USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Abington > Town annual report of the officers and committees, 1940 > Part 11
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Balance January 1, 1941 $3,014.48
Selling price in excess of book value on sale of tax possession January 1 to 15, 1941 111.78
$3,126.26
Payments to treasurer January 1 to 15, 1941 $420.00
Balance January 15, 1941, per list 2,706.26
$3,126.26
SELECTMEN'S LICENSES AND PERMITS Outstanding January 1, 1940 $31.00
Licenses issued :
Auctioneers'
$8.00
233
Automobile dealers'
100.00
Gasoline
4.00
Junk
90.00
Liquor
20.00
Peddlers'
3,250.00
Pool and billiards
20.00
Sunday
24.00
Theater
5.00
Victuallers'
27.00
3,548.00
$3,579.00
Payments to treasurer
$3,550.00
Abatements
18.00
Outstanding December 31, 1940
11.00
$3,579.00
Outstanding January 1, 1941
$11.00
Licenses issued January 1 to February 3, 1941 :
Gasoline
$4.00
Sunday
2.00
Victualler's
1.00
7.00
$18.00
Payments to treasurer :
January 1 to 15, 1941
$2.00
January 16 to February 3, 1941 4.00
$6.00
Outstanding February 3, 1941, per list
9.00
Cash on hand February 3, 1941, verified
3.00
$18.00
SALE OF HURRICANE LUMBER
Charges 1940
$640.04
Payments to treasurer $514.77
Outstanding December 31, 1940,
and January 15, 1941, per list 125.27
$640.04
TOWN CLERK Dog Licenses
Licenses issued 1940:
Males
205 @ $2.00
$410.00
234
Spayed females 62 @ 2.00
124.00
Females 24 @ 5.00
120.00
$654.00
Payments to treasurer 1940
$595.80
Fees retained 1940 58.20
$654.00
Sporting Licenses
Licenses issued 1940
$523.00
Payments to Division of Fisheries and Game 1940
$464.00
Fees retained 1940
59.00
$523.00
Licenses issued January 1 to 15, 1941
$124.50
Cash on hand January 15, 1941, verified $124.50
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Fees 1940 $77.77
Payments to treasurer 1940
$77.77
HEALTH DEPARTMENT Accounts Receivable
Outstanding January 1, 1940
$529.77 263.57
$793.34
Abatements
$269.06
Audit adjustment :
Health department accounts re- ceivable reported as estimated receipts 524.28
$793.34
Licenses
Outstanding January 1, 1940 Licenses issued 1940:
$1.00
Denatured alcohol
$2.00
Ice cream
125.00
Milk
10.00
Pasteurization
27.00
164.00
$165.00
Payments to treasurer
$163.50
Outstanding December 31, 1940
1.50
$165.00
Charges
235
Outstanding January 1, 1941
$1.50
Licenses issued January 1 to Feb- ruary 3, 1941 : Milk $ .50
Pasteurization 10.00
10.50
$12.00
Outstanding February 3, 1941, per list $1.00
Cash on hand February 3, 1941, verified 11.00
$12.00
DENTAL CLINIC
Collections 1940
$73.70
Payments to treasurer 1940
$73.70
Collections January 1 to 31, 1941 $8.60
Cash on hand January 31, 1941, verified
$8.60
PUBLIC WELFARE DEPARTMENT Hospital Bills-Accounts Receivable Outstanding January 1, 1940 $495.24
Audit adjustment: Collection of charges not pre- viously reported 129.00
$624.24
Payments to treasurer
$154.00
Audit adjustment : Collection charges
51.00
Hospital bills accounts receiv- able reported as temporary aid accounts receivable 50.00
Outstanding December 31, 1940,
and January 15, 1941, per list 369.24
$624.24
Temporary Aid-Accounts Receivable Outstanding January 1, 1940 $1,186.46 13,742.07
Charges
236
Audit adjustments :
Collection of charges not re- ported 245.22
Hospital bills accounts receiv- able reported as temporary aid accounts receivable 50.00
Old age assistance accounts re- ceivable reported as temporary aid accounts receivable 78.75
$15,302.50
Payments to treasurer Abatements 685.69
$13,046.31
Outstanding December 31, 1940,
and January 15, 1941, per list 1,570.50
$15,302.50
PUBLIC WELFARE DEPARTMENT Aid to Dependent Children-Accounts Receivable Outstanding January 1, 1940 $1,946.05
Charges 2,037.92
$3,983.97
Payments to treasurer
$1,549.05
Abatements 397.00
Outstanding December 31, 1940
2,037.92
$3,983.97
Outstanding January 1, 1941
$2,037.92
Payments to treasurer January 1 to 15, 1941
$1,161.64
Outstanding January 15, 1941, per list
876.28
$2,037.92
Old Age Assistance-Accounts Receivable
Outstanding January 1, 1940
$10,578.79 100,857.42
Charges
Audit adjustment:
Collections in excess of charges reported 503.74
$111,939.95
Payments to treasurer
$27,375.40
Abatements 506.49
237
Audit adjustments :
Charges reported in excess 70,174.65
Abatements not reported 310.48
Old age assistance accounts re- ceivable reported as tempo- rary aid accounts receivable 78.75
Outstanding December 31, 1940 13,494.18
$111,939.95
Outstanding January 1, 1941
$13,494.18
Payments to treasurer January 1 to 15, 1941 $46.67
Outstanding January 15, 1941, per list
13,447.51
$13,494.18
STATE AID Accounts Receivable
Outstanding January 1, 1940
$408.00
Charges 470.00
Audit adjustment:
Collection in excess of charges reported 10.40
$888.40
Audit adjustment:
State aid accounts receivable re-
ported as estimated receipts $418.40
Outstanding December 31, 1940,
and January 15, 1941, per list 470.00
$888.40
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT Miscellaneous Receipts
Receipts 1940:
Rent of auditorium
$135.00
Sale of books and supplies
13.25
Sanitary machines
13.00
Manual training
11.20
Insurance refunds
2.97
Miscellaneous
2.30
Payments to treasurer 1940
$177.72 $177.72
238
Receipts January 1 to 30, 1941 :
Sanitary machines Sale of books and supplies
$1.20 .05
$1.25
Cash on hand January 30, 1941, verified
$1.25
LIBRARY DEPARTMENT
Cash balance January 1, 1940
$6.06 161.26
Collections
$167.32
Payments to treasurer
$144.47
Cash balance December 31, 1940
22.85
$167.32
Cash balance January 1, 1941
$22.85
Collections January 1 to Febru- ary 1, 1941 15.24
$38.09
Payments to treasurer January 1 to February 1, 1941
$22.85
Cash on hand February 1, 1941, verified 15.24
$38.09
WATER RATES
Outstanding January 1, 1940
$2,513.63
Commitment per warrants
22,217.96
Audit adjustments :
Water services reported as water rates
10.00
Unlocated difference
2.00
Payments to treasurer $22,426.29
Abatements
80.02
Transferred to water liens
948.23
Water rates reported as water services 14.75
Outstanding December 31, 1940
1,274.30
$24,743.59
Outstanding January 1, 1941 $1,274.30
Commitments per warrants Janu- ary 1 to 15, 1941 12,720.41
Overpayments to be refunded
16.91
$14,011.62
$24,743.59
239
Payments to treasurer January 1 to 15, 1941 $3,494.25
Outstanding January 15, 1941, per list 10,144.15
Cash on hand January 15, 1941, verified 373.22
$14,011.62
WATER SERVICES
Outstanding January 1, 1940
$109.20
Commitments per warrants 763.99
Water rates reported as water services 14.75
$887.94
Payments to treasurer
$780.99
Transferred to water liens
2.00
Audit adjustment :
Water services reported as water rates
10.00
Outstanding December 31, 1940
94.95
$887.94
Outstanding January 1, 1941
$94.95
Commitment per warrant Janu- ary 1 to 15, 1941 7.83
$102.78
Payments to treasurer January 1 to 15, 1941 $2.00
Outstanding January 15, 1941, per list 92.95
Cash on hand January 15, 1941, verified 7.83
$102.78
WATER LIENS
Outstanding January 1, 1940
$3,982.27
Commitment per warrant 1,019.23
Audit adjustment :
Interest on taxes reported as
water liens
232.37
$5,233.87
Payments to treasurer
$1,924.25
240
Audit adjustments :
Water liens added to taxes 1939 not previously reported 498.68
Water liens added to taxes 1940 not previously reported 1,493.17
Water liens added to tax titles not reported 122.70
Outstanding December 31, 1940 1,195.07
$5,233.87
Outstanding January 1, 1941 $1,195.07
Overpayments to be refunded 18.60
$1,213.67
Outstanding January 15, 1941, per
list
$1,210.67
Cash balance January 15, 1941
3.00
$1,213.67
WATER LIENS ADDED TO TAXES 1939 Audit adjustment :
Water liens added to taxes 1939 not pre- viously reported $498.68
Outstanding December 31, 1940, and Janu- ary 15, 1941, per list $498.68
WATER LIENS ADDED TO TAXES 1940 Audit adjustment :
Water liens added to taxes 1940 not pre- viously reported $1,493.17 Outstanding December 31, 1940 $1,493.17
Outstanding January 1, 1941
$1,493.17
Payments to treasurer January 1 to 15, 1941 $3.30
Outstanding January 15, 1941, per list 1,489.87
$1,493.17
ABINGTON-ROCKLAND JOINT WATER RATES Cash balance January 1, 1940 $24.34 176.21
Outstanding January 1, 1940
2,498.80
Charges $2,699.35
24]
Payments to Rockland town treas- urer
$2,391.22
Outstanding December 31, 1940 243.54
Cash balance December 31, 1940 64.59
$2,699.35
Cash balance January 1, 1941
$64.59
Outstanding January 1, 1941
243.54
Charges January 1 to February 3, 1941
1,113.49
$1,421.62
Payments to Rockland town treas- urer January 1 to February 3, 1941
$802.55
Outstanding February 3, 1941, per list 582.15
Cash on hand February 3, 1941, verified 36.92
$1,421.62
TOWN OF ROCKLAND IN ACCOUNT WITH TOWN OF ABINGTON JOINT WATER RATES
Due town of Abington January 1, 1940 $105.91
Due town of Abington one-half of joint funds received by town of Rockland:
Rates $1,195.61
Services and miscel-
laneous 19.05
1,214.66
$1,320.57
Payments to town of Abington
$1,160.59
Due town of Abington December 31, 1940 159.98
$1,320.57
Due town of Abington January 1, 1941 $159.98
Due town of Abington one-half of joint funds received by town of Rockland, January 1 to Febru- ary 3, 1941 419.74
$579.72
242
Payments to town of Abington January 1 to February 3, 1941 $159.98
Due town of Abington February 3, 1941
419.74
$579.72
BLANCHE A. SYLVESTER LIBRARY FUND In Custody of Treasurer of Library Trustees
Savings
Deposits
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1940 On hand at end of year 1940 and January 15, 1941
$1,001.17 $1,001.17
Receipts
Payments
1940
Withdrawn from
savings deposits
$2.13
Expended for books $27.36
Income
25.23
$27.36
$27.36
FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY LIBRARY FUND In Custody of Treasurer of Library Trustees
Savings
Deposits
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1940 On hand at end of year 1940 and January 15, 1941
$1,500.77
$1,500.77
$1,500.00 $1,500.00
Receipts
Payments
1940
Withdrawn from
savings deposits $ .77
37.50
$38.27
$38.27
GERTRUDE M. GLEASON LIBRARY FUND In Custody of Treasurer of Library Trustees Savings Deposits Total $500.60 $500.60
On hand at beginning of year 1940
Expended for books $38.27
Income
$1,003.30
$1,003.30
243
Receipts
Payments
1940
Withdrawn from
savings deposits
$ .23
Expended for books $12.81
Income
12.58
$12.81
$12.81
ADDIE L. CONGER LIBRARY FUND In Custody of Treasurer of Library Trustees
Savings Deposits
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1940
On hand at end of year 1940
$5,041.66 $5,041.66
On hand January 15, 1941
$5,002.18 $5,002.18
Receipts
Payments
1940
Bequest
$5,000.00
Deposited in sav- ings bank $5,000.00
Income
41.66
Added to savings deposits 41.66
$5,041.66
$5,041.66
January 1 to 15, 1941
Withdrawn from
savings deposits $39.48
Expended for books $39.48
ELIZABETH K. NASH PARK FUND In Custody of Town Treasurer
Savings Deposits
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1940 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 On hand at end of year 1940 and January 15, 1941 $3,074.04 $3,074.04
244
Receipts
Payments
1940
Income
$75.46
Added to savings deposits $74.04 Transferred to town for park pur- poses 1.42
$75.46
$75.46
MARTHA F. ARNOLD PARK FUND In Custody of Town Treasurer
Savings Deposits
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1940 On hand at end of year 1940 and January 15, 1941
$5,162.92
$5,162.92
$5,000.00 $5,000.00
Receipts
Payments
1940
Withdrawn from
savings deposits $162.92
Income
129.87
Transferred to town for park purposes $292.79
$292.79
$292.79
EMILY D. POOLE PARK FUND In Custody of Town Treasurer
Savings Deposits
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1940 On hand at end of year 1940 and January 15, 1941
$3,019.40
$3,019.40
$3,000.00 $3,000.00
Receipts
Payments
1940
Withdrawn from savings deposits
$19.40 75.95
Transferred to town for park purposes $95.35
Income
$95.35
$95.35
245
CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS In Custody of Town Treasurer
Savings
Deposits
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1940
$3,926.42 $3,926.42
On hand at end of year 1940 and January 15, 1941
$4,431.01 $4,431.01
Receipts
Payments
1940
Income
Bequests
503.75
$98.62 Added to savings deposits $504.59
Transferred to town for care of lots 97.78
$602.37
$602.37
TOWN OF ABINGTON BALANCE SHEET-Dec. 31, 1940 General Accounts
ASSETS
LIABILITIES AND RESERVES
Cash :
In Banks and Office
$61,852.04
Temporary Loans: In Anticipation of Revenue 1939 $35,000.00
Accounts Receivable:
In Anticipation of Revenue 1940
65,000.00
Taxes:
$100,000.00
Levy of 1927
$96.57
Levy of 1928
130.15
Levy of 1929
111.31
Levy of 1930
3.40
Tailings-Unclaimed Checks
140.24
Levy of 1931
3.52
Abatements . and Payments and Overpay- ments to Collector to be Refunded
53.42
Levy of 1933
3.40
Sale of Real Estate Fund
379.16
Levy of 1934
3.80
Surplus War Bonus Fund
3,273.62
Levy of 1935
77.26
Levy of 1936
118.37
Fire Insurance Fund - Reimbursement for Loss of High School
280.23
Levy of 1937
126.11
Accrued Interest and Premium on Loans
159.63
Levy of 1938
387.49
Proceeds of Dog Licenses-Due County 10.80
Levy of 1939
34,102.83
Levy of 1940
72,275.26
Overestimate 1940-State Assessment:
107,442.99
Parks and Reservations 16.80
246
Levy of 1932
3.52
Tax Title Redemptions Reserved for Pay- ment of Loan 418.52
Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes:
Levy of 1936
$11.35
Levy of 1937
74.47
Levy of 1938
49.61
Levy of 1939
34.42
Levy of 1940
298.76
Aid to Dependent Children:
468.61
Tax Titles
$20,911.24
Tax Possessions
3,014.48
+-
23,925.72
Departmental:
Hospital Bills
$369.24
Temporary Aid
1,570.50
Aid to Dependent Children
2,037.92
Old Age Assistance
13,494.18
State Aid
470.00
17,941.84
Water Department:
Rates
$1,274.30
Services
94.95
Veterans' Burial Expenses
100.00
Liens
1,195.07
School Construction P.W.A.
70.61
Added to Taxes 1939
498.68
Schools-General Expense
1,250.00
Added to Taxes 1940
1,493.17
Preservation of Dunbar Street School
100.00
247
Tax Sale Expense
$101.60
Tax Title Foreclosures
8.05
Zoning Committee 150.00
Gypsy Moth
.65
Snow Removal
21.43
Hancock Street Construction
5,118.02
Hancock Street Land Damage
468.61
Welch Fund
46.14
4,556.17
Federal Grants: Old Age Assistance: Administration $199.75
Assistance 194.24
$393.99
Administration $31.46
Assistance 74.69
106.15
500.14
Water Receipts Reserved for Appropriation 1,923.37
Unexpended Balances:
BALANCE SHEET - Continued
Overlay Deficits:
Levy of 1926
$100.64
Levy of 1932
28.16
W. P. A. Projects 4,245.25
12,180.36
Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus
516.33
Overlays Reserved for Abatement of Taxes:
Levy of 1937
$126.11
Levy of 1939
1,452.89
Levy of 1940
610.00
Underestimate 1940, State Assessment:
Hospital Care of Veterans
73.07
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax $468.61
Tax Title and Tax Possession
23,925.72
Departmental
17,941.84
Water
4,556.17
46,892.34
Surplus Revenue
50,066.10
$219,000.06
$219,000.06
248
Revenue 1941-Appropriations Voted in 1940 to be Provided for in 1941
2,050.00
Tri-Town Armistice Day Celebration 500.00
Levy of 1933
27.20
Levy of 1934
30.40
Levy of 1935
33.20
Levy of 1936
50.34
Levy of 1938
419.68
689.62
2,189.00
Revenue Reserved Until Collected:
Debt Accounts
Net Funded or Fixed Debt
$312,767.77
School Construction Loans
$191,000.00
Water Loans
21,500.00
Water Standpipe Loan
6,500.00
Emergency Finance Loan
21,767.77
Municipal Relief Loans
72,000.00
; $312,767.77
$312,767.77
Trust Funds
Blanche A. Sylvester Library Fund
$1,001.17
Trust Funds, Cash and Securities: In Custody of Library Trustees
$8,043.20
First Unitarian Society Library Fund
1,500.00
In Custody of Town Treasurer
15,505.05
Gertrude M. Gleason Library Fund
500.37
Addie L. Conger Library Fund
5,041.66
$8,043.20
Elizabeth K. Nash Park Fund
$3,074.04
Martha F. Arnold Park Fund
5,000.00
Emily D. Poole Park Fund
3,000.00
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds
4,431.01
15,505.05
$23,548.25
$23,548.25
249
215
1
1
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF ABINGTON
ON
M
S
NAMOOSKEAGIN
F. A
CI
O·N
· TOW
SETTS.
CO
RPC
For the Year Ending December 31
1940
SANDERSON BROTHERS NORTH ABINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
2
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Members Term Expires
George F. Garrity, Chairman 1942 626 Washington St., Abington, Rock. 531-M
Merrill D. Haskins, Vice-Chairman 1943
652 Washington St., Abington, Rock. 739-M
H. Palmer Blake, 1942
1097 Washington St., No. Abington, Rock. 1356
Henry E. Claflin, 1943
1164 Washington St., No. Abington, Rock. 792-J
Mrs. John Kent, 1941
966 Hancock, Abington R. F. D., Rock. 824-M-4
SUPERINTENDENT
Derwood A. Newman Tel .- School-Rock. 1530-W 199 Rockland St., Abington Home-Rock. 132
SECRETARY
Marie M. Nogueira, 54 Lake St., Abington
SECRETARY OF THE COMMITTEE Gracie M. Tupper, 48 Chapel St., Abington, Tel. Rock. 691-M
PRINCIPALS
Edward Landy, High School 1238 Washington Street, North Abington, Tel. School Rock. 1530-R Home Rock. 1247-M
Charles F. Frahar, North School
36 East Avenue, Whitman, Tel. Whitman 623-W Clare A. Crowley,
Center School
168 Walnut St., Abington, Tel. Rock. 1365
TRUANT OFFICERS
Everett Atwood,
1121 Washington St., No. Abington, Tel. Rock. 929 Marjorie A. Eagan, 868 Bedford St., No. Abington, Tel. Rock. 1163-W
3
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Dr. Myles S. Record, 64 Centre Ave., Abington, Tel. Rock. 71
SCHOOL DENTIST
Dr. John W. Chessman, 693 Washington St., Abington, Tel. Rock. 815
SCHOOL NURSE
Marjorie A. Eagan, Tel. Rock. 1163-W
SCHOOL SESSIONS
High School 8 A. M. to 2 P. M.
Abington Center School
8:45 to 11:40 A. M .; 1:15 to 3:19 P. M.
North Abington School 9:00 to 11:45 A. M .; 1:15 to 3:30 P. M.
NO SCHOOL SIGNALS
Elementary Grades only-For No Schol during morn- ing sessions, two blasts three times at 8:00 A. M., and an- nouncement over Station WNAC, WBZ, and WEEI between 7:30 and 8:30; no afternoon session, the same signal sounded at 12:30 P. M., and radio announcement between 11:45 and 12:30.
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1941 WINTER TERM
Opened December 30
Closes February 21
SPRING TERM
Opens March 3
Closes April 18
SUMMER TERM
Opens April 28
Closes
June 13
FALL TERM
Opens September 3 Closes December 24
HOLIDAYS
January 1, Good Friday April 11, May 30, October 13 Day for Plymouth County Teachers' Convention, No- vember 11, Friday Following Thanksgiving.
4
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
For the Two Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Year Ending December 31, 1940
The School Committee submits the following report :
Usually, the first order of business following the An- nual Election in March is for the Committee to organize. During the past year, organization was postponed from time to time due to the fact that, either, all of the mem- bers were not present at the particular meeting or that there was more important business to be transacted. It, however, finally took place in May. So that, from January to May, the officers of your Committee were the same as in 1939, namely, Mrs. Blanche Wheeler, Chair- man; George F. Garrity, Vice-Chairman; and Mrs. Gracie Tupper as Secretary.
At the time when the matter of organization for 1940 was taken up, the Committee were disappointed to learn that Mrs. Wheeler, who had been a member of your Committee since March of 1938 and Chairman since April of 1939, declined to continue as Chairman. She stated that she expected, within a short while, to take up her residence in Plymouth, Massachusetts. This would necessitate not only her resigning the Chairman- ship later, but also her membership on the Committee. While those members of the Committee who had worked with Mrs. Wheeler and were aware of the valu- able time and energy which she had given to the work of the School Department regretted to lose her services and association, an organization had to be effected and this was accomplished with George F. Garrity as Chair- man; Merrill D. Haskins, Vice-Chairman; and Gracie L. Tupper, Secretary.
Later, when the resignation of Mrs. Wheeler as a member of the Committee became effective, a petition relative to filling the vacancy was presented to the School Committee. This petition, initiated by the West Abington Improvement Assciation, contained the sig- natures of two hundered and twenty-eight interested citizens who endorsed the nomination of Mrs. Norma C. Kent, of West Abington. Following a joint meeting
5
with the Board of Selectmen, Mrs. Kent was, at the meeting held August 26, 1940, welcomed as a new mem- ber of the Committee. Therefore, as this report covers the entire year and although Mrs. Kent signs, it is only fair to relate here that she should not be held respon- sible for anything which transpired previous to that date.
As the reports of the Superintendent, Principals, Supervisors, and Department Heads deal more inti- mately with the curriculum, its weakness or its perfec- tion, little-if any-reference will be made herein. It may be in order, however, to note some change which has been effected or some progress made, as well as to endorse the work that is being done and to express a word of commendation for the improvement noted.
During the past year, the School system was the re- cipient of many gifts in the nature of books, furniture, and equipment. For these, your Committee has already expressed its gratitude directly to donors. It, however, wishes to record it here also not so much for the respec- tive gifts alone, but for the thoughtfulness of the donors and their apparent interest in the welfare of the schools.
From January to December, 1940, your Committee held fifteen regular and special meetings, exclusive of those sessions held to select a new Superintendent.
At these meetings, in conjunction with the Superin- tendent, a general discussion as to the budget, its ex- penditures in relation to the school program and the cost of operation of buildings, the school program itself, and the chances for improvement, the teaching staff, the re- tarded pupils, uniform course of study, new books, all matters proper for discussion by any school committee, was had. Furthermore, it having been our aim to keep the Commercial Department as well as the Manual Training Course up to date, considerable attention was given thereto. We feel that the budget permitting, both of these departments should be brought up to such a point. that a pupil therein, upon completion of his course, may take something practical away with him. This year, we felt it necessary to add further to our equipment by purchasing a mimeograph machine, and a fluid duplicator for the Commercial Department, and a circular saw for the shop.
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With a committee of five responsible for the disburse- ment of approximately ninety thousand dollars, a personnel of approximately fifty, the education of ap- proximately ten hundred and seventy-five pupils and the uncertainty at this time of the annual average cost of operating three new buildings, the life of its members is hardly a dull one. Many problems develop.
One of the many problems confronting us is the re- quests for the use of the buildings by outside parties for other than school purposes. This presents a problem in two ways: One, the expense incidental to such use, while not contemplated when our budget is submitted, must be paid out of such budget, while any moneys received as rental must be paid into the Town Treasury. The second angle remains, however. How far should a school committee engage in the real estate business? If we are, what rate should be charged? If we set a rate to cover the bare actual cost to the School Depart- ment, it eventually results in unfair competition with those property owners having similar accommodation for rent. If a property owner does not receive a fair return, the first step is an abatement of his taxes or else a razing of the building, ultimately resulting in a loss in the assessed valuation of the Town. This problem is still under consideration. We feel that eventually, in fairness to all concerned-including the taxpayer,-the donation of the use of the facilities available without any charge must be discontinued and that at least a minimum charge covering actual cost must be charged in all cases. We ask the indulgence of all parties inter- ested while we arrive at the proper solution.
Another problem which confronted your Committee this year was the selection of a new Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Franklin P. Hawkes, who came here from Arlington, Massachusetts on December 1, 1938, resigned as of July 1st to accept a similar position at West Spring- field, Mass., at a most substantial increase in salary. We who have been in close touch with the work of Dr. Hawkes realize how much he has contributed to the School Department at a time when a real executive as well as a great educator was needed in the position of Superintendent. Dr. Hawkes took with him to his new position the gratitude and sincere wishes of those in- terested in the progress made by the Abington Schools
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under his direction. Dr. Hawkes was succeeded by Dr. Derwood A. Newman, who for the past several years, has served as Superintendent and Principal of the High School at Lancaster, Mass. In the short time Dr. New- man has been here, your Committee has reason to be- lieve that we are in good hands.
In addition to the vacancy created by the resignation of Dr. Hawkes, other vacancies arose during the past year through the resignation of Miss Josephine Lynes of the Home Economics Course; Eric Gardner, of the Mathematics Course; and Miss Jessie W. Stewart and H. Edgar Pray of the Commercial Department. Their places were filled by Miss Virginia M. Higgins of Win- throp, Mass., a graduate of Regis College; John K. Moulton, now of Abington, and a holder of a Master's Degree from Harvard College; Miss Margaret Curtin, a graduate of Simmons College; and Leonard Palopoli of Bridgewater Normal, both of Abington, respectively.
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