USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1963 > Part 11
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With the seweroder, preventative maintenance work is carried on with a minimum of labor and eliminates costly emergency work.
During the summer months the opera- tion of the Division Chamber and chlori- nator alleviated the pollution in Stacey Brook Culvert. The functioning of this operation requires daily inspection and maintenance which is carried on by the personnel of this Division. 5000 gallons of chlorine was consumed and the cost of operating the chlorinator is assumed on a cooperative basis by the Town and City of Lynn.
To attend the pumping equipment and control the proper operation of the sewer system, a stand-by operation is in effect during week-ends and holidays.
The following work was completed in 1963:
a. Particular Sewers inspected - 20 house laterals.
b. Main Sewers rodded and flushed - 260 streets.
c. Sewer and Drain structures raised to grade - 208 structures.
d. Sewer lines excavated and repaired -14.
e. Storm Drains rodded and flushed - 32 streets. -
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f. Loose manhole covers sealed - 42.
g. Sewage pumpings for 1963 - 525,- 890,000 gallons.
Water Division
The year ending December 31, 1963, embraced the following activities plus many routine jobs incidental to this Divi- sion and the Public Works Department in general.
Repaired 56 service leaks, renewed 14 services, installed 56 new services, cleaned out 14 services, renewed 25 services from the main to the sidewalk, renewed 9 services from the sidewalk to the meter, thawed out 13 frozen services, repaired 14 frozen meters, turned on and off 260 services, repaired 22 hydrants, replaced 2 hydrants broken by automobiles, in- stalled 3 new hydrants.
Breaks were repaired in the 6" mains in Burrill Street, Swampscott Avenue and Greenwood Avenue.
242 feet of 6" cast iron cement lined main was installed in Birch Road, 320 feet of 6" cash iron cement lined main was installed at the Shopping Center at Paradise Road, 120 feet 2" copper tubing was installed in Burpee Terrace, 400 feet of 6" cast iron cement lined pipe was laid in Capon Road from Essex Street to the New Cemetery Garage Building and a hydrant was installed; from the Garage Building to the northwesterly end of the Cemetery development project, 325 feet of 2" plastic pipe was installed for Cemetery watering purposes; 2" plastic pipe was installed in the roadways of the nearly completed new section of the Cemetery adjacent to Essex Street.
In compliance with an article in the Town Warrant sponsored by the Fire Chief, hydrants were installed at Stetson Avenue opposite Suffolk Avenue, Elm- wood Road near the corner of Hardy Road, and Paradise Road opposite Mor- ton's Store in the Shopping Center.
Meters were read quarterly.
Hydrants were flushed in the spring and inspected and winterized in the late fall.
Under contract, the Standpipe was drained, cleaned and sand blasted on the inside; necessary repairs were made and then three coats of paint were applied to the inside and two coats applied to the outside.
In all streets under construction this year, all old iron service pipes were re- newed with copper tubing from the main to the sidewalk; the service boxes and valve boxes were brought to grade and painted for easy identification during construction.
Under contract, improvements to the Water System progressed. The installa- tion of one mile of 12 inch and 10 inch cast iron cement lined pipe from Para- dise Road through Walker Road, Banks Road, Redington Street and Greenwood Avenue to Rockland Street and from Greenwood Avenue through King Street to the junction of Rockland Street with Redington Street was completed this fall.
The Engineering Department assigned an engineer to layout and inspect the construction of the mile of 12 inch and 10 inch water main at a saving of ap- proximately $1500.00 rather than pay for consulting engineers' fees.
Land and a building have been leased from the M.D.C. for a pumping station and a study is being made by our con- sulting engineers to determine the type and size pump required.
Plans are being made to let out a con- tract for the installation of approxi- mately another mile of 12 inch cast iron mains in the spring.
Public Works Garage
This Division has two mechanics and they are responsible for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of all the motorized equipment in the Public Works Depart- ment. A preventive maintenance program has been put into operation, and this has
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checked many large repair jobs on the equipment.
The Public Works Department's 48 pieces of mechanized equipment have all received minor overhaul, tune-up and minor repairs.
As soon as weather permits, the con- struction of a new building to house the Public Works Garage will be started.
As workload increases, a third me- chanic will be required to continue the efficiency of this preventive maintenance program.
Summary of Major Public Works Accomplishments
Chapter 90-1963 -Financed by State 50%, County 26%, Town 25%:
Salem Street - from Humphrey Street to Vinnin Street.
Town Approved Road Construction:
Shelton Road-from Humphrey Street to Alden Road.
Walker Road - from Paradise Road to Monument Avenue.
Farragut Road - from Paradise Road to Monument Avenue.
Monument Avenue - from Burrill Street to Walker and Farragut Roads.
Banks Roads - from Walker Road to Redington Street.
Redington Street - from Humphrey Street to Forest Avenue.
Greenwood Avenue - from Reding- ton Street to Bay View Avenue.
King Street - from Greenwood Ave- nue to Redington Street.
In conjunction with the road construc- tion of the above streets, work of the following nature was accomplished:
a. New bituminous concrete sidewalks
b. New granite corner curbs
c. Bituminous concrete curbs
d. New copper water services from main to sidewalk
e. Drains repaired
f. Manholes and catch basins recon- structed
g. Manholes and catch basins removed and reset.
Seal Coat with Asphalt and Pea Stone:
Allen Road Alden Road
Bates Road
Dale Street Hanley Street
Sherwood Road
Tid Street
Deer Cove Road
Fairview Avenue Glen Road
Holly Circle
Laurel Road
Shepherd Avenue
Burpee Terrace
Continuous Sidewalk Program:
Dennison Avenue
Bradlee Avenue - No. 107
Phillips Avenue - No. 115
Lewis Road - one side
Sidewalk Replacement Program:
Atlantic Road
Arbutus Road
Burpee Road
Claremont Terrace
Hardy Road Phillips Street
Puritan Avenue
Puritan Road
Stetson Avenue
Atlantic Avenue
Aspen Road Bradlee Avenue Essex Street
Humphrey Street
Prospect Avenue Puritan Park
Pine Street Walnut Road
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Recreation:
Hadley School Play Area-Walk from Elmwood Road to play area and chain link fence.
Permanent asphalt surface tennis courts - Phillips Park.
Little League Bull Pens.
Addition of 6 floodlights for Abbott Park.
Varsity Baseball Infield rebuilt to spe- cifications.
Power Service to Phillips Park Tennis Courts and Press Booth of Stadium.
Purchase of regulation basketball stand- ards for Phillips Park, Abbott Park and Jackson Park.
Bridges:
New salt treated decking and steel plates - Danvers Road.
New Equipment Purchased:
1 -21,000 G.V.W. Dump Truck
1- Leaf Loader
1 - Econoline Van Truck
By using the capabilities of the person- nel assigned to the various Divisions of the Public Works Department, the fol- lowing work is accomplished:
Layout, Grades and Inspection of all Projects
Replacing old Water Services
Installing Drains
Installation of Granite Curbing
Inspection and Repair of Main and Particular Sanitary Sewers
Repair and Construction of Manholes and Catch Basins
Removal of Trees, Stumps and Roots
Hauling, Placing, Grading of Loam and Gravel
Excavation and Grading of Roadbed and Sidewalks
Fine Grading and Rolling in Prepara- tion for Bituminous Concrete
New Garage Building at Cemetery.
Drainage Facilities:
A contract was awarded for a section of the Little's Point Drainage facili- ties, approximately 30% of this project was completed before freez- ing weather forced the Department to close down this project. This contract will be completed by early summer.
Sanitary Sewers:
A contract was awarded for Sanitary Sewer for Puritan Road, Tupelo Road and Juniper Road. This project was closed due to freezing weather and will be completed early in 1964.
A new concrete block garage adjacent to the Cemetery Office on Capon Road was constructed by the Public Works Department employees. The new build- ing is 40 feet by 42 feet by 12.5 feet with reinforced concrete floor, heating unit and electric power for repair work on all types of grass cutting equipment. The estimated cost of this garage if built by contract would be $22,000. The cost to the Town is as follows:
a. All Materials $ 6,035.95
b. Estimated Labor 6,000.00
c. Estimated Labor on Design and Supervision .. 1,400.00
Total Cost $13,435.95
Savings to the Taxpayers 8,564.05
The Board of Public Works is pleased to announce that by prudent and effi- cient management policies and the co- operation of all its employees, it was able to close out the year with an estimated surplus of $25,000. which represent un- expended balances from all Public Works Budget Items, exclusive of the Water Budget.
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The following Public Works employees were retired in 1963:
Robert Scanlan, employed October, 1942
Nazareno Rotundi, employed July, 1944
Francesco Pietrogallo, employed April, 1943
Charles A. Kenison, Senior Engineer- ing Aid, in the Engineering Division, resigned to accept employment with
Camp, Dresser and McKee, Consult- ing Engineers, Boston, Mass.
The Board of Public Works wishes to extend its thanks to the Finance Com- mittee, the Board of Selectmen, the Planning Board, the Town Counsel, the Citizens of Swampscott, the Supervisors and Personnel of the Public Works De- partment for the assistance and coopera- tion given to the Department in making the eighth year, under Public Works, a success.
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SCHOOL REPORT
HIGH SCHOOL WING
Honoring the Service of FRANK L. MANSUR Superintendent of Schools 1931-1952
MACHON SCHOOL WING Honoring the Memory and Service of the late ROBERT D. FORREST Superintendent of Schools 1955-1962
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1963
THEODORE C. SARGENT, Chairman (Term Expires 1965) 64 Bay View Drive
JACOB SHACTMAN, Vice-Chairman (Term Expires 1964) 89 Gale Road
GEORGE A. CHADWELL (Term Expires 1966) 96 Stetson Avenue
CHARLES F. BUCKLAND (Term Expires 1966) 46 Lewis Road
PHILIP H. STAFFORD (Term Expires 1965) 26 Banks Road
Regular meeting, second Thursday of each month. Public is welcome.
CHARLES L. WHITCOMB, Superintendent of Schools PHILIP A. JENKIN, Assistant Superintendent of Schools The office of the superintendent of schools, located at 24 Redington Street, is open every weekday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
John I. Mclaughlin, High School LYnn 2-2574
Keith L. Jordan, Alice Shaw Junior High School. .. LYnn 2-7540
Jane T. Rogers, Stanley School LYnn 2-1954
Esther K. Heikel, Machon School LYnn 2-5730
J. Richard Bath, Hadley School LYnn 3-7973
Madelaine M. Murphy, Clarke School LYnn 8-2659
To the Citizens of Swampscott Ladies and Gentlemen:
Nineteen hundred sixty-three was a year of construction - both of buildings and of administration. The Machon and High School projects were completed and Messrs. Whitcomb and Jenkin have consolidated and advanced the educational plan- ning stages begun with the change in superintendency in 1962.
Many citizens will join us in a sigh of relief that no major building construc- tion is necessary in the immediate future. Now we can turn to the important areas of building maintenance that have neces- sarily been deferred because of the pres- sure for more classroom space. A planned program of renovation is underway that will distribute the costs over the next few years and bring all of our buildings up to date in physical appearance and put them in good repair.
An important executive change is now before us with the impending retirement of the High School principal. Mr. Mc- Laughlin's extraordinary record of skill- ful administration has brought increased stature to Swampscott High School. The High School principalship is a challeng-
ing post that deserves the most capable man that can be found. The Committee is in the midst of screening some 50 can- didates, and every effort will be made to bring to Swampscott the best candidate that is available. Swampscott's record of High School excellence must be preserved and extended, to meet the needs of our expanding society. It is significant to note that 77% of our class of 1963 are attending various schools and colleges, with 45% enrolled in four-year, degree- granting institutions. This is an excep- tional record for any High School in the Nation and particularly reflects the qual- ity of our pupils and our community.
Swampscott can well be proud of the records of its students and the abilities of the faculty and administration. Excel-
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lence is attained with the frugal use of the School Committee's annual budget.
The Committee is grateful for the strong support received from parental groups and community organizations. Particularly gratifying is the construc- tive work of the Council for Public Schools. Their study of elementary school organization was very helpful. We im- plemented their recommendation by designating Mr. Whitcomb as supervisory head for elementary education, his re- sponsibilities in this area to include teacher selection; Mr. Jenkin, in addition to other duties, will concentrate on per- sonnel recruitment for the secondary schools. Close cooperation by P.T.A., Band Parents, Boosters, and other com- munity efforts have been of great assist- ance in developing a school, home, and community relationship that encourages our emphasis on better education.
The School Committee is updating its written policies and procedures, and par- ticular emphasis continues on curriculum development and 1 individual student needs. New attention is being given to research and development programs that will enable us to apply modern techniques throughout the system. The aim is to allow every child to develop to the best of his ability - to acquire the education appropriate to his individual self. Swamp- scott is committed to excellence in edu- cation. We welcome assistance from all citizens to help us in our endeavors.
We urge you to read carefully the superintendent's report that follows. It not only chronicles the first full year of the new superintendency, but indicates the broad areas in which we are moving toward future achievements. It should encourage you to learn more about the operations of Swampscott's largest citizen enterprise. No human enterprise is more important.
Yours respectfully, Theodore C. Sargent, Chairman Jacob Shactman Philip H. Stafford George A. Chadwell
Charles F. Buckland Swampscott School Committee
To Members of the School Committee Gentlemen:
All too seldom does one pause to look back to a time a year past and say that things are better now than they were then. Because I can, in all conscience, make such a statement, it is with sincere pleasure and satisfaction that I submit to you this my second annual report as your superintendent of schools.
In my report of last year, after a scant five months in the Swampscott system, I wrote in the very midst of uncertainty and confusion that attended not only two major construction projects but also problems in the transition of the superin- tendency. Today, we are in calmer waters. The two additions, at Machon and the High School, stand completed; and the Swampscott system and I have had more than a full year together. We are on a far more even keel than it seemed likely twelve months ago we ever could be.
Building Needs Met
In the early months of 1964, at spe- cial dedicatory services, we shall name the new Machen wing in memory of the late Dr. Robert D. Forrest, superinten- dent from 1955 until his untimely death in March of 1962, and the new wing at the High School in honor of Mr. Frank L. Mansur, who retired from the super- intendency in 1952 after twenty-eight years of devoted service. It is altogether fitting that the contributions of these two men to the development of our Swampscott public schools be memorial- ized in the two structures that hence- forth will bear their names.
Completed at a cost of $195,000, the Machon wing provides rooms specially designed for kindergarten use, an all- purpose area, and a small kitchen, along with administrative, health, and guidance offices. These new spaces make possible within the old building the development of areas for remedial and other small group instruction and for library services.
Serving on the building committee for
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the Machon addition with Chairman Selden D. Hulquist were George A. Chadwell, Donald C. Goss, Michael Pal- leschi, Frederick C. Small, and Sidney A. Simons. This group, giving throughout the project unstintingly of its time and concern, selected as architects the Boston firm of Harvey and Provost and as gen- eral contractor James J. Welch Com- pany, Inc., of Salem. Work was com- pleted on schedule, with the new and attractive wing ready for occupancy when school opened in September.
Considerably more complex than Ma- chon's, the High School addition, built at a cost of $600,000, provided a science wing, new rehearsal rooms for vocal and instrumental music, a lecture hall, a lan- guage laboratory, a new library, and im- proved areas for art, guidance, health, business, home economics, and central administration: in all, a net gain of ten classrooms, with many existing areas re- organized and refurbished for the ex- tended and more efficient use that mod- ern education demands of them.
Virtually doubling the burden of duties it carries normally, the School Committee, perhaps uniquely in Swamp- scott history, became the building com- mittee for the High School wing, desig- nating Charles F. Buckland as chairman and Philip H. Stafford as secretary. It engaged Perley F. Gilbert Associates, Inc., of Lowell, as architects and Anthony Frasca Company of Lynn as general contractor. It also employed as clerk Mrs. Jane Pinard, whose efficient keeping of minutes and financial records contrib- uted materially to the successful com- pletion of a difficult and demanding task.
Numerous delays in work and de- liveries, and a last-minute crisis in get- ting the building cleaned up and ready for use, forced a postponement of the opening of the High School's fall term from September 4th to the 9th. Even for some weeks thereafter, equipment for home economics and science rooms, as well as for other areas, still did not
materialize, halting anything like normal operation until well into the autumn months.
Yet from the beginning, though with- out his full complement of rooms avail- able, Principal Mclaughlin was able to abandon the "block" scheduling that got the High School through 1962-63 and to resume a full seven-period day, with classes once again meeting five rather than four times a week. Each week brought some degree of improvement. By November 1st Mr. Eickelberger and his industrial arts classes were able to emerge from their 1962-63 bivouac in the old manual training room at Hadley School and return to regular quarters at the High School. Bit by bit equip- ment came and workmen departed. Gradually, with infinite patience and per- serverance, the principal and his staff - teachers, secretaries, and custodians worked their way through and round the problems of construction and into a nor- mal program.
Inestimable credit is due to the two principals, Miss Esther K. Heikel of Machon and Mr. John I. Mclaughlin of the High School, for their resourceful- ness under fire during the annoyance and inconvenience of 1962-63. In crisis af- ter crisis, these two principals and their staffs - teaching and non-teaching alike -came up with the decisions that kept the school program going from day to day without visible evidence to the out- sider that it might ever have been thrown off stride.
On both projects, too, we were singu- larly fortunate to have a clerk of the works whose professional skill and per- sonal integrity served us well. Elmer A. Anderson of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, lived intimately at both schools for more than a year, winning the friendship and respect of many of us. In a very real sense, the successful completion of each wing, within time schedules and budgets, is a tribute to him.
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Staff Alters and Grows
Partially as a sign of the times, par- tially too because of building expansion and other factors, turn-over in personnel becomes each year a greater problem. Many of the changes are unavoidable.
Four of our most valued teachers, whose combined experience in the schools of Swampscott totaled 120 years, retired in June. These were Miss Marion P. Bur- lingame, who had taught for twenty- three years at Hadley, six at the High School, and three at Shaw; Mrs. Hazel V. Chase, who had been thirty-seven years on the Machon faculty; Miss Mar- garet E. Durgin, whose service included twenty-three years at Hadley and twenty-two at Stanley; and Mrs. Ger- trude A. Lowe, who joined the Clarke faculty in 1956. Teachers of their calibre and skill are virtually irreplaceable.
Thirteen other teachers, several re- sponding to calls to teach elsewhere, sub- mitted their resignations:
High School
Richard W. Call, special class Mrs, Annamae Frazier, mathematics (part time) Seymour B. Hall, social studies
Roger B. Hooper, mathematics (dept. head)
James A. Murphy, mathematics Eloy E. Reese, English and social studies
Junior High
Miss Hope B. Brown, library John C. Donohue, science Miss Sharon Huisman, mathematics Miss Virginia Phillips, English Mrs. Ann M. Whittemore, speech (part time)
Elementary
Mrs. Patricia A. Caruso, Clarke, third grade
Miss Rita E. McLaughlin, guidance In the fall of 1963, we welcomed three teachers back from leaves of absence: Mrs. Dorothy Bondelevitch, Hadley fifth
grade; Mrs. Eva Ladge, Hadley second grade; and Mrs. Claire C. Pelletier, Shaw Junior High French. Terminating their temporary appointments therefor as re- placements for each of these respectively were James W. Johnston, Miss Elizabeth A. Jackson, and Marshall D. Hastings.
To replace those who had retired or resigned, and to cover new classrooms at the High School and our expanding program generally, the administration was faced in the spring and summer of 1963 with the recruitment of twenty- two new faculty members. Making the task more difficult than in most years was Swampscott's salary schedule, which had not advanced since the fall of 1962 and lagged at least one full year behind pay scales in communities that compete with us for the most qualified teachers. The problem identified here is currently one of our most serious handicaps in our pursuit of excellence.
We were indeed more fortunate than could be expected in finding new staff members with substantial experience and impressive training. All twenty-two of our new faculty members came to us with some previous teaching, represent- ing an average of five years each. Nine held advanced degrees: five were working to complete Masters' programs within the year. Two of them, both on the High School staff, are British subjects and received their training at universities of their homelands, Mrs. Prosser in England Miss Bamford in Scotland.
The new faculty members were as- signed as follows:
High School
Miss Colleen Bamford, French and English
Robert S. Hargraves, mathematics
Charles F. Kimball, social studies Albert G. Mitchell, Jr., social studies Mrs. Patricia A. Prosser, mathematics Mrs. Margaret E. Rolfe, mathematics (part time)
Bradley C. Sheridan, mathematics
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Miss Rosalyn Stoker, English Glenn M. Thompson, science
Junior High
Mrs. Lillian Atkinson, mathematics John R. Bonin, science Miss Verna P. Erwin, English Miss Patricia E. Kennedy, English Mrs. Carlisle K. Macdonald, library Mrs. Susan P. Maynard, social studies John H. McDevitt, guidance
Mrs. Aileen S. Michaels, French
Elementary
Miss Claire A. Arment, Machon fifth Mrs. Helen B. Barrett, Hadley fourth Mrs. Barbara Brinkley, Clarke first Mrs. Una L. Lee, Clarke third
Mrs. Virginia A. Fortier, Machon fourth
There were four major shifts in re- sponsibility within the existing faculty. Mr. Richard D. Stevenson, social studies teacher at the High School since 1951 and assistant to the principal since the summer of 1962, assumed the title and full duties of assistant principal. Mr. Robert V. Andersen, teacher of mathe- matics at the High School since 1953, succeeded Mr. Hooper as department head, with responsibility for organizing and developing the mathematics program throughout the system, on all grade levels. Miss Eleanor Birch, Hadley School faculty member from 1937 to 1950 and then, after leave of absence to teach in Germany, a member of the social studies department at the Shaw Junior High since 1959, undertook the special class program at the High School, succeeding Mr. Call. Mrs. Winifred H. Sheehan, fourth grade teacher at Clarke since 1959, succeeded Miss Mclaughlin as guidance counselor for the elementary grades.
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