USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Rutland > Town annual report of Rutland 1951-57 > Part 12
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The major repair work done during this year was as follows: Replaced the front steps with concrete ones.
20 Resurfaced two classroom floors.
3. Overhauled the vacuum pump in the boiler room.
4. Refinished several desks.
5. Connected to town sewer.
The major repairs needed in 1954 are:
1. Painting the exterior of the central building.
2. Resurfacing the corridors and two classrooms on the first floor.
3. Painting walls in the teachers' room and walls in the basement.
4. Wiring for audio-visual.
7
The reimbursements due for the support of the schools, other than local taxes for 1953:
General Fund - Chapter 70 $21,205.62
Superintendent's Salary
762.92
Transportation
9,944.19
Vocational Aid
376.32
Federal Aid - Chapter 874
2,512.39
Tuition & Transportation of State Wards 709.03
Tuition - Town of Princeton
212.81
Miscellaneous
40.00
$35,763.28
New Amount from Local Taxes
$47,339.72
The budget for 1954 is recommended by the School Committee:
General Control $ 2,951.50
Expenses of Instruction
50,069 50
Operation of School Plant 9,120.00
Maintenance of School Plant
3,375.00
Outlay 300.00
Auxiliary Agencies
20,244.00
$86,060.00
The estimated receipts from other than local taxes will be $33,000.
The School Committee voted the following rental fee for the Rutland High School Auditorium:
Entertainment
Rental Fee
$3.00 per hour
Minimum Fee $9.00
Rehearsals
$1.00 per hour
Janitor to collect fee and give renter receipt. . Fees to be forwarded to Superintendent of Schools who will give janitor receipt. Superintendent will turn fees over to Town Treasurer.
8
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Since the high school students of Rutland will enter the Wa- chusett Regional High School next September, this 1953 report will be the last complete report under the name of Rutland High School.
It is interesting to note that the 1919 Town Report lists the class of 1894 as the first class.
The membership at the end of the school year in June was 61. The membership in September was 73.
In September, Miss Nancy M. Erickson replaced Mrs. Clara S. Tandy as a member of the faculty.
Interesting assembly programs were presented by Kenneth A. Wheeler concerning radio and television, by Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Babbitt in their nature exhibit and lecture, and by William Wallace demonstrating feats of memory.
Total receipts from school activities at the end of the school year in June were $4,945.72. Total disbursements were $4,380.70.
The Junior Red Cross group were active in contributing items to the hospitals and giving money to the National Children's Fund and the Service Fund ..
Individual students receiving special recognition during the year were as follows:
Anita Ketela º53 Representative, State Student Government Day.
John Webber '54 Selected to attend Boys' State at University of Massachusetts.
June Longwell º53 Awarded Am. Legion Auxiliary Medal.
Richard Whiton º '53 Awarded American Legion Medal. Kathleen Yonker '53 Awarded Becker Commercial Key and Bausch and Lomb science medal. Margaret Giblin '53 Voted D. A. R. Good Citizen.
9
Shirley Anderson) Ann Bigelow )
Mary Carroll )
Charles Campbell) - Awarded Pro Merito Society pins
Ernest Cormier ) Patricia Linnane)
Stuart Thurston )
John Webber )
I wish to express my appreciation to the Committee, Superin- tendent, teachers and all others who have helped me through the many years of service to the Rutland High School.
Respectfully submitted, EDMUND D. KELSEY, Principal
10 REPORT OF THE RUTLAND CENTER SCHOOL
Raymond A. Bogosian, Principal of the Rutland Elementary School, reports :
The Rutland P. T. A. presented a 16 mm sound projector to the school and it is very much appreciated and enjoyed.
The School savings program has been very successful. One hundred pupils have on deposit $2,794.86.
The receipts for milk were $1,667.24, expenditures $1,282.96.
Gregory F. Bowes, supervisor of art, reports the following:
The policy of self-expression, exploration and experimentation with the various art media has been used. Murals, three-dimensional paper sculpture projects, color theory and practice in using water colors, poster paints and crayons have been used. On the high school level, the students have worked with water color, India ink and copper foil. They have experimented with landscapes, figures, cartooning, and copper embossing.
Miss Ruth S. Innes, music supervisor, reports:
In the lower grades, a wealth of material is presented by rote . Reading music in the intermediate grades provides a broad musical enjoyment. Favorite songs from the classics, romantic and contemporary composers, songs of the country and folk music have been used.
The mixed glee club performed at Commencement and at Christ- maso
Several students went to Springfield in February to parti- cipate in the All-State Music Festival. On April 10, 1954, the chorus will perform at the Worcester Auditorium.
Mrs. Brenda T. Sullivan, school nurse, submits the following report:
One hundred seventy-four pupils were inoculated.
A pre-school clinic was held with the parents present.
The annual vision test has been given.
All contagious diseases must be reported to the Board of Health. School permits must be obtained before a child may be readmitted to school.
The following regulation has been established by the Massachu- setts Department of Public Health:
11
"A child shall be examined by a physician six months before entering school or during the first year after entrance and at intervals of three or four years."
The school physician, Dr. Leroy E. Mayo, reports that the annual physical examinations have been made. The diphtheria and tetanus toxoid clinics have been held. Clinics are being planned for the coming spring.
Our association with the pupils, teachers, town officials, and citizens in the direction of the schools of Rutland has been a pleasure .
We commend Mr. Edmund D. Kelsey for the leadership he has given the Rutland High School for the past twenty-seven years. Mr. Kelsey's contribution to the Town of Rutland represents the highest type of American citizenship.
RUTLAND SCHOOL COMMITTEE Frank S. Bracebridge Daniel J. Fitzgerald James L. Wood SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOL UNION NO. 29 William H. Buker
12
TEACHING STAFF AS OF SEPT. 1953
HIGH SCHOOL Teacher
College
Began in Rutland
Edmund D. Kelsey
Principal
University of Mass.
Sept. 1927
Mrs. Marian F. Eames
Framingham State Teachers
Sept. 1948
Miss Nancy M. Erickson
Clark University
Sept. 1953
Robert F. Flagg, Jr.
St. Anselm's College
Sept. 1952
Mrs. Mildred H. Sears
Boston University
Sept. 1951
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Raymond Bogosian Principal
Worc. State Teachers
Sept. 1953
Mrs. Freda T. Kelsey
Fitchburg Normal
Feb. 1952
Mrs. Kathryn W. Davis
Worc. State Teachers
Sept. 1953
Mrs. Margaret G. Harding Keene Normal
Sept. 1941
Miss Joan E. Welch
Mt. St. Mary College
Sept. 1953
Mrs. Catherine N. Griffin
Fitchburg Normal
Sept. 1924
Mrs. Rosemarie B.
Worc. State Teachers
Sept. 1952
Kerwin Mrs. Margaret N. Ronan
Framingham State Teachers
Sept. 1951
Mrs. Margaret I. Follansbee
Fitchburg Normal
Sept. 1948
Mrs. Ethel F. Steele
Framingham State Teachers Sept. 1952
Mrs. Martina C.
Wentworth
Mississippi State College Worc. State Normal
Sept. 1949
Mrs. M. Helen Campbell
Sept. 1949
13
ENROLLMENT
December, 1953
378
December, 1952
344
December, 1951
333
December, 1950
328
SUMMARY OF REGISTERS June, 1953
Grade
Membership
Average Membership
H. S.
65
62.11
VIII
28
26.15
VII
31
27.81
VI
32
31.44
V
34
28.68
IV
47
44.58
III
44
41.65
II
37
34.21
I
51
47.19
Totals
1953
369
343.82
1952
352
331.08
1951
349
326.60
1950
334
318.50
CENSUS October 1, 1953
Number of children
Boys
Girls
Total
5 to 7 years of age
55
59
114
7 to 16 years of age
156
146
302
Totals
211
205
116
Totals - Oct. 1, 1952
212
196
408
Oct. 1, 1951
192
198
390
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PRE-SCHOOL CENSUS
To enter Sept. 1954 48
To enter Sept. 1955 42
To enter Sept. 1956 51
To enter Sept. 1957
45
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES June, 1953
Ernest Peter DeLuca
Louise Arlette Dudley
Margaret Marie Giblin
Grace Emma Hatstat
Virginia Herrick Anita Mary Ketela
Lois Helen Letendre June Harriet Longwell Ellen Maria Putkisto Henry Allan Putkisto Patricia Thurston Richard Whiton
Kathleen Ann Yonker
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADUATES June, 1953
Roy John Allen, Jr. Arthur Paul Alisio, Jr. William Carlton Barron Vivian Anne Bashaw James Stephen Bicket Janet Miles Calkins John Joseph Carroll George Robert Conlon Thomas John Conlon, Jr. Diana Clara Davis Mary Louise Davis James Howard Dunton William Francis Felton
Margaret Ann Ford Edward Melvin Foss
Richard Alfred Johnson
Vincent William Londergan, Jr. Joseph Padeni, Jr.
Paul Arthur Rasku Joanne M. Rogers
Ralph John Takala
Avis Irene Taylor Patricia Ann Wood
Helen Frances Yonker Anne Louise Lavallee Leonard Wilfred Letendre
15
REPORT OF THE WACHUSETT REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1953
REPORT OF THE TREASURER
In the year 1953 the matter of completing the financing for the new Wachusett Regional School was one of outstanding importance to your committee. Late in 1952 interest rates on bond issues began to rise very noticeably and it was decided to hasten as much as possible the sale of the balance of $1,000,000 of Wachusett Regional School District bonds, before prevailing rates became unreasonably high.
Accordingly, $1,000,000 in coupon bonds, dated February 15, 1953 and maturing #50,000 annually over a period of twenty years, were sold to the highest bidders, The First Boston Corporation and Hornblower and Weeks at $100.349 for a 2.60% coupon rate. The indicated premium made the net rate approximately 2.57%. While the coupon rate of 2.60% seemed to the committee rather high at that time, we were assured that it was quite in line with the cur- rent market and it was therefore accepted. Later events proved that hastening the offer of these bonds was wise in that interest rates continued to rise during the next few months. It is there- fore felt by the committee that the overall financing of the school was entirely satisfactory.
In order that the complete picture may be seen at a glance the three stages of financing are here tabulated:
Date
Amount
Coupon Rate
Sale Price
Net Rate
June 1, 1951
# 100,000
2.20
100.159
2.18
June 1, 1952
#1,500,000
1.90
100. 319
1.866
Feb. 15, 1953
$1,000,000
2.60
100. 349
2.57
The first issue of $100,000 was sold to W. E. Hutton & Co. while the two later issues were purchased by The First Boston Corporation and Hornblower and Weeks.
16
From these figures it will be noted that the weighted average of the coupon rates is 2.18% and the net interest rate is 2.15%, well within the 2.25% top rate as presented to the towns of the district when final approval of the school was voted.
The fact that some of our 1953 bond service requirements be- came payable prior to the receipt of sufficient funds from the member towns made necessary our first borrowing in anticipation of current revenues. This was in the form of a note dated May 22, 1953 in the amount of $38,000 sold to the Mechanics National Bank of Worcester at a discount of 1.21%. The note became payable November 18 and was paid when due.
During the latter part of 1952 the District committee believed there was a possibility of making use of the academic portion of the new building in September of 1953, and an operating budget for four months of 1953 was assessed upon the towns of the district. When a further survey proved this impossible the major portion of this part of the budget was withdrawn before the budgets of the member towns were voted. It is now the definite plan to open the new school in September of 1954, and the new budget therefore in- cludes, in addition to the necessary bond service requirements, full operating expenses for four months of the year, together with partial custodial expense and other items incident to the opening of a new building for a longer period. In accordance with this plan your committee voted on November 23, 1953, to appropriate a 1954 budget totaling #325,258.50 as follows:
1953 Budget
#1 General Control
$ 4,280.00
#2 Expenses of Instruction
82,226.00
#3 Operation of School Plant
30 ,690.00
#4 Auxiliary Agencies 15, 389.00
#5 Outlay 9,036.00
#6 Debt and Interest Charges 183,637.50
#7 Special Charges 0.00
$325,258.50
17
Of these amounts, items #1 thru #5 totaling $141, 621 consti- tute expenses of operation. Anticipated receipts for tuition will approximate $19,000, leaving a balance of $122,621 to be assessed for these items in proportion to the high school enrollment of the member towns as of October 1, 1953 as follows:
High School Enrollment
Town
October 1, 1953 291
Percentage
Assessment
Holden
51.872
$63,605.97
Paxton
35
6.239
7,650. 32
Princeton
59
10.517
12,896.05
Rutland
77
13.725
16,829.73
Sterling
99
17.647
21,638.93
Item #6, covering debt and interest charges, is assessed according to percentages laid down in the District agreement. The appropriation includes $130,000 for bond maturities and $53,637.50 for interest. As an offset to this total of $183,637.50 , however, there are certain credits including $81, 815 from 1954 state reimbursement, a balance of $41,815 from the 1953 state re- imbursement, $20,139 earned in the investment of our funds in Treasury Bills and the premium of $3,490 on our February sale of #1,000,000 in bonds. These credits total $147,259, leaving a balance of #36, 378.50 to be raised by assessment as follows:
Town
Percentage
Assessment
Holden
45
$16,370. 33
Paxton
9
3,274.06
Princeton
11
4,001.64
Rutland
15
5,456.77
Sterling
20
7,275.70
A Statement of Income and Expense for the year 1953 and a Balance Sheet as of December 31, 1953 follow:
Respectfully submitted,
W. Goulding Warren Treasurer
18
STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENSE
1953
Income
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1953:
Operating Account
$ 23,848.89
Construction Account
133,984.82
Treasury Bills
800,000.00
New Bond Issue
1,000,000.00
Premium on Bond Issue
3,490.00
Interest accrued on Bonds
1,444.44
Discounts earned, Treas. Bills
22,841.12
Assessments, Five Towns
85,000.00
State Reimbursement 81,815. 37
$2,152,424.64
Expenditures
#1 General Control
$ 4,206.61
#2 Expenses of Instruction
2,752.40
#3 Operation of Plant 25.72
#6 Debt and Interest
125,303.50
Building Construction
975,984.42
Cash on hand Dec. 31, 1953:
Operating Account
86,151.59
Construction Account
258,000.40
Treasury Bills
700,000.00
$2,152,424.64
19
BALANCE SHEET Of December 31, 1953
ASSETS
Cash:
Operating Account Construction Account
$ 86,151.59 258,000.40 700,000.00
1954 Revenue Account
97,853.76
Accounts Receivable:
Holden
$ 79,976.30
Paxton
10,924.38
Princeton Rutland
22,286.50
Sterling
28,914.63
158,999.50
$1, 301,005.25
LIABILITIES
Appropriations 1954
#1 General Control $ 4,280.00
#2 Expense of Instruction
82,226.00
#3 Operation of Plant
30,690.00
#4 Auxiliary Agencies
15,389.00
9,036.00
#5 Outlay #6 Debt and Interest
183,637.50
Unexpended balances 1953
17,746.35
School Construction Account
958,000.40
$1,301,005.25
*Treasury Bills: $100,000 due February 4, 1954, Discount 1.52% $600,000 due March 11, 1954, Discount 1.606%
*U. S. Treasury Bills
16,897.69
20
DEBT ACCOUNT
Net Funded Debt
$2,515,000.00
Coupon Bonds, dated 6/1/51 Interest 2.20%, Payable $5,000 yearly thru 1971 $ 90,000.00
Coupon Bonds, dated 6/1/52 Interest 1.90% , Payable
$75,000 yearly thru 1972
$1,425,000.00
Coupon Bonds, dated 2/15/53 Interest 2.60% , Payable $50,000 yearly thru 1973
$1,000.000.00
$2,515,000.00
21
As a result of town election and school committee appointments the organization of the Wachusett Regional School District Committee was as follows:
Holden
Term Expires
Harold E. Wiles
1953
George W. Lyman
1953
W. Goulding Warren
1955
Paxton
Charles C. Craig
1953
Laurens C. Seelye
1954
Princeton
John Hubbard
1953
Leslie E. Poole
1953
Rutland
James L. Wood
1953
David A. Darrah
1955
Sterling
Mrs. Clara R. Brown
1953
Robert W. Mason
1954
At the Annual Meeting held March 9, 1953, officers of the previous year were re-elected, namely:
Chairman
Leslie E. Poole
Vice-Chairman
Robert W. Mason
Secretary
George W. Lyman
Treasurer
W. Goulding Warren
During the year the Committee held 22 regular and 3 special meetings. In addition, special trips were made by various members to visit schools of men being considered for the position of Princi- pal of the Wachusett High School.
The major efforts of your committee were spent in making decisions on problems arising in regard to construction details
22
and in making studies and selection of the many items of equipment necessary for operation of the school. $77,000 worth of equipment has been ordered, including such items as laboratory equipment, tables, desks, chairs, auditorium and gymnasium seating.
The Committee completed the details of financing the new school by selling the balance of $1,000,000 of bonds, the details of which are recorded in the report of the Treasurer.
The selection of a Principal involved interviewing 13 men and inspection of schools under the direction of the leading candidates before a final appointment was made. We were fortunate to be able to sign a contract with Gordon M. Thomas of Bennington, Vermont, who has an enviable record of accomplishments to his credit. He started work on the Wachusett High School Project September 1, 1953, and a report of his activities is included in this report.
Superintendents Buker and Fogg and Principal Thomas were most helpful to the Committee in assisting with details on such items as:
1 Salary schedules for teaching staff.
20 Operating rules and regulations for school administration.
3. Selection of equipment.
4. Establishment of a curriculum for the school.
5. Setting up an operating budget for 1954.
6. Appointment of members to the teaching staff.
(Details included in Principal's report)
The Committee arrived at a decision in regard to acceptance of West Boylston High School pupils. It was agreed to accept approximately 150 students on a uniform basis for the school years 1954-1955, 1955-1956, 1956-1957.
Construction of the building is of major interest to all, and the status is best covered in the report of the Committee's Clerk of the Works, Colonel George Schumacher.
Respectfully submitted,
George W. Lyman, Secretary
23
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS 1953
During the year 1953 conditions, generally, were favorable for building construction. The material and equipment market was easy, transportation was uninterrupted, availability of labor near normal, and weather conditions better than average. Though the tornado of June 9, 1953, missed the school site completely, it caused temporary inconvenience in the delivery of material and the furnishing of services. One labor strike, that of the carpenters union from February 24th to May 18th, caused delay to phases of the work which required carpenters. However, construction progress during 1953 continued slowly and is approximately seven months behind schedule at the present time. The contract called for completion by November 13, 1953.
The exterior walls and the roof of the building have been substantially completed. Interior masonry partitions are in place in the Academic Section. Those in the Shops Section, in the boys" and girls' locker room area, in the Band area, Gymnasium area, and Auditorium, all in Units "C" and "D" are still under construction.
Interior finish at the close of the year had not progressed beyond the Academic Section of the building - Units "A" and "B". In these units over half of the plaster and acoustic tile work has been finished, all windows are in, and some trim and prime coating of paint have been applied. The tack and chalk boards are three- fourths complete. No doors have been hung and no finished floors have been laid. No cabinet work has been installed.
In Units "C" and "D", which include the Cafeteria, Kitchen, Auditorium, and Gymnasium, the general construction work is still in the "roughing in" stage. The Boiler Room is functioning but is not complete.
The work of the mechanical trades, i. e. Plumbing, Heating, and Electrical is progressing at approximately the same rate as the General Contract.
Some of the plumbing fixtures have been hung and are operating in Units "A" and "B" where all of the plumbing roughing is sub- stantially complete. Throughout Units "C" and "D" the roughing in of plumbing is still incomplete.
24
The Heating System, while still incomplete, has been operating since November in order to provide satisfactory working conditions for the Contractor. None of the permanent heating or ventilating units have been completed. The ventilating system, which is part of and operates in conjunction with the heating system, is not com- plete in any unit and is not operating. Until such time as both the heating and ventilating systems are complete, the automatic regulating system will not be in operation. The heat now being delivered must, therefore, be manually controlled with a consequent loss in efficiency and high fuel consumption.
The status of the electrical work is at approximately the same level as plumbing and heating. The permanent light and power lines, together with the transformers, conduits, switchboards, etc., have been substantially completed. Light and power wiring have been installed in Unit "A", and in parts of Units "B", "C", and "D". Permanent electric fixtures are being installed in the second floor rooms of Unit "A". None of the clock or signal systems have been completed, and the emergency generator set has not been re- ceived.
GRADING AND MUNICIPAL WORK
The Grading and Paving work, under the Walter Reed Corporation contract, progressed satisfactorily during the summer months. The rough grading was finished and the two entrance roads and parking lot were completed and paved. The pond was dredged and the shore line trimmed in accordance with the plans.
The landscape contractor, the Eastern Tree & Landscape Co. of Dedham, Mass., graded and seeded the Athletic Field, the em- bankment along the south and west sides of the building, and the northerly slope from the Parking Lot to Highway 122A. They also planted trees and shrubbery in the Interior Court, and areas ad- jacent to the Parking Lot. Much of the top soil and seed on slopes was washed away by heavy rains and will have to be reworked in the spring. The Eastern Tree Co. had to suspend work for the season on December 9, 1953.
WATER LINE
The six inch fire hydrant line around the building has been completed with the exception of some back filling and the supplying of the hydrant wrenches.
25
SEWER LINES
The sanitary sewer lines from the building to the sewer main on Highway 122A have been installed and are functioning. They, like the water line, will not be completed until the back fill is finished.
ELECTRIC LINES
The electric service lines from Highway 122A to the terminal pole south of the building and installed by the Town of Holden are complete and functioning.
TELEPHONE SERVICE
None has been provided to date. The Telephone Engineer made a survey of requirements in December, 1953.
CONCLUSION
The Building Project proper, i.e., the J. W. Bishop contract, was estimated to be 73% complete on December 31, 1953. This would make the average monthly progress for the past 20 months of operation 3.65%. The highest progress so far estimated in any one month was 5%. Operations at present are proceeding with somewhat increased activity in an effort to complete the project early in the summer of 1954.
Col. George Schumacher
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Rarely does one have the opportunity to participate in es- tablishing a new type school. The Wachusett Regional High School is the first one of its kind in Massachusetts. The towns repre- sented in this school are Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, and Sterling.
During the year, my major activities, in conjunction with the Committee, have been:
Assistance to the Committee concerning State legislation applicable to regional schools.
Assistance in preparing rules and regulations pertaining to the management of the school.
26
Assistance in preparing specifications for equipment.
Assistance in financial matters, such as payrolls and the preparation of the 1954 budget.
Interviews for principal and recommendation for same.
Interviews with teachers, sixteen of whom the Committee has, to date, elected. These interviews were held in conjunction with the Assistant Superintendent and Prin- cipal.
Attendance at several regional school conferences held by interested groups in other towns.
Visits to more than twenty high schools in other states.
During 1954, my duties will include ordering books and sup- plies, preparing payrolls and bills, interviewing and recommending the remaining personnel and assisting the Committee in whatever other assignments it may desire. The Principal will have super- vision of the school personnel as stated in the Regulations of the Committee.
It has been a pleasure to have been associated with the Com- mittee, Asst. Supt. Lawrence A. Fogg and Principal Gordon M. Thomas who has excellent qualifications for organizing the school.
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