USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1955 > Part 19
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To further assure a continuance of our established shade tree policies, it may be advisable to consider placing the position of Tree Warden under Civil Service status. This would assure the town of maintaining a continued program through qualified leadership.
3 - Tree planting.
The just demands and growing need for shade and ornamental tree planting has created a backlog of petitions which cannot possibly be met with our present limited resources.
We have embarked on a tree planting and replacement program which is becoming nationally known. It is a program of off-street tree planting which every town and city hopes to someday ini- tiate. Weymouth is first in this advanced tree planting program. Let's continue to lead.
"Make 1956 a tree planting year."
4 - Town Nursery improvements.
A ventilated, cement block storage shed with unloading platform and ramp is needed at the Town Nursery for storage of nursery tools, wrapping and caring for nursery stock, housing a pump and other nursery facilities. We also need a simple irrigation system to water our trees periodically, with especial attention during drought periods.
5 - Composting.
Each year hundreds of truckloads of leaves, grass cuttings, road- side weeds, etc., are carried to the dump for disposal. This waste of Nature's own ingredients for making topsoil should cease! The quantities of loam purchased by the town each year in the normal operation of our town services is staggering.
I propose that composting areas be set up in each part of town, possibly on tax title land where these materials could be deposited and allowed to decompose. This proceedure in itself would make many savings in miles and hours of long distance hauling to the public dump.
The only necessary expenditure for this project would be the purchase of a soil shredder, a machine which pulverizes and screens the compost, providing a top soil superior to any we could buy.
261
Visits to several composting projects in some of our large Mid- western cities confirms my belief that such a project would be of great benefit and saving to the Town.
6 Conservation vs Drainage.
Attention should be brought to the fact that present day drain- age problems are a result of a direct violation of Nature's laws. Because of the thoughtless or unscrupulous manner in which forest land and topsoil are being destroyed, no amount of storm drains, catch basins, or sewers will completely eliminate these problems, and the continual abuses of Nature can only heap further burdens of financial responsibilities on the taxpayers. Correction of these problems rests in great part in 'rebuilding the topsoil and replenishing the forest growth in many of these areas.
The wholesale slaughter of vast acreages of forest and open land is rapidly becoming a national calamity in which we are locally involved.
Floods with the pursuant destruction of life and property has a direct relationship to the prior destruction of forests and topsoil. Conservation regulations should be put into effect requiring that all idle acres in Weymouth be planted to productive forest growth.
Formation of Conservation Committees as a part of our civic and social organizations would be a start toward a sound forest and soil conservation plan.
The depletion of our forest lands has a direct bearing on juvenile delinquency. There is a certain amount of pioneer spirit in every redblooded youth, and it can only be exercised by healthy out -- door hiking and rambling in the woods.
As our forested areas decrease, many youths are deprived of a healthy environment and turn to street corner gangs.
The town should give consideration to acquiring and improving many forested areas, the establishment of nature trails, camp sites, perhaps a lodge where groups could assemble for guided nature study, and finally a nature museum.
Many town departments could contribute to the success of such projects.
There is much need for the forest primeval to be included in our park department.
Last but not least - We must remember this! Our water supply present and future, is dependent on the amount of water that is absorbed into the soil and this occurs only where the spongy topsoil of the forest exists. This calls for adequate conservation of topsoil, not on our water reservation alone, but over the en- tire town.
The above recommendations are vital to the future welfare of our town; they should be given careful consideration all down the line of our official family as well as the earnest groups who study town affairs.
In closing may I express my sincere thanks to all who have cooperated with us in enabling the Tree and Moth Department to better serve you.
Respectfully submitted, V. LESLIE HEBERT Tree Warden and Moth Superintendent
262
REPORT OF THE TOWN COUNSEL
December 31, 1955
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
Herewith is submitted my report for the year ending December 31, 1955.
During the year the following cases have been disposed of:
Anna B. Carr vs. Harold F. Dowd, Norfolk Superior Court, Case No. 57799. This was a case against the Defendant, a Sergeant in the Police Department, for assault and battery. Trial was had before an Auditor who found for the Defendant after which Judgment was entered for the Defendant in the Superior Court. Edward S. Obey vs. Joseph Crehan, Ralph J. Amabile, Jr., Warren P. Burrell, James T. O'Sullivan and Franklin Fryer, as they are Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth, Norfolk Superior Court, Case No. 58630 in Equity. A Bill in Equity appealing to the Su- perior Court as provided under Section 59 of Chapter 140 of the General Laws, after Selectmen denied application to carry on automobile business at 352 Bridge Street, North Weymouth, Mass. Final Decree entered dismissing appeal.
Lawrence A. McGee vs. Weymouth Board of Assessors, Docket No. X96681 Appellate Tax Board. This was an appeal from a tax assessment, which appeal was dismissed by the Appellate Tax Board.
Several cases have been entered in Court against the Town for in- juries received on Town's sidewalks and highways which are pending.
During the year the Department has represented the School Com- mittee and the Board of Sewer Commissioners in pursuance of their re- spective construction programs.
Several pieces of property have been acquired by eminent domain for the Town following votes at Special Town Meeting.
Many conferences have been held with the members of various town boards and officials concerning the conduct of the business of the Town Deeds, easements, contracts and other legal documents have been pre- pared or reviewed as necessary.
May I thank you and through you the Town employees and officials for their complete co-operation with the Department during the year.
Respectfuly submitted,
ARTHUR A. CICCHESE Town Counsel
WEYMOUTH VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION, INC.
Cash Receipts and Disbursements for the Year Ended December 31, 1955 CASH RECEIPTS:
Nurses' Calls
$5,688.00
Town of Weymouth
7,500.00
American Cancer Society 453.00 Bed Rental 107.00
263
Chair Rental United Community Services Gifts Interest Tuition
43.00
7,000.00
570.35
236.78
94.00
Total Cash Receipts
$21.990.13
CASH DISBURSEMENTS:
Salaries
$14,968.44
Pension and F.I.C.A.
1,175.07
Workmen's Compensation Insurance
172.73
Rent
44,00
Nursing Supplies and Equipment (including purchase of Autoclave)
581.15
Laundry
130.31
Auto Expense (including purchase of new auto)
3,353.48
Office Equipment, Supplies and Expense
358.09
Professional Meetings and Conferences
55.15
Telephone
156.19
Miscellaneous
71.74
Services - Baby Clinic
660.00
Total Cash Disbursements
21,726.35
EXCESS OF CASH RECEIPTS OVER CASH DISBURSEMENTS
$263.78
CASH BALANCE JANUARY 1, 1955
465.29
CASH BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 1955
$729.07
BOARD OF FENCE VIEWERS
January 18, 1956
Honorable Board of Selectmen
Town Hall
Weymouth, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
No violation of fence regulations has come before the Fence Viewers this past year. All cases have been satisfactorily handled either by person or telephone. Such controversies as did arise due to fence problems were minor ones. The working system of the board of Fence viewers seems to be working out to good advantage to the townspeople and town officials who have cooperated in all ways to make the position of fence viewer as easy as possible. It may become advisable to consider a closer alliance with the town building inspector's department in order to take advantage of existing facilities which would bring about eventually a better fence viewing department. The Building Inspector would also benefit by be- coming informed more minutely concerning laws pertaining to fence view- ing. A report of such a study may be available next year. Thank you for help during the past year.
AMY HILL DUNCAN Secretary, Board of Fence Viewers
264
Annual Report
of the
School Department
SSET-162
ABORARE
IN
MASSACHUSETTS
YEY
1635
YMOU
WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
1955
WEYMOUTH SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Harold B. Nash, Chairman Wallace H. Drake, M.D., Vice-Chairman Theodore L. Hanabury, Secretary
Wallace H. Drake, M.D. 88 Sea Street, North Weymouth 91
George H. Thompson 611 Commercial Street, E. Weymouth 89
William A. Connell, Jr. 37 Highland Place, South Weymouth 90
Harold B. Nash 33 Carson Street, Weymouth 88
Theodore L. Hanabury 61 May Terrace, S. Weymouth 90
Edward J. Howley, M.D. 26 Hillcrest Road, E. Weymouth 89 1
William F. Shields 236 Pleasant Street, S. Weymouth 90
Term expires March, 1956 ED 5-0450
Term expires March, 1956 ED 5-1501
Term expires March, 1957 ED 5-6127
Term expires March, 1957 ED 5-4099
Term expires March, 1958 ED 5-2414
Term expires March, 1958 ED 5-8720
Term expires March, 1958 ED 5-1610
ADMINISTRATION
Elmer Stephens Mapes, Superintendent of Schools 20 Epping Street, East Weymouth 89
ED 5-3518
Harold G. Olson, Assistant Superintendent 198 Pleasant Street, South Weymouth 90
ED 5-1185
OFFICE:
Weymouth High School 89 Middle Street, East Weymouth 89
ED 5-1460
Priscilla Dunn, Secretary
66 Lone Pine Path, Weymouth 88
ED 5-5806
Josephine V. Keblis, Head Bookkeeper 54 Humphrey Street, East Weymouth 89 ED 5-6493
Phyllis Whitford, Bookkeeper 827 Southern Artery, Quincy 69
MA 9-5495
Marion J. Rogers, (Mrs.) Assistant Secretary 455 Bridge Street, N. Weymouth 91
ED 7-0054
Barbara L. Glidden, Assistant Secretary 29 Coolidge Avenue, Weymouth 88 ED 5-1448
Elizabeth M. Noonan 18 Cliff Road, E. Braintree 84 BR 2-2947M
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on all school days; 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every weekday except Saturday, when schools are not in session; at other times by appointment.
269
SCHOOL CALENDAR - 1955-1956
First Term: Opens September 7 - Closes November 10 Second Term: Opens November 14 - Closes January 27 Third Term: Opens January 30 - Closes April 6 Fourth Term: Opens April 9 - Closes June 21 (noon)
Holidays: Columbus Day, October 28 for meeting of Norfolk County Teachers' Association, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day and day follow- ing, Good Friday, Memorial Day.
Vacations: Christmas - December 22 (noon) to January 3; Winter -- February 17 to February 27; Spring - April 13 to April 23.
Opening Day for 1956-1957: September 5, 1956.
"NO SCHOOL" SIGNALS
All "No School" signals are sounded on fire alarm box 222 (three rounds), and are interpreted according to the following schedule:
7:15 a.m. No school all day All schools
7:45 a.m. No school all day Elementary Schools, Grades I to VI only
11:30 a.m. No afternoon session Elementary Schools, Grades I to VI only
NOTE: Junior Manual Arts classes are considered elementary.
In addition to the fire alarm signal, announcement will be made over Radio Stations WJDA, WNAC and WBZ. Parents and pupils are urged tc listen for the fire alarm and radio announcements and to refrain from telephoning the broadcasting stations and school officials, as telephone lines should be kept free for necessary calls.
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meetings of the Committee
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month (except August) at the High School Biuid- ing at 8:00 p.m. Meetings on the third Tuesday are open to the press.
Entrance Age
No child will be admitted to school in September unless he or she has reached the age of five years on or before the first day of April preceding.
A birth certificate is required for entrance to the first grade.
Children entering Grade I for the first time will be admitted only during the first two weeks of school.
Vaccination
No child shall be allowed to enter the first grade without a certificate of successful vaccination.
Employment Certificates
Employment certificates, educational certificates, and newsboys' badges are issued at the office of the Superintendent of Schools in the High School Building from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every weekday, except Saturday.
All persons must make personal application and present a birth cer- tificate.
270
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Weymouth:
In September of 1955 when the first day of school saw a record enroll- ment of more than nine thousand children, the residents of Weymouth shook their heads and wondered where it would all end. The total public school enrollment in the Town of Weymouth ranked Weymouth fifteenth in size of all the towns and cities of the Commonwealth.
Some indication of the celerity of Weymouth's record growth and its tremendous impact on the school system is seen in the fact that Wey- mouth's population increased 10,000 in the past five years and our total school enrollment is now more than twice the total enrollment of 1945, just ten short years ago.
To keep pace with this surging rise some anticipatory measures have been taken. The School Committee has the responsibility and duty of ad- vising the citizens of the town of the need for additional classrooms and new schools, as their need becomes obvious. A close check is kept on birth- rates, pre-school census, building permits, builder's developments and other factors, all helpful guide posts in determining our future needs. When the need is obvious and imperative, on petition of the School Committee an article is placed in the town warrant for the appointment of a Building Committee. Many people are unaware that it is the duty of the Building Committee, appointed by the Town Moderator, to select an architect and supervise the construction of a new school or addition. Only after meeting with the Appropriation Committee, whose fifteen members carefully go over all proposed building plans and costs, is the final request for money submitted for the ultimate approval of the town meeting. To date no town meeting has turned down the considered request for the construction of new schools.
This year saw the opening of three new schools in Weymouth: the twelve-room elementary Ralph Talbot School in South Weymouth, the twelve-room elementary school on Academy Avenue in East Weymouth, and the Central Junior High located on Broad and Essex Streets.
A Building Committee was recently appointed by the moderator to erect a replacement for the Shaw School as well as a replacement for the Center Portable School on Washington Street.
For the next school year only, upon a fixed tuition charge for each pupil, the School Committee has agreed to accept some High School pupils from the Town of Hull until their own new high school building is ready for occupancy. As the tuition charge will more than offset the cost to the Town of Weymouth, this will be no burden on Weymouth taxpayers.
Because of the huge enrollment in Weymouth it will mean that in an- other six years there will be three thousand pupils of Junior High School age, with presently available facilities for only twenty-three hundred pupils.
The present High School facilities will accommodate sixteen hundred pupils and discounting any additional population increase in this age group there will be three thousand pupils of High School age nine years from now. These two instances present ascertainable future problems. Still to be coped with is the problem of only slightly less predictable gram- mar school enrollment increases.
Faced with these difficulties, the School Committee appointed an "advisory group" composed of a group of citizens who had served in the
271
public interest on building committees to study and recommend solutions to some of these future enrollment problems as well as to advise concern- ing sites for future school building.
To compete with local communities in attracting competent teachers to our Weymouth School System and to retain our own highly qualified teaching staff it has been necessary to raise the minimum pay to $3,200.00 and to increase the maximum to $5,000.00, to be effective next September, the beginning of the school year. Because of these and other salary ad- justments among school employees together with the hiring of new teach- ers to staff the new schools the operational budget, which is appended, has been increased approximately fifteen per cent.
Of interest to Weymouth fathers and mothers is the awarding of the Transportation contract for three years from January 1, 1956 to the Hud- son Bus Company which has done an excellent job in transporting our pupils.
This year for the first time the class for exceptional children has been held in the Jefferson School, which is a vast improvement over the former accommodations. This year for the first time also, because of the lively interest on the part of the pupils, Hockey has been added to the school sports curriculum.
This year marked the initiation of the seven member school board, and the creation of the position of vice-chairman. Because of the in- creased school business, members of the school committee have met on a semi-monthly basis.
We are aware of the fact that our schools and personnel are second to none in the Commonwealth. This has undoubtedly been a potent factor in our tremendous population increase. Our aim is to maintain continuing high standards.
Attached is a report of our 1956 operational budget, together with the expenditures for 1955.
ADMINISTRATION
Account Classification
Expenditures 1955
Estimates 1956
Salaries
$38,245.53
$40,817.00
Legal Expense
350.00
500.00
Building Program Expense
276.17
500.00
Other General Expense
3,046.89
2,900.00
Total
$41,918.59
$44,717.00
INSTRUCTION
Salaries of Directors, Supervisors, Principals, and Teachers
$1,414,906.18
$1,643,670.00
Expenses of Directors, Supervisors, Principals, and Teachers
18,530.96
21,408.00
Textbooks
34,194.35
39,520.00
Supplies
57,008.77
62,340.00
Other Expenses of Instruction
692.65
900.00
Total
$1,525,332.91
$1,767,838.00
272
OPERATION OF SCHOOL PLANT
Custodians' Salaries
$124,872.81
$149,151.00
Fuel
33,476.69
37,640 00
Light and Power
22,993.05
27,600.00
Water
2,751.93
3,675.00
Telephones
4,133.37
4,825.00
Custodians' Supplies
14,798.30
14,300.00
Total
$203,026.15
$237,191.00
MAINTENANCE OF SCHOOL PLANT
Salaries
$44,807.00
$52,054.00
Materials and Supplies, non-contract
22,097.45
24,425.00
Repair of Buildings and Equipment, by contract
7,346.87
45,670.00
Replacement of Equipment
2,255.55
15,205.00
Other Expense
837.08
855.00
Total
$77,343.95
$138,209.00
AUXILIARY AGENCIES
Library Books and Supplies
$6,157.51
$7,250.00
Graduation Expense
674.56
550.00
Promotion of Health
17,253.53
20,260.00
Transportation of Pupils
78,484.14
81,286.00
Tuition
5,250.33
7,495.00
Athletics
5,756.07
13,135.00
Support of Truants
327.71
School Lunch Program
4,500.00
Insurance
1,320.30
3,361.00
Rent (Clapp Memorial)
320.00
Other Expense
50.00
Total
$115,544.15
$137,887.00
OUTLAY AND NEW EQUIPMENT
Capital Outlay
$408.24
$12,000.00
New Equipment
1,722.50
17,965.00
Total
$2,130.74*
$29,965.00
DAY VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
Salaries of Director and Teachers
$86,861.04
$90,641.00
Expenses of Director's Office
3,793.53
4,217.00
Textbooks
2,000.32
1,700.00
Supplies
13,101.64
12,300.00
Operation of Plant
9,372.85
9,100.00
Repair of Buildings
2,820.42
2,000.00
Repair and Replacement of Equipment
5,440.84
3,072.00
Transportation of Pupils
3,546.00
3,333.00
New Equipment
506.06
1,842.00
Total
$127,442.70
$128,205.00
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EVENING SCHOOLS
Commercial
$1,240.97
$1,060.00
Woodworking
1,445.74
1,225.00
Practical Arts
6,429.32
6,400.00
Adult Civic Education
188.46
190.00
Part-time Apprenticeship Trade Extension
1,193.54
1,050.00
126.00
525.00
Total
$10,624.03
$10,450.00
TRAVELING EXPENSE
Out of State
$435.19
$550.00
In State
380.81
400.00
Total
$816.00
$950.00
TOTALS:
1955 Expenditures
$2,104,179.22
Balance 1955 account
$41,795.74
1956 Estimates
$2,495,412.00
WAR VETERANS' PENSIONS
$4,985.00
$4,985.00
TOWN HALL HEATING
$3,268.16
$3,530.00
HALL RENTALS
$9,749.43
$13,480.00
*The following amounts were expended from Federal Funds:
Maintenance
$32,751.46
Outlay and New Equipment
26,877.35
CREDITS
The following income was received by the Town in 1955 as credits to the schools. The law requires that the Town shall appropriate the full amount of the school budget, but in determining the net cost for the sup- port of schools these amounts should be deducted.
TOTAL EXPENDITURES, 1955
$2,104,179.22
CREDITS:
State Reimbursements:
Equalization Aid
$257,503.87
Special Class Aid
15,285.58
Transportation
13,638.99
Day Vocational*
45,199.11
Evening Practical Arts*
3,536.82
Evening Apprenticeship*
232.70
Tuition Paid to Out-of-Town Trade Schools
1,269.14
Adult Civic Education*
70.00
$336,736.21
* for one-half cost of instruction
274
Tuition :
Day Vocational and
Evening Apprenticeship
$15,492.40
State Wards
4,503.06
High School
179.20
Elementary Grades
200.00
Agricultural Department High School
1,317.12
21,691.78
Miscellaneous Cash Receipts:
Day Vocational School Sales:
Auto Repairs
$343.97
Cabinetmaking
1,595.22
Carpentry
666.72
Printing
732.06
Sheet Metal
1,577.36
Supplies, etc.
295.70
5,211.03
Manual Arts Sales
849.62
Junior Manual Arts Sales
104.05
Evening Practical Arts Sales
237.51
Fines, damages, refunds, sale of supplies, etc.
1,882.09
8,284.30
TOTAL CREDITS
366,712.29
TOTAL NET COST TO TOWN
$1,737,466.93
FEDERAL FUNDS RECEIVED UNDER PUBLIC LAW 874
April 4, 1955
$30,811.00
May 23, 1955 December 15, 1955
11,850.00
17,500.00
$60,161.00
FEDERAL FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR VOCATIONAL DEPARTMENTS
Smith-Hughes Fund:
Day Vocational School
$1,258.00
Evening Practical Arts 226.00 $1,484.00
George-Barden Fund:
Day Vocational School
1,739.10 $3,223.10
Respectfully submitted, HAROLD B. NASH, Chairman WALLACE H. DRAKE, M.D., Vice-Chairman THEODORE L. HANABURY, Secretary WILLIAM A. CONNELL, JR. EDWARD J. HOWLEY, M.D.
WILLIAM F. SHIELDS GEORGE H. THOMPSON
275
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Members of the School Committee:
I respectfully submit my eleventh report as Superintendent of Schools the seventieth report in such a series:
Excerpts from the reports of directors, supervisors, and special teach- ers follow :
ART
As 1955 draws to a close, the members of the Art Staff of the Wey- mouth Public Schools are grateful because of the continuing improvement made in the art rooms and storage facilities. After many years of effort, study and planning to better conditions under which art has been ad- ministered and taught, we now have as accomplished facts functional. well equipped art rooms in the three junior high schools, each successively more adequate, and a good sized general storage area for town art sup- plies in the basement of the Central Junior High. It is a dream come true for which we are truly thankful.
With the expanding numbers enrolled in our schools, the Elementary Art Supervisors visit the rooms in their districts only once in three weeks, instead of every two weeks. In this way the room instruction period has been lengthened, but the visits are less frequent and are often inter- rupted by holidays. October 12, November 11, Thanksgiving, and other such days mean that certain schools are not visited for intervals of from six to nine weeks. A return to the two-week schedule next year is im- portant, and, by the addition of another Elementary Art Supervisor, it can be accomplished.
At the high school level, the physical set-up is still too cramped. It is as it was thirty years ago. However, 1955-56 will not be too much of a problem, because of the smaller high school enrollment this year, but this is only a temporary condition, due to the changing from a four to a three year basis. So, in looking ahead, it is very easy to see that when the heavy enrollment now in junior high reaches the high school, we shall be struggling with numbers far too great for the present accom- modations and many students wishing to take art will be unable to do so.
The quality of the art work being done at all levels is good and, with classes less crowded this September, results will certainly be better. This is already true of the classes which last year were on double session in the Junior Annex. Now, at Central Junior High, where space and pro- fessionally trained art teachers provide a proper setting, the children are blossoming forth. All of the junior high schools have had a wide variety of art experiences involving drawing, painting, design, simple crafts, mobiles, stage settings, dance decorations, and bulletin board and case displays. All have been done with interest, vitality, and skill.
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