USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Middleton > Town annual report of Middleton, MA. 1961 > Part 7
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General Committee Activities
The committee had a very busy year in 1961. There were 21 regular meetings and 12 special meetings, plus meetings of sub-com- mittees for special activities.
Again this year the committee, in an attempt to keep informed on the functions and progress of each department, has enjoyed and been enlightened by several very interesting presentations.
On January 4, 1961 at a regular meeting Mr. Lionel Poulin, chairman of the Mathematics department and his staff presented a special curriculum report on mathematics including the activities and interest in the Math. leagues in which Masconomet is now participat- ing and doing very well.
On April 5, 1961 the committee enjoyed a very delicious meal in the Home Economics department. The meal was prepared and served by the students in this department. Following the dinner Miss Mary Ellen Whearty and her staff described the inner workings of their program and methods of teaching a most interesting and necessary activity.
On October 4, 1961 Mrs. Marion Hatt and Mrs. Jacquelynne Stepanian presented a most interesting and informative program of
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reading and reading aids. This program has been found to be a tremendous help to many students.
On November 1, 1961 Mr. Donald M. Gay, chairman of the music department and Miss Jean Jarvie presented a special curriculum re- port on "Music at Masconomet". Anyone who has heard a music pro- gram at Masconomet realizes the importance and success of this de- partment.
To maintain the high standard of the educational system we are so proud of at Masconomet a great deal of time has had to be spent studying the needs for new facilities to keep up with the growing enrollment.
On May 10, 1961 a purchase and sale agreement was signed for the Killam property adjacent to the school.
On May 17, 1961 an open meeting was held in the Henry F. Long Auditorium to discuss the needs and growth of the District. It was the consensus of opinion that the purchase of the Killam property was essential.
On June 14, 1961 the architectural firm of Rich and Tucker As- sociates, Inc. was retained to make studies for new school facilities. During early conferences the need for formulating a long range growth program for most economical procedure seemed mandatory and so on July 5, 1961 the firm of Engelhardt, Engelhardt, and Leggett was retained to make this study. It is the opinion of the committee that we accept this report and proceed as rapidly as pos- sible with the construction of a new Junior High School in accordance with Plan 3, page 8 of the Engelhardt report. It is planned to have this school ready for occupancy for the start of the school year in 1964.
The School Committee is requesting a separate appropriation of $75,000 to provide for architectural service, fees for engineering and other consultant services, plans, drawings, and specifications for the construction of a new Junior High School. Money so appropriated will be largely reimbursed by the State. Under the original agreement establishing the Regional School District, as amended in 1961, each Town's share will be apportioned on the basis of their respective pupil enrollment as of October 1, 1961.
It is the hope of the committee that double sessions will be kept at a minimum, but the problem must be faced that it is going to be necessary to initiate some double sessions in the 7th and 8th grade.
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Special Activity
Many problems come before the school committee during the year that need special attention. One such item this year was relative to the possibility of Nuclear attack. It was felt that there should be some planned action should the need arise. On October 4, 1961 at the request of the committee Mr. Robert Wood of the Topsfield C.D. and Mr. Gordon Russell of the Boxford C.D. attended a regular meeting to discuss the development of a Civilian Defense protection plan for Masconomet Regional High School. At this same meeting it was voted to authorize the Superintendent and the Principal to select a com- mittee of three staff members to study, with the help of the Civilian Defense officials of the member towns, the problems involved and present the school committee with a proposal.
As this is a study requiring much extra time by the staff members it was also voted to appropriate adequate compensation for this study.
Change in Agreement
In 1960 an amendment to the Agreement establishing the district was proposed and appears in the 1960 annual report. In further dis- cussing the growth of the Masconomet Region this year it was felt that this amendment was not adequate for equitable apportionment of Capital costs. The following amendment was voted on May 24, 1961 and sent to the member towns for action before November 1, 1961.
"The agreement for the establishment of the Masconomet Re- gional School District comprising the towns of Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield is hereby amended as follows:
"By striking out subsection IV (D) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection :
IV (D) Apportionment of Capital Costs
All capital costs of the regional school district for each fiscal year shall be apportioned annually to the member towns on the basis of their respective pupil enrollments on October 1 of the preceding year in grades 7 through 12 residing in each member town and re- ceiving education at such town's expense, except that pupils for whom a member town is paying tuition for special education as provided under Chapters 74 and 71 of the General Laws, and pupils attending the Essex County Agricultural School shall be excluded from pupil enrollments for this purpose. Each member town's share for each fiscal shall be determined by computing the ratio which that town's pupil enrollment as specified above bears to the total of such pupil enrollments in all the member towns of the regional school district on the same date. Debt service included in capital costs shall be appor-
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tioned as a capital cost of the year in which the same falls due. This amendment shall first take effect with the apportionment for the year 1962.
The amendment was adopted by all three member towns at subse- quent special town meetings.
In concluding this report the Masconomet Regional District School Committee would like to express their most sincere apprecia- tion and recognition for the continuous excellent work done by our Superintendent, Mr. Julius H. Mueller. He has been assisted greatly this year with the same kind of dedicated service by our new princi- pal, Mr. Corridon F. Trask, Jr. We owe abundant gratitude also to Mr. Rodney C. Dresser, Assistant Principal and to all the teaching staff for their sincere efforts during the past year. We should not pass over lightly either, the efforts of our custodial staff that make our school a place to be proud of.
We would also like to express our gratitude to all the citizens and officials of the member towns who have helped in any way to aid the committee in their work.
Merton S. Barrows, Chairman Richard Cressey, Vive-Chairman
M. Douglas Banus Hans W. Barber David V. Harding
J. Harrison Holman
Arthur O. McCoubrey
Richard E. Quinn E. Arthur Woodbury Francis Perry, Treasurer
Martha P. Perry, Secretary
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
To the School Committee and the Citizens of the Masconomet Regional School District:
It is a pleasure to submit, herewith, my third annual report as Superintendent of the Masconomet Regional School District.
Growth In Enrollment
When Masconomet opened in 1959 the enrollment in grades 7-12 was 768 pupils. As of October 1, 1961 the enrollment had jumped to 1022 pupils. This is an increase of 254 pupils (33% ) in the two-year period, a phenomenal growth and the end is not yet in sight. Accord- ing to the building needs survey recently made by Dr. Nicholaus Engelhardt the enrollment in grades 7-12 is expected to be 2200 pupils at the end of the next decade.
Such growth in enrollment poses a very serious space problem. As a matter of fact, we are already over-crowded, and will be even more so in the school year 1962-63 when the enrollment forecast is for 1130 pupils. In my last annual report I pointed out that enrollment in excess of the maximum capacity of the building not only creates serious scheduling and day-to-day operational problems, but must of necessity bring about curtailments in the educational program, if not for all students at least for some. This is the situation that faces us in the coming school year. While every effort will be made to resolve the present shortage of classroom space through such temporary measures as may be available to us there remains the strong possi- bility that the only practical and workable solution until a new build- ing is constructed will be to operate grades 7 and 8 on a two-session basis. In this way it would be possible to avoid any curtailment of the educational program for pupils in grades 9-12.
ENROLLMENT - October 1, 1961
Grade
Boxford
Middleton
Topsfield
Total
7
50
69
96
215
8
53
77
86
216
9
49
62
80
191
10
42
55
69
166
11
31
35
50
116
12
23
33
56
112
P.G.'s
1
3
1
5
Home
Instruction
0
0
1
1
-
249
334
439
1022
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Change in Administration
In January, Dr. Luther A. Howard, who had served as Assistant Principal since July 1959, resigned to accept a similar position at the high school in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Subsequently, in reviewing the administrative set-up, the Com- mittee felt that because of the growth problems facing the School District, the combined position of Superintendent-Principal should be abolished and the separate positions of Superintendent and Principal established.
After interviewing a number of applicants for the position, the Committee elected Mr. Corridon F. Trask, Jr. of Greenfield, Massa- chusetts to the Principalship. Mr. Trask, who entered upon his duties July 1st, is a graduate of Keene, New Hampshire Teacher's College with a masters degree in Educational Administration from Boston University. At Greenfield, Mr. Trask served as Supervisor of Secondary Education and in this capacity was responsible for admin- istering both a senior high school and a junior high school as well as a vocational trade school. Previously, for six years he had been prin- cipal of the High School in Troy, N.H.
Under the administrative re-organization the assistant-principal position held by Mr. Rodney C. Dresser which included part-time teaching was put on a full-time basis.
At the close of school in June, Mr. Milton C. Burton who had served as director of guidance since March of 1959, resigned to take a similar position at the Pentucket Regional High School. A suitable replacement for him has not as yet been secured. In the meantime, the duties of Guidance Director are being handled by Mr. Trask with the assistance of the four counselors.
Faculty
The continued growth in enrollment and the need to add more sections in the required subjects in the upper grades has necessitated a further expansion of the instructional staff. This year five new teachers were added giving us now a total instructional staff of 63. At the same time there were ten vacancies resulting from resignations to be filled. Finding qualified teachers under present day conditions of teacher shortage is at best a difficult and time consuming task. With fifteen places to be filled in one year the enormity of the task takes on a new dimension. The whole recruitment process - inter- viewing and observing teachers and assembling of credentials - has occupied a major portion of your superintendent's time. As a matter of fact, this task begun in February was not completed until late in August when the last teacher was hired.
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In spite of the fierce competition that exists for qualified teach- ers in the present period of short supply, I feel that we have been most fortunate in being able to fill the exisiting vacancies with highly qualified persons. These newcomers to our faculty under the guidance of the administration and department chairman have adjust- ed quickly and responsibly to their duties and to their new school environment. In this connection, the pre-school opening teacher work- shops including the special one-day orientation program for new faculty members have been of invaluable help. A Teachers' Handbook bringing together all of the policies and operational procedures that have evolved during the two years that Masconomet has been in operation, and prepared by Principal Trask during the summer, has likewise been of immeasurable value not only in orienting new teachers, but in aiding all teachers toward improved performance of the myriad duties and responsibilities expected of them as members of a complex public school organization.
The names of the persons new to the faculty, along with those who resigned during the past year are shown in the section on per- sonnel at the end of this report.
From the foregoing it must be clear to all citizens that the pro- blem of securing and retaining the services of competent teachers is one which constantly confronts school committees and administrators. While salary inducements alone will not necessarily guarantee quality teaching, it must be recognized by all thoughtful persons that it is an important factor. Consequently, the school committee and the admin- istration, must annually take a hard look at its salary policy and schedules, and make whatever adjustments are deemed appropriate and reasonable in light of current conditions and trends.
A movement to raise teachers' salaries in neighboring communi- ties has been noted. This of course, has an important bearing on the salary structure in your regional school. Following a meeting with the Salary Committee of the Masconomet Teachers' Association, and after careful study and consideration of all factors involved, the School Committee at its meeting of November 29, 1961 voted to in- crease the minimums and maximums of the present salary schedules in the amount of $200.
1
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This change will be effective with the school year beginning September 1962. The new salary schedule will be as follows:
Class I Bachelor's Degree
Class II Master's Degree
Class III Master's Degree plus 30 approved semester hours
Minimum
$4500
$4800
$7700
Normal Maximum
$7000
$7300
$5200
Attainable Maximum
(On Merit)
$8500
$8800
$9200
While the new minimum will be $100 under that which will be in effect in one of the member towns, as well as in the new Hamilton- Wenham Regional High School opening in September of 1962, it is the feeling of the Committee and the administration that this slight difference for the 1962-63 school year will not adversely affect the District's ability to secure competent teachers, or to retain members of the present faculty. It should be pointed out however, that further adjustments in the salary schedule will be necessary in due course if the District is to better its present position and thus maintain a high quality teaching and administrative staff. I feel that we are most fortunate in that we do have a first-rate faculty. It is largely through these persons that your Regional High School has earned in a relative short time a fine reputation throughout the County and the State as a school having high standards with a strong instructional program geared to the needs of all its students. I am sure the citizens of the District being prideful of their secondary school will continue to make whatever sacrifices are necessary to insure for their children the continuance of this high standard of education.
Mrs. Alice B. Howard
The entire Masconomet community was shocked and deeply saddened by the death of this woman on December 1, 1961. Mrs. Howard was an exceptionally capable woman loved by students and faculty alike. Few schools can claim the distinction of having a library equipped to aid its students from the first day its doors were opened. It was largely through Mrs. Howard's efforts that this ac- complishment was made possible at Masconomet. In the two and one- half years that she served as our librarian our book collection has grown to nearly 6,000 volumes. A friendly person, a lover of books, Mrs. Howard gave unstintingly of her time and talents in providing a high quality of library service for the students and faculty of Masconomet. Her passing is a keen loss to our school as well as to the Association of School Librarians in the State of which she was a prominent and respected member for a number of years.
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High School Evaluation
In my last year's report attention was called to the year-long program of self-evaluation to be undertaken by the faculty during the current year. This self-evaluation, - a requirement for continued membership in the N.E. Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, - was begun during the second semester of the present school year.
In a recent progress report Mr. William Vaughn, chairman of the Faculty Steering Committee, which has guided this large-scale study of our school and its educational program, states that the staff phase of the project is nearing completion. "In preparation for the Visiting Committee which will visit Masconomet on March 5-8, 1962, two groups of reports have been readied by the teacher study groups. The first group of reports deal with those areas of school-wide con- cern such as: Philosophy, Guidance Services, Health Services, Plant, Community, etc. The second group of reports deal with the various subject areas."
"In all these reports, a great deal of long, and at times, tedious attention to detail and the accumulation of statistical evidence was necessary. In general these reports are complete and ready for use. I should like to note that the Steering Committee has in each and every situation received the fullest support from all members of the faculty. The relative ease with which the task was completed is due principally to two factors: 1) the professional approach of all con- cerned, and 2) the provision that was made by the administration with the approval of the School Committee for the early closing of school on the days Evaluation Workshops were scheduled."
"In general, what remains of the responsibility of Masconomet for the Evaluation, consists only of detail work and the completion of arrangements for the accomodation of the Visiting Committee. We are now aware of the persons on the Visiting Committee and I am sure that the high quality and extensiveness of their backgrounds will provide a searching and valuable report."
Buildings and Grounds
Our high school building shows little signs of wear from the extensive use to which it is subjected daily, and today, after better than two years of occupancy, is still most attractive in both interior and exterior appearance. That this is so, can be attributed both, to the pride our students have for their school, and to the excellent maintenance job that is being done by our custodial staff under the direction of Mr. Charles R. Denault, Superintendent of Buildings and
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MASCONOMET REGIONAL SCHOOL REPORT
Grounds. Many of the repairs required to keep our physical plant in top condition have been performed by Mr. Denault most capably and satisfactorily, and I might add also, at considerable savings to the District. We are fortunate, indeed, to have such a fine custodial staff that not only exhibits a fine team spirit, but who as individuals take real pride in carrying out in a most responsible way their particular duties and assignments.
Improvements made during the past year to our plant included exterior painting of the metal sash in several of the large window curtain-walled areas, as well as, all outside doors; replacement of the grass strip in front of the building with hot-top, thereby improving the usefulness of the sidewalk area for bus-loading; partitioning of the classroom used for remedial and development reading to provide an additional teacher-station for the carrying on of this important aspect of our instructional program; and the construction of addition- al shelving in the Franklin C. Roberts, Sr. Library to give more shelf space for our growing collection of books. Fifty student lockers were purchased to augment those furnished at the time of the original construction. These are free-standing lockers and so can be relocated as conditions require. At the present they are located in the corridor running between the auditorium and the gymnasium to serve the needs of students having homeroom stations in the cafeteria and the Mechanical Drawing room. It was also necessary to purchase several teacher desks and some new classroom furniture to care for the in- crease both in teachers and number of students.
With the acquisition of the Killam property adjacent to the pre- sent school site, the house formerly occupied by the Dana C. Killam family has, with a minimum of redecorating and the installation of fluorescent lighting, been converted to use as an administration build- ing. As such it now houses the offices of the superintendent, the district treasurer and secretary, and provides a meeting space for the District School Committee.
Thus far our annual costs for maintenance have been low. We cannot, however, assume that this will always be the case. It is only prudent that the large capital investment which citizens of the district have made in the present plant be safe-guarded, by a long-range program of redecorating and reconditioning that will keep our build- ing at all times in first class condition.
Negligence in maintenance can be very costly in the end as any homeowner knows. For this reason, and to spread the costs over a number of years, I am recommending that further exterior painting be done in the coming year, and that a start be made on the repainting
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MASCONOMET REGIONAL SCHOOL REPORT
of classrooms and such other of the noninstructional spaces as are most in need of it.
Summer School
Masconomet's second Summer Session opened on July 10 and concluded on August 18. In his report on the summer school, Mr. William R. Staton, Director noted that "twenty-six courses, as com- pared to twenty-four our initial year, were included in the curricu- lum."
"A major refinement this year over last was the inclusion of 'enrichment-type' courses designed to provide a broader background and an opportunity for further study for students desiring to increase their mastery in certain subject-matter areas. Enrichment courses were available in English, Mathematics, Science, Foreign Language, Shorthand and Typewriting, and Reading."
"Tuition rates were increased to $20 per course for resident students and to $40 for non-resident students. Enrollment was 107, a decrease of 20 students from the previous summer. However, due to the increase in tuition fees, the cost to the District of operating the Summer Session remained about the same. It is the objective of the Summer Sessions to become self-sufficient and with continued support from those parents who feel summer study is beneficial, we hope, in time, to operate with no cost to the District."
"As in 1960, the summer session faculty consisted of ten teachers, seven of whom were from the Masconomet faculty, and the remaining three from other school systems. Miss Sharon Kloch, a member of the present senior class, served as clerical assistant. Tentative plans are being considered to increase the service of the summer session to the citizens of the Masconomet District. It is our hope that the sum- mer program will be utilized more and more, with a consequent increase in the academic growth of Masconomet students."
Looking Ahead
As we look forward to the future it is clear that our most press- ing need is space. We must move ahead rapidly during the coming year with plans for expanding our facilities along the lines indicated in the Engelhardt Report. In doing so, it will be important to develop a well-thought out and coordinated total building program, so that whatever new construction is undertaken for the resolution of the immediate need will fit in with that which ultimately will be required when the enrollment in grades 7-12 reaches saturation.
Moreover, it is very important that there be complete understand- ing and accord as to the kind of educational program that is regard-
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MASCONOMET REGIONAL SCHOOL REPORT
ed generally as being most appropriate to meet and serve the needs of boys and girls in this day and age so that the new facilities will contribute to the attainment of these educational objectives.
This project will I hope have the full support, moral and finan- cial, of all our citizens who are concerned with maintaining the high quality of education which has been the cornerstone of our school en- abling it to attain an educational stature of some note in the relative- ly short period of time that it has been in existence.
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