USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1956-1960 > Part 10
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Superintendent of Schools William L. O'Connell
Principal Raymond J. Grey
Director of Guidance Miss Ruth R. Proctor
The first full year of the Region got off to an inauspicious start with the tremendous cold spell that caused a very deep frost layer and effectively halted foundation construction. General contracting work was resumed in April and has been progressing steadily ever since. Since then the school build- ing has come a long way toward completion. Sixty-three percent of the work is done, and most of the remaining thirty-seven percent is in the interior and in landscaping.
During the discussion of athletic fields, it was suggested that the Region acquire the land at the southeast corner of Hayward and Charter Roads for the new school. It was known that the land on Charter Road was composed of sand and gravel and would require much less money to develop than a site at the school, where boulders and sometimes ledge were found just below the surface. The land was purchased and has since been developed to include baseball and softball diamonds, a field hockey area, a soccer field, and an ice- skating rink. The price of the athletic field includes tennis courts to be placed either at the site of the school or in the woods between the school and the new athletic field. The new field was seeded, but the committee protested about the uneven surface, and it was torn up again. It is doubtful that it can be used this spring, but it should be in good condition by fall.
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The discussion of furniture for the entire school occupied much of the time of architects, professional school staff, and school committee. High quality furniture was chosen for appearance, durability, and ease of maintenance throughout the years. The finished product will be something to be proud of.
We are one of the few schools in the Commonwealth to adopt a plan set up by Arthur D. Little in an attempt to get eligible young men in the science departments. Under this plan (called the Lexington plan) two teachers instead of one will be hired to teach Chemistry, and each will teach for half a year. While one teaches, the other will be work- ing for Arthur D. Little at a higher salary. At mid-year the young men will change jobs. They will both work for Arthur D. Little during the summer or be subsidized at some University so that they can improve their teaching tech- niques. Both young men will be newly graduated from col- lege and will take part in the plan for three or four years. The two teachers will be paid by the school system at its customary salary scale, and by the Little firm at its usual rate, making the total income considerably above that for beginning teachers. The general purpose of this plan is to increase the supply of highly qualified high school science teachers.
After an amendment was made to the original Regional Agreement, two separate transportation contracts were made with Ormal Laffin for Acton students and John N. Davidson for Boxborough students. By separating the contracts in this manner it is possible for Boxborough, whose students all live more than a mile and a half from the school, to be completely reimbursed by the Commonwealth for the cost of transportation.
Mrs. Anne Rimbach has been hired as Cafeteria Manager for the Acton School System and for the Regional School. She will have charge of two cafeterias, one in the Julia L. McCarthy Primary School that will serve the primary grades and one in the new school that will serve grades seven through twelve.
The second sale of school bonds was carried out on Decem- ber 10, and $300,000 in School Bonds was sold at an interest rate of 100.506 and 3.40%. We are disappointed at the percentage rate, but are fortunate that it was no higher. Some of the offers ran to 3.90%.
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The Regional School Committee wishes to thank the edu- cational staff of the school and all those citizens of the two towns who have helped in planning, building, equipping, and otherwise aiding in bringing better education to the children of Acton and Boxborough.
JOSEPH H. HARTSHORN, Chairman,
GEORGE E. NEAGLE, THOMAS E. WETHERBEE, The Acton-Boxborough Regional District School Committee.
ACTON-BOXBOROUGH REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Treasurer's Report December 31, 1956
Balance, December 31, 1955
$1,205,068.23
Receipts, 1956 :
Town of Acton
$127,198.49
Town of Boxborough
12,664.03
School Planning Reimbursement
69,972.22
State Aid for Construction
48,509.35
Bond Issue
300,000.00
Interest Earned
15,154.49
Bond Premium
1,518.00
Total Receipts
$575,016.58
Total
$1,780,084.81
Disbursements, 1956
Maintenance and Operation :
General Control
$4,450.67
Expenses of Instruction
50,011.90
Operation of Plant
2,761.26
Maintenance of Plant
130.38
Auxiliary Agencies
232.74
Cost of Transportation
5,600.00
Miscellaneous
125.40
School Construction
925,717.58
Payment on Principal
65,000.00
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Interest on Bonds
35,100.00 Cost of Bond Issue
3,356.51
Total Disbursements, 1956
$1,092,486.44
Balance, December 31, 1956
$687,598.37
PRISCILLA FELT, District Treasurer.
ACTON-BOXBOROUGH REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Proposed Budget for 1957 January 1 - December 31, 1957
General Control
School Committee Expenses .. $110.00
Administrative Salaries
6,500.00
Supervisor of Attendance
50.00
Stationery and Postage
200.00
Conference Attendance by Superintendent
150.00
School Census
200.00
Magazines, Books, Dues
50.00
Bonding Treasurer
250.00
State Audit
130.00
Miscellaneous
500.00
TOTAL GENERAL CONTROL
$8,140.00
Expenses of Instruction
Present Faculty, 33 members
$131,780.00
Additional needs - librarian, two teachers
7,700.00
Substitutes
2,200.00
Military Service Fund
100.00
Miscellaneous
500.00
Total Salaries
$142,280.00
Textbooks
English
$369.80
Mathematics
104.80
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Science
78.50
Social Studies
157.00
Languages
92.00
Business
158.00
Orientation and Occupations ..
113.75
Guidance
125.15
Music
150.00
Shop
150.00
Home Economics
200.00
Miscellaneous
500.00
Total Textbooks
$2,199.00
Instructional Supplies (Specific)
Science
$200.00
Remedial Reading
50.00
Guidance
200.00
Music
150.00
Art
600.00
Shop
300.00
Home Economics
500.00
Physical Education ..
1,000.00
Audio-Visual Aids ..
100.00
Total Supplies (Spe-
cific)
$3,100.00
Instructional Sup-
plies (General)
$1,500.00
TOTAL EXPENSES OF
INSTRUCTION . . . .
$149,079.00
Operation of Plant
Custodians
$5,000.00
Fuel
3,000.00
Light
4,500.00
Gas
340.00
Telephone
600.00
Plowing
100.00
Supplies
2,000.00
Water
200.00
Insurance
2,500.00
Miscellaneous
500.00
Total Operation of Plant .... $18,740.00
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Maintenance of Plant
Typewriter Repairs
$200.00
Miscellaneous
300.00
Total Maintenance of Plant $500.00
Auxiliary Agencies
School Physician
$300.00
School Nurse
700.00
Health Supplies
100.00
Library
100.00
Insurance
80.00
Graduation
175.00
Printing and Advertising
50.00
Miscellaneous
300.00
Total Auxiliary Agencies ....
$1,805.00
Outlay
Miscellaneous
$200.00
Cost of Transportation
$20,250.00
Miscellaneous
$200.00
Summary
GENERAL CONTROL $8,140.00
EXPENSES OF INSTRUC- TION
149,079.00
OPERATION OF PLANT .. 18,740.00
MAINTENANCE OF PLANT 500.00
AUXILIARY AGENCIES ..
1,805.00
OUTLAY
200.00
COST OF TRANSPORTA- TION
20,250.00
MISCELLANEOUS
200.00
Gross Operating Budget $198,914.00
Less (1) 1955 Operating
Surplus $1,476.95
(2) State Aid, in part 17,000.00
-$18,476.95
Net Operating Budget .... $180,437.05
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Capital Budget
Interest on Bonds
$43,545.00
Principal
$80,000.00
Less (1) Transfer from Available Funds .. $16,000.00
(2) State Aid 48,000.00
-$64,000.00
$16,000.00
Total - Operating and
$239,982.05 Capital Budgets . .
APPORTIONMENT OF THE CHARGES TO BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE TOWNS OF ACTON AND BOXBOROUGH
Acton
*Operating Expenses, 87.8% of $161,197.45 **
$141,531.36
Cost of Transportation 14,250.00
Capital Expenses, 95% of
$59,545.00
56,567.75
Total Acton's Share ....
$212,349.11
Boxborough
*Operating Expenses, 12.2% of
$161,197.45 **
$19,666.09
Cost of Transportation 4,989.60
Capital Expenses, 5% of
$59,545.00
2,977.25
Total Boxborough's Share .... $27,632.94
Total
$239,982.05
* Acton Student Enrollment 10/1/1956 375
Boxborough Student Enrollment 10/1/1956 52
427
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** Net Operating Budget $180,437.05
Less: Combined Acton and Box-
borough Cost of Trans- portation -19,239.60
$161,197.45
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
The Acton-Boxborough Regional High School started in September, 1956. Since the new school was not ready we are operating in the high school building and all available space is being utilized. It is necessary to use the auditorium as a homeroom for the seventh and eighth grades and as a study hall for grades nine through twelve. It was also found advisable to use the Principal and Guidance Office as a classroom. Our enrollment in September was as follows:
Grade 7
93
Grade 8 98
Grade 9 75
Grade 10
65
Grade 11
53
Grade 12
41
Total
425
This was an increase of 41 pupils over last year's enroll- ment of 384.
In order to make the transfer to the new school a simple one every effort was made to offer the subjects which would be in the curriculum once we were in our new school. We feel that it is the duty of a school administration to review constantly its existing curriculum with this thought in mind: Are we serving the best interests of our pupils ? Keeping the above in mind we felt that we should make some changes and they are as follows: In order to give our college bound students better preparation we included Latin I and II and added sections of Algebra I, II and Geometry. We also made some changes in our Advance Mathematics course for this course is for Seniors and must prepare them for College Mathematics. A new textbook "Introductory College Mathe- matics" was purchased and the students cover Trigonometry,
169
Geometry, Algebra and some Calculus. We feel that by these changes they will be better prepared for College Board Examinations and for the first year mathematics in college. We have improved our Social Studies offerings by including Problems of Democracy, Ancient History and International Relations. Two general mathematics courses are available for students who do not intend to go to college.
Our minimum requirements for grades nine through twelve are: Four years of English, Four years of Physical Educa- tion, Three years of Social Studies (of which one must be U. S. History), Two years of Science, Two years of Mathe- matics. Pupils must take at least four prepared subjects each year and those who are capable of carrying five pre- pared subjects will be encouraged to do so.
We have been using the unit examination system for four- teen months and we feel that this system is justifying itself. Our students have become more serious in their approach to school work and it has helped us in our objective of turn- ing out good students.
Although we are on a two-platoon system we have endeav- ored to maintain as many extra-curricular activities as pos- sible in the high school. The National Honor Society is in charge of all assemblies and the Student Council supervises class elections, Good Government Day elections, and in con- junction with the National Honor Society issued a new school paper called the "Colonial Crier." This paper is a printed one and was enthusiastically received by the student body. All classes are running dances, suppers, paper drives, and other fund raising activities which they hope will give them enough money by their senior year to get to Washington, D.C. All these activities have the tendency to boost school spirit and most certainly to teach them to work together towards a common goal.
In athletics our girls and boys are members of the Wachu- sett Interscholastic League and made creditable records last year. The girls' basketball team won 24 and lost 2. They captured the Eastern Division Championship and won the title by defeating Templeton High School, the Western Division leaders. After this they went on to win the Ashby Girls' Tournament. Our high school also competes in soccer, field hockey, softball, and baseball. On the seventh and eighth grade level we have basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, field hockey, all on an intramural basis. The Junior High students enjoy these intramurals and we find that in basket-
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ball we have 68% of the student body participating. This is remarkable because the students participate on their own time in the morning and must furnish their own transporta- tion. The school administration is very satisfied with the entire athletic program for we feel that our teams are good representatives of the Acton-Boxborough Regional High School.
At this time we are eagerly looking forward to entering the new school for we are able to visualize what we will be able to offer the youngsters of Acton and Boxborough in these new facilities. We think of the Home Economics, Art, Industrial Arts areas, of the Auditorium, Library, and certainly the most adequate Chemistry and Physics Labora- tories. Therefore, many hours of planning are being utilized to assure that we are ready to make full use of the new quarters. The problems we have faced in the last two years will cer- tainly stand us in good stead to meet any future problems.
It is a pleasure to commend all our teachers on their splen- did cooperation and to extend my sincere thanks to the students for their cooperation and understanding. I should also like to express my deepest appreciation to the School Committee and to Mr. O'Connell for their continuing interest and support.
Respectfully submitted,
RAYMOND J. GREY, Principal.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF GUIDANCE
At this time educators and townspeople locally, like others nationwide, are faced almost daily with newspaper and maga- zine articles and radio and television broadcasts which point out major educational problems, such as the need for bigger and better school facilities, the necessity for evaluation of public school curricula, the demand for adequately trained workers for skilled jobs, the rising costs of advanced educa- tion with the resultant need for more scholarships, and the increasingly competitive situation of college entrance. It is the responsibility of all "school people" to work with parents and community leaders toward the solution of these large issues, but concurrently it is the particular obligation
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of guidance personnel, with the aid of school administrators, teachers, and parents to provide insofar as possible for the optimal adjustment of each individual student to the existing school situation and for his growth in the direction best suited for his abilities and interests.
Guidance services, aimed at meeting the needs of the individual, cannot be isolated from the total educational pro- gram, nor can one guidance activity be separated from the others, for they are all interdependent. However, it may be permissible in this report to emphasize one area, namely educational placement.
Youngsters entering grade seven of the Acton-Boxborough Regional High School come from small village schools where placement has been a purely geographical matter. In order to facilitate adjustment to the larger, more formal organiza- tion and prior to trying "to place each child in an educational setting which will give him the best opportunity to achieve an optimum, well-rounded growth," guidance personnel de- vote considerable time to the study of cumulative records and to conferences with elementary school teachers. They make an effort also to achieve at least a slight personal ac- quaintance with incoming students by conducting discussion meetings with sixth graders in the village schools. Place- ment, then, is the result not of the simple "stacking up" of IQ's, but rather of the analysis of several factors, namely, (1) achievement as evaluated by teachers throughout the elementary grades (2) achievement as shown by standard- ized test results, especially those in the sixth grade (3) schol- astic aptitude as revealed by two or three different tests, and (4) character, motivation, adaptability, and health as observed by previous teachers. It is felt that one advantage of this system is that the grouping is not static. Though fewer changes are made during the seventh grade than be- tween the seventh and eighth grades and thereafter, con- tinual observation, frequent discussions in faculty meetings, and counseling sessions help to bring attention to individual differences in development which may indicate that certain students might be better suited in other groups.
Through grade eight all students continue to take the same school subjects, but by the end of that year every individual must have essayed to make, with the aid of group discussions and personal interviews with his counselor at school and thoughtful consideration with parents at home, a sufficiently realistic analysis of his potentialities so that
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he may choose from the more flexible curriculum of grades nine - twelve those subjects which will provide the basis upon which to build a happy and rewarding vocation. Place- ment in grade nine is of prime importance and it is here that responsibility must shift from the school to the student and his parents, It is the function of the guidance person to clarify and to suggest, but he cannot be the one to decide on the course of action.
Plans of study made in grade eight are only tentative and are evaluated, with the counselor, at least once a year there- after. A final and most important educational placement activity occurs during grade twelve for those students who have maintained good academic records and have shown a desire to pursue further study in the liberal arts or in spe- cialized vocational fields. Plans for further study must be the result of thorough self- analysis and choices of schools or colleges should be made only after having exhausted all possible methods of evaluation, including the study of cata- logues and accreditation information, interviews with alumni and admissions officers, and visits whenever possible. It is the obligation of the school guidance counselor to aid the student during grades nine, ten, and eleven in making his self analysis and in securing the necessary information so that he may be ready in grade twelve to make realistic choices. It is the opinion of the writer that qualified, serious students will continue to be admitted to schools and colleges of high standing and that they can expect their high school training to stand them in good stead. Space does not permit the reproduction of the college admissions picture of Acton High School graduates of recent years or of their comments received through follow-up studies, but it is upon such infor- mation, together with the fact that the current larger high school classes show a high percentage of qualified college pre- paratory students, that this opinion is based.
In conclusion it may be said that while the responsibilities of the operation and development of the guidance for the Acton-Boxborough Region are viewed as complex, they are accepted as a challenge. Informed and interested parents, eager students and co-workers, improved elementary school facilities, and a new high school - all point to the possibility of achieving high educational goals in the years ahead.
Respectfully submitted,
RUTH R. PROCTOR, Director of Guidance.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
The annual physical examinations were completed in October. Special examinations for those participating in organized athletics were conducted at the beginning of the school year. Parents were notified of orthopedic, dental, and medical problems as encountered.
In conjunction with the Board of Health the annual Schick Tests and immunizations with Diphtheria and Tetanus Tox- oids were given to the children of the lower grades as re- quested by parents.
Several clinics were held also in conjunction with the Board of Health for the administration of Salk Poliomyelitis vaccine. The vaccine was made available to all children in the town between the ages of one to nineteen years for both first and second injections. The third and final injection will be made available to these children as the vaccine is supplied to us from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. There should be no children in Acton not immunized to Poliomyelitis. No reactions were encountered.
I wish to thank you, the townspeople, teachers and school nurse for their cooperation and assistance.
Respectfully submitted, PAUL P. GATES, M. D., School Physician.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
Report for the school year ending December 31, 1956 is as follows :
Physical examinations have been completed for the first, third and fifth grades of the grammar school. The athletes of the senior high school, plus grades nine and twelve were also examined by the school physician.
Eye and ear examinations have been completed in all grades. We have very good cooperation from the parents in having all defects remedied when possible.
The School Dental Clinic has been held once each month except for the month of August at Dr. Albright's office. The Board of Health certainly appreciates all the work Dr. Albright has done for the school children and hopes that he may continue for the benefit of the children.
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Preschool clinics were held at the Julia L. McCarthy Pri- mary School in May. Eighty-two children were registered by the school personnel and the physical examinations of the children were done by the school physician, Dr. Paul Gates.
Diphtheria Clinic was held in May with 162 children in the first, third and fifth grades being Schick tested. Eight chil- dren needed complete immunization and five received booster inoculations.
During 1956 almost all of the school children from the first grade to the twelfth grade received two inoculations of Salk Poliomyelitis Vaccine at the eleven clinics held through- out the year. Seventy-three school children have not re- ceived the inoculations. We will be holding clinics for the third or booster inoculations soon.
Daily contact has been kept with the schools but it is necessary to have a full-time nurse on hand to have better health supervision and a planned health education program. A school cannot be maintained Grade A unless its students' health is maintained Grade A.
I wish to thank all those who have helped me so much during the year. It would have been impossible to have conducted all the clinics during the year without the full cooperation of Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Grey, the teachers, the nurses, and the secretaries.
Respectfully submitted,
EILEEN F. HALE, R. N.
GRADUATION EXERCISES June 15, 1956
Salutatorian
Wesley J. Baker
Valedictorian
Judith D. Hatch
Scholarship Awards :
Acton High School Scholarship Fund
Martha Lee
Bridgewater Teachers College Newton-Wellesley Hospital Northeastern University
Judith Hatch Wesley Baker West Acton Woman's Club Lorraine Foley
Lowell General Hospital
Acton Center Woman's Club Judith Hatch
Newton-Wellesley Hospital
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Parent Teachers Association William Irwin Rotary Club of Maynard William Irwin Acton Teachers' Association Martha Lee Teacher Training Scholarship Mary Lou Flerra
Lowell Technological
Lowell Technological
Bridgewater Teachers College
Fitchburg Teachers College
Other Awards:
American Legion Medals for Scholarship, Loyalty and Achievement Judith Hatch Richard Harper
Harvard Club of Concord Book Prize Edwin Anderson
Rensselaer-Polytechnic Institute Medal Wesley Baker
Bausch and Lomb Medal Judith Hatch
Daughters of the American Revolution Award Martha Lee
National Honor Society Members :
Seniors : Karen Spinney, Irene Kazokas, Martha Lee, Gladys Steele, Judith Hatch.
Juniors : Russell Nylander, Ronald Noftle
CLASS OF 1956
Walter Raymond Aalto Mareta Helen Anderson James Wesley Baker, Jr. Sylvia Barbara Beaudoin John Charles Bressette Nancy Marion Caouette John Francis Coughlin Gerald Lawrence Davis Sandra Jean Dunphy Mary Lou Flerra Lorraine Barbara Foley Alice Foreman Richard Davis Harper Judith Diane Hatch Cynthia Martha Holmes Carol June Ingham William Robert Irwin Terence Michael Janericco
Barbara Jane Johnson Irene Jane Kazokas Mary Ellen Landry
Malcolm Douglas Langille Martha Winifred Lee Caroline Edith Livermore
*Dexter Lindsey Loring Richard Joseph O'Neil, Jr. Jean Elizabeth Priest Joan Grace Priest Barbara Ann Socha Karen Evelyn Spinney Gladys Sophia Steele Earl Clayton Steeves George Alfred Wilkes, Jr. David Alden Wilson Richard Norman Wise Deborah Hayward Woolston U. S. Navy
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ACTON-BOXBOROUGH REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL District Superintendent, William L. O'Connell
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Name
RAYMOND GREY MARY CAMPBELL JOAN CAPITELL
HELEN DETSCH
Boston University
BS
English
DOROTHY FERRY
Radcliffe College
AB
English
Framingham Teachers College
BS
University of Mississippi
BA
Stanford University
MA
MASON KING
M. I. T.
BS
Harvard University
AM
Science
WILLIAM LUBOLD
Boston University
BA, MA
Mathematics
ERNEST MANDEVILLE
University of Massachusetts
BS
Industrial Arts
ANTHONY PAPPAS
M. I. T.
BS
Science
Mathematics
JANICE TURCOTTE
Massachusetts School of Art
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