USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1941 > Part 14
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Tuition from City of Boston (For Boston wards) 278.22 Tuition from Commonwealth of Mass. (For State wards) 1,254.56
Miscellaneous income 126.92
Americanization Class. (State reimbursement) 80.00
Unexpended amounts in various appropriations. 319.50
$33,370.70
This total sum of $33,370.70 in various forms of refunds lessens the cost of education and the maintenance of the Stadium to the taxpayers of Saugus by the above amount. We, therefore, subtract this sum of $33,370.70 from the total amount appropriated ($243,- 105.00) in order to determine the actual cost of education plus the maintenance of the Stadium to the taxpayers of the town. The cost is $209,734.30.
School Cost Comparisons
I pointed out in my report of the year 1940 the fact that school costs in Saugus are very low com- pared with communities of com- parable size in the Commonwealth. I need not reprint the tables again this year but I do desire to re- emphasize the fact that school costs in Saugus are ridiculously low.
The School Committee of Saugus
6
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
is asking for a General Budget for the year 1942 of $249,765.10. The Town of Saugus in December 1941 had 3075 school children.
The Town of Wakefield is ask- ing for a General Budget for the year 1942 of $300,155.00. The Town of Wakefield in December 1941 had 2865 school children.
In other words the Town of Wakefield, with 210 less children than Saugus, is requesting a gen- eral budget appropriation of $50,- 389.90 more than Saugus for the operation of its school system.
Salaries of School Teachers
The School Committee in its proposed 1942 General Budget is requesting enough money to pro- vide salary increases for its teach- ers varying from $50.00 to $200.00 each. I trust that all citizens in- terested in the maintenance of an efficient school system will pro- vide this extra money. I can as- sure you that it is very important if we are to maintain our present system of efficiency.
We are living in a period of mounting wages particularly in industry. Money is plentiful and times are boon. I personally know of many young men in near-by industry who are receiving from $60.00 to $100.00 per week in their pay envelopes. In such times as these a school system like Saugus with a low salary scale for teach- ers is almost certain to get badly hurt. We stand to suffer the loss of many of our best and most ex- perienced teachers
with scant chance of replacing them with teachers of similar quality. I shall show you what happens to a community like Saugus in times like these. Here is what happens.
(1) The younger teachers get married. They had hesitated to get married when their prospec- tive husband was making $25.00 per week. They no longer hesi- tate to get married when the same young man is making $75.00 per week.
This is attack Number 1 on our teaching staff.
(2) The Selective Service Act
comes along and takes away the young single men on the High School teaching staff for army duty.
This is attack Number 2 on our teaching staff.
(3) Teachers in Saugus are not paid salaries commensurate with neighboring communities. Positions in phases of national defense offer them much greater financial inducement and many are sorely tempted to leave the teach- ing profession and accept jobs paying better salaries.
This is attack Number 3 on our teaching staff.
(4) Teachers in places like Lynn, Swampscott, Marblehead, Melrose, and all the rest around us either get married or accept employment in defense work. The first place the Superintendent of Schools comes to look for his teacher replacements is com- munity with a low salary scale. He can offer my teachers far higher salaries and I have not the wherewithal to meet his offer. Con- sequently the teacher accepts his offer and ceases to teach in the Town of Saugus. I know of one Superintendent of Schools who is already attempting to wean several of my best teachers away from Saugus.
This is attack Number 4 on our teaching staff.
The retention of
a trained teaching staff makes for the main- tenance of efficiency in a school system. The loss of trained school teachers, particularly in any quan- tity, means a serious lessening of efficiency.
I have already lost three teach- ers within the past four week period.
The salary increases proposed for teachers in the 1942 budget are not as large as I would like to see them. They will, however, offer at least some inducement for a teacher to remain in our school system. At least such increases will show the teacher that we ap- preciate her services.
7
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1941]
Air Raid Precautions
Saugus, by reason of its prox- imity to the plant of the General Electric Company is particularly vulnerable to attack from the air. The situation, as far as school- children are concerned, is even more serious when it is realized that seven of our fourteen school buildings are of ordinary wooden construction. The seven remain- ing buildings are of brick con- struction but not one of the seven is of real first class construction. There is no use minimizing the potential danger.
The policy of the School Com- mittee is enunciated in the follow- ing vote which was passed in the meeting of December 22, 1941.
"In the event of air raid alarms or actual air raids while school is in session the school children shall be sent home from school if the information received from the control center indicates that ample time is available for the children to arrive home in safety. If the information received from the control center indicates that ample time is not available for the chil- dren to arrive home in safety, or if no information is given concern- ing how much time is available, the school children are to remain in the school building."
The School Committee made it plain that the above was to be the policy of the School Committee unless or until a uniform policy for all schools, irrespective of lo- cation, is adopted by the State or Federal Government.
There is no question in my mind but that there is safety in the dispersion of the pupils to their homes. As outlined in the above vote this will be done when we definitely know that ample time is available. In many cases such time will doubtless not be avail- able. The children will then be sheltered in the basements of the various school buildings under the supervision of their teachers. All cellar windows will be stripped with surgeon's tape. This tape is placed on the inside of the
cellar windows in crossed strips. It prevents broken fragments of glass from flying about the base- ments and injuring children. The placing of school children in the basements of the various schools will doubtless afford these child- ren considerable protection against incendiary bombs and against the bits of shell fragments from anti- aircraft guns. In my opinion it will afford absolutely no protec- tion if the particular building is hit by a high explosive bomb. If a high explosive bomb scores a direct hit on any of our school buildings while the children are in the building there will undoubtedly be a heavy loss of life in that particular building. Parents may receive some consolation in the fact that experts say that the chance of a direct hit on any par- ticular building is very small. To say that there is no danger, how- ever, would not be to tell the truth. An enemy bomber flying at ten thousand feet and seeking to hit the General Electric Company as its objective would drop its bombs three miles away. It is quite easy to see that under such conditions these bombs might strike most any building at the same time missing the objective target.
While the children are in the basement of any school building a parent may come to the building and request the principal to allow her to take her child home. Any parent will be given such per- mission with the distinct under- standing that the parent assumes total risk for what might happen. When this parent and the child reaches the street she will come under the jurisdiction of the Air Raid Warden. He may or may not order her and the child back into the school building or into some other shelter. The point is that he may not allow her to use the streets to proceed to her home.
I shall do all humanly possible to safeguard the lives of school children while we are at war. It should be remembered, however, that Saugus is in a very dangerous location and that our school build- ings in many cases are vulnerable.
8
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Rising Costs
Operating costs of all school systems will be increased during the war because of rising prices. We hear much from Washington about stopping rising prices but so far it has been much talk and little action. School systems will have to pay more for textbooks, supplies of all kinds, fuel, and other incidental necessities. If the cost of living continues to rise and if taxes continue to mount teach- ers' salaries will have to be raised materially. Otherwise teachers will not be able to meet their taxes and at the same time maintain a stan- dard of living expected of them by all citizens.
We may just as well realize that we are in a war and that war costs plenty of money. To orate about higher taxes is wasted ver- bal effort. We are going to have higher State, Federal, and local taxes and we are going to have to like it. As far as I am concerned it is worth all of the cost if we save America.
A Championship Football Team
No Superintendent's report for the year 1941 would be complete without mention of the fact that the Saugus High School football team of 1941 won the Class C
the of
State
championship of Massachusetts. In reality (actual figures) they also won the Class B championship of the State of Massachusetts. In fact they al- most won the Class A. champion- ship since there were only two teams in the entire state finishing with a higher percentage.
May I congratulate every boy on the 1941 squad from the in- domitable "Mike" Harrington to the lowliest water boy. The efforts of each and every boy functioning as a unit brought victory to the team. May I congratulate those two fine coaches, Henry Toczylow- ski and Edward Galligan. Their spirit and their character had much to do with the moulding of this splendid football team.
No football team has ever given to Saugus better publicity and
better advertising. The School Committee and the Superintendent are justly proud of you.
To the Saugus High School Band go orchids. Your performances speak for themselves. You re- ceived your greatest tribute from "Bill" Cunningham when he said:
"I have seen college bands all over the country during the year 1941. I haven't seen one that measures up to your Saugus High School Band in color, musical per- formance, and discipline."
Scholastic Standing
Scholastically our schools remain at a high standard.
Our High School is rated a Class A high school by the State Depart- ment of Education.
We enjoy the privilege of certi- fying our high school graduates to some fourteen leading colleges which are members of the New England College Entrance Board. This privilege expires this year (1942) and we have no reason to believe that it will not be renewed this year. I would not be surprised if it were renewed for a four year period.
Our graduates now in institu- tions of higher learning are all doing a very good grade of work. They thus reflect credit upon their alma mater, Saugus High School.
We have graduates now enrolled at Dartmouth, Columbia, Brown, Harvard, University of
New Hampshire, Bates, Bowdoin, North- eastern, Boston University, Tufts, Colby, University of Maine, Bos- ton College, Duke, University of Rochester and Syracuse University.
Athletic and Lunch Accounts
The financial statements of the Saugus High School Atheletic ac- count and the Saugus High School Lunch account are presented as a part of this report. Both accounts have been audited by a responsible auditor and found to be in proper condition. The accounts are audi- ted from June 30th to June 30th.
1941]
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
9
Report Abbreviated
In the interest of the conserva- tion of paper in this period of national emergency the report of the Superintendent of Schools has been intentionally made very brief. All other reports usually pub- lished as a part of the report of the School Committee have also been purposely omitted. Any citi- zen desiring to read any of these reports may do so at the office of the Superintendent of Schools.
Conclusion
In conclusion I desire to express my appreciation to the members of the School Committee for their
excellent cooperation during the year 1941. I also desire to ex- press my thanks to the many town officials and citizens who have aided the School Department in any way.
There is little question but that there are trying days ahead for all of us. All of us have plenty to do. Let us work with a will and exercise a little of that abid- ing faith which is characteristic of all true Americans.
Respectfully submitted :
VERNON W. EVANS, Superintendent of Schools.
10
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
SAUGUS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION Analysis of Cash Receipts and Eexpendtiures January 1, 1941 - December 31, 1941
Cash Balance January 1, 1941
2037.30
Receipts :
Gate Receipts
11,454.43
Guarantees :
Woburn
None
Melrose
300.00
Revere
658.12
Swampscott
271.14
Total Guarantees 1229.26
Total Receipts 1941
12,683.69
Total Including Balance January 1, 1941
14,720.99
Expenditures :
Guarantees :
Chelsea
1081.27
Leominster
539.52
Gloucester
589.78
Amesbury
100.00
Marblehead
672.07
Wakefield
936.70
Total Guarantees
3919.34
Other Expenses :
Athletic Awards and Letters
169.06
Dues
4.00
Educational Trip
1427.30
Equipment
700.98
Federal Tax
633.47
Insurance and Bond
43.25
Medical
379.31
Miscellaneous Expense
53.83
Office Expense
41.19
Officials
374.09
Police
304.00
Postage
83.10
Printing & Ticket
117.45
Reconditioning & Laundry
817.18
Salary Expense
645.00
Stadium
847.02
Supplies
1045.79
Telephone
70.95
Ticket Takers & Sellers
82.00
Transportation
321.20
Total Other Expense
8160.17
Total Expenditures
12,079.51
Cash Balance December 31, 1941
2,641.48
An unuually large amount of supplies and some equipment were bought because of the proposed tax and the rapid rise in prices. These are available for next year.
11
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1941]
The balance of the cash on hand must finance basket ball, baseball, coaches' salaries, upkeep of the stadium and other incidentals for the coming year.
Bills on hand December 31, 1941 have been paid.
SAUGUS HIGH SCHOOL LUNCH Analysis of Cash Receipts, Income and Expenditures January 1, 1941 - December 31, 1941
Cash Balance January 1, 1941
512.66
Receipts and Income : Cash Sales Discount on Purchases
8113.65
100.15
8213.80
Total
8726.46
Expenditures :
Food
4181.30
Candy
644.36
Ice Cream
1148.56
Tonic
534.09
Wages
1116.00
Laundry
112.22
Postage
10.00
Telephone
17.52
Equipment
31.35
Supplies
154.36
Miscellaneous
59.42
Ice
50.25
Donation to Band
75.00
Total Expenditures
8134.43
Cash Balance Dec. 31, 1941
592.03
There has been no increase as yet in the charge to students for lunches in spite of the advance in food cost.
An extra amount was expended in September for wax paper and napkins listed as supplies due to the rapid increase in cost.
Accounts Payable January 1, 1942, Total $337.94.
INDEX
Reports of Departments and Committees
Accountant's Report 83
Annual Town Meeting 22
Appointive Town Officers 11
Assessors
112
Board of Fire Engineers
117
Board of Health
124
Board of Public Welfare
130
Cemetery Department
119
Chief of Police
116
Collector
74
Contributory Retirement
110
Elective Town Officers
3
Finance Committee Report
36
Fire Alarm Division
118
Forest Fire Warden
118
Harbor Master
120
Superintendent of Buildings
114
Jury List 16
Library Trustees
121
Old Age Assistance
123
Public Works
125
School Report follows Page
132
Sealer of Weights and
Measures
115
Selectmen
120
Sewer Commissioner
129
Special Town Meeting
Sept. 29, 1941
55
Oct. 6, 1941
60
Nov. 24, 1941
67
State Election
72
State Primary
72
Town Clerk
73
Town Engineer
129
Town Meeting Members
5
Town Election
31
Works Progress Coordinator
...
125
Financial Departments
Receipts :
General Revenue:
Taxes
84
Commercial Revenue :
Agency and Trust
88
Charities and Soldiers'
Benefits
87
Enterprise and
Cemeteries
87
General Government
85
Health and Sanitation
86
Highway Department
86
Indebtedness
88
Interest
88
Protection of Persons and
Property
86
Refunds
88
Transfers
89
Recreation and Unclassi-
fied
87
Schools and Libraries
87
Disbursements :
Agency and Trust
103
Charities and Soldiers'
Benefits
97
Enterprise and Ceme-
teries
102
General Government
89
Health and Sanitation
94
Highways
95
Interest and Maturing
Debt
103
Protection of Persons and
Property
92
Recreation and Unclassi-
fied
100
Refunds
104
Schools and Libraries
99
Transfers
104
Outstanding Bonds
106
W. P. A. Expenditures
106
SAUGUS PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1729 00051 5053
SAUGUS PUBLIC LIBRARY 295 Central St. Saugus, MA 01906
For Reference
Not to be taken
from this library
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