preparatory 50%
Business 25%
Technical 20% Special Programs 5%
In 1960 forty percent of the graduates went on to higher education.
A strong Student Council serves as the representative of the student body. With faculty advisers this Council promulgates codes of conduct, dress, and sponsors social affairs. It is to the credit of the young people, par- ents, community organizations and the schools that Ipswich has no real "teen- age" problem
TEACHER PERSONNEL. Retirements this past year included Miss Frances Cogswell, Miss Helen Blodgett and Miss Lucy Hill, all of whom taught in this town many years.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. The most significant physical change was the renovation of the former shop building. Two primary grades are housed in the main building. Extensive work on the ventilating and heating system was un- dertaken. Five trees were planted by the Student Council to replace lost elms. A different system of keeping up the grounds was begun this year. New cleaning and maintenance equipment were acquired and in-service training of the custodial staff was instituted to study more efficient maintenance tech- niques. Dual use and community use of the school plant requires detailed maintenance scheduling. The building is administered jointly by the High School and Junior High School Principal.
Respectfully submitted, Joseph R. Rogers, Principal Ipswich High School
39
Science
Social Studies
Civics World History World Geography U. S. History Prob.of Dem. Economics
Chemistry
Physics
Physical Science
Typing II
Shorthand I
and II
Business Law
Gen. Science
REPORT OF THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS :
ORGANIZATION. The Junior High School is a two-year school composed of grades seven and eight with an enrollment of 282 pupils as follows:
Grade
Girls
Boys
Total
7
67
70
137
8
71
74
145
138
144
282
Junior High School shares facilities with the senior high school with classes held from 1:00 to 5:30 P.M.
CURRICULUM.
Grades 7 and 8
Minutes per week
English
200
Social Studies
200
Mathematics
200
Science
120
French or Basic Language*
120
Reading
80
Library Science
40
Art
40
Music
40
Practical Arts
80
Physical Education
40
*Basic Language is a continuation of English with emphasis on reading, spelling and vocabulary.
Junior High School pupils experience the problems usually connected with double sessions: certain programs and activities are precluded.
There are six forty-minute periods and a three-minute homeroom period each day. Pupils are allowed one ten-minute recess. Although the school day has been lengthened, it is apparent that the length and number of the periods is still far from ideal.
Summer School courses in Remedial Reading and Mathematics were offered for a period of five weeks.
PUPIL PERSONNEL. The Student Council is composed of representatives elected by each of the ten homerooms. It is the goal of the Council to assist the faculty in developing wholesome school attitudes through an understanding of democratic principles.
Monitors, appointed by the Student Council direct traffic when students are passing between periods. There are twenty-four monitors. A variety of assemblies were held in observance of significant events. Other student or- ganizations include the Band, Chorus, Dramatics, Science Club, School Paper, and Photography Club. These groups meet in the morning or in the evening.
TEACHER PERSONNEL. There are eleven regular subject teachers, and six part-time teachers. Faculty members hold special help and make-up classes for students, mornings from 11:00 - 12:30 at the Winthrop School. We are fortunate in having a staff that is interested in junior high school educa- tion and have had extensive preparation in this area.
40
BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT. The library is the most important academic im, provement made during the year. Library science classes meet once each week. The library is open to students from other classes until 4:30 P.M., daily and from 9:00 to 12:00 noon on Saturdays. Junior High School pupils are also allowed in the library between 9:00 and 11:00 A.M. each morning.
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