USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1937-1939 > Part 44
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Gentlemen:
I submit herewith my report of an audit of the books and accounts of the town of Scituate for the year ending December 31, 1938, made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44, General Laws. This is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. Herman B. Dine, Assistant Director of Accounts.
Very truly yours, THEODORE N. WADDELL,
Director of Accounts.
TNW:FC
154
STATE AUDIT REPORT
Mr. Theodore N. Waddell
Director of Accounts
Department of Corporations and Taxation
State House, Boston
Sir:
In accordance with your instructions, I have made an audit of the books and accounts of the town of Scituate for the year ending December 31, 1938, and submit the following report thereon:
The records of the financial transactions of the several departments receiving or disbursing money for the town, or committing bills for collection, were examined, checked, and verified by a comparison with the reports and the records in the office of the town accountant.
The ledger accounts were analyzed, the appropriations, loan orders, and transfers being checked with the town clerk's records of town meetings and with the records of the advisory committee. A balance sheet showing the financial condition of the town on December 31, 1938, was prepared and is appended to this report.
The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examined and checked. The cash book additions were verified, and the recorded receipts were analyzed and compared with the town accountant's ledger and with the records of the de- partments making payments to the treasurer. The payments by the treasurer were compared with the selectmen's warrants authorizing the disbursement of town funds.
The treasurer's cash balance on January 28, 1939, was proved by a reconcilia- tion of the bank balances with statements furnished by the banks in which town funds are deposited.
The recorded payments on account of maturing debt and interest were com- pared with the amounts falling due and with the cancelled securities and coupons on file.
The records of tax titles held by the town were examined and checked. The amounts added to the tax title account were compared with the collector's records, the reported redemptions and foreclosures were proved, and the tax titles on hand were listed and checked with the records in the Registry of Deeds.
The savings bank books representing the investments of the trust funds in the custody of the selectmen were examined and listed, the income being proved and the disbursements being verified.
The books and accounts of the town collector were examined and checked. The accounts outstanding at the time of the previous examination were audited and all subsequent commitments were proved. The payments to the treasurer by the collector were checked to the treasurer's books, the abatements as recorded were compared with the records of the departments authorized to grant abate- ments, and the outstanding accounts were listed and proved.
Verification of the correctness of the outstanding accounts in the collector's department was obtained by mailing notices to a number of persons whose names appeared on the books as owing money to the town, the replies received thereto indicating that the accounts, as listed, are correct.
The records of licenses and permits issued by the selectmen, the town clerk, and the police and health departments were examined and checked, and the pay- ments to the State and to the town were verified.
155
STATE AUDIT REPORT
Payments to the town treasurer by the town clerk of the money due the county for dog licenses issued should be made on the first Monday of each month in accordance with Section 147, Chapter 140, General Laws, as amended. The failure of the town clerk to make payments to the town treasurer monthly has been cited in annual audit reports for several years, beginning with 1934.
The surety bonds of the officials required by law to furnish them for the faithful performance of their duties were examined and found to be in proper form.
In addition to the accounts mentioned, the records of all other departments collecting money for the town or rendering bills for collection were examined and checked in detail.
Appended to this report, in addition to the balance sheet, are tables showing a reconciliation of the treasurer's and of the collector's cash, summaries of the tax, assessment, tax title, departmental, and water accounts, as well as tables showing the condition and transactions of the various trust funds.
While engaged in making the audit, co-operation was received from all town officials, for which, on behalf of my assistants and for myself, I wish to express appreciation.
Respectfully submitted, HERMAN B. DINE,
HBD.MC
Assistant Director of Accounts.
156
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF SCITUATE
NO
SATUIT
RPORAT
for the year ending December 31,
1939
INDEX
School Calendar 3
Directory of School Department 3
School Committee
5
Superintendent of Schools
6
High School Principal
12
School Physician
17
School Nurse 17
Attendance Officer 18
Financial Statement
23
Graduation Exercises
25
Roll of Class Members 26
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
SCHOOL CALENDAR-1940
WINTER TERM-January 2 to February 16 inclusive.
One Week Vacation.
February 26 to April 12 inclusive. One Week Vacation.
Spring Term-April 22 to June 21 .* Holiday-May 30. Summer Vacation.
Fall Term-September 4 to December 20 inclusive.
Holidays-November 11, 28 and 29.
* This date is tentative. The statutes require high schools to have one hun- dred eighty sessions per year.
"NO SCHOOL" SIGNAL
The "No School" signal is 3-1-3, and will be sounded from the fire stations at North Scituate, Scituate Harbor and Greenbush at 7:30 A.M. to designate the omission of school sessions for the first six grades-e.g. the Hatherly and Jen- kins Schools. If the signal is repeated at 7:45 A.M., it will indicate no school in the High School. It is, however, the general policy of the Committee to hold regular sessions whenever it is practicable to maintain transportation service.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The regular meetings of the Committee are held monthly, at the office of the Superintendent, Old High School Building, September to June, inclusive.
Appointments with the Superintendent may be made upon request.
The age of admission to Grade One of the Hatherly and Jenkins Schools is five years and four months on the day of the opening of school in September.
No child will be admitted to school for the first time after October 1, unless, before this date, permission has been granted by the Superintendent for a later entrance.
A vaccination certificate must be presented to the school when the pupil en- ters for the first time.
A birth certificate must be presented by those pupils whose births were re- corded outside of Scituate.
Directory of School Department
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Ralph S. Brown Peter W. Sharp Mrs. Marion C. Alexander
Chairman Secretary
Harold C. Wingate
Superintendent
HIGH SCHOOL
Frederick A. Calkin M. B. Gillespie Nels H. Sandberg Edward L. Stewart
Principal Mathematics Practical Arts Science, Athletics
Clarence O. Atkinson
Edward W. Whitmore
Social Subjects, Mathematics Science
3
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
Bessie M. Dudley Eleanor Gile
Esther M. Harrington
Ruth E. Hawkes
Commercial Subjects
Household Arts
Grade VIII A
Grade VIII B
Grade VII A
Grade VII B
JENKINS SCHOOL
LeRoy E. Fuller
Mildred S. Young
Bessie M. Monahan
Marguerite O'Hern
Eunice M. Cole
Grade III
Grade II
Grade I
Assistant
Special Class
HATHERLY SCHOOL
George W. Burrill
Carol Vollmer
Helen Pearl
Sara M. Souther
Doris C. Murphy
Lois G. Cushing
Barbara Young
Assistant
EVENING AMERICANIZATION SCHOOL
Anne L. Cunneen Edith W. Burrill
Advanced Classes . Beginning Class
SUPERVISORS
Philip W. L. Cox, Jr.
Doris D. Ward
Art, Elementary Schools
Art, High School
Ruth A. Whidden
Physical Education
HEALTH OFFICERS
T. B. Alexander, M. D. W. B. Parsons, D. M. D.
School Physician
School Dentist
School Nurse
SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE Annie M. S. Litchfield
JANITORS
Louis H. Madore Augustus Abbott Lewis B. Newcomb Frank Young
High School High School Hatherly School Jenkins School
HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA
Ina L. Wilder Elizabeth Schultz
English
English, History
Latin, French
Mary S. Kingsbury Anne L. Cunneen
Clare Walker
Elizabeth Giles
Dorothy L. Maxim
Principal, Grade VI A
Grade VIB
Grade V
Grade IV
Lillian M. Weeden
Grace E. Hague
Helen L. Jones
Rose M. Trefry
Principal, Grade VI
Grade V
Grade IV
Grade III
Grade II
Grade I
Music
Barbara Colman
Margaret J. O'Donnell, R. N.
Director Assistant
4
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Scituate:
Education in our Town, during the past year has not differed materially from that of 1938. The Changes in the Teaching Staff, and other matters of similar interest will be found in the report of the Superintendent.
The routine work and duties of the School Committee pertain mostly to the Upkeep of Buildings, awarding Contracts and signing bills for payment.
The major item of importance this past year, was the change in Trans- portation Routes, and the purchasing of new Busses equipped with Steel Bodies, by the Contractors. The net saving to the Town is approximately three thousand dollars ($3,000). In connection with Transportation, we are considering the erection of a Shelter for the scholars who now have to wait for connecting busses at the Jenkins School. The various Buildings have had our careful atten- tion, and such repairs and painting as were deemed essential were attended to. The Auditorium Ceiling has been strapped and the Walls painted. We have also had Iron Gates placed at each entrance to the Gallery, or Balcony, as there are numerous times when it is advisable to restrict the attendance to the Main Floor.
The exterior of the High School, needs painting, and we hope to have it done this coming year.
Tables and chairs, in the Cafeteria are in poor condition and should be re- newed.
The High School is becoming crowded and there is no room for expansion. With this thought in mind we have had preliminary Plans drawn for a nev- Wing to contain six rooms together with a small Hall.
We are anticipating the financial assistance of the P. W. A. in this under- taking, and hope that the Citizens will co-operate in approving this article at the Annual Town Meeting. At our appearance before the Advisory Board, we mentioned that we had included an amount in our Budget to provide for an- other teacher in the High School. The present Commercial Teacher, Miss Hawkes. is occupied every period of instruction, and we need this new Teacher to take charge of a new Practical Two Year Business Course, more for Boys, which will include Bookkeeping, Commercial Arithmetic, Salesmanship and Business Man- agement. Mr. Edgar A. French, Attorney at Law, has offered his services, gratis, to give a series of talks during the winter months, on subjects such as Com- mercial Law and the Law of Contracts, which are very essential in a practical business course.
In our modern system of Education, Athletics have a prominent place; in the old days it was practically limited to Baseball. Today we have Football, Hockey, Baseball and Basketball, beside Gymnastics and Physical exercises. It is quite natural, that during these activities some accidents may occur which will require medical attention. We pay the School Physician, in addition to his regular salary, ten dollars for attendance at each Football game. If any of our Team should be injured, he has to render "First Aid". We have no legal right to have him render any services of a Surgical nature, and charge it to the Town. With this thought in mind, there has been established what is known as the "Athletes Accident Benefit Fund", which takes in the whole of New England, and is sponsored by the New England Council of Secondary School Principals Association. This Benefit Fund costs only one dollar per year for all School Sports; excluding Foot- ball, the cost is fifty cents per year per pupil, and is available for both Boys and Girls. The benefits paid range from Two dollars for a Chipped Tooth to Two hundred dollars for loss of sight of one eye. Broken nose is Ten dollars, Bone in hand, seven dollars and fifty cents, Collarbone Twenty dollars. There are too many benefits for us to enumerate them all. We desire to emphasize the fact that we cannot pay these bills and that it is the duty of every parent, whose children
5
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
partake in Athletics, and to their financial interests to see that their Boy or Girl is protected in this respect.
Your School authorities are in no way responsible nor is the Town financially liable for any bills contracted in connection with possible injuries received as a result of participating in School Athletics.
We believe that there are some of our citizens who would like to avail them- selves of an opportunity of attending Evening Classes. Accordingly we are plan- ning to make a start this year, by offering Shorthand and Typewriting. If there is a demand other subjects will be added later.
In conclusion, we desire to express our appreciation for the Financial support of the citizens and also that of the various organizations interested in our public schools.
Respectfully submitted,
RALPH S. BROWN, Chairman PETER W. SHARP, Secretary MRS. MARION C. ALEXANDER, School Committee.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Scituate:
I take pleasure in submitting my fourteenth annual report for your considera- tion.
CHANGES IN TEACHING STAFF
At the end of the last school year, Miss Thelma Annis, teacher of the fifth grade at the Hatherly School, resigned to take a similar position in Reading. This vacancy was filled by advancing Miss Carol Vollmer from an assistant teacher in this building to the position of regular teacher of grade five. Miss Barbara Young of Winthrop, Mass., a graduate of the Perry Kindergarten Normal School, was chosen as assistant teacher for grade one.
Miss Dorothy E. MacFarlane, who had been teacher of the Household Arts department at the High School since September, 1930, resigned to take effect at the end of the February, 1939, vacation and Miss Mary S. Kingsbury of Malden, Mass., a graduate of Simmons College, was elected to fill the vacancy. Miss Kingsbury is continuing as teacher of this department for the 1939-40 school year.
In the Art department, Mrs. Doris D. Ward asked to be relieved of some of her duties this year. In accordance with this request, Mrs. Ward continues as Supervisor of Drawing in the Hatherly and Jenkins schools. The part-time posi- tion of Art instructor in the High School was filled by the selection of Miss Barbara Colman of Scituate, a graduate of the Massachusetts School of Art.
UPKEEP OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
In the early part of 1939 a survey of the lighting facilities of the High School was made, and as the result of this study new electric light fixtures were placed in the library and in all of the classrooms of the older section of the building in which the electric fixtures had not been changed at the time the wings were added. Other major repairs to this building included the sanding and refinishing of the floors in the East Wing, calcimining the ceilings in the central part of the build- ing, placing furring strips- for added protection-over the Auditorium ceiling, similar to those in the other parts of the building, and painting the walls of the Auditorium.
The equipment purchased or contracted for during the year included a new water cooler for the Cafeteria, a belt sanding machine for the Practical Arts
6
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
department, three new typewriters for the Commercial room, a piano to be used on the stage of the Auditorium, and two wire gates with wing panel returns to close off the balcony when it is not in use.
The outside of the Household Arts building was painted during the year; the painting of the wire fence around the tennis courts was completed; and a cement curbing was made on one side of the parking area for the courts.
At the Hatherly School, in response to a recommendation from the State De- partment of Public Safety, the glass in the outside and corridor doors was re- placed with wire glass and an additional rail was placed around the upper landing of the fire escape. The blackboards in the fourth, fifth and sixth grade rooms have been resurfaced. A white enamel sink was placed in the girls' base- ment; the oil stove that had been used to prepare hot soup or cocoa for the noon lunch was replaced with two electric plates; and the entire building was equipped with new shades.
At the Jenkins School-as at the Hatherly-wire glass was placed in the outside doors, an additional rail was put on the fire escape and the blackboards in several of the rooms were resurfaced. New shades were also placed in the first grade room. A celotex ceiling was installed in the fourth grade room, so that now the ceilings of all elementary classrooms are either of metal or celotex. In addition, forty-two desk tops were sanded and refinished, the basement was whitewashed and the toilet rooms painted, three of the room ceilings were painted, and ten visitors' chairs were purchased.
It would be advisable to paint the exterior wood finish of the High School building during 1940, and there is also the need of some interior painting at the Hatherly and Jenkins schools.
The cement walk between the High School and the Household Arts buildings needs attention, as well as the steps leading into the Auditorium. A new power mower should be purchased for use on the Community Center grounds.
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT-OCTOBER 1 Ten Year Period
Elementary Grades
High School Grades VII-XII
Total
1930
398
221
619
1931
421
235
656
1932
436
272
708
1933
443
304
747
1934
440
333
773
1935
400
341
741
1936
412
356
768
1937
388
358
746
1938
409
357
766
1939
411
368
779
I-VI
From the above table it may be noted that the October 1, 1939 enrollment is the largest in the past ten years; it is also the largest in the history of the Scituate schools. It is interesting to note that while the elementary enrollment in 1939 was thirty-two less than in 1933, the high school enrollment had increased by sixty-four. In the ten year period beginning with 1930 the increase in the number of elementary pupils has been only thirteen, while the increase in the number of high school pupils has been one hundred and forty-seven.
7
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
SCHOOL FINANCES
The total funds available for the use of the School Department for the year 1939 were as follows:
Appropriation
$90,570.00
From Dog Tax
302.43
From Federal Funds
Smith-Hughes 125.92
George Deen
80.00
Total receipts
$91,078.35
The receipt of the $302.43 from the dog tax was made possible by the vote of the Town. By law this tax must be given to schools or libraries or divided between them. The above amount represents one-third of the total dog tax. The Federal Funds are available for the use of our Household Arts department and serve to reduce the cost of this department to the Town.
The amount expended for Community Center Grounds-appropriated by a special article in the Warrant-was $1,248.35. Below is a table of school ex- penditures for a five-year period, and a list of the school department credits that are not available for the use of the school department.
8
SCHOOL EXPENDITURES FOR FIVE YEAR PERIOD
General Expenses
School Committee
1935 $234.25 2,616.70
$218.50
$198.30
$220.40
$218.52
Superintendent, salary and expenses
2,562.06
2,560.13
2,592.60
2,564.34 468.00
Other Expenses of Administration
400.00 57.60
434.00 60.42
30.02
30.03
43.20
Expenses of Instruction
Supervisors and Teachers
42,880.25
45,972.00
48,163.25
51,162.42
52,674.00
Textbooks and Scholars' Supplies
3,950.28
4,146.94
4,747.78
4,362.70
4,726.38
Plant Operation and Maintenance
Janitors
5,275.00
5,519.50
5,426.00
5,484.00
5,530.50
Fuel
2,260.38
2,510.49
2,305.05
2,678.57
2,396.16
Upkeep of Buildings and Grounds
3,602.15
3,613.71
5,676.84
4,923.48
4,451.26
Miscellaneous
1,652.57
1,467.05
1,576.09
1,646.92
1,813.91
Auxiliary Agencies
6
Library
327.03
144.74
488.87
330.27
315.28
Health
563.33
479.44
496.84
479.00
500.86
Transportation
11,612.54
12,094.40
12,272.05
12,523.58
11,955.62
Miscellaneous
791.91
1,176.45
1,235.07
1,169.82
1,093.44
Outlay
New Equipment
923.27
960.52
345.14
971.00
292.09
Total
$77,147.26
$81,360.22
$85,959.18
$89,012.79
$89,043.56
Special Items
Insurance*
$1,789.23
Tuition, Vocational and Other
636.89
956.69
937.17
765.24
223.15
Americanization Classes
215.90
Community Center Grounds
1,191.49
1,289.31
1,277.06
1,475.75
1,248.35
Total
$80,764.87
$83,606.22
$88,173.41
$91,253.78
$90,730.96
*Since 1935 the insurance of all Town property has been placed in the hands of the Selectmen.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
1936
1937
1938
1939
Clerk and Attendance Officer
437.75
438.00
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT CREDITS (Not available for use of School Department)
From State Funds :
1935 $5,633.66
1936 $5,683.66
1937 $5,818.94
1938 $6,257.23
1939
On Employment of Teachers
854.49
1,016.55
1,087.29
1,152.01
1,032.59
Maintenance of Household Arts Classes Trade School Tuition
17.50
142.19
149.62
96.44
69.94
Tuition of State Wards
288.61
332.67
503.54
554.84
436.28
From City of Boston-Tuition
392.00
570.27
577.18
653.43
451.52
Money Collected by Department
236.25
167.16
151.61
160.24
131.76
Total
$7,422.51
$7,912.50
$8,288.18
$8,874.19
$8,551.42
$6,429.33
10
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
AMERICANIZATION CLASSES
On February 16, 1939, a letter was received by the School Department from the Portuguese Improvement Society of Scituate expressing its desire to have evening classes for adults-similar to the courses offered by the School Depart- ment from 1927 to 1932-re-established. In response to this request the School Committee voted to establish such classes, and they were started at the Hatherly School on October 24. There are three groups, the advanced and intermediate in charge of Miss Anne L. Cunneen and the beginning group in charge of Mrs. Edith W. Burrill. The latter class enrolls eighteen and the former twenty-four. They meet two evenings a week from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and will continue for a total of fifty to sixty evenings during the school year. The subjects taught include Reading, Writing, Citizenship and other common school subjects as the need for them arises.
HIGH SCHOOL GROWTH
Earlier in this report the school enrollment for the past decade was discussed. It is significant that the elementary increase in this period has been very slight. The high point was in 1933 and the low in 1937, the present enrollment being at about the median point. On the other hand, the high school increase has been very large and practically continuous although more rapid from 1930 to 1936 than since that time. However the past year has seen another large increase that is not fully reflected in the October first figure of 368 as the January 15, 1940 enrollment was 381.
The seventh and eighth grades have a total of 130 pupils and occupy four classrooms. The senior high school, grades IX-XII, enrolls 251, and there are only 258 pupil stations available for the use of these grades. The general purpose classrooms number but five, and there is a need of several more rooms of this type.
As this report is being written, an interest seems to be developing in high school evening classes for adults. The School Committee is considering the opening of a class in shorthand and typewriting to be held two evenings a week in the high school building.
Your attention is called to the report of the high school principal, to the three reports from the English, the science and the mathematics departments, the report from the Supervisor of Physical Education, and the regular annual reports of the School Physician and the School Nurse. The usual statistical tables and the Financial Statement for the year 1939 are included.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD C. WINGATE, Superintendent of Schools.
11
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. Harold C. Wingate Superintendent of Schools Scituate, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
I submit herewith my fifth annual report as principal of the Scituate High School.
Our enrollment, as this report is written is 381, or 22 more than one year ago at this time. This increase for the most part is the result of an increase in our town population, as some twenty-three pupils transferred to our school from out of town. Of this number, eight last year attended private schools. The building is now accommodating over twenty percent more pupils than five years ago when it was thought to be filled, and it is hoped that some expansion may be possible in the coming year.
Scituate High School graduates continue to show the results of their prepara- tion for college studies, at higher institutions. Very few schools of our size have such a large group in the better colleges. Our graduates are now matriculated at Bates, Boston College, Boston University, Bowdoin, Brown, Lowell Textile, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts State College, Massachusetts School of Art, Northeastern, Rhode Island State College, Simmons, and Tufts. Several of them have won scholarships at these institutions and others have been honored on "Deans' Lists."
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