USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1945 > Part 13
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The recorded payments on account of maturing debt and interest were checked with the amounts falling due and with the cancelled securities and coupons on file.
The savings bank books and securities representing the investment of the trust, investment, and retirement funds in the custody of the town treasurer were exam- ined and listed. The income was proved and all recorded transactions were verified.
The records of tax titles held by the town were exam- ined and checked. The amounts added to the tax title account were compared with the collector's records, the reported redemptions were checked, and the tax titles on hand were listed, reconciled with the accountant's ledger account, and compared with the records in the Registry of Deeds.
The books and accounts of the tax collector were examined and checked in detail. The taxes and assess- ments outstanding at the time of the previous examina- tion, and all subsequent commitments, were audited and proved to the warrants issued for their collection. The recorded receipts were checked with the payments to the treasurer and with the accountant's books, the abate- ments as recorded were compared with the assessors' records of abatements granted, and the outstanding accounts were listed and reconciled with the account- ant's ledger accounts.
The records of departmental and water accounts re- ceivable were examined and checked in detail. The re- corded receipts were checked with the payments to the
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treasurer and with the accountant's books, the abate- ments as recorded were compared with the records in the departments authorized to grant abatements, and the outstanding accounts were listed and reconciled with the accountant's ledger.
The outstanding tax, assessment, departmental, and water accounts were verified by mailing notices to a number of persons whose names appeared on the books as owing money to the town, the replies received thereto indicating that the accounts, as listed, are correct.
The records of licenses and permits issued by the selectmen, town clerk, and health department were ex- amined and checked in detail, the payments to the State and the town being verified.
The surety bonds of the several town officials required by law to file them were examined and found to be in proper form.
The records of receipts of the sealer of weights and measures and of the school department, as well as of all other departments collecting money or committing bills for collection, were checked with the treasurer's and the accountant's books.
In addition to the balance sheet, there are appended to this report tables showing a reconciliation of the treasurer's and the tax collector's cash, summaries of the tax, assessment, tax title, departmental, and water accounts, together with tables showing the transactions and condition of the trust, investment, and retirement funds.
For the cooperation received from the several officials of the town during the progress of the audit, I wish, on behalf of my assistants and for myself, to express appre- ciation.
Respectfully submitted,
HERMAN B. DINE,
Assistant Director of Accounts.
GENERAL ACCOUNTS Balance Sheet - December 31, 1944 TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
Assets Cash-In Banks and Office,
Labilities and Reserves
$375,576.08
Due County :
Proceeds of Dog Licenses, $7.20
Accounts Receivable:
Sale of Dogs, 3.00
$10.20
Taxes:
Levy of 1944:
Poll,
$10.00
Personal Property,
865.80
10,800.00
Water Guarantee Deposit,
100.00
Sale of Real Estate Fund,
2,700.00
Cemetery Sale of Lots and Graves Fund,
8,368.36
Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes: Levy of 1944,
128,99
Anna Spooner Gift for Beautification of Park Land,
127.96
Investment Fund Income,
674.00
Special Assessments:
Moth 1944,
7.25
Tax Titles,
$3,459.85
Tax Possessions,
2,280.85
Administration, $99.47
5,740.70
Aid,
124.77
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Real Estate,
39,513.01
40,388.81
Old Age Assistance Recoveries,
15.55
Tailings,
146.47
Liquor License Fees for 1945 Collected in 1944, (Reserved for Estimated Receipts 1945),
Post-War Rehabilitation Fund- Income for Investment,
1,500.00
Federal Grants: Aid to Dependent Children:
Departmental:
Town Wharf Rentals,
$1,860.00
52.48
Health,
315.90
Public Welfare,
395.84
George-Deen Fund, 166.00
Old Age Assistance,
723.00
Soldiers' Benefits,
933.00
635.57
Unexpended Appropriation Balances,
35,114.68
Cemetery,
1,188.91
Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus,
34,631.66
7,760.03
Overlay Reserved for Abatement of Taxes: Levy of 1944,
12,394.75
Aid to Highways:
Revenue Reserved Until Collected:
State,
$421.47
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax,
$128.99
County,
421.47
842.94
Tax Title and Tax Possession,
5,740.70
Departmental, .
7,760.03
Rates 1943,
$66.96
Aid to Highways,
842.94
Rates 1944,
5,293.40
Water,
5,383.86
Labor and Material-1944,
23.50
5,383.86
Surplus Revenue,
308,745.69
$435,828.66
$435,828.66
DEBT ACCOUNTS
Ned Funded or Fixed Debt,
$85,000.00
High School Loan,
$85,000.00
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Special Assessment,
7.25
Water:
19,863.77
School,
2,343.38
Old Age Assistance: Administration, Assistance,
12.85
Smith-Hughes Fund, 180.00
TRUST AND INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS
Trust and Investment Funds: Cash and Securities:
Francis LeBaron Poor Fund,
$1,377.12
Charles Holmes Poor Fund,
510.05
In Custody of State Treasurer,
$200.00
Julia P. Robinson Poor Fund, 300.00
In Custody of Town Treasurer,
194,741.70
John Murdock Poor and School Funds,
730.00
In Custody of Brockton Savings Bank,
1,000.00
Ellen Stoddard Donnelley Fund (Public Welfare),
2,000.00
Alice Spooner Fund (Public Welfare),
1,500.00
Nathaniel Morton Park Fund,
2,000.00
Marcia E. Jackson Gates Library Fund,
2,000.00
Warren Burial Hill Cemetery Fund,
1,257.20
Annie Furlong Perpetual Care Fund (St. Joseph's Cemetery,
111.52
Phoebe R. Clifford Cemetery Fund,
200.00
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds,
153,195.77
Investment Fund,
4,000.00
Post-War Rehabilitation Fund,
80,000.00
$249,181.66
$249,181.66
CONTRIBUTORY RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
Contributory Retirement Funds Cash and Securities,
$66,893.00
Annuity Reserve Fund,
5,244.91
Pension Accumulation Fund,
15,418.49
Military Service Fund,
330.40
Expense Fund,
181.61
$66,893.00
$66,893.00
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Annuity Savings Fund,
$45,717.59
In Custody of Plymouth Five Cent
Savings Bank,
53,239.96
PART III
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
School Department of the
Town of Plymouth
1020
UST
For the Year Ending December 31, 1945
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Term Expires
Dr. E. Harold Donovan, Chairman
1948
Fannie T. Rowell, Secretary
1948
William H. Armstrong
1947
David Cappannari
1946
Dr. William E. Curtin 1946
Ralph Weaver
1946
ADMINISTRATION
Burr F. Jones, Superintendent of Schools
Office, Town Square, Telephone 600 Interviews by appointment
Secretary, Elinor B. Sanderson
Office hours: School Days-8:00 a.m. to 12:00 m. and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays-9:00 a.m. to 12:00 m. Vaca- tions-9:00 a.m. to 12 m. and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
School Physicians: Dr. Frank J. Abate, Jr.
Dr. Medora V. Eastwood
Office hour at School Department: 8:45 to 9:15 a.m.
School Nurse: Hilda Swett
Interviews at School Department Office or at school buildings by appointment.
School Dentists: Dr. William O. Dyer Dr. James A. McDade
Dental Hygienist: Jane B. Bradford
Dental Clinic Office, Governor Bradford Building, Tele- phone 1255-M.
Supervisor of Attendance: Ralph F. Matinzi, Telephone 1152
Custodian of Buildings: Thomas A. Bodell, Telephone 600
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SCHOOLS
Senior High School-Telephone 26 Edgar J. Mongan, Principal
Junior High School-Telephone 460 Mary M. Dolan, Principal
Cornish-Burton School District-Telephone 933 Franklyn O. White, Principal
Cold Spring School-Telephone 1018-M
Oak Street School-Telephone 301-J
Hedge School-Telephone 1242-M Franklyn O. White, Principal
Mount Pleasant School-Telephone 1291-M Mrs. Helen S. Manchester, Principal
Manomet School-Telephone Manomet 72 Mrs. Elouise E. Cashin, Principal
SCHOOL CALENDAR - 1945 to 1946
Open
Close
September 5, 1945
December 21, 1945
January 2, 1946
February 15, 1946
February 25, 1946 April 12, 1946
April 22, 1946 June 14, 1946
School Holidays: Columbus Day, Oct. 12; Teacher's Con- vention Day, Oct. 19; Armistice Day, Nov. 12; Thanks- giving Recess, Nov. 21-Nov. 25; Memorial Day, May 30.
NO-SCHOOL SIGNAL
2-2 Repeated on fire alarm
7:05 No school for Junior and Senior High Schools.
8:15 No morning session for Grades I to VI inclusive.
12:30 No afternoon session for Grades I to VI inclusive .. Radio station WEEI broadcasts no-school signals. shortly after 7:00 a.m.
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FINANCIAL REPORT
RECEIPTS
SALARY APPROPRIATION, March 1945 $231,200.00
PAYMENTS
Supt., Principals, Supervisors,
Teachers, Clerks
$200,192.18
Americanization
961.90
Summer School 369.60
Janitors, Building Supervisor
17,774.68
School Physicians, School Nurse,
Asst. to Nurse, Dental Hygienist 7,346.36
Pension for retired School Physician 900.00
School Census 122.45
Total
227,667.17
Balance to Excess and Deficiency
$3,532.83
Special appropriation for bonus to
town employees
$11,038.17
RECEIPTS
GENERAL APPROPRIATION, March 1945
$54,700.00
Trust Fund Income
7.34
Total
$54,707.34
PAYMENTS
General Expenses
Stationery, Postage, Printing
$411.00
Telephone
141.05
Travel expense in state
66.44
Automobile expense
400.00
Office supplies
28.00
1,046.49
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Text Books and Supplies
Text and reference books
$4,980.59
Paper, blank books, etc.
5,000.59
Manual training supplies
1,073.98
Domestic science supplies
596.78
Athletic supplies
598.62
Typewriters and supplies
132.00
Visual education supplies
334.24
12,716.80
Transportation
Pupils
$16,364.85
Supervisors, Principals
122.60
16,487.45
Tuition-Out-of-town Schools
Elementary and High
$778.80
Vocational
422.16
1,200.96
Fuel
Coal, wood, oil
5,869.23
Maintenance
Repairs and improvements
$6,400.56
Janitors' supplies
1,278.76
Gas and electricity
2,558.68
Telephones
514.31
Ashes, etc. removed
176.50
10,928.81
Furniture and Furnishings
Desks and chairs
$92.50
Window shades
85.35
Refrigerator
137.23
Duplicator
128.00
Potato peeler
188.00
631.08
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Medical Inspection
Dental health
$519.89
Medical supplies
187.86
Nurse's car expense
545.56
1,253.31
Diplomas and Graduation
298.14
Rent of Memorial Hall
175.00
Total
$50,607.27
Balance to Excess and Deficiency
$4,100.07
REIMBURSEMENTS AND RECEIPTS
From the State for:
Teachers' Salaries
$18,050.00
Americanization Salaries
671.00
Vocational Tuition
252.47
Vocational Household Arts
517.93
State Wards
1,008.84
City of Boston Wards
101.00
Tuition Out-of-town Pupils:
Carver
5,398.61
Plympton
5,234.86
Kingston
225.00
Miscellaneous Receipts
585.31
Total
$32,045.02
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Balance to
Appropriation March, 1945 Expenditures
Deficiency
Salaries
$231.200.00 $227,667.17
$3,532.83
General
54,707.34*
50,607.27
4,100.07
Totals
$285,907.34 $278,274.44
$7,632.90
Excess and
-8-
Reimbursements and Receipts Account of Schools 32,045.02
Net expenditures for schools $246,229.42
from appropriations to School Dept. for salaries and general
Bonus to School Employees $11,038.17 *Including Trust Fund Income
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TRUST FUND FEDERAL GRANT-GEORGE-DEEN
Teaching Pottery Classes
Receipts:
Balance from 1944
$166.00
Cash from State 1,000.00
$1,166.00
Payments:
Salary of Pottery Instructor 918.00
Unexpended Balance $248.00
Special appropriation for bonus to
town employees $91.80
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TRUST FUND FEDERAL GRANT-GEORGE-DEEN
Teaching Handicraft Classes
Receipts:
Balance from 1944
$180.00
Cash from State 240.00
Payments: $420.00
Salary of Handicraft Instructor 252.00
Unexpended Balance $168.00
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RETIREMENT FUND APPROPRIATION Receipts:
Appropriation for Teachers on Military Leave, March 1945 $307.33
Payments: Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement Board
$307.33
CORNISH SCHOOL LUNCH Receipts
CORNISH SCHOOL LUNCH APPROPRIATION Salaries, March 1945 $2,650.00
Payments
Labor
2,646.60
Balance to Excess and Deficiency
$3.40
Special appropriation for bonus to
town employees
$277.60
Receipts CORNISH SCHOOL LUNCH APPROPRIATION General, March 1945
Payments
Provisions
$3,496.48
Utensils and supplies
61.82
Ice
25.15
Gas
115.01
$3,698.46
Balance to Excess and Deficiency $1.54
CORNISH SCHOOL LUNCH ACCOUNT SCHOOL LUNCH RECEIPTS-To Town Treasurer Sale of Lunches $3,946.75
From Federal Grants
2,396.97
Total
$6,343.72
SCHOOL LUNCH PAYMENTS
Salaries
$2,646.60
General
3,698.46
Total $6,345.06
$3,700.00
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of the Town of Plymouth:
The vacancy in the Committee membership caused by the death of J. Frankland Miller in December, 1944 was filled at the annual town meeting by the election of William H. Armstrong. Mr. Ralph Weaver was then appointed as military substitute for Major LeBaron. The latter on his release from military service, resigned his position on the Plymouth Committee, having transferred his residence to Foxborough. To this vacancy the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee, meeting jointly, appointed Mr. Weaver to serve until the annual election of 1946.
The war period has been one in which the costs of education have increased along with the costs of other services. Since 1942 Plymouth has increased the compen- sation of its town employees, as has been commonly done by town, state, and federal governments. Such increases have by no means been comparable to the increases in wages paid by industrial plants, but they have helped substantially to offset the increased cost of living. We feel that by far the most important requirement for good schools is to secure and retain a well qualified teaching staff and to have our teachers carry on their work with energy and enthusiasm. To accomplish this result it is necessary for us to pay salaries that compare favorably with those paid in other communities maintaining ele- mentary, junior, and senior high schools and nearest to our population and financial ability.
Although our school expenditures in 1945 were higher than in the preceding year, salary expenditures were slightly less than anticipated and we are able to turn back $3,532.83 to the excess and deficiency fund. We are . also turning back to this fund a balance of $4,100.07 in the general appropriation. This balance arises largely from the fact that we were allowed under government
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regulations to purchase only 80% of the year's coal supply.
The major item under repairs and improvements in 1945 was the installing of a new boiler in the Mt. Pleas- ant building. This installation included a Smith boiler No. 60 with Nash vacuum pump, Whittey stoker, and a new temperature regulator. These changes have brought about a decided improvement in the heating of the Mt. Pleasant School. It is our belief that the boiler at the Hedge School also will need to be replaced very soon.
The former Pederzani property adjoining the Hedge School lot and acquired by the town in 1944 has been cleared of buildings. The grading of this lot for play- ground purposes will be a worthwhile post-war project. The necessary fill is now available from the near-by land adjoining the playground on the west and acquired by the town in 1945.
The attic floors of the Hedge School were insulated during the summer vacation, thus completing the pro- gram of insulation began in 1944. Janitors report that second-story class rooms, formerly difficult to heat, can now be more readily heated. They report also that there is a noticeable saving of fuel.
Another improvement made in 1945 should be reported; namely, the installation of sound-deadening material on the ceiling of the High School Cafeteria. This very notice- ably reduces the sound arising from the conversation of several hundred pupils and enables a person to be heard when talking in normal conversational tones. A similar treatment of the Gymnasium would be a great help, both to teachers and to pupils.
Relatively little painting has been attempted in 1945 because of the scarcity of labor and materials. The Den- tal and Health Rooms at the Hedge, as well as the east corridor at the Cornish, have been redecorated and the High School cupola painted. Because of the interruption
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in the usual painting program during the war years, we shall need to make larger investments in this type of repair work in 1946 if we are to maintain our school property in good condition.
For a record of other changes and of progress made in the schools during 1945, we call your attention to the reports of the Superintendent and Department Heads that follow.
Respectfully submitted,
E. HAROLD DONOVAN, Chairman FANNIE T. ROWELL, Secretary DAVID A. CAPPANNARI WILLIAM E. CURTIN WILLIAM H. ARMSTRONG RALPH WEAVER
Plymouth School Committee
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee:
It is indeed a privilege to submit to you my fifth annual report. This deals largely with adjustments already made necessary by rapidly changing conditions and with suggestions for further adjustments that seem desirable.
TEACHER SHORTAGE CONTINUES
In the opening years of the war period, school officials here and elsewhere were confronted with the problems of adjusting the schools to the needs of a nation at war. The problem of maintaining an efficient staff of teachers soon became one of the most serious. Many teachers asked for leave of absence to enter the armed forces. Others were married to young men in the service and gave up teaching. For these and other reasons 34 teachers, 1/3 of our staff, left employment in the Plymouth schools during 1942 and 1943. Because of the acute shortage of teachers that developed early in the war period a con- siderable number of married women who had formerly been teachers in Plymouth were prevailed upon to re- turn to teaching and have done very commendable work during this critical time. It seems probable that we shall need to retain many of them for further service if pos- sible, in view of the fact that the teachers returning from the armed forces together with the young men and women now preparing definitely for teaching in our colleges will fall far short of filling the vacancies that normally arise.
The shortage of teachers is most acute in the elemen- tary grades, due to the abrupt decline of the enrollment of our teachers colleges from 3200 to 1800 during the first three years of the war. The most capable graduates of teachers colleges are being placed at once either in their home communities or in communities so near home that they may readily commute to their schools. Salaries
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paid to beginning elementary teachers, which before the war ranged from $1000 to $1200, have now increased to $1500 or more.
Fortunately for Plymouth nearly all of the nine teach- ers on our Junior and Senior High School staffs who were granted leave to enter the armed forces are plan- ning to return to the Plymouth schools. Two had already done so prior to the close of year 1945.
CHANGES IN PERSONNEL DURING 1945 Retirements
Principal William I. Whitney of the Hedge School re- tired in June, bringing to a close a long and useful career in the public schools. Mr. Whitney began teaching in Vermont in 1904. After seven years of experience in various communities of Vermont, in Rowley, Massachu- setts, and in Rhode Island, Mr. Whitney was appointed principal of the Knapp School, Plymouth. When the Knapp School was closed in 1939, he was made principal of the Hedge School where he served to the time of his retirement. Since 1921, Mr. Whitney served continuously as Director of Americanization for the town. His work in this connection was noteworthy in that the number of aliens in Plymouth in 1920 was about 4,000. It is a tribute to Mr. Whitney's leadership in Americanization work in this community and to the efforts of the capable staff of teachers who have worked under his direction that the number of non-citizens steadily declined to the present figure of approximately 500.
Miss Maude Lermond, teacher of grade six at the Hedge School for the past six years and teacher of various grades at the old Hedge and Knapp Schools from 1902 to 1939, retired at the end of the last school year after an exceptionally long and faithful service in the Plym- outh schools. Miss Lermond began teaching in Maine in 1893. After nine years of experience in that state she came to Plymouth and taught here continuously since the fall of 1902. Her career as public school teacher was fifty-two years in length, during forty-three of which
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she has been a member of the staff in the Knapp and Hedge Schools of Plymouth. Miss Lermond has had a very prominent part in the Americanization work here and has undoubtedly given instruction and encourage- ment to a larger number of non-citizens in quest of their citizenship papers than any other Plymouth teacher has done.
A joint reception and testimonial meeting was ten- dered to principal Whitney and Miss Lermond at the Plymouth Cordage Auditorium on June 19. Addresses in appreciation of the services of these two educators were made by state and town officials and former pupils. The meeting was largely attended by grateful parents and friends. A testimonial in book form signed by hun- dreds of former pupils and associates, a replica of the statue of Massasoit in bronze, and a substantial amount of money were presented to each. The book bearing the signatures of friends and associates was prefaced by the following tribute:
"To Principal William I. Whitney and Miss Maude H. Lermond: Hedge School, Plymouth, Mass.
We, the undersigned, wish to express to you our deep appreciation of your most faithful, able, and unselfish services as principal and teacher in the Knapp and Hedge Schools over periods of more than thirty and forty years respectively and for your untiring assistance to hundreds of adults in their efforts to become naturalized citizens of our country during the past twenty-five years. As you now retire from the active duties of teaching we wish for you that deep sense of satisfaction that should be yours after making this outstand- ing contribution to American citizenship in this community. We all join in the most sincere hope that the years lying ahead will bring you both much happiness."
Resignations
Miss Beatrice A. Hunt, now Mrs. Victor Iams, resigned in June to be married. Mrs. Iams began her teaching career as teacher of English and Music in the Plymouth
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Junior High School immediately after her graduation from Bridgewater in 1933. She became supervisor of music in Plymouth in 1938 and was granted a leave of absence to complete work for the master's degree at Teacher's College, Columbia during the school year 1943- 44. Under Mrs. Iams' leadership, the music in the Plym- outh schools became recognized for its excellence, and school musical groups here won distinction in the Massa- chusetts and New England festivals.
Miss Amy M. Rafter, now Mrs. Elsworth Pratt, who had been teacher of History in the Senior High School since 1928 and head of the History Department for a number of years, resigned October 26. Mrs. Pratt had taught continuously in the Plymouth High School since her graduation from Boston University in 1928.
Mrs. Clementine O. O'Neill, teacher of grades three and four at Manomet School, presented her resignation in October. Mrs. O'Neill had previously taught at the Russell Mills, Oak Street, and Cornish-Burton Schools. Her service in Plymouth extended over a period of nine- teen years.
Mrs. Dolores Cappannari, teacher of grade two at Mount Pleasant School, submitted her resignation in July. Mrs. Cappannari began teaching in Plymouth imme- diately following her graduation from Bridgewater in 1934. She served in the Hedge School one year and the following ten years as teacher of grade two at the Mount Pleasant School.
Mrs. Eleanor S. Evans, teacher of Grade 4 at Hedge, terminated her services here in June. Mrs. Evans began teaching in the Knapp School immediately following her graduation from Bridgewater in 1934 and was later trans- ferred to the Hedge School, grade four. Her total period of service in Plymouth was eleven years.
Miss Dorice A. Knowles teacher of grade one at the Hedge School resigned in June to be married. Miss Knowles came to Plymouth from a teaching position in
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Saugus and taught in the primary grades at the Oak Street, Mt. Pleasant, and Hedge Schools for a total of eleven years.
Mrs. Jean W. Patenaude resigned in November from her position as instructor in English and Social Studies in the Junior High School. Mrs. Patenaude has taught in Plymouth since her graduation from Bridgewater in 1940.
Mrs. Mary Brigida Guidoboni, teacher of grade five at the Hedge School who was granted leave of absence from September to December, presented her resignation effec- tive at the end of her leave. Mrs. Guidoboni taught at Mount Plasant, Cold Spring, and Hedge Schools since her graduation from Bridgewater in 1941.
Two of our military substitutes resigned during the year. Mrs. Amelia Vincent, substitute for John Pacheco, as supervisor of instrumental music, resigned at the end of the school year to become supervisor of instrumental music in several junior high schools of Portland, Oregon.
Mr. Paul Goodwin who served as military substitute for Hector Patenaude in manual arts and mechanical drawing in the Junior High School, resigned on Mr. Patenaude's return from the service in November.
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