USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1955 > Part 15
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1951
49.80
20,952,283.00
1952
56.90
21,651,809.00
1953
53.90
23,065,176.00
1954
56.40
23,854,577.00
1955
59.90
24,796,981.00
HOW YOUR TAX DOLLAR IS EXPENDED
General Government
$ 121,405.00
2.64%
Protection
299,864.00
6.52
Health
297,826.00
6.47
Highways
197,477.00
4.29
Charities
317,442.00
6.90
Education
1,916,200.00
41.64
Recreation
16,693.00
.36
Pensions
44,031.00
.96
Water
199,331.00
4.33
Cemeteries
29,471.00
.64
Indebtedness
997,047.00
21.67
State Charges
32,055.00
.70
County Charges
74,260.00
1.61
Unclassified
58,728.00
1.27
$ 4,601,830.00
100.0%
HOW YOUR CASH REVENUE IS CREDITED
General Government:
Taxes, Licenses, Grants, etc.
$ 1,891,640.00
56.33%
Commercial Revenue :
Assessments and Privileged etc.
184,749.00
5.50
Departmental Revenue
581,909.00
17.33
Indebtedness
700,000.00
20.84
$ 3,358,298.00
100.0%
CONTRIBUTORY RETIREMENT REPORT
Carl E. Chapman, Chairman
Delmont E. Goding, Clerk
John C. McLean, Member
The Contributory Retirement Board submits its nineteenth Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1955.
MEMBERSHIP
Active:
Male
Female
Total
Group A
79
45
124
Group B
34
0
34
113
45
158
189
Inactive:
Group A
13
4
17
Group B
4
0
4
17
4
21
Pensioners:
Group A
10
2
12
Group B
0
0
0
10
2
12
Beneficiaries:
Group A
0
6
6
Group B
0
0
0
0
6
6
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS SUMMARIZED
Cash Receipts
Cash Disbursements
Cash on hand 1/1/55
$33,321.22
Retirement Allowances:
Employees Contributions:
Annuities Paid Pensions Paid
16,888.82
Group B
5,243.91
Expenses Paid
895.67
Town Appropriations:
Refund Paid
1,795.78
Pensions
12,000.00
Investments
19,653.30
Expenses
1,000.00
Cash on hand 12/31/55
31,048.44
Invested Income
4,089.38
$71,989.27
$71,989.27
BALANCE SHEET December 31, 1955
Assets
Liabilities
Cash
$31,048.44
Annuity Savings Fund
$131,372.16
Investments
180,381.07
Annuity Reserve Fund
21,072.83
Pension Fund
55,890.81
Sp. Mil. Serv. Fund
2,548.09
Expense Fund
545.62
$211,429.51
$211,429.51
STATEMENT OF CASH AND SECURITIES
Cash on Hand
$ 31,048.44
U. S. Treasury Bonds
31,751.41
U. S. Savings Bonds
120,000.00
Town of Saugus Sewer Bonds
5,084.04
Town of Saugus Water Bonds
20,497.90
State of No. Dakota
1,047.72
Saugus Co-operative Bank
2,000.00
$211,429.51
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$1,707.26
Group A
16,334.76
Umun of Saunuts
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE
TOWN OF SAUGUS, MASS.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1955
WN.
UGU
TO
S.
0
1629.
1815
-
IN MEMORIAM
John J. Madden, custodian at the Saugus High School, the Felton, Sweetser and Veterans' Memorial Schools since 1943, died in February.
Dr. Leroy C. Furbush, school physician since 1919, died early in 1955. Their earnest labor for the children of Saugus is deeply appreciated.
RETIREMENT
Elizabeth B. Taylor, elementary and junior high school teacher for 41 years in the Saugus schools, retired in June 1955.
We wish Miss Taylor many happy years in retirement.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SAUGUS SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Members
James W. Currier, Chairman
36 Stone Street
1957
George A. McCarrier
31 Prospect Street
1957
Dr. John L. Silver
35 Main Street
1957
Alice G. Blood
5 Enmore Road 1957
Paul A. Haley
168 Essex Street
1957
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Jesse J. Morgan, Sr.
2 Hayden Road
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO SUPERINTENDENT
Anna V. Jacobs 504 Central Street
SENIOR CLERK
Betty M. Brook
7 Allison Road
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Hours when schools are in session 8:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
School vacations 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Telephone SA ugus 8-0775
HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
John A. W. Pearce 1 Stanton Street
Office telephones SA ugus 8-2140 and SA ugus 8-2299
192
Term Expires
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Ashton F. Davis
18 Granite Road
Office telephone SA ugus 8-0260
SUPERVISORS OF ATTENDANCE
Frances R. Mclaughlin, R.N.
8 Smith Road
Telephones SA ugus 8-0563, SA ugus 8-0775 and SA ugus 8-2299 72 Jasper Street
Harold E. Haley Telephones SA ugus 8-2140 and SA ugus 8-2299
SCHOOL PHYSICIANS
Dr. Joseph O. Ward
Dr. James A. Clark
Dr. Priscilla Flockton Becker
Dr. Edwin B. Faulkner
40 Main Street 545 Lincoln Avenue 24 Main Street 42 Chestnut Street
HEAD SCHOOL NURSE
Frances R. Mclaughlin, R.N. 8 Smith Road
Telephones SA ugus 8-0563, SA ugus 8-0775 and SA ugus 8-2299
REGULAR HOURS OF SCHOOL SESSION
High School Junior High School Elementary Schools
8:15 A.M .- 2:15 P.M.
8:25 A.M .- 2:25 P.M.
8:50 A.M .- 11:30 A.M. 12:10 A.M .- 2:00 P.M.
REGULATION OF THE SAUGUS SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Age of Admission
To be admitted to Grade 1, a child must be 6 years old on or before January first following the opening of school in September.
Children residing in Saugus who do not meet the above age require- ments may not transfer from private or public schools to Saugus schools during the school year.
"NO SCHOOL" SIGNALS
Elementary Schools
8:00 A.M. 2-2 (two rounds sounded) on fire alarm whistle means no school for first six grades and Special Class. Between 6:30 and 8:00 A.M. "no school" announcements will be given over radio stations, WNAC, WBZ, and WLYN.
High School and Junior High School
6:45 A.M. 2-2 (two rounds sounded) on fire alarm whistle means no school for grades seven through twelve. Between 6:30 and 8:00 A.M. "no school" announcements will be given over radio stations WNAC, WBZ and WLYN.
School Calendar 1956
Opening Date: January 3, 1956.
Vacations: February 21 to February 27; April 13 to April 23; June ?* to September 5; December 21 to January 2, 1957.
No School Days: March 30, May 30, October 12, November 12, November 22 and 23 and Teachers' Convention.
*Dependent on days lost.
193
Committee Meetings
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 8:00 P.M., except during July and August, at the Veterans' Memorial School.
"At the regular meeting of the Saugus School Committee held on Janu- ary 16, 1955 it was voted to accept the Report of the Superintendent of Schools as the Annual Report of the School Committee."
JAMES W. CURRIER
Chairman
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS (SIXTY-THIRD)
To the Saugus School Committee:
On September 19, 1955 the New Saugus High School opened its doors to receive 956 pupils. Although incomplete the use of the building at this time allowed what was probably the most thorough reorganization of the schools in the history of the community.
In the high school itself several important changes in the curriculum were either put in effect at once or as soon as conditions allowed. The de- mand for the study of Homemaking was so great that four full time teach- ers were required to care for the needs of the 357 girls who elected the subject. Of this group 120 are in the vocational department. The Indus- trial Arts building allowed the teaching of auto mechanics and shop elec- tricity in addition to the subjects taught before, under the best of plant conditions.
Two full time physical education instructors are fully occupied with the building of good health habits and bodies on the play fields and in the new gymnasium with its shower and locker room facilities.
The new and beautiful library with a full time librarian, centrally located, provides opportunity for reading, conferences and research in a restful atmosphere with the aid of a skilled director.
The music room and adjacent practice rooms, library and offices with acoustic and sound proofing features offer an excellent opportunity for in- struction in both vocal and instrumental music.
The speech room with its miniature stage and fine appointments allows opportunity for the satisfaction of a long-felt need,-individual and class remedial work in speech correction. Classes are required for all sopho- mores and elective for juniors and seniors. For the first time in many years Saugus boys and girls have courses that would be considered as mak- ing up the curriculum of a standard modern-day high school. Every per- son in Saugus should be proud of the citizens who gave this magnificent plant to their children.
The opening of the New High School gave opportunity for all seventh and eighth grade pupils to be brought together under one roof, one cur- riculum and one philosophy of administration. In September the seven hundred boys and girls occupied all of the old high school and overflowed into three rooms of the 1934 addition as well. The report of the Junior
194
High School Principal which is appended, discusses in detail, the changes made. Consequently it should be noted here only that these pupils received new courses in Physical Education, Homemaking and Industrial Arts with separate rooms for Music and Art.
During the year 1954-1955 some elementary pupils were assigned to rented rooms at the American Legion Building, the Cliftondale Congrega- tional Church, and the Dorr Memorial Church is Lynnhurst. In Septem- ber there was space for all. A new unit composed of approximately 300 pupils was organized in the 1934 addition to the old Saugus High School. Nine classrooms were used for grades four, five and six.
At the Roby School there were enough pupils to fill the eight rooms with grades one through four. This is the first time in years that this school has not had double grades-a step in progress.
At North Saugus the enrollment increased to such a point that it was necessary to transport the sixth grade to the Junior High School building. In the near future grade five must also be removed from this school.
Lynnhurst had long been overcrowded. Last year church facilities were used. In September the fifth and sixth grades were transferred to the Junior High School.
Ballard School has had double grades for some years. Larger numbers of pupils and the closing of the Emerson School made possible the use of this school, as in the case of Roby as an eight-room building with grades one through four,-no double grades.
The removal of 258 seventh and eighth grade pupils from the Sweetser School made possible the organization of a neighborhood elementary school of grades one through six. Some pupils were transferred from the Emerson School, others were already in attendance, while others came re- ducing overcrowding in the Cliftondale, Felton and Veterans' Memorial Schools.
Thus the opening of a new Senior High School not only helped to give a better education to high school pupils but allowed the organization of a single Junior High School, did away with the overcrowding in the elemen- tary schools and finally made great strides to the ultimate goal of no double grades in every school in Saugus.
Next year due to the continued influx of home owners it will probably be necessary to look for additional elementary school classrooms. North Saugus, Lynnhurst, Roby and Oaklandvale sections are still growing. The Centre School (closed last June) should be put in good condition for any eventuality. The unusable heating plant and broken sash should be re- placed and other necessary repairs made.
The Town grows and the enrollment increases. More teachers, cus- todians, clerks, books, supplies, transportation and classrooms are required each year. The Massachusetts Department of Education has issued some very important figures in regard to births, future school enrollments and teacher needs. Space does not permit their inclusion in detail. However, it is important that a brief summary be made for these state trends will be reflected in Saugus.
195
Year
Live Births
1900
75,000
1910
86,000
1920
92,000
1930
75,000
1940
67,000
1945
76,000
1947
109,000
1950
95,000
1952
105,000
1953
106,000
FOR THE SCHOOLS MORE PUPILS PUBLIC SCHOOL PUPILS Grades K-12
1954
699,488
1955
725,147
1956
747,177
1957
774,753
1958
802,967
1959
828,320
1960
842,774
The increase by 1960 over 1954, a staggering total of 143,288 or 20.4%. Where will they be housed?
As to teachers, in 1954 there were 8,786 in Massachusetts, the need for 1960 will be 10,102, in 1967-11,099. The increase from 1954 to 1960 is 1416 or 16.1%. By 1967-2,301 or 26.2%. They must be trained and also paid.
What is to happen and has been happening is and will be happening in Saugus.
Following is a table showing the increase in enrollment since 1951:
Grades
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
4 Year Increase
1- 6
2,007
2,089
2,147
2,215
2,231
224
7- 8
520
511
566
647
707
187
9-12
740
757
808
859
956
216
Totals
3,267
3,357
3,521
3,721
3,894
627
An increase of 627 pupils in four years over a base of 3,267 presents a housing problem for any community. Twenty per cent more of everything required, in a time of steadily rising prices, must be reflected in the school budget.
THE 1956 BUDGET CURRICULUM CHANGES
Greatest single factor in the budget increase of 1956 is the operation of a new unit in the school system. The New Saugus High School requires electricity for shops, auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria and homemaking in addition to general use. It requires additional heating. Six custodians and one permanent intermittent charlady are required for maintenance. Water and sewerage must be purchased. In addition the following addi- tional staff members were necessary; three homemaking, one physical edu-
196
cation, one teacher of speech, part time art, music and nursing, one librarian and one additional teacher of English. Some of these additional services were added to improve the curriculum offering and were not required by the existence of a new high school.
At the Junior High School newly added were, one physical education instructor, one general classroom teacher, one homemaking teacher, one industrial arts teacher and part-time art, music and nursing service. Here the increased cost is due to the improvement of the curriculum and the increase in the number of pupils.
One additional elementary school teacher was engaged due to increased numbers and the necessity of decreasing the size of classes. The addition of a full time teacher of remedial speech and part time art and music in- struction and nursing service were for the improvement of the curriculum, better teaching and because of increased number of pupils.
It is hard to differentiate between increased costs due to a new building and increased enrollment which may be one of the reasons directly con- tributing to the construction of the new structure. It is difficult also to say whether or not six new custodians in a new high school should be charged against the cost of a new building when previously three were employed for high school purposes. Should the number be six or three additional?
SALARY SCHEDULE
A further contributing factor to increased school costs is the continu- ing rise in the cost of living. This necessitates changes in the salary sched- ule. The School Committee recognizing this general situation granted an increase of $100 on the maximums for all school personnel. This brings the maximum for classroom teachers to $4,600.00 as of September 1956. How- ever, no teacher will be at the maximum at that time. As of September 1955 the maximum in Saugus was $4,500.00 with $4,200.00 the highest rate paid. According to a bulletin published by the Massachusetts Teachers' Federation the maximums of some neighboring communities (and many of these have been increased for 1956) as of September 1955 were: Swampscott $4,500.00, Wakefield $4,750.00 (average), Danvers $4,108.00, Marblehead $4,600.00, Stoneham $4,200.00, Lynn $4,670.00, Medford $4,500.00, Malden $4,425.00 (average), Everett $4,200.00, Revere $4,250.00, and Lynnfield $4,450.00. Saugus's figure of $4,200.00 should be used for purposes of com- parison with the communities above.
STATE AID
Last year State aid for Saugus amounted to $142,834.81. This year it is estimated that State and Federal aid will be approximately $178,000.00, an increase of over $35,000.00. A reimbursement of over $10,000.00 is due from the establishing of our high school homemaking salaries on a vocational basis.
Saugus receives more State aid per child than the great majority of our neighboring communities. We received $35.27 per child according to the report of the State Department of Education. Some neighboring communi- ties received: Lynn $27.72, Malden $32.98, Marblehead $24.95, Medford $32.16, Melrose $23.88, Revere $34.21, Swampscott $15.73 and Wakefield $32.58.
197
How does Saugus compare with other communities in regard to costs per child of schooling? Following is a list of neighboring communities, showing cost per pupil :
Swampscott
$288.00
Lynn
283.00
Peabody
269.00
Revere
264.00
Malden
263.00
Melrose
262.00
Medford
259.00
Marblehead
244.00
Danvers
228.00
Saugus
220.00
Wakefield
225.00
Stoneham
214.00
Thus in our immediate area, including comparable communities, only one town spends as little per child as Saugus.
Now let us examine our position among the 105 towns of five thousand and over population. The median is $245.32 as compared to that of $220 in Saugus. In short we do not spend as much per child as the average town in our size group. On the contrary $25 per pupil less.
There are 54 towns* of 10,000 or over in Massachusetts. The median cost per pupil in these communities for 1954-1955 was $236.00 per year. Saugus was $16.00 per child below this average. Actually there were only 10 communities in this group spending less. Saugus was forty-fifth from the top or eleventh from the bottom.
Now let us look at our position in relation to all of the other towns and cities in Massachusetts. There are three hundred and fifty-one towns and cities in the Commonwealth. The average cost per pupil (1954-1955) was $261.33 as compared to $220.00 in Saugus, or $41.33 per child more. Per- centage wise we were 16% below the state average.
-Note includes 5 small cities.
The summary for the four groups and the state as a whole follows:
COMPARATIVE SCHOOL COSTS School year ending June 30, 1955
Group
I Cities
Cost per pupil $ 271.07
II (a) Towns of 5,000 population or over 245.32
(b) Saugus 220.00
III Towns of less than 5,000 maintaining high schools 240.34
IV Towns of less than 5,000 not maintaining
high schools 297.79
V State average-all schools 261.33
198
TRANSPORTATION
For years there has been a desire on the part of many Saugus parents to reduce the walking distance from two to one and one-half miles. By state law all pupils grades one through 12 may still be required to walk two miles to school. However, since the legislation was passed allowing some reimbursement for pupils transported one and one-half miles and over, there has been a trend toward a more liberal policy of transporting pupils.
The Saugus School Committee voted to institute the one and one-half mile walking limit. To do so naturally increased the gross price of trans- portation. However, the change was not nearly so important in increasing the transportation budget as other factors. In 1951 Oaklandvale, North Saugus and Lynnhurst Schools each housed six grades. Since that time due to increased enrollments it has been necessary to transport grades five and six from Oaklandvale, grade six from North Saugus and grades five and six from Lynnhurst to Saugus Center. This caused a large increase in numbers transported. Last year all of the buses from these sections were crowded to the legal limit. In fact the upper Main Street-Golden Hills bus was crowded beyond capacity so that an additional bus was added. Since there were no funds in the budget for this purpose the transporter (Rapid Transit Co.) gave us one bus at no cost to the Town for the balance of the school year. The building of the New High School necessitated ad- ditional transportation from the East Saugus area, although its location brought all of the Bennett Highway, the Malden end of Route I and Oak- landvale within walking distance.
In 1955 the Town spent $17,124.71 for transportation of school pupils. The amount of $28,800.00 has been allocated in the 1956 budget for this purpose. There is an apparent difference here of approximately $11,700.00. However, a large part of this sum is directly reimburseable to the Town by the State according to the provisions of Chapter 71, Section 7A (as amended 1949 Chapter 754). This law, in short, provides for the reimbursement of all amounts paid by a community for transportation of school pupils one and one-half mile or over in excess of $5.00 per pupil in school attendance. This can be roughly estimated for 1956 as follows:
11% mile transportation expenditure less R.A.P.S. & N.A.M. pupils x $5.00 = State Aid
or $28,800.00 less 3,900* x $5.00 equals State Aid $28,800.00 less 19,500.00 equals State Aid
$9,300.00 equals State Aid Estimated
If in other years transportation increases, the reimbursement will in- crease by the same amount less $5.00 for each additional child. Therefore, the cost of the change from two to one and one-half miles will be wholly reimbursed by the Commonwealth.
For 1956 the total increase in the School Committee budget is $95,000.00. The increase in reimbursements will be approximately $35,000.00, of which only $25,000.00 may be subtracted from the total increase. To summarize: this increase is due to the three factors discussed in this report: 1) higher prices; 2) more pupils and 3) improvement of the quality of the schooling of the children of Saugus. I believe the great majority of the citizens of Saugus desire the last of these three.
199
ADDITIONAL SPECIAL CLASS
The additional Special Class made mandatory under Chapter 71, Sec- tion 46 amended by Chapter 514 of the Acts of 1954 will require a class- room. An excellent location for these mentally retarded children would be at the Veterans' Memorial School in the room now occupied by the office of the Superintendent of Schools. If the class should be assigned to this area the office could be removed to the Centre School and that building used for a combination school and Central Office.
SPEECH CLINIC
In September the Saturday morning Speech Clinic for Elementary Pupils was discontinued due to the introduction of remedial speech work on a full-time basis in all of the elementary schools. This valuable work keeps the special speech teacher fully occupied. This work is discussed in the report of the Elementary Supervisor.
PLANT
This report should not be closed without a statement in regard to the condition of the present Junior High School. It is literally falling apart. The needs have been enumerated too often to require repeating here. A decent regard for the welfare of the children demands that the building be remodelled and the old Senior High School furniture be replaced.
In 1951 a policy of remodelling one school each year was adopted. For two years it was followed. Armitage and Ballard Schools were very much improved. The policy should be reinstituted. In addition the matter of new elementary schools or a new Junior High School or both should be studied in order that the groundwork be laid for the replacement of out- moded buildings and the accommodations of the additional pupils who will be entering our schools during the next few years.
1955 has been an epic one in the history of the Saugus schools. The New Senior High School is now a fact. It was a tremendous effort by the citizens of Saugus. We cannot rest on our achievement but must all look to the future and work for the type of schools that will make for a better Saugus.
Respectfully submitted,
JESSE J. MORGAN
Superintendent of Schools
200
APPENDIX A
Following are appended the reports of staff members with comments in some cases.
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
When I came to Saugus in August 1935 the following staff members who are now here were teaching: Mr. Young-Vice-Principal, Miss Hayward -Dean of Girls, Mr. Blossom, Mr. Haley, Mrs. Kellogg, Mr. Leahy, Miss Marison, Mr. Mccullough, Mr. Pinciss, Mr. Rice, Miss Towle, and Mr. Watson. This year we added the following teachers, either as new teach- ers or replacements: Joseph Baglione-teacher of Wood Shop, Elmo Fal- zarano-Commercial, Louise Hayes-English, Lorraine Hennigar-Commer- cial, Ruth Kelley-English, Virginia Lewis-English, Kenneth Murdock- Science, Doris Pierce-Homemaking, Angela Restivo-Art, Jean Ricciar- delli-Social Studies, Evelyn Roche-Homemaking, Carlene Rogers-Eng- lish, Irving Schwartz-English, Ralph Steeves-Social Studies, and Joanne White-Homemaking. Virginia Rees was hired as a Clerk in the High School office.
John Burns was elected Head of the English Department to replace Ashton Davis who was made Junior High School Principal. Corrine Shuff was made Head of the Homemaking Department; Anthony Struzziero was made Head of the Science Department; John Janusas was made Head of the Physical Education Department; Elwood Philbrick was made the School Librarian.
Gladys Fox was assigned to the Junior High School. Ralph Earle, teacher of Industrial Arts since the war, resigned to accept a position in Swampscott. Calvin Grass, Physics teacher, resigned to take a position in Maine.
This past year has been a busy one for all the members of the staff. Many extra hours were spent from January to July assisting the Super- intendent with plans for the new school. No one realizes better than I do all of the work that was done by Mr. Davis. I wish to take this oppor- tunity of expressing my thanks to him for all of the work he took over for me.
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