USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1961 > Part 2
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Chief
Roland E. Mansfield Captain Fred Forni
Sergeants
Ernest A. Dunham, Inspector
Charles N. Wormstead 3rd
James F ,'Maher Joseph P.A. Collette Regular Patrolmen William F. Cahill Rosario A. Bucchiere Walter J. Elsmore Joseph Markowski Richard T. Eichel Martin J. Maillet Howard W. Long James G. Wiswall Howard M. Harnum Augustine J. Belmonte Edgar T. McKenney Edward F. Newbury Ralph E. Pace James A. Monico Francis X. Meredith Donald M. Peters Howard P. Berrett Leonard D. Moriello William F. Murphy Walter H. Dunham Jr. Reserve Patrolmen Philip W. Hyam Warren J. Dennis Harry E. Leonard Nick Nicosia John A. Packard Matron Mabel Murdock:
In Conjunction with the above there are 93 Special Police Of- ficers, 16 of whom are uniformed and available to perform police duty; 24 uniformed Auxilliary Po- lice Officers; 17 guards of the Gen- eral Electric Co., with police po- wers on and about the company property located in Saugus; 17 School Department janitors: 2 for Lynn Water Department sheds in Saugus; security guards - 2 "Sears, 2 Zayre and 2 G.E.M. stores.
Arrests
During 1961 470 arrests were made, an increase of 94 over 1960, which is exactly a 25% jump. This is perhaps basic proof of growing volume of police depart- ment duties.
Again in 1961, we were so un- fortunate as to have had another murder committed in our town. I am happy to report that this crime solved and the guilty party pleaded guilty and is now serving his sentence. The completion of the investigation of this crime re- quired several months of steady, concentrated effort but the result was rewarding. 1 wish to express my thanks to the members of this department and those of the State Police, all of whom worked so willingly and conscientiously dur - ing this tiring, trying period. All cases necessitating arrests were handled efficiently by the members of this department, and the fact that but 22 defendants were found not gullty, which should be ample proof of the truth of the above statement.
Varied Duties
5874 reports and complaints were received and properly pro- cessed during the year requiring many hours of work. 713 investi- gations were made. 507 parking tags were issued, 923 summons served for this and other police departments and 438 conveyances
(Continued on Page 4)
The Saugus Advertiser, March 15, 1962
TOWN REPORT Pago 4
Police Dept
(Continued from Page 3) of sick persons were made. Stolen property to the value of $4812.68 was recovered.
Inspector
Detective-Sergeant Ernest A. Dunham has again had a very busy year. In addition to his regular duty of investigating criminal ac- tivities he also does nearly all of the photographic work for this and other town departments. His time is not his own as he is re- peatedly called upon, both night and day, when his services are re- quired. He should have an assist- ant as the volume of work in his department is more than one man can reasonably be expected to per - form.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Our files show that in 1961 there were 531 motor vehicle ac- cidents reported here in two of which deaths ensued. 333 persons were injured with varying degrees of seriousness and 170 vehicles damaged, 23 accidents involved pedestrians and 13 persons rid- ing bicycles. 227 of these accidents necessitated investigation by po- lice officers, Naturally, this is another burden upon the depart- ment with insufficient personnel available for proper coverage.
Recommendations
Again this year, as in previous years, 1 call your attention to the urgent need of additional man- power. The department is greatly handicapped because of the insuf- ficiency of help. If you carefully study this report with its facis and figures, 1 am sure you will agree that the department is doing a remarkable job butis nowreach- ing the breaking point, Unless this situation is alleviated by the ad- dition of men very shortly, many duties will have to be neglected. This is not a healthy condition and should be remedied at once. I am requesting the addition of six patrolmen and one sergeant, which if granted would provide much needed protection, particul- arly in the out-lying areas which are now practically without police protection. The citizens of Saugus are entitled to better protection than is now possible to extend.
The subject of salaries is a most important one. The personell of this department are woefully underpaid and this should be cor - rected. The police officers of Sau- gus should be paid, at least the average salary paid in surround- ing communities. There is no ec- onomic argument in opposition.The reason for this condition is quite apparent. For years certain town officials, to whom is entrusted the duty of recommending suitable budgets, have consistently gazed toward the past rather than look- ing toward the future, As a re- sult your police department has been seriously curtailed, having insufficient funds to provide pro- per salaries and provide those things necessary to progress in keeping with the times. It is my ardent hope that this year (1962) a change of attitude will appear and steps taken to raise the level of This department so that it will be more able to cope with theever growing crime problem.
In closing I wish to express my sincerest thanks to those town of- ficials and private citizens, and in particular to the members of the police department who have been so cooperative during the year 1961.
Respectfully Roland E. Mansfield Chief of Police
Schools (Continued from Page 3)
interesting possibility is to use the bordering communities, and this is the one I have selected. The comparison is most illumina- ting.
Saugus is bordered by six com- tunities: Lynn, Revere, Malden, Melrose, Wakefield, and Lynnfield. In English, social snidies. mache- matics, science, and handwriting, Saugus compares favorably with the other six systems. In all other subjects, however, Saugus suffers by comparison. Among the seven communities Saugus is the only one not offering shop to seventh grade boys. Saugus is alone in not offering sewing to seventh grade girls, Only Saugus fails to provide cooking for grade eight girls: only Saugus and Melrose fail to provide cooking for grade seven girls. Saugus is the only community not requiring music and art of all pupils in grade seven. Only Lynn and Revere join in not requiring music in grade eight. Saugus is the only community that does not provide physical educa- tion for grades seven and eight.
Lynn requires speech of all pupils and mechanical drawing of all boys in grades seven and eight. French is an elective at Lynn, Wakefield, and Lynnfield in grade seven, at Revere, Wakefield, and Lynnfield in grade eight. Spanish is an elective in grades seven and eight at Wakefield. Latin is offered as an elective in grade eight in Lynn, Malden, and Mel- rose. Typing is an elective in grade eight in Revere, and Malden. Sau- gus offers no mechanical drawing, speech, French, Spanish, Latin, or typing in grades seven or eight.
There may be some citizens who will argue that all subjects ex- cept English, mathematics, social studies, and science are unneces- sary. When we note, however, that every one of our six neigh- bors considers it essential to offer several subjects that we do not offer, does it not behoove us to give this matter careful considera- tiort and ask ourselves if we are being fair to the boys and girls in Saugus?
Surely, it must be disturbing for Saugus parents to know that they could obtain more diversified edu- cational advantages for their junior high children by movingacross the line from Saugus in any direction. It will not be reassuring to par- ents to be told that the adding of several of these subjects to our program of studies depends upon new housing facilities and equip- ment that appear to be even far- the from actuality than they did eight months ago.
What 1 stated in last year's report bears repeating, namely that the deficiencies in our pro- gram of studies are in no way due to any lack of quality in our teaching staff, who are, in general, industrious, capable, and dedicated to their profession.
When twelve of our elementary classes were transferred to the Veterans Memorial School last February, we were able to dis- continue the invidious two-platoon schedule. Since then we have re- vived and expanded our co-curri- cular program, which had been greatly curtailed. Three new groups, the Stamp Club, the Crafts Club, and the Charm Club for girls, have been organized. Previously formed groups, such as the Drama- tics Club, the Safety Club, the Scoop staff, and the Student Coun- cil, have increased their activities. School dances have been resumed, and it has been possible toprepare more and better assemblies.
We have also been able to hold more staff meetings. Consequently we have had a better opportunity to study educational trends and to work for better classroom teach- ing.
Median scores on the lowa Test of Basic Skills administered last April were above the national norms in all eleven categories in grade seven; in the eighth grade, scores were a month or so below the national norms in two cate- gories and averaged several months above the norms in the other nine categories.
In accordance with the Conant report our science program was increased this fall to five periods per week.Because our eighth grade pupils now have a more extensive knowledge of science than most ninth grade pupils formerly had, it has become imperative for the high school to step up its ninth grade courses. One of our grade eight pupils, Ernest C. Hynes, Jr .. placed fifth in Essex County in the Science Count- Down 1961, sponsored by Lowell Technological Institute and WBZ TV. Over one hundred and forty of our junior high pupils entered the Science Fait at the High School, and about thirty of our eighth graders were selected for a special accelerated science course in the ninth grade.
We have three advanced groups in our seventh grade and four advanced groups in our eighth grade. From the four eighth grade classes we have formed an accelerated mathematics class that is scheduled to take a half- year of algebra.
Since pupils entering grade seven next fall will have had three years of conversational French with the Parlors Francais Chan- nel Two television program, it is our purpose to offer them French as an elective threeperiods a week
With the appointment of tw counselors, John Capomaccio aru Harry Surabian, the school estab- lished in September a much needed guidance department. A carefully planned program of individual counseling, testing, and group guidance has been developed with the assistance of John Leahy, guidance director at the High School.
Recognition is due our Safety Club, which for the second con- Secutive year has received a citation from the National Educa- tion Association for its superior project. Margaret Chang, and Paul Cooper deserve mention as the re- cipients of the awards for excel- lence in United States History, presented by the D.A.R. at the graduation in June. Michael Yag- jian, accompanied by Richard Pro- venzano of thefaculty, represented our school at the Heritage Day Program for eighth grade pupils of Massachusetts at Plymouth on October twenty-first. Michael was honored by being chosen as one of six pupils of the state to take part in a radio panel.
In concluding 1 am taking this opportunity to express my appreciation to Willlam Flanagan, assistant principal, who assumed many additional responsibilities in administering the school during my illness last spring. 1 am also grateful to Mrs. John Weller, the president, and to theother officers of our Parent-Teacher Association for their services in the interests of the school. My sincere thanks is extended to the School Com- mittee and to Rhoden Eddy, Super- intendent of Schools, for their continued advice and cooperation. 1 am especially grateful to Mr. Eddy for his many hours of extra work in preparing the educational
specifications for the proposed new junior high school building. Ashton J. Davis Principal.
Maintainence of Educational Levels
The Iowa Tesis of Basic Skills results in the appendix and there are comments concerning these results in another part of this report. They are comments con- cerning these results in another part of this report. They indicate that the Saugus schools stand well as far as comparison with national achievement is concerned.
In the elementary school grades particularly, Mrs. Ina MacNeill is continuing the introduction of a de- vice known as "The Reading Laboratory". The "Reading Lab- oratory", its composition, its edu- cational objectives, and its useage is described in Mrs. MacNeill's Report. The use of the Laboratory will, undoubtedly, assist children in becoming better readers and will, in many cases, at least. develop a real interest in reading among the elementary school pupils.
In all division of the school system additional equipment has been supplied to enhance in- struction. In the elementary school grades special effort has been made to provide good maps and globes which have been in extremely short supply. Text books have also been. supplied in necessary quantity. At the time of this Report every third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade classroom has its own set of enclyclopedia - Golden Book in grades three and Comptons or Book of Knowledge in grades four, five and six. Tele- vision sets, record players and tape recorders are being suplied as rapidly as possible to the end that all instruction may be made more interesting and more ef- fective.
Unmet Needs
The need for school housing be- comes more acute each year. The most serious effect of the school housing shortage exists in the junior- senior high school divi- sions. Not only are the junior high school pupils of Saugus being denied a curriculum comparable to that provided pupils throughout the nation, the town has now run out of spce to house the secondary school pupils in grades seven through twelve.
Beginning in September (1962) the high school will operate on a two-platoon basis. Grades ten, eleven and twelve will attend school in the morning; grade nine will attend school in the afternoon. Two platooning in the senior high school will have to continue until a new junior high school building is provided.
The pupils in grades seven and eight will continue to lack the well-rounded curriculum which Mr. Davis discusses inhis Report. (Mr. Porter's Report also.carries information relating to the short- age of school building space).
At this point it is important that you should note that:
(a) The present ninth grade spent one-half year, as eighth graders, on a two platoon basis. As tenth graders and as eleventh graders (sopha- mores and juniors) this present ninth grade will also attend school on a two platoon basis. Whether or not they will attend school on a two platoon basis as twelgth graders (seniors) will depend upon the construction of a new junior high school ready for occupancy by September
1964,
(b) The present tenth grade (sophomores) as eighth graders attended school a wbole year on a two platoon basis; as ninth graders they attended school on a "stretched out day"; as eleventh and twelfth graders (junior and seniors) they will attend school on a two- platoon basis.
(c) The present eleventh graders (juniors) will complete their high school years on a two platoon basis.
(d) The present eighth graders attended school one-half year on a two-platoon basis as seventh graders; as ninth tenth graders they will at- tend school on a two-platoon basis as eleventh graders also unless a new junior high school building is ready for оссирапсу by September · 1964.
(e) The present seventh graders will attend school on a two platoon basis when they are ninth graders (freshmen) and in all succeeding high school years until a new junior high school building is ready for оссирапсу.
It was definitely established early in 1959 that Saugus would need a new junior high school building by September 1961, or ar the very latest by September 1962, if the educational evils of two-platooning in the secondary school grades (grades seven through twelve) were to be avoided.
The School Committee was per- mitted to hold a Special Town Meeting on June 1, 1959 asking for $25,000 for the preparation of preliminary junior High school plans which would enable the Town to establish the estimated cost of such a building The School Com- mittee had also an Article asking the Town to purchase the Stocker- Rutten property as the site for such a building. Both Articles were overwhelmingly defeated.
All further action for securing funds for the preparation of pre- liminary plans for the new junior high school building were delayed until the School Committee's second request at a Special Town Meeting in March, 1961. (In 1960, however, acting on a Article presented, this time, by the Saugus Citizens
School Housing In- vestigating Committee, the Town did vote to acquire the Stocker- Rutten property for junior high school site. The vote was favor- able and the Stocker-Rutten property was acquired for $45,000.)
The School Committee's Article of March 1961 was voted favorably and $35,000 was made available to prepare preliminary plans for the new junior high school building and to make necessary engineering studies of the Stocker-Rutten site.
Preliminary plans for the new junior high school building were prepared and were ready for action in September 1961. (These plans are generally familiar to many citizens of the Town.) However, the School Committee's request for a Special Town Meeting on October 23, 1961 to secure funds for the proposed building was denied, further delaying School Committee action.
AT THIS MOMENT, THEN PRELIMINARY PLANS FOR THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING ARE READY. THESE PLANS HAVE BEEN UNANIMOUSLY AC- CEPTED BY THE SCHOOL COM- mittee. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL
(Continued on Page 5)
TOWN REPORT Po-
The Saugus Advertiser, Merch 15, 1962
Schools
(Continued from Page 4 )
BUILDING ASSISTANCE COM- MISSION. IF AN APPROPRIATION IS VOTED AT THE COMING TOWN MEETING THE NEXT NECES- SARY STEP CAN BE TAKEN!
This step consists of preparing working drawings for the junior high school building upon which contractors' bids may be secured. Not until these drawings have been prepared and approved by the Massachusetts School Building Commission will it be possible to put the building out for bid. !!! THIS WILL REQUIRE
AT LEAST SIX MORE MONTHS !!!
Hopefully, the new building can be completed for occupancy by September, 1964, if construction can begin by October, 1962. On the September, 1964, target date and not until this time, сал two-platooning be dis- continued at the high school. Elementary School Buildings
Pupil population predictions made in 1958 indicated that the new junior high school building was the first imperative school hous- ing need. Second on the School Committee's building schedule was a new elementary school building at Oaklandvale; thirdly a new elementary school building at Lynnhurst; thereafter the replace- ment of the old wooden Felton and Emerson school buildings. Meantime elementary school space would be provided for about ten years (now only six or seven years) in the classrooms on the first and second floors of the present junior high school building which was to have been vacated in 1962 or 1963 when the new junior high school building was to have been ready.
However, interested citizen groups from the Oaklandvale and Lynnhurst areas secured ap- propriations for elementary school buildings at the 1961 Town Meet- ing. While the construction of these buildings would in no way mitigate the prime need - a new junior high school building - im- mediate action was taken by the Town Manager, the School Com- mittee and me to provide these two elementary school buildings. Since Appropriations had been made prior to the preparation of plans, working drawings were made at the outset. The School Committee and the Massachusetts School Building Assistance Com- mission approved the plans that promised some hope that the build- ings could be bulld for the sums appropriated - $400,000 and $375,000 respectively. However, contractors' bids came in at amounts exceeding the appropria- tions. For a number of reasons there have been delays in con- structing the elementary school buildings. The matter remains to be resolved, but it does not ap- pear that there will be new build- ings at Oaklandvale and Lynnhurst ready for occupancy by September 1962.
SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS
Elementary Schools -Number of Pupils -- -- 1960-61* 1961-62 ** 1962-63 *** 2568 2696 2829
Junior High School
1960-61* 1961-62 ** 1962-63 *** 816 849 765
Senior High School
1960-61* 1961-62 ** 1962-63 *** 1277 1313 1475
Saugus Total 1960-61* 1961-62 ** 1962-63 *** 4661
4858
5069 *Actual enrollment.
*#Actual enrollment, January 1962 *** Predicted enrollment.
The figures require no interpre- tation - this year's enrollment exceeds the 1960-1961 enrollment by almost exactly 200 pupils. The predicted enrollment for 1962- 1963 exceeds this year's enroll- ment again, by almost exactly 200 pupils.
.. A gain of 400 pupils in twoyears .. Elementary School Building Facilitles
In our elementary school build- ings there are eighty-eight class- rooms :-
Armitage 6 Felton - o Central Elem. - 4* Ballard - 8
Cliftondale - 4 Oaklandvale - 4 Emerson - 4 Center - 4
Lynnhurst - 3 No. Saugus - 4 Veterans Mem. - 25 Roby - 8 Sweetser - 8
88 - for elementary school pur- poses.
* Rooms available at Central Elementary School depend upon the size of the junior high school population.
The elementary school popula- tion can not be evenly distributed among the classrooms for obvious reasons. However, every effort is made to effect the best possible reasons. However, every effort is distribution.
Next year the enrollment pre- dicted for the elementary schools is 2829 pupils. It would appear that three additional elementary school classrooms, at least, will be necessary. Since the predicted enrollment of the junior high school is somewhat smaller for 1962-1963 than is this year's en- rollment two additional elementary school classrooms may be secured in Central Elementary School. The housing of pupils that would re- quire the third room may have to be supplied in some room out- side the present school buildings. However, housing pupils outside school buildings is most undesir- able for a variety of reasons - lack of toilet facilities - lack of playground area - hazardous safe- ty conditions - improper heating - improper ventilation - storage of pupils' furniture, books and supplies, and so on.
The Teaching Staff
It Was necessary to fill origi- nally fifteen positions in the senior high school during the past year. Of this group:
Four teachers left to accept posi- tions elsewhere.
Three teachers left to accompany their husbands.
Two teachers left for reasons of health.
Two teachers left because of preg- папсу.
One teacher left to pursue further study (had fellowship grant.)
One teacher left to be married. One teacher left to enter another type of work.
One teacher did not leave but was appointed to newly created guidance position.
It was necessary to fill origi- nally seven positions in the junior high school during the past year. Of this group:
One teacher left to accept position elsewhere.
Two teachers left to remain at home.
One teacher was not recommended for reelection.
One teacher in armed services reserve was called back into service.
Two teachers did not leave but were appointed to newly created guidance position.
It was necessary to fill origi- nally nineteen position in the elementary s .:. c. ! F . Ingthepast year: Of this group:
One teacher went to another posi- tion.
Seven teachers left because of
pregnancy.
Two teachers left to remain at
home.
Four teachers left to accompany their husbands.
Four teachers retired from teach- in
One teacher did not leave but was appointed to newly created guld- ance position.
Of the forty-four original teaching vacancies that had to be filled during the year, then, oniy six teachers left to take teaching positions elsewhere. (the term 'flIl originally' is used here because several positions were filled, but the appointees did not accept thelr position. Consequently it was necessary to secure approximately fifty new teachers during the past year).
In all teacher replacements at the senior high school, and most of the replacements at the junior high school, the teacher candidates had the recommendations of the principals and department heads; Mr. Davis was unable to see candidates durin .: the late spring and early summer.
An almost endless amount of time and effort is involved In handling the papers of candidates and in interviewing these people. Approximately three hundred can- didates went 'through the inter- viewing mill'.
Beyond the forty-one Ch __ s. .. 1 teaching positions there were three special positions to fill; those of Miss Elaine Grillo in music, Miss Barbara Tucker in art, and speech therapist - a position that was unfilled during 1960-1961.
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