USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Ashby > Town annual reports for the year town of Ashby Massachusetts 1948 > Part 2
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The following tabulation lists items of particular in- terest:
Real Estate:
Number of Persons assessed 485
Number of houses 416
Land acreage 14,250.09
Evaluation of land
$262,807
Evaluation of buildings 978,165
Total evaluation on real estate
1,240,972
Personal Property
Number of persons assessed 144
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Number of animals involved :
Cows
287
Horses
35
Bulls 69
Swine
41
Sheep
44
Fowl
29,495
Total evaluation on personal property $125,601
TOTAL EVALUATION (real estate plus personal property) $1,366,573
Poll Tax
All male residents (whether registered voters or not), with the exception of those over 70 years old who apply for age abatement, are taxed $2 each.
Number of polls assessed 447*
Poll taxes assessed $894*
*Prior to abatements.
Motor Excise Tax
Number of vehicles 672
Tax Rate - $38.10 per $1,000 evaluation. Taxes assessed $6,085.26*
*Prior to abatements.
In 1948 it was calculated that the amount the town should raise by taxation on real estate and personal prop- erty was $61,495.78. Based on our total evaluation of $1,366,573, the tax rate became:
$61,495.78 x 1000
$1,366,573 $45.00 (per $1000 of evaluation).
Using 1948 figures, each $1000 that the town raised and appropriated, meant an increase in the tax rate of ap- proximately 73c. If an individual had an evaluation of $3000 (which is just about the average for the town), each
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$1,000 of net expense to the town meant an increase in his tax bill of about $2.19. These figures should be used only as a very rough guide for judging the 1949 picture, as the tax rate cannot be set until the expenses are determined by the town meeting and the calculations completed.
In 1948, the evaluations on all buildings except hen houses and barns were increased 25%. No general in- crease was made on hen houses, barns, land and personal property.
It is only natural that Ashby taxes be compared with taxes in other towns. In comparing them it should be re- membered that "Tax Rate" is only part of the story. Com- parative evaluations must also be known.
Knowing from past experience that some tax abate- ments will be granted, we include, in the amount to be raised by taxation, a reasonable allowance for them.
To provide a running record of these allowances (known as "overlays") and the actual abatements made against them, a special "assessors overlay" account is kept.
The 1948 details of this account are given below:
Balance Jan. 1, 1948
3,623.79
1948 overlay
527.90
4,151.69
1948 abatements
528.23
Balance Dec. 31, 1948
3,623.46
This balance exists as restricted cash in the treasury.
ALBERT H. DAMON
DONALD BROOKS
· ALFRED I. BREWER
Board of Assessors.
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Report of the Board of Public Welfare
The Board of Public Welfare work falls in three categories; that is, General Relief, Aid to Dependent Children and Old Age Assistance, and following are the individual reports. Income and expenses are summarized at the end of this report.
General Relief
The present case load of General Relief is four cases, con- sisting of seven persons. During the year the Board cared for seven families, comprising fourteen persons.
Following is the number of persons cared for by the depart- ment, by months:
Jan. 2 Apr. 8 July 9 Oct. 9
Feb. 2 May 8 Aug. 13
Nov.
9
Mar. 2 June 9 Sept. 9
Dec. 7
Of the above cases, one is a State case and two have settle- ments outside of Ashby for which the town will be reimbursed in full.
The remainder of cases are Ashby settled and is the town's full responsibility.
The cost of General Relief (inc. administration) to the town was $2,302.82.
Aid to Dependent Children
The present case load is two families, comprising eight de- pendent children.
The cost of ADC (inc. administration) to the town was $444.82.
Old Age Assistance
On January 1, 1948 the case load for Old Age Assistance was twenty cases. In April we lost three cases by death. There were no new cases opened during the year, thus leaving seventeen cases as of December 31, 1948. These are all Ashby settled
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cases. Besides the above cases we have one Ashby settled case being aided in another city, for which Ashby is paying.
During the year we had two cases in nursing homes and three cases in the hospital.
The cost of Old Age Assistance (inc. administration) to the town was $2,822.13.
Summary of Income and Expenses
Account
Income Expenses Approp.
Bal.
General Relief (1)
8.50(2) 2502.51 2700.00
197.49
General Relief Admin.
210.00 210.00
Aid to Dependent Children Town (3) 103.29(4)
746.42 1000.00
253.58
Aid to Dependent Children, Fed. (5) 58.88
ADC, Admin, Town
10.00 10.00
ADC, Admin., Federal
7.25
Old Age Assistance,
Town (6) 4742.06(7)
7098.16 7500.00
401.84
Old Age Assistance,
Federal (8)
5225.48
4559.64
Old Age Assis., Admin.,
Town
265.00
265.00
Old Age Assis., Admin.,
Federal 143.88 16.89
Cost to Town (all Welfare Depts) $5569.77.
(1) Accounts Receivable:
State $102.00
Townsend 23.31
Lynn 275.88
401.19
(2) From State (Temp. Aid and Trans.)
(3) Accounts receivable from State $242.14.
(4) State Reimbursement.
(5) Accounts receivable from Fed. Gov't. $273.24.
(6) Accouts receivable from State (Nov. and Dec., pay- rolls) $621.22.
(7) From: State reimbusement $4576.37
State Meal Tax 165.69
4742.06
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(8) Accounts receivable from Fed. Gov't. (Nov. and Dec., payrolls) $971.30.
Summary of Federal Accounts
Federal payments to the town usually are kept slightly ahead of the expenses chargeable to Federal accounts. As a re- sult the town treasurer usually has a balance of restricted cash on hand. A summary of the Federal accounts is given below. State payments are handled as reimbursements and the expense precedes the income.
Balance
Balance Jan. 1, 1848 Income Expenses Dec. 31,1948
Aid to Dependent
Children
20.98
58.88
... 79.86
Aid to Dependent Children, Adm.
39.06
7.25
46.31
Old Age Assistance
626.84
5225.48
4559.64
1292.68
Old Age Assistance Adm.
89.15
143.88
16.89
216.14
1,634.99
The 1949 Budget as prepared by the Welfare Board (as listed below) has been approved by the Finance Committee. This covers the Town accounts only. The expenses chargeable to the Federal accounts is neither raised nor appropriated by the town.
General Relief
$4500
General Relief, Adm.
210
O.A.A.
7000
O.A.A., adm.
265
ADC
2500
ADC, Adm.
10
Respectfully submitted,
BERNICE W. WASS, Chairman
LUCY M. BINGHAM
HOWARD F. DAMON
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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITEE
-
COMMITTEE
Mr. Edwin J. Lyman, Chairman Term expires 1951
Mrs. Ruth Varney, Secretary Term expires 1950
Mr. Luther H. Hayes Term expires 1949
Regular meetings: High School, 7:30 P. M., Monday before the last Saturday of each month.
Superintendent: Charles M. Robinson, Townsend, Massachusetts.
Superintendent's Secretary: Mrs. Virginia Freeman Welch, Townsend, Mass.
Supervisor of Music: Mrs. Elizabeth S. White, Ashby, Mass. School Physician: Dr. Claire S. Cayward, New Ipswich, N. H. School Nurse: Mrs. Alice Seymour, Ashby, Massachusetts.
Janitor: Mr. Linnie Varney, Ashby, Massachusetts.
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1948-1949
Fall term began September 8, 1948 Closed December 22, 1948 Mid-Winter term begins Jan. 3, 1949 Closes Feb. 18, 1949
Winter term begins Feb. 28, 1949 Closes April 15, 1949
Spring term begins April 25, 1949 Closes June 22, 1949*
Graduation Date-June 14, 1949
Fall term begins September 7, 1949 Closes December 23, 1949*
* Approximate
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee
Ashby, Massachusetts
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I hereby submit my eighth annual report as superintendent of your schools.
TEACHERS
In a way, the year 1948 was an unfortunate one for the Ashby teaching staff. Early in the year, Mrs. Ellen E. Sumner, who had served as a conscientious and capable teacher of Grades 3 and 4 for several years, was taken seriously ill and passed away on March 23, 1948. Mrs. Anne Hawthorne of Fitchburg did ex- cellent work in completing the year, but was unable to return to the school in September. Because of the increased enrollment, these two grades were divided into separate rooms - Mrs. Josephine M. Bowen as teacher of the third grade, and Mrs. Myra M. Bonitz in the fourth.
In the Fall, Mr. Lester R. Aldrich of Lancaster replaced Mr. Luce as principal of the school. Mr. Willis V. E. Gray of Little- ton, who replaced Mr. McCarthy, was in a serious automobile accident on November 22 and was in the hospital several weeks. We were very fortunate in securing Miss Vivi Ann Contos of Salem to substitute for Mr. Gray, and we hope to make arrange- ments for her to continue in Ashby after he returns to his duties.
Miss Bertha D. Johnson succeeded Miss Corliss as first grade teacher and is also coaching the girls' basketball.
Miss Irma H. Ojala of Fitchburg became teacher of Arts and Crafts, serving two days a week in Ashby and the balance in Townsend.
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Mr. Waino I. Pernaa was prevailed upon to continue his interest in boys' athletics by coaching the basketball.
TRANSPORTATION
Even with the new school buses put into operation a year ago, the increased enrollment necessitated one change in Sep- tember. Mrs. Vera M. Keyes was re-employed to relieve the over-crowded conditions on Mr. Wiita's route. As most of the buses are filled to capacity at the present time, it may be neces- sary to make some route alterations for the coming school year.
ENROLLMENT
You will notice by the chart at the end of this report that the present enrollment is 233 which is 22 pupils more than last year's total of 211.
As it was necessary to have all the rooms on the first floor for separate classes of the first four grades, the combined class of Grades 5 and 6 was placed in the West room of the second floor, formerly occupied by the seventh grade. The only way to provide sufficient classroom space for the Junior-Senior high grades was to convert the Chemistry Laboratory on the third floor into a recitation room.
As Chemistry is offered only on alternate years, this ar- rangement does not handicap us at present as much as it will next year when the subject is taught.
THE EXPANSION CRISIS
The anticipated minimum enrollment for September, 1949 is 250 pupils, about 200 of which will be in the first eight grades.
To understand definitely how our pupil housing problem has grown, let me list the membership of the school in January of each of the past five years:
Grades 1-8
High School
Total
1945
113
49
162
1946
139
58
197
1947
144
48
192
1948
166
45
211
1949
183
50
233
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These figures show that although the enrollment of the high school has remained about the same, that of the elementary grades has increased 62% in the last five years.
The school building comprises eight classrooms on the first two floors, with a small room for typing and a laboratory on the third floor. Whereas five years ago we housed the first eight grades in four rooms, it is now necessary to use seven of these rooms, and in another year all the rooms on the two floors will be utilized by these grades. The high school classes are thus being crowded into a smaller space each year and eventually out of the present building.
To show how urgent is the need for immediate plans to alleviate the crowded conditions in the school, let me cite the minimum enrollment anticipated during the next few years.
Present 1949-50 1950-51 1951-52 1952-53
Elementary
183
195
203
215
225
High School
50
60
70
75
75
Total
233
255
273
290
300
No attempt is made in these figures to include any pupils who might move into town, as this is impossible to foresee. But .. without doubt, in the next school year we will find the enroll- ment of the elementary school to be about 200, which is the present maximum safety capacity of the building as certified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety.
At the present time the Chemistry Laboratory on the third floor has been converted into a classroom for the high school, as the subject of Chemistry is offered only on alternate years. If this subject is taught next year, the laboratory facilities must of necessity be greatly curtailed.
The typing room and the laboratory, which must be entered through the attic, have no proper means of ventilation and are being used only as an emergency measure. Both should be dis- continued as class rooms at the earliest possible time.
Unless too many new pupils move into town, we shall prob- ably be able to "get along" with the present facilities for next
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year. The following September, however, it will be necessary to utilize all the classrooms on the two floors for the first eight grades. Definite plans, therefore, should be inaugurated at once to provide adequate accommodations for the high school pupils. One of these three alternates must be decided upon:
(a) Arrangements made to send the students to some high school out-of-town.
(b) Building a new high school.
(c) Go on a two-platoon system, with the elementary pupils attending school in the morning and the high school in the afternoon.
The town should make an immediate decision as to its future policy concerning the secondary school.
EQUIPMENT
The graduating class of 1948 presented the school with three electric clocks for classrooms. Necessary electrical outlets were installed in order to use these clocks.
The school is indebted to the P-TA for the gift of a film strip projector, together with some sets of pictures for the machine. It is planned to continue to build a library of such pictures which may be used in any of the classes in the building.
We were fortunate in the Fall to secure some much needed tables, desks and tablet arm chairs at a very reasonable rate. More equipment is necessary each year as the enrollment in- creases.
BASKETBALL FACILITIES
This year it became mandatory that if Ashby was to remain in the Wachusett Basketball League, its games could no longer be played in the old Town Hall. The Townsend School Commit- tee kindly granted the use of the Spaulding Memorial School gymnasium for games and practices at a very small cost. Al- though this arrangement solves the problem temporarily, definite arrangements should be started immediately to provide adequate gymnasium and auditorium facilities, if Ashby plans to keep its high school students in town.
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REPAIRS
A few necessary repairs were made during the past year. The fixing of the boiler was not so extensive as was anticipated.
The floors in the first and second grade rooms and the cor- ridors has the oil removed from them and a penetrating floor finish applied. This application not only makes them easier to keep clean, but also the children's clothes will not be soiled as they were by the oil. Plans are being made to refinish more classrooms during the summer.
Fluorescent lighting was installed in the Chemistry Labora- tory in order to have sufficient illumination for regular classes. By a definite year to year schedule, all the classrooms should have the open face light bulbs replaced by this more beneficial method.
After considerable study and consultation with experts, definite steps have been started to eliminate the perennial prob- lem of the school sewerage disposal. A pump, placed in the front lawn near the septic tank, will force the sewage to a cess pool at the extreme rear corner of the playground, from which will radiate several perforated pipes for leaching. It is hoped that this plan will properly handle all sewage disposal for many years.
The exterior of the school has not been painted for many years and should be done as soon as it is feasible. I recommend a separate article in the town warrant for this purpose.
FINANCES
At the end of this report is a financial statement of expendi- tures for 1948 together with the budget for 1949. Unfortunately the income from invested funds and dog tax was not so large as was anticipated and the expenses were consequently reduced.
The receipts accredited to school of $13,594.86 deducted from expenses results in a net cost to the town by local taxation of $22,852.55. This amount is only slightly larger than the pre- vious year, but due to a larger enrollment, the net cost per pupil was reduced to only $103.88.
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Let me indicate that the most expensive part of our educa- tional system is the high school with its numerous small classes. For the school year of 1947-48, the total cost per pupil in the high school ($267.43) was almost double that of the elementary ($137.67). As more pupils enter the high school classes, the cost per pupil will tend to decrease.
Although the 1949 budget appears to be much greater, the primary increases are for a larger teaching staff and more trans- portation facilities. However, due to the new state aid law which becomes operative in 1949, the anticipated total receipts for schools is $18,300. The net cost to the town by local taxation will be only slightly larger, if any, than in 1948. With an in- crease in enrollment, the net cost per pupil should be reduced to even below $100.
An appropriation of $41,200 plus income from invested funds and dog tax is hereby requested.
CONCLUSION
May I direct your attention to the excellent report of the principal, Mr. Aldrich. For the fine spirit he and his teachers have shown, and for the cooperative attitude of the committee and parents, may I express my gratitude.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES M. ROBINSON,
Superintendent.
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REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL
Mr. Charles M. Robinson Superintendent of Schools
Dear Sir:
I hereby submit my first annual report as principal of Lyman School.
There have been many questions about the philosophy of education as followed in the Lyman School, most especially that part of the philosophy which deals with school discipline. It is next to impossible to describe discipline because it is not sep- arate from the whole teaching situation in the classroom. Dis- cipline is an organic part of the total class and out-of-class activ- ities to assist students to develop knowledge, skills, habits, and attitudes which give the students control of themselves. It is the process of developing in the students self-control, self-direc- tion, and self-government; characteristics which determine whethere natural tendencies are constructive or destructive.
The purpose of this type of discipline is to help the students select a desirable pattern of conduct into which they will fit themselves. It is a process of working out in school life the greatest fundamental of American democracy-the right of a free people to govern themselves. This is the policy now being followed at the Lyman School.
One of the cardinal principals of education is the develop- ment of good health habits. This is done by direct and indirect teaching of basic health procedures. By the direct methods, students learn about health through formal class lessons given by the teacher. But in health education, the learning about health facts is not enough. These facts must lead to effective health habits to be of value. This can only be done by daily practice of the basic concepts of health education both in the school and the home. The school facilities must be as immacu- late as those to be found in the homes of the community. To be taught certain values and not see them in practice can lead only to confusion on the part of the students.
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1
Since a majority of the students came to school at an early hour, and the noon hour found idle hands, it seemed feasible to take up the slack in the time schedule. School now starts at eight forty-five and closes at two twenty-five. The class periods have not been shortened in any way.
The story telling hour, which is held at the Public Library every Friday afternoon under the direction of Mrs. Mark Thatcher, greatly enriches the literature courses in the elemen- tary grades. The stories realistically told by Mrs. Thatcher stimulate a keen interest in the children's books which the library has on loan in each classroom. The library continues to cooperate with the English departments of the upper six grades by providing the books recommended for outside reading in these grades.
A new system of school finance has been inaugurated with Mrs. Gwladys Miller as the school treasurer. This facilitates the efficient handling of the funds of the various school organiza- tions.
At a meeting of the Wachusett Interscholastic League October 4, 1948, the following motion was passed by a vote of 6-3 (Townsend, Lunenburg, and Ashby opposing): "The league members are unwilling to play this year on Ashby's present home court. Ashby may continue in the league providing their home games are played on the courts of other members of the league or equally adequate courts." Objections to the Town Hall floor were as follows:
.
1. Length of court short by approximately 30 feet.
2. Width of court short by approximately 13 feet.
3. Ceiling height short by approximately 10 feet. wall.
4. Backboards flush with wall instead of set out from the
5. Rims only 9 feet from floor instead of the required 10 feet.
6. Building heated by a one pipe heater with iron grille opening near the center of the floor.
7. Building overheated and lacked ventilation.
8. Playing surface of soft wood with exposed nail heads.
9 .. Dangerous projections on side walls and open stairwell from floor to basement.
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10. No facilities for showers to prevent colds.
11. No adequate toilet facilities available.
12. Dressing rooms improperly heated.
In view of the league action, the Townsend School Commit- tee unanimously voted to extend the use of the Spaulding Memo- rial Gymnasium to the Lyman School. This expression of gen- erosity was greatly appreciated by the students and the towns' people. The Spaulding Memorial Gymnasium is now used for all Ashby home games as well as one practice session every Mon- day night. The use of the Townsend floor is an added financial burden to the basketball budget. It also results in additional late evenings for the students in an already busy schedule.
The Parent and Teachers Association is to be highly com- mended for their contributions to the educational program of the school. It sponsors one of the finest school lunches in this area at the lowest cost to the student. The school lunch programı provides an excellent opportunity for the students to enjoy a wholesome, well-balanced meal in comfortable surroundings and a friendly atmosphere. An average of 175 students daily avail themselves of this opportunity. Much credit must be given to Mrs. John Mossman and Mrs. Kenneth Foresman for the excel- lence of this program.
A Tri-Purpose S. V. E. Projector was purchased by the P. T. A. this year to be used for visual education in the class- rooms. The school has subscribed to the New York Times news service which sends out a "March of Time" film-strip each month. This film-strip is used in the upper seven grades. Film- strips are available in practically every subject at every grade level. Our film-strip library now includes: "The Night Before Christmas", "Animal Cell Structure", "Coelenterata", "Echino- dermata", "Central America", and "American Railroads". Other film-strips are on order.
The P. T. A. sponsored a highly successful dancing school under the capable direction of Mrs. Jean Farley and Mrs. Lucy O'Neil. Sixty-five students attended a series of ten dancing lessons held weekly in the First Parish Hall. Social etiquette as well as ballroom dancing were mastered by the students. Another P. T. A. project now under way is the construction of
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1
playground equipment in the form of swings, teeter boards, and slides.
Fluorescent lighting has been installed in the commercial room and the laboratory. The other classrooms are so poorly lighted that a reading activity can result in severe eye strain and nervous fatigue. Modern school lighting equipment makes it no longer necessary for a classroom to be dark and gloomy even on a rainy day. Steps have been taken to regulate the present system to obtain maximum light production. In the lower three grades the movable furniture has been placed diagonally across the room so that the light comes over the student's shoulder at the desired angle of fifty degrees.
In September, the classes in the high school met, organized, and elected the following students as class presidents: Lewis Smith, Freshman Class; Roger Mills, Sophomore Class; Raymond Pesola, Junior Class; Norman Aho, Senior Class. The Student Council, which is made up of the four class presidents, met and elected Norman Aho president of the Student Council. The annual one-act play competition was held October 29th in the Parish Hall under the auspices of the Student Council. The Senior Class won the first prize of $80, the Sophomore Class won the second prize of $64, the Junior Class won the third prize of $48, and the Freshman Class won the fourth prize of $32. The Student Council is promoting the worthy use of leisure time by sponsoring the following excellent films to be shown to the entire school: "All American Co-ed", "Wee Willie Winkie", "Wintertime", "MacBeth", and "Alexander's Rag Time Band".
The High School Athletic Association met and elected Alan Foresman president. The enthusiasm of the students to support their athletic program was well demonstrated by the sale of $1105 worth of magazine subscriptions. The Emerson Radio and Bulova watch, which were offered as prizes in the magazine drive, were won by Faith Evans and Herbert Joki, respectively. The Athletic Association sponsored the climb up Mt. Monadnock October 12th. The boys' basketball team, coached by Waino Pernaa, and the girls' basketball team, coached by Bertha John- son, are playing a schedule of 18 Wachusett League Games and 5 non-league games. A junior boys group works out with Paul Foresman every Wednesday afternoon. The five cheer leaders wearing blue and gold uniforms are a very favorable innova-
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