Town annual report of Saugus 1946, Part 17

Author: Saugus (Mass.)
Publication date: 1946
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 236


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1946 > Part 17


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2,258.48


Poll


430.00


97,573.97


Motor Vehicle Excise: Levy of 1946


1,911.78


Special Assessments:


Unapportioned Sewer


$4,366.58


Levy of 1946


688.29


Committed Interest .. 146.97


Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund .... 2,352.42


Tax Titles


Tax Possessions Departmental:


Sewer Rentals:


1944 ..


$ 101.74


1945


267.89


1946


2,468.73


Temporary Aid 123.80


Sewer Assessments 5,201.84


Tax Titles 229,595.26


Tax Possessions 127,850.68


Departmental 7,048.45


Water 22,450.92


168


TOWN DOCUMENTS


3,290.06 2,149.24


12,076.46


[Dec. 31


Aid to Dependent Children .... Estates of Deceased Persons ....


1,779.97


2,306.32


7,048.45


LIABILITIES AND RESERVES


Temporary Loans: In Anticipation of Taxes Tailings


$200,000.00


1,082.77


State Assessments: Charles River Basin Loan Fund 27.64


Surplus War Bonus Fund


705.23


Reserve for Petty Cash Advance- Tax Collector


100.00


Reinvestment of Trust Funds


25,000.00


Sale of Cemetery Land Fund


4,535.00


Reserve for Payment of Sewer Loans


5,932.33


Reserve for Payment of Tax Title Loans .. ...


4,482.48


Real Estate Taxes-1945


4.95


Excess Proceeds from Sale of Tax Titles as Land of Low Value 44.04


Trust Fund Income:


George M. Wilson Library Fund $ 184.34 Benjamin N. Johnson Library Fund 150.09


Annie May Kimball Library Fund


107.04


Ora Maitland Kimball Welfare Fund 496.17


5.201.84 229,595.26 127,850.68


Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus Overlays Reserved for Abatements : Levy of 1945 $ 894.40


Levy of 1946 11,182.06


Revenue Reserved Until Collected: Motor Vehicle Excise eA 1,911.78


394.058.93


..


December 1943


$ 2.00


June 1944


3.89


December 1944 222.10


June 1945 945.47


December 1945


1,956.19


June 1946


4,706.21


December 1946 13,501.77


Water Liens Added to Taxes:


Levy of 1945 6.00


Levy of 1946


1,107.29


22,450.92


Chap. 90-Land Damage, Central Street 1.00


State Taxes and Assessments : Underestimates:


Metropolitan Park Reservation $422.49


Abate Smoke Nuisance


47.55


Metropolitan Nantasket


Maintenance 27.93


497.97


Overdrawn or Unprovided for Accounts: 1946 County Tax


696.23


Overlays:


1936


$ 68.00


1938


10.35


1939


38.97


1940


42.30


1941


219.25


1942


46.40


1944


208.65


....


633.92


Loans Authorized


110,000.00


Water Extension-Golden Hills Road


1,250.00


Water Extension-Hawkes Street


800.00


Lot in Riverside Cemetery for Veterans' Burial


2,605.50


Wall Repair for Riverside Cem- etery


10.00


Fill and Grade Riverside Cem-


114.82


Loans Authorized Unissued Surplus Revenue


A 172.61 529.11


130.50


Chap. 90-Construction, Hesper Street


5,250.00


Chap. 90-Land Damage, Sweet- water Street .. Chap. 90-Construction, Sweet-


100.00


water Street


2,000.00


Resurface Guild Road


767.84


Surface Drainage-Centennial Avenue


1,850.00


Surface Drainage-Lincoln Avenue


1,363.60


Surface Drainage-Denver


Street


1,980.00


Surface Drainage-Hayden Road


950.00


New Heating System-Roby School 477.00


Tax Title Validity


2.00


Repairs to Stockroom-Public Works


326.35


Repairs to Legion Building .. Rental-V. F. W. Quarters .. World War II Plans and Specifications


6.43


86.00


REPORT OF TOWN ACCOUNTANT


21,772.76 110,000.00 87,861.01


169


1946]


etery


Renew Assessors' Plans .. ..... Revaluation All Real Estate .... Cap. 90-Land Damage, Hesper Street


1,000.00


Deferred Revenue


Apportioned Sewer Assessments Not Due ....


$14,894.63


Apportioned Sewer Assessment Revenue: Due in 1947


$3,452.47


Due in 1948


3,441.68


Suspended Sewer Assessments ...


245.93


Due in 1949


3,436.34


Due in 1950


3,431.24


Due in 1951


727.81


Due in 1952


312.69


Due in 1953


92.40


Suspended Sewer Assessment Revenue.


$14,894.63 245.93


$15,140.56


$15,140.56


Debt Account


Net Funded or Fixed Debt


$464,548.67


Tax Title Loans


$87,548.67


Municipal Relief Loans


2,000.00


Fire and Police Station Loans Sewer Loans


24,000.00


351,000.00


$464,548.67


$464,548.67


Trust Account


Trust Funds-Cash and Securities .... .... $164,678.54


George M. Wilson Library Fund


$ 2,100.00


Benjamin N. Johnson Library Fund


5,125.00


Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds


132,041.19


Post-War Rehabilitation Fund


25,412.35


$164,678.54


$164,678.54


Retirement Account


Retirement Funds-Cash and Securities ...... $103,478.40


Annuity Savings Fund


$43,432.05


Annuity Reserve Fund


2,909.14


Pension Fund


54,223.93


Special Fund-Military Service


1,968.47


Expense Fund


944.81


$103,478.40


$103,478.40


170


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


..


..


171


AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS


1946]


Report of an Audit of the Accounts of the Town of Saugus


1


For the Period from October 25, 1945, to September 30, 1946


THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATIONS AND TAXATION DIVISION OF ACCOUNTS STATE HOUSE, BOSTON


November 29, 1946.


To the Board of Selectmen Mr. William S. Oliver, Chairman


Saugus, Massachusetts


Gentlemen:


I submit herewith my report of an audit of the books and accounts of the Town of Saugus for the period from October 25, 1945, to September 30, 1946, made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44, General Laws. This is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. Herman B. Dine, Assistant Director of Accounts.


Very truly yours,


FRANCIS X. LANG, Director of Accounts.


Mr. Francis X. Lang Director of Accounts


Department of Corporations and Taxation


State House, Boston


Sir:


As directed by you, I have made an audit of the books and accounts of the Town of Saugus for the period from October 25, 1945, the date of the previous examination, to September 30, 1946, and submit the following report thereon:


An examination and verification was made of the recorded financial transactions of the town as shown on the books on the departments re- ceiving or disbursing money or committing bills for collection.


The books and accounts of the town accountant were examined and checked with the treasurer's books and with the records of the several departments collecting money for the town.


The appropriations and transfers as entered in the ledger were checked with the town clerk's record of appropriations voted by the town.


The ledger was analyzed, the necessary adjusting entries were made, and a balance sheet was prepared showing the financial condition of the town on September 30, 1946.


It was again noted that payments made by the public welfare de- partment for graves of welfare recipients included amounts for establish- ing perpetual care funds, although, as was pointed out in the course of


172


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


the previous audit, there is no authority under the General Laws for the use of public funds for such a purpose.


The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examined and checked in detail. The recorded receipts were analyzed and compared with the Collector's records of payments to the Treasurer, with the rec- ords in the several departments collecting money for the town, and with the other sources from which money was paid into the town treasury, while the payments were checked with the selectmen's warrants to the treasurer. The cash balance on September 30, 1946 was proved by actual count of the cash in office and by reconciliation of the bank balances with statements furnished by the banks in which town funds are deposited.


The payments on account of debt and interest were verified by com- parison with the amounts falling due and with the cancelled securities and coupons on file.


The transactions of the several trust, investment, and retirement funds in the custody of the town treasurer were verified, and the securi- ties and savings bank books representing the investment of these funds were personally examined and listed.


The deductions from employees' salaries for federal taxes were listed and reconciled with the amounts due and paid to the federal government.


The records of tax title redemptions and tax titles taken for the town, as well as of tax title foreclosures, were checked in detail and all out- standing tax titles and tax possessions on hand were listed and proved. Verification of the tax titles, as listed, was made by comparison with the records in the office of the Registry of Deeds.


It was noted that of the 850 tax titles on hand 687 were taken in the years from 1927 to 1944, inclusive, in which connection it is again rec- ommended that proceedings be started to foreclose the rights of redemp- tion on all tax titles held over two years, as required by law.


The books and accounts of the town collector were examined and checked. The poll, property, and motor vehicle excise taxes and special assessments, together with departmental and water accounts receivable outstanding according to the previous examination, were audited, and all subsequent commitment lists were added and reconciled with the warrants for their collection .


The collector's cash books were footed, the payments to the treas- urer by the collector were checked with the treasurer's books, the abate- ments were compared with the assessors' records of abatements granted, and the outstanding accounts were listed and proved.


Verification notices were mailed to a number of persons whose names appeared on the books as owing money to the town, the replies received thereto indicating that the outstanding accounts, as listed, are correct.


The assessors' records of abatements granted were reconciled with the collector's and accountant's books. The assessors' warrants for com- mitment of taxes, assessments, and water liens added to taxes were examined and checked with the detailed lists.


The records of apportioned assessments were examined, while the ap- portioned assessments not due and suspended were listed and reconciled with the accountant's controlling accounts.


The records of dog, sporting, and town licenses issued by the town clerk and of miscellaneous collections from permits, etc., were examined and checked, the payments to the Division of Fisheries and Game and to the town being verified.


173


AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS


1946]


The surety bonds of the officials bonded for the faithful performance of their duties were examined and found to be in proper form.


The accounts of the sealer of weights and measures and plumbing inspector, of the police, health, public welfare, school, and cemetery de- partments, as well as of all other departments collecting money for the town or committing bills for collection, were examined and checked, and payments to the treasurer were compared with the treasurer's cash book.


It is recommended that the sealer of weights and measures, the plumbing inspector, as well as the police and health departments, pay over to the treasurer all sums collected at least once each month.


In addition to the balance sheet referred to, there are appended to this report tables showing a reconciliation of the treasurer's cash, sum- maries of the tax, assessment, tax title, tax possession, departmental, and water accounts as well as tables showing the condition and transactions of the trust, investment, and retirement funds.


During the progress of the audit, cooperation was received from all town officials, for which, on behalf of my assistants and for myself, I wish to express appreciation.


Respectfully submitted,


HERMAN B. DINE, Assistant Director of Accounts.


Detailed tables showing the financial transactions of the several departments and balance sheet as of October 24, 1945, are on file in the office of the Town Clerk and Town Accountant, Town Hall, Saugus, Massachusetts.


174


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


Report of the Superintendent of Buildings


January 10, 1947.


Honorable Board of Selectmen


Town Hall


Saugus, Massachusetts


Gentlemen:


I herewith submit my report as Superintendent of Buildings for the year ending December 31, 1946.


The following report lists the Type, Number and Value of the per- mits issued during the year:


Type


Number


Value


Additions and Repairs


279


$117,910.00


Dwellings


47


257,450.00


Garages


59


38,090.00


Sheds


25


5,130.00


Stores


3


2,995.00


Office Buildings


1


985.00


Fire Escapes


3


2,500.00


Green Houses


2


1,200.00


Gas Stations


2


29,000.00


Electric Sub Station


1


30,000.00


Dining Car


1


1,000.00


Restaurant


1


4,000.00


Foundations


5


3,110.00


Chimneys


5


800.00


Insulations


6


2,484.00


Honor Roll


1


9,000.00


Signs


17


650.00


Demolish


30


Move Buildings


5


493


$506,304.00


I have turned over to the Town Treasurer the total sum of $1,025.00 received for permits issued during the year.


In conclusion I wish to thank all town departments for their co-opera- tion, especially the Board of Assessors.


Respectfully submitted,


MELBOURNE MacLEOD, Superintendent of Buildings.


Omun of Saugus


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


ANNUAL REPORT


of the


School Committee and SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


of the Town of Saugus, Massachusetts


FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1946


·


1629


1815.


3


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE


1946]


IN MEMORIAM


HARRY L. POTTS


TEACHER OF SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL


Appointed


1931


Died


1946


A CONSCIENTIOUS TEACHER AND FRIEND TO ALL


VETERAN OF WORLD WAR I


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


C GEORGE A. MCCARRIER, Chairman WILLIAM S. BRAID DR. JOHN L. SILVER JAMES W. CURRIER


4


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


IN MEMORIAM


BERTHA F. MORRISON


TEACHER OF COMMERCIAL SUBJECTS HIGH SCHOOL


Appointed 1930


Died


1946


SIXTEEN YEARS OF CONSCIENTIOUS


SERVICE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


GEORGE A. MCCARRIER, Chairman WILLIAM S. BRAID DR. JOHN L. SILVER JAMES W. CURRIER


5


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE


1946]


it


IN MEMORIAM


MARIA E. SMITH


TEACHER ... PRINCIPAL ... SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER ·


Teacher and Principal


1892 to 1932


School Committee


1933 to 1939


Died


1946


FORTY YEARS TEACHING SERVICE IN SAUGUS


SIX YEARS A MEMBER OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


GEORGE A. MCCARRIER, Chairman WILLIAM S. BRAID DR. JOHN L. SILVER JAMES W. CURRIER


6


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


IN MEMORIAM


ALBERT deSTEUBEN


JUNIOR BUILDING CUSTODIAN NORTH SAUGUS SCHOOL


Appointed


May 1946


Died


November 1946


SERVICE TO SCHOOL BRIEF BUT EXCELLENT


COMMANDER SAUGUS POST 210, AMERICAN LEGION


VETERAN . . . WORLD WAR I


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


GEORGE A. MCCARRIER, Chairman WILLIAM S. BRAID DR. JOHN L. SILVER JAMES W. CURRIER


7


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE


1946]


IN MEMORIAM


JOHN ELMER BERRETT


CARETAKER STACKPOLE'S FIELD STADIUM


Appointed


May 1944


Died


November 1946


A FAITHFUL AND CONSCIENTIOUS


CARETAKER


SCHOOL COMMITTEE L


GEORGE A. MCCARRIER, Chairman WILLIAM S. BRAID DR. JOHN L. SILVER JAMES W. CURRIER


3


8


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


IN MEMORIAM


RALPH QUIRK TOWN ACCOUNTANT


The year 1946 witnessed the passing of one of the most beloved of our town officials. Ralph Quirk, a truly efficient Town Account- ant, is with us no more. I can testify to his efficiency, his honesty, and his character. He was much more than a Town Accountant. He was a friend to each who sought his advice and counsel. He could do more work with less friction than any man I ever knew.


The Town has lost the services of one of its best town officials. The other side of the thin veil which separates us will be enriched by his coming. We, who survive him, sorely suffer by his passing.


VERNON W. EVANS,


Superintendent of Schools.


9


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE


1946]


RETIRED AFTER LONG SERVICE


ANDREW C. LYNN


JUNIOR BUILDING CUSTODIAN


Appointed


February 1917


Retired


June 1946


COMPLETED 29 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS


SERVICE


FAITHFUL IN SERVICE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


GEORGE A. MCCARRIER, Chairman WILLIAM S. BRAID DR. JOHN L. SILVER JAMES W. CURRIER


10


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


RETIRED AFTER LONG SERVICE


MAURICE F. O'NEIL


JUNIOR BUILDING CUSTODIAN


Appointed


November 1926


Retired


February 1945


NEARLY 20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE


ALWAYS CONSCIENTIOUS AND FAITHFUL


SCHOOL COMMITTEE L GEORGE A. MCCARRIER, Chairman WILLIAM S. BRAID DR. JOHN L. SILVER JAMES W. CURRIER


11


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE


1946]


Retired After Faithful Service


FRANK H. COLLINS


JUNIOR BUILDING CUSTODIAN


Appointed


November 1939


Retired


June 1946


SERVICE HONEST, EFFICIENT AND


FAITHFUL


ENTIRE SERVICE AT NORTH SAUGUS


SCHOOL


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


GEORGE A. MCCARRIER, Chairman WILLIAM S. BRAID DR. JOHN L. SILVER JAMES W. CURRIER


13


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE


1946]


Report of the School Committee


School Committee GEORGE A. McCARRIER, Chairman 31 Prospect Street Term expires-1947


WILLIAM S. BRAID 6 Allison Road Term expires-1948


DAVID J. LUCEY 8 Intervale Avenue (resigned January 1947)


DR. JOHN L. SILVER 35 Main Street Term Expires-1948


JAMES W. CURRIER 36 Stone Street Term expires-1949


Superintendent of Schools


VERNON W. EVANS 94 Chestnut Street Office-High School Building Office Hours-3 to 4 P.M. (every school day)


Secretary to the Superintendent ANNA V. JACOBS 20 Felton Street


In Charge of Attendance


ANNE C. HUNTLEY 435 Walnut Street


HAROLD E. HALEY 72 Jasper Street


School Physicians


DR. LEROY C. FURBUSH 420 Lincoln Avenue


DR. JOSEPH O. WARD 40 Main Street


DR. JAMES A. CLARK 545 Lincoln Avenue


DR. PRISCILLA FLOCKTON 311 Central Street


School Nurse ANNE C. HUNTLEY, R.N. 435 Walnut Street


High School Principal JOHN A. W. PEARCE 5 Myrtle Street


SCHOOL CALENDAR


Fall term, 1946: Opened, September 4, 1946. Closed, December 20, 1946. Winter term (first half) : Opened, January 2, 1947. Closes, February 21, 1947.


Winter term (second half): Opens, March 3, 1947. Closes, April 18 ,1947 Spring term, 1947: Opens, April 28, 1947. Closes, June 20, 1947 (or later if necessary to maintain 180 days required by law).


14


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


NO SCHOOL SIGNALS


Elementary Grades


8 A.M. 2-2 (2 rounds sounded) on fire alarm signal-means no morning session for the elementary grades and the opportunity class.


Between 7 A.M. and 8 A.M. no school notices will be given over radio stations WNAC, WBZ, WCOP, and WESX.


12:45 P.M. 2-2 (2 rounds sounded) on fire alarm signal-means no after- noon session for the elementary grades.


Between 12 noon and 1 P.M. no school notices will be given over radio stations WNAC, WBZ, WCOP, and WESX.


High and Junior High


7 A.M. 2-2 (2 rounds sounded) on fire alarm signal-means no session for high and junior high schools.


Between 7 A.M. and 8 A.M. no school notices will be given over radio stations WNAC, WBZ, WCOP, and WESX.


SCHOOL TELEPHONES


Armitage School


1090


Roby School 1099


Ballard School


1091


Oaklandvale School 0731


Cliftondale School


1092


Centre School 1388


Emerson School


1093


High School 0260


Felton School 1094


Superintendent's Office


0775


Lynnhurst School


1095


Business Office


1420


Sweetser School


1097


Guidance Office


1699


North Saugus School


1098


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE


To the Citizens of Saugus:


At a meeting of the School Committee, which took place on January 20, 1947, it was unanimously voted to accept the annual report of the Superintendent of Schools as the report of the School Committee required by the statutes.


GEORGE A. McCARRIER, Chairman-School Committee.


1946]


ENROLMENT-DECEMBER 1946


SCHOOLS


GRADES


1


2


3


4


5


6


7


8


9


10


11


12


P.G. Spec.


Total


Armitage


31


33


37


18


20


14


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


Ballard


33


24


35


35


35


33


....


....


....


..


...


....


....


....


..


270


10


23


12


18


12


....


....


....


..


....


....


...


....


31


23


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


13


67


Centre


37


40


36


30


....


....


....


....


....


..


...


....


....


....


143


Cliftondale


25


21


27


22


....


....


....


....


....


....


...


....


....


....


95


Felton


33


37


23


34


36


37


....


....


....


....


....


...


....


....


200


Lynnhurst


7


10


18


11


10


13


....


....


...


....


....


....


....


....


No. Saugus


15


19


17


13


20


17


....


....


....


....


....


..


....


....


101


Oaklandvale


17


14


11


11


8


24


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


85


Roby


37


31


36


34


42


41


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


..


....


....


....


19


17


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


36


42


98


92


....


....


..


....


....


....


268


Sweetser


Central Junior High


....


....


....


....


....


....


149


125


....


....


....


....


....


....


274


High


....


....


....


....


....


....


....


..


279


198


188


144


1


810


276


275


298


208


244


250


247


217


279


198


188


144


1


13


2825


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE


15


....


290


33


....


153


Emerson


69


16


TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


Report of the Superintendent of Schools


To the Honorable School Committee and Citizens of Saugus:


It is both the duty and the privilege of the Superintendent of Schools to submit his fourteenth annual report for the School Depart- ment, the same being the fifty-fourth annual report.


The 1946 Budget


At the annual March Town Meeting of 1946 the School Department was voted a General Budget of $300,000.00 and a Repair Budget of $10,000.00.


In addition to the above the sum of $2,500.00 was voted for the main- tenance of the Stadium and, under a special article, the sum of $7,500.00 for the installation of a new boiler and oil burner at the Roby School.


At a subsequent special town meeting the sum of $1,000.00 was voted added to the Repair Budget for damage to the Armitage School caused by the storm of June 8, 1946 and the sum of $1,577.00 to complete the cost of installing the new boiler and oil burner at the Roby School.


Net 1946 Education Cost


Although the sum of $300,000.00 (General Budget) and $11,000.00 (Repair Budget), or a total of $311,000.00, was appropriated in 1946 for the ordinary expenses of education, this sum does not represent the actual amount of money expended by the taxpayers of Saugus for education (ordinary School Department expenditures).


The following refunds, as far as can be ascertained at the writing of this report, have been returned to the town treasury during the year 1946:


State reimbursement (or State Aid-Education) $24,977.50


Tuition from City of Boston (Boston Wards) 153.64


Tuition from Commonwealth (State Wards) 828.20


Miscellaneous Income 88.34


Out of Town Tuition 284.84


Insurance (Armitage School-storm damage)


3,392.43


Unexpended Balance-General Budget 28.40


Unexpended Balance-Repair Budget 3.70


$29,757.05


This total sum of $29,757.05 in various forms of refunds lessens the cost of education to the taxpayers of Saugus by that amount. To find the net cost we subtract this sum of $29,757.05 from the total amount appropriated ($311,000.00). The difference, or $281,242.95, represents the net cost for the year 1946.


Stadium Budet


As stated above the March 1946 Annual Town Meeting voted the sum of $2,500.00 to the School Department for the maintenance of the Stadium.


A new football gridiron has been constructed at a cost of $1,840.00, of this amount the sum of $1,400.00 was paid out of athletic finances and


17


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE


1946]


the sum of $440.00 out of the $2,500.00 Stadium appropriation. If the new gridiron is properly maintained and used for games only it will last for many years. If it is used for practice sessions the money will have been wasted.


The new football gridiron will be one of the best hereabouts and will be a credit to the Town of Saugus. Not many schools would willingly pay out of athletic finances over two-thirds of the total cost of building a football gridiron for its high school youth.


Through the alertness of Chairman George A. McCarrier of the School Committee the old bleachers were sold for the sum of $500.00. These old wooden bleachers were no longer safe for use. The continued use of them would have been criminal and would have resulted in certain injury to persons and law-suits against the town. This $500.00 was turned in to the treasurer of the town.


The School Committee also returned to the town treasury the sum of $506.70 unexpended from the appropriation of $2,500.00.


In other words the net cost of the operation of the Stadium to the taxpayers in 1946 was $1,493.30. In addition the town now has a first class football gridiron.


As far as the Stadium is concerned there is one definite need in 1947. New bleachers must be purchased or visiting football fans will have no place to sit. The School Committee feels that the sum of $500.00 (realized from the sale of the old bleachers) plus the sum of $506.70 (returned un- expended from the $2,500.00 appropriation) should be reappropriated for the purchase of new bleachers. This amount would be insufficient but could be added to a larger appropriation.


The School Committee is of the opinion that no citizen of Saugus desires visiting football fans to stand or sit on the grass when Saugus High School plays host to a visiting football rival.


Death, during 1946, claimed Mr. John E. Berrett, the conscientious caretaker of the Stadium. His place will not be easy to fill and he will be missed by officials, coaches, players, and fans.


The 1947 Budget


The School Committee has requested a General Budget of $357,384.38 for the year 1947. This represents an increase of $57,384.38 over the General Budget of 1946. Of this increase approximately $50,000.00 is for increased salaries for teachers and other school personnel. The remaining, approximately $7,384.38, is to cover greatly increased cost of school textbooks, supplies, equipment, and fuel.


For the two above reasons general budgets of School Departments have substantially increased in every city and town in the Commonwealth. There is no alternative if public school systems are to function efficiently. It is probable that these increased costs will eventually be more than absorbed by a program of vastly increased State Aid for local education now about to be discussed by the 1947 Legislature.


New Salary Schedule


For many years school teachers have been the poorest paid of any group of professional workers. Teachers in Saugus have also been paid less than teachers in most communities of comparable size. The result has been that, over a period of years, Saugus has lost many excellent teachers. It became apparent during the past year that substantial




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