USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Dighton > Town annual report of the offices of the town of Dighton 1961 > Part 5
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6,709.19
6,709.19
Blue Cross-Blue Shield
3,025.45
3,025.45
Washington Nat'. Insurance
249.20
249.20
Civil Defense Acct.
1,135.00
938.74
196.26
Reserve Acct. Approp.
5,000.00
1,867.71
3,132.29
85
ANNUAL REPORT
Public Library
2,063.00
502.95
2,565.95
2,562.22
3.73
Balance
Balance Appropriations 1/1/61 & Receipts
Additional Appropriations Total
Expended Transfers 12/31/61
Memorial Day Observance Tax Title Foreclosure Acct. Playground & Recreation
200.00
182.75
17.25
400.00
200.00
600.00
597.02
2.98
1,592.00
1,379.88
212.12
Tax Possession Title Acct.
200.00
200.00
Agency Trusts & Refunds
9,052.50
9,052.50
Contributory County Retirement Assessment
5,557.60
5,557.60
Proceeds Sales of Dogs
195.00
195.00
Proceeds Dog Licenses Due County
850.00
850.00
Interest on School Bonds
5,390.00
5,390.00
Elementary School Bonds
25,000.00
25,000.00
Tax Anticipation Loan
70,000.00
70,000.00
Interest on Revenue Loan
500.00
330.30
169.70
Proceeds Cemetery Perp. Care Funds
200.00
200.00
Cemetery Perp. Care Funds Income
330.39
330.39
Christmas Fund Taunton Greyhound Assoc.
500.00
500.00
Charles S. Chase Trust Fund
34.04
17.02
17.02
U. S. Grants George Barden Fund
250.00
250.00
Total Appropriated Balances Transferred to 1961 Revenue 12,002.81
Excess of Estimated Receipts over Assessors Estimates
17,240.20
Surplus 1961 Revenue transferred to Excess & Deficiency Surplus Revenue for 1961 29,243.01
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ANNUAL REPORT
Town of Dighton
BALANCE SHEET General Accounts
ASSETS
Cash:
General
$185,820.76 16.00
Accounts Receivable
Taxes:
1959 Motor Vehicle
750.44
1960 Motor Vehicle
955.87
1961 Motor Vehicle
12,398.17
Town Forest
500.00
South Fire Station
103.48
Chapter 90 Elm St.
6,406.40
1960 Personal Property
190.14
1961 Personal Property
645.96
1959 Poll
6.00
1960 Poll
12.00
Gasoline Account
244.43
1961 Poll
84.00
Elementary Cafeteria
638.89
1959 Real Estate
129.80
Civil Defense Account
196.26
1960 Real Estate
7,615.93
Chapter 90 D-B Bridge
4,200.00
1961 Real Estate
20,240.23
Road Machinery Fund
2,601.25
Old Age Asst. Recoveriees
3,053.30
Tailings-unclaimed checks
72.43
1960 Farm Excise
1.30
Charles S. Chase Trust Fund
17.02
1961 Farm Excise
62.01
State Taxes & Assessments
12.04
63.31
LIABILITIES
Reserve for Petty Cash Advance $ 16.00
Liabilities:
Town Historian
$ 14.00
Town Office Repairs
72.97
Tax Listing Account
70.50
House Numbering Account
1,003.23
Town By-Laws Revision
235.00
250th Anniversary Comm.
347.92
14,104.48
Chapter 90 Construction Williams St.
20,000.00
Town Garage
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ANNUAL REPORT
39,789.64
87
December 31, 1961
Advance for Petty-School
28,924.06
Departmental:
Aid to Dependent Children
847.83
Old Age Assistance 399.02
Board of Health 375.00
Pump Service Account 42.00
Welfare Department 424.52
2,088.37
Federal Grants: Old Age Assistance Medical Aid to Aged 587.47
Federal Grants Administration:
Aid Dependent Children 18.07
Disability Assistance 46.85
Old Age Assistance 59.36
Medical Aid to Aged
77.47
Aid to Highways:
State
21,814.17
County
10,287.66
Reserves
1959 Overlay
135.80
1960 Overlay
7,818.07
1961 Overlay
10,873.48
Tax Possessions
366.77
Tax Titles
3,409.32
Revenue reserved until collected:
Motor Vehicle Excise Revenue 14,104.48
Farm Excise Revenue 63.31
Tax Possession Revenue 366.77
Tax Title Revenue
3,409.32
Departmental Revenue 2,088.37
Aid to Highway Revenue
32,101.83
52,134.08
Excess & Deficiency : Surplus Revenue 127,888.19
$267,038.32
$267,038.32
88
18,827.35
Reserve Fund Overlay Surplus
27,239.75
ANNUAL REPORT
1,143.31
32,101.83
County Taxes & Assessment
143.42
354.09
DEBT ACCOUNTS
Net Funded Debt
$220,000.00 Elementary School Bonds $220,000.00
TRUST ACCOUNTS
Trust Funds : Cash in Savings Banks
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds
9,883.28
16,485.59
5,584.81
Joshua Bliss Cemetery Fund Charles S. Chase Trust Fund 1,017.50
16,485.59
$503,523.91
$503,523.91
ANNUAL REPORT
89
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
of the Town of
DIGHTON
Year Ending December 31, 1961
2
ANNUAL REPORT
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Term Expires
William B. Wynne, Chairman
1962
Smith Street, Dighton
Harry Hagopian, Secretary 1963
150 Spring Street, North Dighton
1964
Thomas C. Sherman, Financial Secretary 242 Bedford Street, North Dighton Antone Compos 1962
32 Elm Street, Dighton
Lawrence D. Dutra 1962
Somerset Avenue, Dighton
Joseph W. Fleck 1963
Water Street, Dighton
Spencer D. Oehrle 1964
Center Street, Segregansett
SUPERINTENDENT
Robert T. Roy, B.S., Ed. M. Residence: 313 Forest Street, North Dighton Office: Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School, Rehoboth Telephone: Rehoboth BL 2-4500 (Office) Taunton VA 2-7323 (Home)
OFFICE HOURS Monday through Friday 8:30 A. M. - 9:30 A. M. and by appointment.
SECRETARY Gladys P. Babbitt
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN Charles M. Souza, M.D.
SCHOOL NURSE Esther Bowden, R.N.
ATTENDANCE SUPERVISOR Frank Rogers
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ANNUAL REPORT
GENERAL INFORMATION
Entrance Age
First grade registration in September of any year will be limited to those children who are at least six years of age or who will become six years of age on or before the following January 1. There will be no exceptions made to this ruling.
Birth Certificates
Presentation of a birth certificate is required for entrance to the first grade.
Vaccination
Every child who enters school for the first time must present a certificate of vaccination or a statement from his physician that vaccination is inadvisable.
NO SCHOOL INFORMATION
Elementary and Junior High Schools
Whenever it seems advisable to close the elementary school the notice will be broadcast over Radio Station WPEP, Taunton, and over Radio Station WSAR, Fall River, also WPRO, Providence, and WARA, Attleboro.
High School
Whenever the school buses can be safely operated there will be school at the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School unless unforeseen emergencies make it necessary to close. In the event of closing the information will be specifically an- nounced over the radio as indicated above for the elementary school.
TRANSPORTATION
The law requires that transportation be provided for pupils residing more than two miles from the school attended or more than one mile from the nearest bus stop. Many pupils living at lesser distances along established routes are trans- ported if the seating capacity of the bus will permit. From time to time it is necessary to refuse transportation to some of those living under the required distance when our buses are filled to capacity with children living at a greater distance.
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ANNUAL REPORT
SCHOOL CALENDAR as approved by School Committee 1961 - 1962
DIGHTON
Dighton Elementary and Junior High Schools
School opens September 6, 1961
closes December 22, 1961
74 days
opens January 2, 1962
closes February 16, 1962 34 days
opens February 26, 1962
closes April 13, 1962 35 days
opens April 23, 1962
closes June 15, 1962 39 days
182 days
Schools will close on the following days:
Octobed 12-Columbus Day
October 27-Teachers Convention
November 23 and 24-Thanksgiving Recess Dismiss at noon November 22 1
May 30-Memorial Day
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ANNUAL REPORT
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Appropriation
$201,768.00
Expenditures
General Control
$ 6,670.94
Transportation
19,274.04
Teachers Salaries
134,754.93
Books
2,186.11
Supplies
2,584.98
Audio-Visual Aids
12.19
Janitors Salaries
16,813.50
Fuel
4,266.47
Electricity
3,207.93
Gas
549.85
Water
383.78
Music
537.78
Janitors Supplies
1,139.44
Miscellaneous
964.39
Boiler Repairs
384.21
Repairs
2,607.64
Health
2,644.17
New Equipment
1,104.62
Staff Expenses
106.75
Household Arts
103.49
Industrial Arts
161.81
Evening Practical Arts
575.00
Tuition-Evening School
680.25
$201,714.27
53.73
Returned to Town
$201,768.00
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ANNUAL REPORT
ELEMENTARY DOG TAX FUND
Unexpended balance, 1960
$196.95
Expenditures, 1961
196.95
Balance on hand
NET COST TO TOWN
Expenditures, 1961
$201,714.27
Receipts, 1961:
General State Aid, Chapter 70
$52,143.55
Reimbursements, Superintendent's Salary and Travel
1,380.85
Transportation
15,992.36
Reimbursement, Vocation Education
9,289.61
State Wards,
Tuition and Transportation
861.52
Special Education, Chapter 69
3,523.52
Miscellaneous Receipts
48.54
Total Receipts, 1961
$ 83,239.95
Net Cost to Town
$118,474.32
Balance Returned to Town
$ 53.73
7
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Citizens of the Town of Dighton:
I herewith submit my seventh annual report as Superin- tendent of Schools in Dighton. Incorporated herein is the report of the Principals, the Music Supervisors and the School Nurse. In these reports are outlined some of the changes that have taken place in the Dighton Schools during the past year.
Program
We have been able to expand our program this year, as is noted in the reports of Dr. Borges and Mr. Aleixo. We have three third grades and a teacher who teaches reading and arithmetic at the fourth and fifth grades making it possible to divide those grades into three divisions for those major subjects.
The School Committee voted to have a pre-primary grade this year. About fifty-five children are enrolled in this grade with a morning and afternoon session being held. Miss Roberta Babbitt teaches both sessions.
At the Junior High School we were able to expand our English program. As this is one of the basic subjects in high school it is important to devote as much time as possible to it.
A continued program of coordinating the curriculum of the elementary school with that of the junior high school and on into the high school is constantly going on. We have had meetings of principals, teachers, department heads and guidance personnel. Programs of study are underway in English, social studies, guidance and music.
We are also attempting to coordinate our program in a horizontal manner with that of the Rehoboth Schools as children from both towns will be attending high school together.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Personnel
We had four elementary teachers leave to teach in other systems: Mrs. Dorothy Borjeson to teach in Raynham; Mrs. Olive Crawford to teach in Fall River; Miss Louise Weiler to teach in Walpole and Miss Olive Kelley to teach in Connecti- cut. Miss Roberta Babbitt a graduate of Perry Normal School was hired to teach the new Pre-primary grade. Mrs. Helen Olson, a graduate of Bridgewater Teachers College replaced Mrs. Borjeson as second grade teacher; Mrs. Mary Fanjoy who previously taught in Rochester and Lexington was also hired to teach grade 2. Mrs. Lucia Marcille who taught in Springfield is the new third grade teacher. Mrs. Helene Chamberlain, who taught in Freetown, and Miss Mary Fitzsimmons, who taught in Somerset are the new fourth grade teachers. Miss Charlotte Hathaway, a graduate of Lowell State College is music supervisor on a part-time basis at the Elementary School. She devotes the remainder of the week to a similar position in Rehoboth.
At the Junior High School most of the changes as out- lined by Mr. Aleixo were at the sixth grade level. Mrs. Jeanette Shaw who formerly taught in Plymouth; Mr. William Donlon, a graduate of Bridgewater State College and Mr. John Needs, Jr. a graduate of the University of Massachusetts are the new sixth grade teachers.
Mr. Donald Morrison, music supervisor left to teach in Plymouth and he was replaced by Mr. Philip Turner who has taught music at Rocky Mountain College for the last eight years.
Although there are more teachers available in some areas, there is still a scarcity of good teachers.
Repairs and Improvements
A great deal of the plumbing was replaced or repaired during the past year. This repair has resulted in our water bill being reduced considerably. The Elementary School roof was repaired and new flashings installed.
9
ANNUAL REPORT
The cafeteria, the auditorium and much of the hallways were painted at the Junior High School by Mr. Silvia the head custodian and by Mr. Manuel Sanson his assistant. Mr. Sanson replaced Mr. Charles Leonard who left to take a position in industry.
Mr. Costa and his assistant Mr. Frank Rogers sanded and refinished many of the desk tops and painted the bases in modern school colors.
Again the schools were given their usual good summer cleaning.
Budget
The budget for 1962 will increase by 10% over the budget of 1961. Most of the increase is represented in salaries, with the addition of two teachers at the Elementary School and one at the Junior High School, accounting for half of the increase. The remainder of the increase is due to increase in salaries and the addition of a bus instead of a station wagon for the Carpenterville and Hart Street routes.
Conclusion
I wish to thank all who have helped with the changes in our school program. Many people have put in long hours in working out our problems. I wish to thank the School Com- mittee and other Town Officials for their cooperation over the year.
It is our hope that our schools will continue to progress and that we may develop a system equal to any other in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Respectfully submitted, ROBERT T. ROY, Superintendent of Schools
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
Mr. Robert T. Roy, Superintendent of Schools
Dear Mr. Roy :
I submit the following report for 1961 as School Nurse.
Physical examinations for pupils in grades 1 - 4 - 7 and 11 were given by Dr. Charles M. Souza. Any pupil with a known defect is also checked each year. All pupils participating in competitive sports were given physical examinations before the programs started.
Three immunization clinics for the prevention of diph- theria, whooping cough and tetanus were held in March, April and May. A polio clinic was on March 30th and second shots were given at the immunization clinic in May.
Regstration for children entering school was held during the week of April 24th. Most of the 87 listed completed the registration at this time.
A Pre-school clinic for vaccination against smallpox was on May 18th with 41 children vaccinated by Dr. Souza. Many of these were five year olds preparing for the pre-school groups which started in September. Registration for these children were sent out and checked.
Visiting Day on May 24th was again an important event with most of the 87 children accompanied by parent partici- pating.
Thru the screening tests given one pupil was found with a congenital hearing loss and was eventually fitted to a hearing aid. A pre-school youngster was brought in by a parent to be tested and was found to have a severe hearing loss.
As the Health unit at the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School was still being used by the contractors I did not
11
ANNUAL REPORT
start my daily duties there until February. I was on call for emergencies at all time and took care of the first aid supplies. In February I started my daily visits and got the rooms set up and the health program in progress. Altho the testing equipment has not yet arrived, I hope before the close of this year to have all necessary equipment. Physical examina- tions will be given in grades 9 and 11 and to all boys and girls taking part in the sports program.
Respectfully submitted,
ESTHER BOWDEN, R.N.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE DIGHTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Robert T. Roy, Superintendent of Schools
My second annual report as principal of the Dighton Junior High School is herewith submitted.
This year school opened with 223 students present. The opening of school saw some new faces on the faculty and the loss of a highly respected member, Miss Frances Bergstrom. Miss Bergstrom was married and moved with her husband to Missouri.
The new members of the faculty are Mrs. Jeannette Shaw of North Dighton who replaced Miss Bergstrom in grade six, and Mr. William Donlon who is to teach in a new sixth grade which had to be formed because of increased enrollment.
Later in the year, Mrs. Mary E. Gannon, another capable teacher, tendered her resignation because her husband trans- ferred to North Carolina. Hired to replace Mrs. Gannon was Mr. John Needs of Dighton.
12
ANNUAL REPORT
CURRICULUM
In keeping with the latest advances in education, we regrouped our eighth grade into one homogenous and two heterogeneous groups. It was felt that the academically talented could be more profitably challenged by keeping them in one group and gearing their course of studies to their abilities. Likewise, the other students would also profit, as they, too, would progress at their own rate of learning; covering similar areas, but not with the same breadth and depth.
Our English program has been strengthened by the addi- tion of one period of composition to the usual five grammar periods per week. The acquisition of a new series of text- books also will help the program for grades seven and eight.
. Miss Ann Fitzsimmons, of the Elementary School, was assigned to teach one section of our English program. Her presence enabled us to institute the additional composition period as mentioned earlier.
Both our girls and boys physical education departments are participating in President Kennedy's Youth Fitness Pro- gram.
GUIDANCE
A very comprehensive testing program is carried out in the Junior High. The results of these tests are closely evalu- ated by the principal and the teachers to assist us in better understanding our students, and thus enabling us to better meet their needs.
Numerous conferences are held by parents with principal and teachers and by students with principal and teachers. All these conferences are aimed at arriving at a truer picture of the student and how we, the teachers and parents, can best help the student in his intellectual growth. We, at the Junior High, are proud of the rapport that exists between the home and the school.
13
ANNUAL REPORT
EXTRA-CURRICULA ACTIVITIES
Science Club In March of this year a Science Fair was held in our school with over 175 students participating. The fair was an overwhelming success as attested by the over 700 parents and interested persons who attended this valuable learning activity. Mr. John Wood and Miss Nancy Holt are to be congratulated for an outstanding effort. Currently plans are being formulated for this year's science fair and we hope to outdo last year's fair.
Drama Under the capable direction of Mr. Everett Jose, Mr. Donald Morrison and Mrs. Mary L. Watson, a group of talented youngsters staged the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta "The Mikado." This production was well received by all who attended, and it is hoped a similar production will be per- formed this year.
Library Club Our library operates daily with student librarians in charge under the guidance of Mr. Everett Jose. With the change from a Senior High to a Junior High, we assumed possession of the books of the former high school. It was necessary to screen all these books to determine their suitability for Junior High school use. This was done, and an efficient cataloging and file reference system was adopted.
Through funds made available by Mr. Roy many new books were added to our collection. Also, the Dighton Lions made a sizeable contribution of books to our library in memory of their departed members. These books have been suitably enscribed to indicate their source.
Athletics A new addition to the familiar sports scene at our school, was the introduction of an intra-mural touch football program. This activity filled the void between the baseball and basketball seasons. Mr. Wood, the boys physical education director, is to be commended on the excellent spirit, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship demonstrated by the boys in his charge.
Because it was impossible for us to schedule any games with any local girl teams, our girls softball and basketball programs were limited to an intra-mural basis. However, Miss
14
ANNUAL REPORT
Holt succeeded in teaching the girls the finer points of the game, and certainly, the girls left here for the high school well founded in the fundamentals of both games.
Cheerleaders Our cheerleaders, a highly spirited group of girls led by Miss Holt, displayed superior training and in- genuity in spurring our teams to greater effort.
Student Council The student council acts as liaison be- tween the school administration and the students. They assist the administration in many ways and the students, too, gain much from this experience.
Newspaper Last year, four issues of the school news- paper, "The Cub" were published. Mrs. Wordell and her student staff should be proud of this project which makes a significant contribution to school spirit.
Band Not many Junior High Schools can boast of such a talented group of young musicians as are found in our band. We are proud of them and their conductor, Mr. Charles Lincoln. This group participated in the Massachusetts Music Supervisors Annual Music Festival and received the highest rating. They also participated in two local music festivals; in an exchange of band visits with Pocasset School of Bristol, R. I .; and in our graduation exercises.
Girls Glee Club While under the direction of Mr. Donald Morrison, this group of girls was one of the most active clubs in the schools. They, too, should be singled out for their participation in music fairs and other musical activities. Ths group is now under the drection of Mr. Philip Turner and they are carrying on in the same familiar spirited fashion.
MISCELLANY
Because our building has been in continued use for quite a long period of time, many maintenance problems arise in the course of the year. However, the interior of the school took on a bright, new, shiny appearance because of the efforts of Mr. Alvin Silvia and Mr. Manuel Sanson who were actively engaged in repainting many areas in the school. The custodial staff is a co-operative and capable group to whom I am ex- tremely grateful.
15
ANNUAL REPORT
Certainly, our school lunch program should be singled out for commendation. The children are served wholesome, tasty meals which are prepared by Mrs. Alfrena Bettencourt and her kitchen staff.
CONCLUSION
After the completion of one full year as principal of the Dighton Junior High School, I wish to express my sincerest thanks to Mr. Roy for his interest, encouragement and com- plete understanding and co-operatoin.
I want to also thank the school committee for the interest they have shown in matters pertaining to the school and for the confidence they have placed in me and my faculty.
It is only through the complete co-operation of parents, teachers and all those concerned with the schools that the children of Dighton can continue to develop to their fullest intellectual potential.
Respectfully submitted, EDWARD F. ALEIXO, Principal
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE DIGHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mr. Robert T. Roy,
Superintendent of Schools
It is my pleasure to submit my second annual report as Supervising Principal of the Dighton Elementary School.
ENROLLMENT
The enrollment in September was 464 an increase of 87 students over the 1960 enrollment. The above enrollment includes 56 pupils at the pre-primary level-one A.M. session and one P.M. session.
16
ANNUAL REPORT
CURRICULUM
New Arithmetic Program
Constructive change in education has never been greater than at the present time. Pupils in heterogeneous classrooms are distributed over a wide range of ability and aptitude for arithmetic. There is no one best single method of organizing instruction that will perfectly meet the educational needs of all the children all the time.
The plan being used this year for the first time groups pupils homogenously for arithmetic instruction at each grade level. The slow learner must be helped to grasp fundamentals of arithmetic and to achieve useful elementary skills. The average learner should be helped to exceed the goal of mini- mum essentials while the above average learner should be challenged to reach higher levels of understanding and achive- ment. Pupils who excel are frequently the most seriously neglected pupils in a class. Our objective will be to challenge all the pupils so that each may succeed according to his talents.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
We are happy to announce that the physical education program has been introduced into grades one thru grade three with instruction once every three weeks by Miss Nancy Holt the Girl's Physical Education Instructor. The girls of grades four - five and the Opportunity Class receive instruction week- ly under the direction of Miss Holt and the boys of these same classes also receive weekly instruction from the Boy's Physi- cal Education Instructor Mr. John Wood. It is hoped that under the Kennedy physical fitness program more time will be allotted to this program.
READING PROGRAM
Instruction in reading is a technical matter. Many ad- ministrative devices and procedures have been used in an attempt to provide maximum opportunities for the develop- ment of reading at different levels. Differences in the read-
17
ANNUAL REPORT
ing skills and abilities, and the rate at which each is acquired exist for every child.
This year we are continuing the ability grouping in which the reading program is developed to meet more adequately the specific needs of pupils at each level. The program is flexible allowing for adjustments within the reading groups.
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