USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1963 > Part 10
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G: To improve voltage conditions in localized areas, small wire was replaced with larger wire at a number of locations. Also, small transformers were removed and replaced by larger transformers because of increased use of electricity by existing customers.
H: A year-end Bonus Dividend was again given this year to cus- tomers of Middleboro and Lakeville. This was 5% of the net annual bill for Industrial customers and a Double Discount for the last two monthly bills for the year 1963 for other customers. Gas customers were also included.
I: At the Christmas season our electric crews wired electricity to, and installed the street decorations for the merchants of Middleboro. The crews also installed and wired the display at the Town Hall area. Prizes were donated to three customers having the best home lighting displays.
140
ANNUAL REPORT
J: Mrs. Henrietta Burkland retired early in 1963 after 38 years of service with the Gas & Electric Department. Her loyalty to the De- partment and unselfish service to the Town is greatly appreciated.
K: Other Data are:
Services Installed:
New 2 wire
2
New 3 wire
115
New 3 phase, 3 wire
8
New 3 phase, 4 wire
4
Temporary
29
Changeover, 2 wire to 3 wire
91
3 phase services changed to larger sizes
4
Relocated
6
Services Removed
19
Poles: (by G. & E. Dept.)
New Poles Set
Poles Replaced
Poles Removed
30 ft.
21
25 ft. 3
25 ft.
6
35 ft. 29
30 ft.
6
30 ft.
7
40 ft. 29
35 ft. 51
35 ft.
32
45 ft. 2
40 ft. 15
40 ft.
1
81
75
46
Poles damaged by cars
30
Joint poles set by telephone company
61
Transformers:
Installed
Removed
3 KVA 29
1} KVA
4
5 KVA
33
3 KVA
16
10 KVA
12
5 KVA
8
15 KVA
14
10
KVA
4
25 KVA
11
15
KVA 3
99
35
75 KVA 1 Underground
50
KVA
1 Underground
100
36
Wire:
Installed
Removed
#6 WP copper - 1,188 ft.
#8 WP copper - 5,483 ft.
#4 WP copper - 3,056 ft. #2 WP copper - 5,606 ft.
#6 WP copper - 30,653 ft. #4 WP copper - 11,450 ft. #2 WP copper - 7,814 ft.
#2 Bare copper - 21,519 ft.
.
ANNUAL REPORT 141
#2 ACSR - 20,787 ft. #1/0 WP copper - 750 ft. #4/0 WP copper - 11,184 ft. #4/0 ACSR - 28,268 ft.
#2 Bare copper - 4,806 ft.
Service Cable:
Installed #2/3 wire Al. (ACSR Neut.) - 17,706 ft. #2/4 copper - 1,543 ft. #2/4 Al. (ACSR Neut.) - 2,746 ft. #2/0 Al. (ACSR Neut.) - 992 ft.
Removed #2/3 Al. (ACSR Neut.) - 260 ft. #6/3 copper cable - 385 ft.
Time Switches for Water Heaters:
Installed - 12
Electric 1963
K.W.H. purchased High Tension
K.W.H. purchased for East and Beech Sts.
26,858,000 50,200
Total K.W.H. purchased 26,908,200 1,190,400 $339,801.43
Average cost per K.W.H. High Tension
.0126
Average cost per K.W.H. East, Beech and Pine Sts.
.0314
Average cost per K.W.H. delivered up to customers' meters
.0246
Average cost per K.W.H. sold
.0275
Total K.W.H. sold for lighting (including St. Ltg.) 18,814,801
Total K.W.H. sold for Power 5,830,365
Total K.W.H. sold
24,645,166
K.W.H. used in Gas House and Electric Station
51,069
Net received per K.W.H. for Ltg.
Net received per K.W.H. for Power
Net received per K.W.H. all classes of service
K.W.H. used for Street Lights
Received for Street Lights
Average cost to Town per K.W.H. for Street Lights Net Profit
Maximum K.V.A. Demand (December)
$121,185.78 6,280 6,120
Maximum KW Demand (December)
Power Factor at Maximum Demand (December)
.975
.945
Average power factor at Maximum Monthly Demands
.0354 .0234 .0325
562,443 $15,053.00 .0267
K.W.H. Increase over 1962
Total paid for electricity
142
ANNUAL REPORT
GAS AND ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT
1963 Sales
1962 Sales
Increase $ 562.81
Gas
$ 191,418.51
$ 190,855.70
Light
694,430.19
674,483.42
19,946.77
Street Ltg.
15,053.00
12,800.00
2,253.00
Power
156,382.52
151,160.26
5,222.26
Jobbing
16,740.41
2,880.59
13,859.82
$1,074,024.63
$1,032,179.97
$41,844.66
Accounts Receivable
Gas Light Power Jobbing
$27,811.56 26,661.54
(1,651.94)
3,626.15
$56,447.31
Meters Installed January 1, 1964
Gas 1837
Electric
5972
Consumers January 1, 1964
Gas 1699
Electric
5846
Street Lights 1963
Total No. Total No.
Ave. No. Nights per Mo.
Ave. No. Hours per Night 11 hrs. 24 min.
White Way Service
365 4160
30.4
No. Middleboro, Rock and So. Middleboro
365
4160
30.4
11 hrs. 24 min.
KWH Purchased
Total K.W.H. used for Street Lights
26,908,200 562,443
1963 OPERATING EXPENSE - GAS
Operation: Purchased Gas
$62,997.17
Nights Hours
ANNUAL REPORT 143
Manufactured Gas Production:
Liq. Petroleum Gas Exp. (Labor, etc.)
Liq. Petroleum Gas
$ 2,636.65 4,016.35
Maintenance:
Maintenance of Production Equipment 2,227.44
Maintenance of Structures and Improv. 1,864.78
4,092.22
Local Storage Expense
Maintenance:
Maintenance Misc. Structures
192.35
Maintenance Gas Holders
110.00
Operation Supervision and Engineering
2,685.20
2,987.55
Transmission and Distribution
Operation:
Supervision
7,624.55
Communication Expense
63.90
Compressor Station Labor
1,258.81
Removing and Resetting Meters
369.49
Mains and Service Equip.
2,682.05
Customer Install Expense
13,746.27
Supplies and Expense
25,850.55
Maintenance:
Rents - Right of Way
2,229.12
Maintenance of Mains - High Pressure
539.95
Maintenance of Services
14,107.05
Maintenance of Mains - High Pressure
277.29
Maintenance of Meters and House Regulators
2,809.71
19,989.12
Customers Accounts Expenses
Operation:
1,925.29
Meter Reading Expense
4,248.08
Customers Records (Office Salaries)
6,173.37
Sales Expense
126.10
Advertising
105.48
26.00
Maintenance of Mains
6,653.00
144
ANNUAL REPORT
Administrative and General Expense
Salary of Manager
1,924.55
General Office Supplies and expense
1,549.99
Outside services employed
968.00
Property Insurance
685.68
Accident Insurance
2,773.49
Miscellaneous General Expense
1,672.60
Uncollectible Operating Revenues
37.10
Depreciation
22,215.04
Total Expense Balance to Profit and Loss (Profit)
22,695.96
$183,391.49
INCOME - GAS
Income Residential
127,522.00
Income Commercial
49,355.71
Income Industrial
2,879.98
Income Munic.
3,633.80
$183,391.49
1963 OPERATING EXPENSES - ELECTRIC
Maintenance:
Electric Energy Purchased
$339,801.43
Transmission, Distribution and Storage
Operation
Operation Supervision and Engineering 4,125.03
Transformer Station Supplies and Expense
22,706.19
Misc. Transmission Expense 467.65
Inspecting and Testing Meters
4,399.06
Overhead Line Expense
4,600.59
Underground Line Expense
905.59
Trans. and Dist. Supplies and Expense
74.52
37,278.63
Maintenance:
Maintenance Station and Substation Struct. 1,777.08
Maint. Station and Substation Equip. 1,897.55
Maint. Transm. and Dist. Lines 124,931.15
Maint. Underground Conductors and Conduits 671.41
Maintenance Consumers' Meters 48.98
Maint. Transformers 696.00
Maint. Supervision and Engineering 65.20
130,087.37
31,826.45
$160,695.53
ANNUAL REPORT 145
Utilization
Operation:
Munic. Street Lamps, Supplies and Expense
6,824.78
Maint. Consumers' Installations
23.43
Maint. Street Lighting and Sign System
394.25
7,242.46
General and Miscellaneous
Salary of Manager
9,622.76
Salaries of General Office Clerks
21,835.68
Meter Readers and Collectors
9,590.41
General Office Supplies and Expense
6,200.73
Outside Services Employed
4,783.17
Insurance - Property
767.29
Insurance - Employees
2,987.52
Depreciation
82,026.90
Advertising
857.39
Misc. General Expense
8,201.12
Uncollectable Operating Revenues
736.00
147,608.97
Total Expense Balance to Profit and Loss (Profit)
121,185.78
$783,204.64
INCOME - ELECTRIC
$443,081.57
Income Commercial Light
166,858.62
Income Industrial Light
11,194.41
Income Municipal Light
79,349.63
Income Industrial Power
44,535.62
Income Municipal Power
12,755.38
Income Street Lighting
15,053.00
$783,204.64
1963 PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
By balance at beginning of year By balance Gas Operating Expense
$1,345,853.70 22,695.96 121,185.78 2,730.04
By balance Electric Operating Expense
By balance Jobbing Account (Electric) By balance Jobbing Account (Gas)
2,168.96
11.32
By forfeited deposit To Town of Middleborough for Assessors use in fixing tax rate 80,000.00
$662,018.86
Income Residential Light
10,376.41
Income Commercial Power
146
ANNUAL REPORT
To Town of Middleborough Town Hall Account 5,000.00 To balance account 1,405,307.84
$1,492,476.80 $1,492,476.80
1963 BALANCE SHEET
Investment - Gas
Plant Investment - Gas (Book Value)
Land - Gas
$ 4,557.89
Structures
42,139.23
Boiler Plant Equipment
4,967.52
Liquefied Petrol. Gas Equip.
60,627.11
Gas Mixing Equipment
94.41
Other Equipment at Works
5,810.60
Other Power Equipment
1,452.64
Other Equipment 366.70
Street Mains
59,961.91
High Pressure Mains
190,962.99
Compressor Station Equip.
366.21
Measuring and Regulating Station Equipment
3,411.16
Gas Services
32,010.17
High Pressure Services
8,506.01
Consumers' Meters
9,848.39
Cons. Gas Meter Installations
2,088.80
House Regulators
61.10
Other Property on
Customer's Premises 144.65
Other Equipment
160.41
Office Equipment
1,110.68
Transportation Equipment
9,865.66
Tools
2,945.24
Laboratory Equipment
351.52
Power Operated Equipment
13,215.74
Power Operated Equipment
13,215.74
Communication Equipment
1,834.52
Miscellaneous Equipment
461.66
Other Tangible Property
79.80
$ 457,402.72
Plant Investment - Electric (Book Value)
Land - Electric
7,639,85
Rights of way 17,483.31
Reservoirs, Dams, Canals and Waterways 257.33
Water Turbines & Water Wheels 32.54
Structures 5,655.94
High Tension Lines
5,708.75
ANNUAL REPORT 147
Transf. Station and
Sub Station Equipment
33,947.29
Poles, Fixtures and
Overhead Conductors
240,740.94
Underground Conduits
17,801.69
Underground Conductors
20,012.09
Line Transformers
84,697.31
Line Capacitors
621.74
Services - Pole to House
12,743,28
Consumers' Meters
49,338.53
Consumers' Meter Installations
6,735.10
Street Lighting Equipment
27,499.22
Office Equipment
3,339.72
Transportation Equipment
33,825.25
Tools
4,387.92
Laboratory Equipment
379.82
Power Operated Equipment
3,098.26
Communications Equipment
4,753.81
Miscellaneous Equipment
593.03
581,292.72
Current Assets
Cash on hand - Oper.
78,217.39
Accounts Receivable Inventory
56,447.31
36,695.68
171,360.38
Reserve Funds
Construction Fund
21,566.30
Depreciation Fund
381,878.11
Special Deposits Fund
10,563.30
414,007.71
Liabilities
Loan Repayments
$ 162,200.00 45,992.39
Appropriation for Const. Repayments Consumers Deposits Profit and Loss Balance
10,563.30
1,405,307.84
$1,624,063.53 $1,624,063.53
148
ANNUAL REPORT
1963 CONSTRUCTION AND DEPRECIATION DRAFTS
Gas
Expended for:
Structures
$ 396.69
Other Power Equipment
320.74
Liquified Petroleum Gas Equipment
6.84
Street Mains
7,904.14
High Pressure Mains
31,273.02
Compressor Station Equipment
135.64
Gas Services
3,479.73
High Pressure Services
2,240.99
Consumer Meters
1,655.35
Office Equipment
44.83
Transportation Equipment Tools
255.07
Power Operated Equipment
9,930.90
Communication Equipment
989.86
Other Tangible Property
79.80
$62,668.50
Electric
Expended for:
Transformer Station and Substation Equip. $ 2,112.04
Poles, Towers and Fixtures
11,377.88
Overhead Conductors and Devices
16,175.49
Underground Conduits
1,251.11
Underground Conductors
121.40
Line Transformers and Capacitors
7,455.85
Services (Pole to House)
6,254.89
Consumers Meters
5,392.43
Street Lighting Equipment
6,494.62
Office Equipment
244.73
26,972.98
Transportation Equipment Tools
2,277.44
Laboratory Equipment
107.87
Communication Equipment
2,742.65
Miscellaneous Equipment
429.63
89,411.01
$152,079.51
3,974.90
ANNUAL REPORT 149
1963 STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS
Depreciation Fund
1963
Jan. 1 Balance in Town Treas.
$332,709.16
Dec. 31
Balance in Town Treas. 381,878.11
$436,951.10
$436,951.10
Construction Fund
Jan. 1
Balance in Town Treas. $ 7,634.61
Dec. 31
Payments $ 97,006.52
Dec. 31
Transferred
from Operat-
ing Fund
110,000.00
Dec. 31
Balance in Town Treas. 21,566.30
Refunds Rec'd
938.21
$118,572.82
$118,572.82
Operating Cash
Jan. 1
Balance in
Dec. 31
Town Treas.
$ 97,041.68
Transferred to Deprec. Fund $104,241.94
Dec. 31 Transferred to Const. Fund 110,000.00
Dec. 31 Transferred from Deposits Fund Refunds Rec'd 8,039.25
11.32
Dec. 31
Transferred to T. of Midd. Assessors 80,000.00
Bad Debts Paid 7.12
Collections 987,649.42
Dec. 31 Transferred to T. of Midd. Town Hall
Account 5,000.00
Dec. 31 Payments
715,289.46
Dec. 31 Balance in Town Treas. 78,217.39
$1,092,748.79
$1,092,748.79
Deposits Fund
Jan. Balance in Town Treas. $ 9,933.00
Dec. 31 Collections
9,016.32
Dec. 31 Transferred to Oper. Cash
$11.32
Dec. 31 Payments 8,374.70
Dec. 31 Balance in
Town Treas. 10,563.30
$ 18,949.32
$18,949.32
Dec. 31 Payments
$ 55,072.99
Dec. 31 Transferred from Operat- ing Fund 104,241.94
150
ANNUAL REPORT
SUMMARY OF 1963 RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
Balance - January 1, 1963
$ 447,318.45
1963 Receipts
From Sales of Gas
$182,614.14
From Sales of Light
632,976.58 15,053.00
From Power Sales
140,683.06
From Jobbing
15,638.49
From Deposits
9,016.32
From Refunds
9,634.15
From Bad Debt Paid
34.58
1,005,650.32
$1,452,968.77
1963 Expenditures
Depreciation
$ 55,072.99
Construction
99,597.21
Operation
710,237.60
Deposits
8,374.70
Town of Middleboro for use of Assessors
80,000.00
Town of Middleboro for Town Hall
5,000.00
Jobbing
2,461.17
960,743.67
Balance January 1, 1964
$492,225.10
$ 21,566.30
Construction Fund Depreciation Fund
381,878.11
Operation Fund Deposits
78,217.39
10,563.30
$492,225.10
CONCLUSION
The Gas Division profits are somewhat lower for 1963, but this should not be disturbing as reasons for this include the following,-
a: Several Thousand dollars were spent for scraping and painting the Propane Storage Tanks with associated structures and piping. This maintenance expense does not take place each year.
From Street Lighting
151
ANNUAL REPORT
b: The year 1963 had 6,351 "Degree Days" while the previous year had 6,592 "Degree Days" in this area which means that, for heating purposes, 1963 was a warmer year and we sold less heating gas than we otherwise would. This would tend to reduce profits.
c: Residential Gas Rates and Gas Heating Rates for Commercial and Industrial customers were lowered Sept. 1, 1963. This fact to- gether with the year end Dividend would lower profits somewhat.
d: Payments from the State Department of Public Works for New Route #44 gas main crossing relocations have not been received. These are expected to amount to about $10,000.
The New Gas Pipepline along Route #28 is being utilized by new customers (particularly in the Rock Village area). In addition, it is being used for Peak Shaving storage by compressing gas into it at 50 lbs. per square inch at the Gas Plant.
The Electric Division profits are somewhat higher for 1963 due to increased business and the overall profits of the Gas & Electric Depart- ment are slightly higher than last year. The operations of the Gas & Electric Department seem reasonably satisfactory for the year 1963.
The cooperation of our Customers, Employees, other Department Heads and the Electric Light Commissioners (Selectmen) is appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
STEPHEN HORBAL, Manager
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
SCHOOL COMMITTEE of
MIDDLEBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS
RO
UTH
PLYMOU
UNTY MASSA
UGH *
INCORPORATED
For the Year Ending December 31
1963
154
ANNUAL REPORT
-
At the meeting of the School Committee held on January 30, 1964, it was voted:
"To accept the Annual Report of the Superintendent of Schools and to adopt it as the Report of the School Committee to be incorporated in the Annual Town Report."
STANLEY KRUSZYNA
Superintendent of Schools
School Committee
Term Expires
C. Trafton Mendall, Chairman, 18 Forest Street 1964
James M. Bonnar, Jr., Vice-Chairman, 33 Pearl Street
1966
Richard B. Wilmot, 115 North Street
1965
Robert F. Howes, 84 School Street
1966
Kathryn R. O'Toole, 14 North Street
1964
Vincent L. Genua, Everett Street
1965
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held in Room 7, Town Hall, on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m.
Superintendent of Schools Stanley Kruszyna, B.S., Ed.M. Constance M. Souza, Secretary
Theodora Sowyrda, Assistant Secretary
Dorothy L. Yarsites, Part-time Secretary
School Physician Stuart A. Silliker, M.D., 29 Oak Street
School Nurse Mary H. Edgerly, R.N., 91 North Street
School Attendance Officer
Norman E. Record, 8 Myrtle Street
.
ANNUAL REPORT 155
School Calendar, 1962 - 1963
No. of
School Term Opens
School Term Closes Days
First Term - Sept. 5, 1962 - Grades 1 - 9
Nov. 9, 1962 46
Sept. 6, 1962 - Grades 10 - 12
Jan. 25, 1963 45
Second Term - Nov. 13, 1962
Apr. 5, 1963 45
Third Term - Jan. 28, 1963
June 19, 1963
45
Fourth Term - April 8, 1963
Total 181
Holidays and "No School" Days
Oct. 12, 1962
Columbus Day
Oct. 26, 1962
Plymouth County Teachers Convention
Nov. 12, 1962
Veterans' Day
Nov. 22-23, 1962
Thanksgiving Recess
Dec. 24, 1962 - Jan. 1, 1963
Christmas Recess
Feb. 18-22, 1963
Winter Recess
Apr. 12-19, 1963
Spring Recess
May 30-31, 1963
Memorial Day Observance
School Calendar, 1963 - 1964
School Term Opens
School Term Closes
No. of Days
First Term - Sept. 4, 1963 - Grades 1 - 9
Sept. 5, 1963 - Grades 10 - 12
Nov. 8, 1963 47
Second Term - Nov. 12, 1963
Jan. 24, 1964 44
Third Term - Jan. 27, 1964
Apr. 3, 1964 44
Fourth Term - Apr. 6, 1964
June 19, 1964 50
185
Holidays and "No School" Days
Oct. 25, 1963
Plymouth County Teachers Convention
Nov. 11, 1963
Veterans' Day
Nov. 28-29, 1963
Thanksgiving Recess
Dec. 23, 1963 - Jan. 1, 1964
Christmas Recess
Feb. 17-21, 1964
Winter Recess
Mar. 27, 1964
Good Friday
Apr. 20-24, 1964
Spring Recess
GENERAL INFORMATION
Entrance Age
A child must be six years of age on or before January 1 to enter the first grade of school the previous September. There can be no exception to this ruling.
Birth Certificates
A birth certificate is required for entrance to the first grade.
156
ANNUAL REPORT
Vaccinations
No child shall be allowed to enter Grade One without a certificate of vaccination.
No-School Signals
There will be no school only when transportation by bus is unsafe. In such case, the "no-school" signal (Fire Alarm 2-1-2) will be sounded at 7:00 a.m. only.
If there is to be no school in all schools other than Memorial High School and the Henry B. Burkland School, the signal will be sounded at 8:00 a.m. only.
If the school is to be called off for the afternoon session only, in all schools other than Memorial High School and Henry B. Burkland School, the signal will be sounded at 12:15 p.m.
If the "no-school" signal is sounded on days when evening school classes are to be held, these classes will also be cancelled.
Announcements for "no-school" will be broadcasted over Radio Sta- tions WEEI, WBZ, WBET, WPLM, and WPEP.
In case of inclement weather, parents should use their own discre- tion as to the advisability of sending their children to school.
157
ANNUAL REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Members of the Middleborough School Committee:
In this time of rapid change and expanding demands on our schools, education for our way of life must meet two fundamental demands: one is the right of the individual to be given an opportunity to realize his full potential; the other is the right of our community to demand of its school system citizens who are capable of making intelligent decisions, of working productively, and of perpetuating the ideals upon which our country is founded If the schools fail in either of these demands, we shall have regimentation on the one hand or mediocrity on the other.
The basic job of our schools, then, is to teach and to prepare. We must teach skills to all children up to the very limit of their capabilities, and we must prepare them to contend effectively with the problems and responsibilities they will face in the adult world. This does not mean that we can cram enough learning in the first quarter of their lives to last the next three-quarters. Much of this preparation must concern it- self with helping pupils understand themselves and the world about them. Equally important is the matter of helping them to appreciate our country's heritage.
In our Middleborough schools, we are continuing to improve our methods of teaching and evaluating our standards and our policies of grading, promotion, and grouping. We are constantly reminding our- selves that in the long run, the best hope for strength and lasting peace rests in providing the best possible educational experience for all the youth of all our people.
The number one school problem in 1963 continued to be the shortage of classroom facilities resulting in overcrowded classes in all grades from one through twelve. There are forty-six classrooms in our elemen- tary schools with a total capacity of 1,336 pupils. Our total enrollment on October 1, 1963, in these grades was 1,479, a surplus of 143 over capacity or the equivalent of four classes of thirty-six pupils each. To accommo- date this overflow, two classrooms plus the shop and the library at the Henry B. Burkland School were used to house four sixth-grade classes. The end result at the Henry B. Burkland School is an over-crowded con- dition which precludes the best use of the facilities of the Junior High School by the pupils for whom the building was designed.
The situation at Memorial High School is no better. October 1, 1963. brought an increase of fifty students. This increase was accommodated by dropping all but seventeen seniors from the neighboring Town of Carver, by taking over a section of the industrial arts shop for classroom purposes, and by increasing class sizes in several instances even beyond the maximum capacity set for the several rooms.
158
ANNUAL REPORT
The outlook for September, 1964, is even darker. We have sixty-two classrooms with a total capacity of 1,873 pupils in grades 1 - 8. The pro- jected enrollment for 1964 in these grades is 1,982 or 109 pupils over capacity. The inevitable result next fall will be over-size classes, utiliza- tion of basement areas, and cafeterias for classroom purposes, and even the possibility of split sessions for these pupils. At Memorial High School, 1964 enrollments promise to be at least as large as in 1963 with sizeable increases in the years following. Adequate classroom facilities for our school children have reached a critical stage. With no plans on the drawing boards, extreme emergency measures appear imminent.
It must be noted at this point that the School Committee has con- tinued its study of school building needs and that it expects to be ready to submit its report to the townspeople in the very near future. Un- doubtedly this would already have been done but for the disastrous fire at the Henry B. Burkland School Library on May 31, 1963, necessitating much time and effort to the immediate problem of repairing the dam- aged facilities. Some idea of the time involved can be obtained from the fact that the Library was not ready for use until January 1, 1964. The controversy and court action regarding the United States Supreme Court decision barring reading of the Bible and recitation of prayers in public schools also played its part in delaying the completion of the Committee's study and report.
On the education forefront, the Superintendent's Advisory Committee continued to function effectively. A direct outgrowth of the work of this Committee resulted in the inauguration of the phono-visual system of teaching phonics in all Grade One classes supplementing the work al- ready being done in his area. A second direct result of the meetings of the Advisory Committee was the inauguration in the fall of a workshop in science for elementary teachers. A second workshop, one in modern modern mathematics for teachers of Grades one, two, and three, is planned for early 1964.
Still another activity in the area of in-service training for teachers was the offering of a course in Adolescent Psychology by Principal Emeritus and ex-faculty member of the Bridgewater State College Sum- mer School, Henry B. Burkland. Approximately thirty teachers enrolled for the course. We are indeed fortunate to have a professional staff which is not only ready but eager to participate in workshops, confer- ences, and courses designed especially for the improvement of instruc- tion in our schools.
The School Committee after a thorough discussion of the lack of meaning, the unnecessary expense to parents, and the loss of regular school time preparing for Grade Eight promotion exercises held at the Town Hall, voted to eliminate formal Junior High School promotion exercises and to discontinue the awarding of certificates. A final school assembly program at the Junior High School was held for eighth graders on the last day of school in June.
Several other attainments in our efforts to improve our educational program are mentioned in the reports of principals, teacher specialists,
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ANNUAL REPORT
and others. Excerpts from these reports follow. Complete reports sub- mitted to the Superintendent of Schools will be made available to interested persons.
MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
As I mentioned in my report last year, we are in dire straits as far as our physical plant is concerned. Our school population is grow- ing rapidly necessitating large classes and overcrowded facilities. If we are to maintain the type of education we desire for our children, we must act now to alleviate the following problems:
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