USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Carver > Town annual reports of Carver 1954 > Part 4
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A plan for intensified services to Aid to Dependent Children recipients became effective February1, 1954. The State De- partment has established the requirement that all families re- ceiving ADC shall be visited at least once a month rather than every three months. The public welfare agency shares a con- cern for the quality of care given to children as well as the financial needs of the family. Notice is sent to the appro- priate law enforcement officials of the furnishing of Aid to Dependent Children in all cases involving desertion and non- support. One petition has been entered in Fourth District Court under the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act and action is pending. The ADC caseload varies little, there being 7 cases on 1/1/54 and 8 cases on 12/31/54, 18 children being aided.
The number of Old Age Assistance cases has decreased. On 1/1/54 there were 29 cases and on 12/31/54 there were 24 cases, although there is one case pending. Since the lien law became effective on 1/1/52, there have been fewer applications due to the reluctance to have liens placed upon real estate as a condition of receiving Old Age Assistance. As liens are en- forced, the net cost of Old Age Assistance will be decreased. One lien is in the process of being enforced.
The Disability Assistance program which has been in effect for three years, continues to increase. It is meeting the needs of thirteen persons who would otherwise be supported entirely by twn funds. Three applications are pending the decision of the Medical Review Team. In the program of Disability Assistance, a basic factor which must be established is that the applicant be "permanently and totally disabled." Re-
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cipients in this category usually require regular medical ser- vices which tends to make the program costly.
The Public Welfare caseload remains small, there being 5 cases on 1/1/54 and 4 cases as of 12/31/54. Recipients in other cities and towns holding Carver settlement have been in need, however, which increases the total amount paid for Public Welfare.
Increased Old Age Survivors Insurance benefits effective September 1, 1954 have been reflected in the decreased grants of five recipients. As OASI benefits increase, public assistance grants will decrease.
The Plymouth County Relief Officers Associatoin meetings have been regularly attended as well as the conference of the American Public Welfare Association and Massachusetts Con- ference of Social Work.
I wish to express my appreciation to the Board Members for their cooperation during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
VIOLA S. GRIFFITH,
Agent.
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Report of Ralph E. Washburn, Trustee under the will of Benjamin Ellis, for the benefit of the Fourth School District of Carver, Massachusetts
In 1952 it was voted by the School Committee to discontinue the use of the Benjamin Ellis School because of the opening of the new school. Because of this the terms of the trust under the Will of Benjamin Ellis providing for employment of a teacher could no longer be carried out. Under the terms of the will and trust of Benjamin Ellis it was provided that if the school ceased to be used, the funds in the hands of the trustee should be paid to the heirs of Benjamin Ellis.
Upon a petition to the Plymouth County Probate Court seeking a decree of the court as to whom the assets of the trust fund should now be paid, it was determined and decreed by the Court that after the payment of legal services and expenses as set out in said decree the balance should be paid one half to Zaidee Ellis Gaff of Paget, West Bermuda, one quarter to Helena E. Bailey of Warrenton, Virginia, one quarter to Stuart E. Elliott of San Raphael, California, they being all the heirs of said Benjamin Ellis and entitled to said fund.
The assets in my hands as Trustee consisted of twenty (20) shares of Boston & Albany Railroad stock and a small balance in the checking account of the National Bank of Wareham. My account as Trustee from the time of my appointment in 1940 to the present time has been drafted and is to be duly presented to the County Probate Court in the near future for allowance and for my discharge as Trustee.
Respectfully submitted,
RALPH E. WASHBURN
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Erwin K. Washburn, Chairman
Term expires 1955
Elizabeth F. Ryder, Secretary
Term expires 1957
Frank H. Cole Term expires 1956
George R. Austin, Superintendent of Schools
Office: Room 4, Peirce Bldg., Middleboro Office Tel .: Middleboro 1295-W
THE GOVERNOR JOHN CARVER SCHOOL - STAFF
Mr. Henry M. Shaw, Principal
Social Studies
Mrs. H. Winifred Nickerson
Grade 1
Mrs. Alice R. Shurtleff
Grade 2
Mrs. Suzanne F. Burbank
Grades 1 and 2
Mrs. Gladys E. Burgess
Grade 3
Mrs. Vienna P. Cole
Grade 4
Mrs. Ruth B. Walker
Grades 3 and 4
Mrs. Mary E. Giberti
Grade 5
Mrs. Doris F. Moore Grade 5
Mrs. Marion L. Griffith, Grade 6; English, Grades 7 and 8; Music, Grades 7 and 8; Latin, Grade 8.
Mrs. Constance B. Holmes, Grade 7; Literature, Grade 8; Girls' Physical Education and Domestic Science.
Walter S. Foster, Grade 7; Mathematics, Grade 6, 7 and 8; History, Grade 6; Geography, Grade 8.
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Noel Chadwich, Grade 8; General Science, Boys' General Shop;
Boys' Physical Education; Mechanical Drawing, Grades 7 and 8.
Drawing Supervisor: Mrs. Phyllis C. Foster, Hanson, Mass.
Music Supervisor: Position vacant.
School Physician: W. Vernon Mayo, M. D., 119 Summer St., Kingston.
School Nurse: Madeline A. Baker, R. N., 72 South Main Street, Middleboro.
Advisory Committee for Practical Arts:
Mrs. Henry M. Shaw, Chairman, North Carver, Mass.
Mrs. Angelo J. Giberti, West Carver, R. F. D. No. 2, Middleboro, Mass.
Mrs. Toivo Erickson, South Carver, Mass.
Regional School District Planning Committee for Carver: Mr. Erwin K. Washburn, South Carver, Mass. Mrs. George Young, Carver, Mass.
Mr. Franklin Wilbur, North Carver, Mass.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
1955 Winter Term: Begins Monday, January 3; Closes Friday, April 15. Vacation: February 21-25; Closed Good Fri- day, April 8. Vacation: April 18-22.
1955 Spring Term: Begins Monday, April 25; Closes June 10; Graduation, June 9; Holiday, May 30.
1955 Fall Term: Opens Wednesday, September 7; Closes Wednesday, December 21 (full day). Holidays: October 12; November 11, 24 and 25; Teachers' Convention, prob- ably October 21.
1956 Winter Term: Opens Tuesday, January 3.
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REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO FIRST GRADE
1. A child who will reach his sixth birthday on or before December 31st may be admitted to the first grade in Septem- ber, 1955, without examination.
2. A child whose sixth birthday occurs in the two months after December 31st may be admitted the preceding September if readiness for school can be demonstrated by means of ap- propriate tests. Parents having a child whom they wish to be examined under this rule are required to make application to the Superintendent of Schools on or before August 15th pre- ceding the opening of school in September. A special form will be furnished for this purpose upon written request from the parent.
CLOSING OF SCHOOLS
It is the policy of the School Committee to close school only under the severest weather conditions or on such occasions when it is dangerous to operate school buses. At other times, parents are expected to use their own judgment in sending children to school. When a decision to close sehools has been made, this information will be broadcast through the courtesy of radio stations WBZ, WNBH and WBET. The no-school signal will also be given on the local fire warning apparatus. This signal is two short blasts sounded three times.
From records of the School Committee:
Voted: That the report of the Superintendent of Schools and other officers of the school system be hereby adopted as the report of the School Committee for 1954.
ERWIN K. WASHBURN, Chairman ELIZABETH F. RYDER, Secretary FRANK H. COLE
School Committee.
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FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1954
Appropriation
$105,363.00 $105,092.82 $270.18
E. Tillson Pratt Fund
122.70
$122.70
$105,485.70 $105,092.82 $270.18 $122.70
Expenditures SUPERVISION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
School Committee, Salaries
$391.25
School Committee, Expenses
44.48
Superintendent, Salary
2,228.24
Superintendent, Travel
233.34
Union Office, incl. Clerical Assistance
and Administrative Expense
1,481.34
School Census
30.00
Attendance Officer
25.00
$4,433.65
EXPENSES OF INSTRUCTION
Supervisors
$436.00
Teachers and Substitutes
34,621.85
Textbooks
763.86
Supplies
1,651.13
$37,472.84
OPERATING EXPENSES
Janitors' Salaries
$4,008.00
Janitors' Fees: Non-school Activities
28.50
Janitors' Supplies
696.29
Fuel
2,138.14
Lights, Telephone, Misc.
1,181.31
$8,052.24
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MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY
Repairs and Miscellaneous
$797.51 $797.51
AUXILIARY AGENCIES
Transportation - High School
$9,521.83
Disciplinary Officer,
High School Transportation
50.00
Transportation - Elementary School
11,653.04
Insurance
383.45
Library
153.55
Health
976.79
Tuition: High Schools
20,882.09
Tuition: Elementary School
56.95
Misc. Aux. Agencies
229.44
$43,907.14
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
Tuition, Day School
$2,968.83
Tuition, Evening School
16.50
Transportation
4,661.64
Practical Arts
479.34
$8,126.31
OUTLAYS
New Construction
$793.50
New Equipment
1,509.63
$2,303.13
Total Expenditures $105,092.82
Table of Reimbursement
and other income earned on account of Schools during the fiscal year 1954, as certified to the Superintendent of Schools by the Department of Education, or billed by the local De- partment to other agencies:
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School Aid (Chap. 70, G. L., as amended )
$9,815.79
Transportation (Chap. 71, G. L., as amended )
** 19,530.56
Superintendent of Schools, Small Towns
1,300.40
Vocational Education:
Tuition
$868.84
Transportation
2,396.31
Evening Practical Arts
216.58
3,481.73
Other:
Wards, Division of Child Guardianship
Tuition
$1,849.40
Transportation
549.10
2,398.50
Insurance Returns to Treasurer:
Return Premium $24.88
Return on account of
Hurricane Damage 78.00
102.88
Total
$36,629.86
Reimbursement, Schoolhouse Construction (Chap. 645, Acts of 1948) Payment No. 4 $5,127.32
NET COST OF SCHOOLS, YEAR 1954
Total expense, all types of school
$105,092.82
Total of reimbursements and earnings 36,629.86
Net Cost $68,462.96
** By notice from the Office of State Department of Education this amount must await payment from a deficiency appropri- ation.
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ESTIMATES of School Aid and other reimbursements to be received in 1955, these estimates being furnished as required under Section 10, Chap. 643, Acts of 1948.
School Aid (Chap. 70, G. L., as amended)
$11,570.79*
Transportation (Chap. 71, G. L., as amended ) 19,000.00
Superintendent of Schools, Small Towns 1,300.00
Other Anticipated Income:
Division of Child Guardianship
State Wards:
Tuition
$1,700.00
Transportation
400.00
2,100.00
Vocational Education:
Tuition
$951.96
Transportation
2,029.78
Evening Practical Arts
308.48
3,290.22
$37,261.01
* This figure subject to change if the Legislature revises the table of equalized valuations for the towns. Present figure set by Acts of 1945.
Reimbursement on Account of Schoolhouse Construction (Chap. 645, Acts of 1948), 5th payment, $5,127.32.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the members of the School Committee:
In accordance with the practice developed over several years and continued, this report together with that of the Prin- cipal and other persons connected with the School Department and with the several statistical tables continues to serve as the report for the School Department for the calendar year just ended. A report of this sort, general in nature, can, at best, touch upon only those important decisions and can deal only briefly with many appointments which required much more consideration than space given in this report might in- dicate.
On February the Committee gave consideration to several names proposed for the school by various interested citizens and others. After proper weighing of all the factors involved, it was unanimously desided that the name submitted by the Carver Historical Society was best suited for the purpose, and it was accordingly adopted. Henceforth the school will be known as The Governor John Carver School.
In reviewing the work in the School Department for the year just closed, it is apparent that many of the decisions which the School Committee has had to make have been, more than ever before, decisions in respect to policy.
There has been no year since I have been writing these re- ports when it has been found necessary to record so many changes in the teaching staff. In the cases of all the resigna- tions recorded for major positions, with one exception, they have been submitted, not because of dissatisfaction with teach- ing in Carver, but because of the attractiveness of better pay
90
elsewhere or in combination with locations nearer to home. It is in this fashion that Carver finds it necessary to deal with what is likely a double problem -
a. The supply of locally available teachers is restricted, and,
b. Salary scales in neighboring communities continue to rise so that it makes it a very simple matter for the neigh- boring communities to look to the town paying lower salaries as a source of teacher supply.
As described in the annual report for last year, the first salary schedule for teachers in the history of the town was adopted and put on record by the School Committee and that, as such, constituted a good start toward a solution of the pro- blem of a planned salary program. However, in June of this year, the teachers requested a meeting with the School Com- mittee for the purpose of revising the plan of application fo the salary schedule suggesting that it would be more in keep- ing with the times and realistic in dealing with the problem of teachers' pay if the amount of the annual increments were stepped up and the advance could be more rapld on the salary scale. The Committee took this problem under consideration and during the middle of the summer announced that a change would be made upward, subject to the appropriation by Town Meeting of sufficient additional funds for this purpose. The dicision was returned in this manner, because in the middle of the year it seemed unwise to take money away from other projects already planned and if a departure were to be made from the salary plans already established, that people in gen- eral should have an opportunity to know this. As matters developed later, the proposed town meeting was not forth coming, and in October, it then being possible to better deter- mine if surplus funds existed, the School Committee voted an increase in salaries retro-active to September 1, 1954, and added the following provisions to become a part of the salary schedule previously announced last year:
The following Amendments of the Salary Schedule were adopted in principle by the School Committee on July 22, 1954
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and on October 4, 1954 were voted to become a part of the Salary Schedule for teachers retro-active to September 1, 1954.
a. For those whose salaries are under $3,000.00 and, sub- ject to the reservation under "c", the annual increment shall be $2,00.00.
b. For those whose salaries are $3,000.00 and over, the an- nual increment shall be $150.00.
c. The salary of a teacher entering service in Carver and the annual increment at the end of each of the first two years of service shall be set at the discretion of the School Committee.
d. The minimum and maximum salaries stated in the sched- ule of August 3, 1953 shall continue to be effective, to- gether with the other general provisions.
e. Salaries of principals and/or others having special admin istrative of supervisory responsibilities shall be set at the discretion fo the School Committee.
The other major problem which has received a good deal of attention this year has been in the nature of devising a plan whereby there could be a reasonably falr and even distribution of pupils to teachers. To properly work out such a problem, it meant that additional teachers would have to be added to the staff, but sufficient appointments were made possible so that such a policy could be carried out. At the opening of the calendar year, a combination 5th-6th grade was established and the numbers of the 7th grade being high, two sections of the 7th grade were established when school opened in Sep- tember. A further revision in grade-teacher assignments was approved at the close of this calendar year as the number of pupils in the combination grade 3rd-4th section had fallen to 17. Reassignment of pupils in the 3rd-4th grades will make it possible for Mrs. Cole to be trasferred to 7th grade work for the balance of the year and in this manner filling a vacancy
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which will be created by a resignation from Mr. Foster, there being reason to believe his resignation will be submitted soon.
Resignations and elections, chronologically through the year, have been as follows:
Suzanne F. Burbank, elected to replace Florence L. Gordan, whose resignation was reported in last year's annual report. Mrs. Burbank is a graduate of the Bridgewater State Tea- chers' College in 1941 with 4/2 years previous teaching ex- perience in primary grades.
Virginia C. Smith, resigned, to teach in Middleboro, Mass.
Hattie J. Griffith resigned, to accept a position in Marion, Mass.
Mary E. Giberti, elected to take up an extra section of grades 5-6. Mrs. Giberti was graduated from the Plymouth High School in 1931 and the Bridgewater State Teachers' College in 1935. She has taught 5/2 years in Plymouth, several of these years being in the work of remedial reading.
Ruth B. Walker, elected to replace Virginia C. Smith. Mrs. Walker is a graduate of Plymouth High School, The Boston University College of Liberal Arts, degree A. B., with the degree A. M. from the graduate school of the same college. Mrs. Walker had done substitute teaching, had been a librarian and a social worker and is now making teaching her life work. Several coursese in the field of Education have already been completed to gain theory in her chosen field.
George Drake, resigned, to accept a position in Lincoln, Mass. The Committee made a vigorous attempt to induce Mr. Drake to remain but the circumstances at the time seemed to be such that there was no way this could be possible.
Winifred H. Nickerson, elected to replace Mrs. Hattie Griffith. Mrs. Nickerson was graduated from the high school at Apple- ton, Wisconsin, and entered teaching in Massachusetts in
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1921. Before coming to Carver, Mrs. Nickerson has had two five-year periods of teaching, nearly all of this in the primary grades; fourteen courses have been completed which serve toward degree requirements.
Walter S. Foster, elected to take up classes created on account of the second section of the 7th grade which was set up. Mr. Foster was a graduate of Quincy High School, 1938, a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and University of Massachusetts, 1951. As the end of the year approached, it was known that Mr. Foster would shortly be resigning.
Mrs. Phyllis Foster, elected to teach Art, one day weekly, re- signed in December.
Mr. Noel Chadwick, elected to take up part of the teaching work left vacant by the resignation of Mr. Drake. Mr. Chadwick had all of his education in France, although a U. S. citizen all the while. He came to this country a few years ago to make his permant home here and has entered upon a career of teaching.
The matter of suitable arrangements for high school educa- tion has been one of the prominent problems of the committee this year. As reported last year, it was known that June 1955 was the limit of time when pupils could attend Plymouth High Schools. An application had been made to the Silver Lake Regional School to determine if membership for Carver was a possibility, but answer was returned from the official board of that district that such a move would not seem feasible at that time. Assurance has been given, however, of at least temporary accommodations for the pupils of grades nine through twelve, and it will be to this school that pupils will be sent, beginning in September, 1955. In order to make the transfer as satisfactory as possible for both the Regional staff and the Carver pupils, a registration conference was arranged on November 29th when the Superintendent, Principal and Assistant Superintendent of the regional district came to Carver
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to meet the high school pupils, speak about the new school, answer their questions and advise on matters of registration in the new school. The remaining problems of enrolment were settled through the efforts of Mr. Shaw working with Mr. Creighton, Principal of the Silver Lake School, in cooperation with the advisors of Carver pupils at Plymouth. All seems in readiness for a smooth entry into secondary school work under the new plan.
Beyond the compass of the detail of immediate solution to the problem of secondary school accommodations, Carver has wisely voted to set up a Regional School District Planning Committee. Such a committee cannot act in independence but must act in connection with one or more such committees from other municipalities. For the most of the year it has been impossible to have any organization so that this question could be actively studied, other than such investigations which might be made toward the direction of the Silver Lake School. However, toward the close of the year, developments came to the point where several of the nearby towns will wish to be active in such a study. The year 1955 should be one of con- siderable progress in this respect and it may be quite possible that the way may be open to answer the question for all time. There can be no doubt about it that small towns ought to be members of a regional school district, share in ownership of the physical plant, thus insuring to citizens and pupils alike for all time that there would be a place and a plan for sec- ondary education which could not be changed from one year to another.
There was some activity in the matter of transportation con- tracts this year. Inasmuch as there would be a major change in the routes for buses following entry into school attendance at the Silver Lake Regional, it was decided, after receiving word from the Deputy Commissioner of Education that the reimbursement would be safeguarded, that present contracts would be extended for a period of one year, there being little
95
need of bidding new routes for only a one year pariod and then repeating the process when the major change in routes would take place.
Bids for transportation to Vocational School were called for this year. Two bids were filed, those of Mrs. Sarah Holmes and Mr. Aime Desroches. Mr. Desroches was low bidder and the award was made to him for a three-year period.
There are a number of other matters which should be touched upon briefly in the public record. The School agement and it continues to remain possible to operate the Cafeteria continues to remain under the same efficient man- lunchroom without any appropriation of expense on the part of the town. We feel fortunate that the staff, as organized, continues with us. In addition to meeting expenses, several improvements in equipment have been made through ex- penditures from realized profits. The serving counter was re-built, a protective glass case installed, a tray slide was added, and the dish and silver equipment brought up to full supply. All of this was done through the investment of accumulated surplus, over and above expenses.
A revised report card has been worked out this year for the middle and upper classes and after approval by the School Committee, has been placed in use. An effort was made to simplify the card somewhat from the type previously used and to design a card which would be as effective as pos- sible in reporting the pupils' school progress to parents.
The usual repairs have been made as the need occurred. There is a certain minimum to be expected in any sort of plant operation which has as many mechanical devises as a modern school must have. Continued effort has been made to improve and check the effectiveness of the system for heat distribution in order to assure most economical and satisfactory operation.
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Further investment has been made in new equipment this year; a number of items for the shop and an additional sewing machine for Domestic Arts, portable coat racks, etc.
Plans have been started for landscaping the school and an investigation among several of the leading persons and firms in this area who would be in a position to suggest suitable proposals for this sort of work. Resulting from this, the com- mittee selected Mr. Marinus Van der Pol, and an agreement was made with him to construct a basic plan which might be used over a period of time for the full development of the front of the property. In addition to this, an agreement was entered into with Brady and Ward for the erection of a suitable set of letters to be placed on the upper front of the building which will give the name of the school, as adopted earlier in the year.
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