USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1958 > Part 13
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1.60
Rebuild Pleasant Rd., West Harwich, from Lower County Road south to Nantucket Sound-Art. 76, 1958
461.36
Widening & Hardening Queen Anne Road from
Route 39, East Harwich-Art. 78, 1958
7,000.00
Extending Water Mains-Art. 79, 1958
20.62
Extending Water Mains, Dunes Road 800 feet easterly- Art. 82, 1958 1,190.54
Extending Water Mains, Riverside Drive, West Harwich, over private way to residence of Dr. Robert Moore- Art. 87, 1958 669.02
Unpaid Bills of previous years-Art. 88, 1958
416.78
Construction of Pleasant Bay Rd., East Harwich-Art. 75, 1958
28,540.99
Extend Water Mains from Rte. 39 to residence of
Donald Strout, along Queen Anne Rd-Art. 84, 1958
275.90
Total Balance of Articles Carried to 1959
$178,188.65
20.00
10,000.00
187
TRANSFERS
From the Reserve Fund:
Police Dept., Special Officers
$425.00
Fire Dept., Call Men's Salaries
502.00
Selectmen's Expense
250.00
Elections & Registration
1,300.00
Assessors' Maps
500.00
Board of Appeals
100.00
Brook's Library
100.00
Total
$3,177.00
Transfer to Highway Dept. for Gasoline
Used by the following Departments in 1958:
Police Dept., Equipment Expense-Cruisers
$1,550.27
Fire Dept., Equipment Expense
881.83
Water Dept., General Expense
706.89
Water Dept .- Article 3, 1955
54.05
Total
3,193.04
Transfers to Highway Dept. by the Water Dept.
for work done on the following articles:
Art. 63-1957-Joe Lincoln Road
$104.40
Art. 1-1955-Special Town Meeting
104.40
Art. 48-1955-Kelley Street to Lothrop Ave.
420.42
Art. 62-1957-Joe Lincoln Road
280.28
Art .- 1955-Special Town Meeting
980.98
Art. 48-1955-Kelley St. to Lothrop Ave.
76.00
Art. 1-1955-Special Town Meeting
702.65
Total 2,669.13
Transfer from Aid to Dependent Children Federal Grant to Old Age Assistance Federal Grant
6,000.00
At the annual Town Meeting, March 4 & 5, 1958: Amount voted to reduce the Tax Rate
123,903.00
Art. 24-Receipts of Dog Fund transferred to Brook's Free Library
650.46
Art. 80-Transfer of the following balances to the Water Dept. Construction Account:
Art. 43-1955-Increasing Water Supply
$2,302.54
Art. 46-1955-Uncle Venies Road
19.80
Art. 49-1955-Ginger Plum Lane
88.21
Art. 58-1955-Grassy Pond Road
1,803.50
Art. 60-1957-Mandeville Road
428.82
Total 4,642.87
Art. 84 Installation of Water Mains on Town accepted roads transferred to Art. 84, Extend Water Mains from Rte. 39 to residence of Donald Strout along Queen Anne Rd.
935.84
Art. 89 Transfer of unexpended balances of special articles to Surplus Revenue
11,432.01
TOWN OF HARWICH Balance Sheet-December 31, 1958 GENERAL ACCOUNTS
Assets
Liabilities and Reserves
Cash Accounts Receivable: Taxes:
$410,590.12
Real Estate Tax 1957
40 State Grant-Marine Fisheries 607.12 Trust Funds, Income: Caleb Chase Charity
Levy of 1958:
$28.23
Poll
$22.00
Johnson-Ulm Scholarship
43.60
Personal Property
3,047.25
71.83
Real Estate
43,011.77
46,081.02
Recoveries: Disability Assistance
$150.00
Old Age Assistance
16,206.39
188
Tax Titles and Possessions: Tax Titles
$1,744.69
Tax Possessions
1,038.25
Disability Assistance: Administration
$1,610.83
Assistance
1,443.73
Departmental:
General Relief
$7,984.69
$1,517.53
Aid to Dependent Children
3,688.64
Aid
2,151.85
Old Age Assistance
379.42
Old Age Assistance :
School
13,595.40
Administration Assistance
3,554.53
Water Rates and Services Aid to Highways: State County
$68,687.28
$174.81
6,001.48
50.53
74,688.76
Revolving Funds: School Lunches High School Athletics
$1,292.31
25,648.15
3,761.12
11,570.83
225.34
Motor Vehicle & Trailer Excise: Levy of 1958
8,784.15
16,356.39
Federal Grants:
2,782.94
Aid to Dependent Children: Administration
.
. Overlay Deficits: Levy of 1957 Levy of 1958
Final Judgment
$830.79 .99
831.78 08
Appropriations Balances Overestimates 1958:
178,188.65
State Parks and Reservations
$33.25
Cape Cod Mosquito Control 25.88
County Tax 55.82
114.95
Sale of Real Estate Funds
3,422.75
2,490.05
Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus Overlay Reserved for Abatements: Levy of 1955
$77.61
Levy of 1956 49.00
126.61
Revenue Reserved Until Collected:
Motor Vehicle & Trailer Excise
$8,784.15
Tax Title and Possessions
2,782.94
Departmental
25,648.15
Water
3,761.12
Aid to Highway
76,685.80
117,662.16
Surplus Revenue
242,331.04
$573,168.12
$573,168.12
DEBT ACCOUNTS
Net Funded or Fixed Debt: Inside Limit: General Outside Limit: Public Service Enterprises
$475,000.00
Serial Loans: Inside Limit: General-School Outside Limit: Public Service Enterprises: Water
$475,000.00
536,000.00
536,000.00
$1,011,000.00
$1,011,000.00
== ==
189
TRUST AND INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS Liabilities and Reserves
Assets
Trust and Investment Funds: In Custody of Town Treasurer In Custody of Trustees
$68,066.26 15,505.03
In Custody of Town Treasurer: School Funds:
Henry C. Brook's Medal
$1,319.06
Johnson-Ulm Scholarship 32,240.00
Cemetery Perpetual Care
32,502.57
Investment Funds Post War Rehabilitation 966.60
Stabilization
1,038.03
In Custody of Trustees
Assets
Liabilities and Reserves
Caleb Chase Charity Fund
10,303.49
Library Funds
George W. Nickerson
5,070.25
John J. Small
131.29
$83,571.29
$83,571.29
190
Respectfully submitted, DOUGLAS B. SAWYER
Town Accountant
191
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF THE CALEB CHASE FUND, TOWN OF HARWICH, MASS.,
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1958
Interest and dividends received January 1, 1958
to December 31, 1958 $784.81
Paid Overseers Public Welfare January 1, 1958 to December 31, 1958 784.81
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
30 shares General Electric Company
$2,347.50
50 shares National Shawmut Bank of Boston 2,537.50
53 shares First National Bank of Boston
4,571.25
33 shares American Telephone and Telegraph
7,639.50
The Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank Savings Book No. 16601
405.56
22 shares Standard Oil of New Jersey
1,270.50
$18,771.81
On July 24, 1958 we purchased 22 shares of Standard Oil of New Jersey.
Respectfully submitted, IDA M. TAYLOR, Treasurer Trustees of Caleb Chase Fund, Town of Harwich
193
Report of the School Committee and the
Superintendent of Schools
TOWN OF HARWICH, MASS.
For the Year Ending
December 31, 1958
ORGANIZATION FOR THE YEAR 1958
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Mrs. Margaret Leonard, Chairman
H. William Morey
Donald T. Bates
Rev. Charles H. Monbleau
Milton L. Cahoon
Term Expires 1961
Term Expires 1960
Term Expires 1959
Term Expires 1960
Term Expires 1961
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Jesse J. Morgan
SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE Arthur A. Holmes
SCHOOL PHYSICIANS
Peter C. Albright, M.D. Arthur J. D'Elia, M.D. Norris G. Orchard, M.D.
SCHOOL NURSE
Adelyn J. Peabody, R. N.
194
Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of Harwich:
The Harwich School Committee organized on March 10, 1958. Mr. Milton Cahoon was present as a newly elected mem- ber. He took the place of Mr. Ralph U. Brett who was not a candidate for re-election. Other members of the Committee are, Mrs. Margaret Leonard, H. William Morey, Donald T. Bates, and Reverend Charles H. Monbleau.
Mrs. Margaret Leonard was unanimously chosen Chair- man and Superintendent Morgan was appointed Secretary.
The Committee met twice each month, with additional meetings as needed. Other meetings were held since the Com- mittee served as part of the Harwich School Space Needs Committee. A report on the activities of this Committee is printed elsewhere in the Town Reports.
The Chairman of the Committee is a member of the Har- wich Regional School Committee. In this capacity she has attended all meetings. In addition two joint meetings have been held with the Chatham Regional Committee and two with the Mass. School Building Assistance Commission. One in Boston and one in Harwich.
The Committe has inaugurated and is following a three year plan for properly placing all staff members at the cor- rect level on the salary schedule, according to training and experience. The minimums and the maximum for the bache- lor's degree were increased $200.00 September, 1958. No changes will be made in the schedule during 1959. The Com- mittee feels that the salary schedule is functioning well. The fact that there was only one vacancy in 1958, and that due to retirement would seem to support this thesis.
Much progress has been made in the schools and particu- larly in the improvement of the High School plant and equip- ment. The reports of the Superintendent of Schools, the Prin- cipals, the Supervisors and other school officials are append- ed and discuss in detail these and other school activities, for which the Committee is responsible.
195
The Committee is pleased with the progress made in the schools during 1958. The members wish to thank the towns- people for their support and cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
MARGARET LEONARD, Chairman H. WILLIAM MOREY DONALD T. BATES REV. CHARLES H. MONBLEAU MILTON L. CAHOON
196
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Expended 1958
Needed 1959
General Control:
Superintendent of Schools Enforcement of Law-Salaries
$8,124.96
Other Expenses of General Control
1,740.78
9,865.74
$10,659.00
Instruction:
Salaries of Supervisors,
Principals and Teachers
$211,408.79
Textbooks
2,933.05
Supplies
7,084.47
221,426.31
253,702.00
Operation:
Custodians
$17,392.14
Fuel
9,216.64
Maintenance materials and services purchased
8,344.29
34,953.07
37,275.00
Maintenance:
Repairs, Replacement & Upkeep
14,148.59
10,458.00
Auxiliary Agencies:
Libraries
$1,380.14
Health-Nurse, Physicians, Supplies
1,374.75
Transportation
18,509.50
Miscellaneous (Graduation, Telephone,
Rubbish disposal, Teachers' expense)
3,379.89
24,644.28
25,833.00
Outlay:
New Equipment
8,916.35
1,701.00
Contingencies
3,000.00
$313,954.34
$342,628.00
Appropriation 1958
$317,387.00
Refund
13.50
$317,400.50
1958 Expenses
313,954.34
$ 3,446.16
197
NET COST OF SCHOOLS
Expenditure
$313,954.34
Accounts Receivable:
School Funds and State Aid-Chap. 70
$35,256.16
All School Transportation
14,696.00
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Reimbursement of Trainable
and Educable Special Classes
8,429.07
Tuition-Special Classes:
Town of Barnstable
$467.70
Town of Chatham
792.30
Town of Eastham
422.95
Mrs. W. Langton Powers
61.50
Town of Yarmouth
467.70
2,212.15
Reimbursements on account of Telephone charges: Town of Chatham
47.03
Miscellaneous: (Cash turned in for rental of audi-
torium, shop supplies, student telephone calls)
148.05
60,788.46
Net Cost of Schools-1958
$253,165.88
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ACCOUNT
Appropriation-1958
$1,500.00
Receipts-1958
413.00
$1,913.00
Available Funds-1958
$1,913.00
1958 Expenses
1,862.57
Forward to 1959
$ 50.43
Requested for 1959
$1,500.00
SPECIAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACCOUNTS-1958 High School
Receipts
Expenses
Carried forward from 1957
$ 35.47
Sales of Lunches and Federal Subsidies received in 1958
10,493.14
Salaries
2,854.47
Food and Supplies
7,535.97
$10,528.61
$10,390.44
Available Funds-1958
$10,528.61
1958 Expenses
10,390.44
Forward to 1959
$ 138.17
Requested for 1959
$500.00
1
198
Elementary School
Receipts
Expenses $ 324.27
Carried Forward from 1957
Sales of Lunches and Federal Subsidies received in 1958 Salaries Food and Supplies
23,594.04
$ 8,539.37
15,342.30
$23,918.31
$23,881.67
Available Funds-1958
$23,918.31
1958 Expenses
23,881.67
Forward to 1959
$
36.64
Requested for 1959
$500.00
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
Approprpiation-1958
$3,025.00
1958 Expenses
2,553.39
Unexpended
$ 471.61
Received from Comm. of Mass. on account of
Vocational Education for year ending Aug. 31, 1957
$427.25
Received on account of Practical Art Evening Classes during 1958
$42.60
Funds Requested for 1959 $5,845.00
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Appropriation 1958
$750.00
Expended-1958
750.00
Funds Requested for 1959
$1,500.00
JOHNSON-ULM MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Total of Fund
$35,000.00
Working Fund-January 1, 1958
181.10
Receipts (Dividends)
875.00
$36,056.10
Expended for Scholarships-1958
1,012.50
Statement of Account-Dec. 31, 1958
$35,043.60
199
Tuition scholarships have been granted to the following persons during 1958:
George Baldwin, Jr.
Burdett College
Barbara Bearse
New England Conservatory of Music Bridgewater Teachers College
Rachael Cahoon
Charles Corkum Northeastern University
Ellen D'Elia
Simmons College
Michael D'Elia
Dartmouth College
Judith Ernst
Framingham Teachers College
Curtis Higgins
Worcester Junior College
Richard Joy
Worcester Junior College
Robert Larkin
Mass. Maritime Academy
James Leonard
Univ. of Massachusetts
Kay Perisho
Mass. School of Art
Dorothy Perkins
Fisher Junior College
Evangeline Robbins
Fisher Junior College
Suzanne Sims
Wellesley College
Sharon Walker
Framingham Teachers College
Drusilla Welt
Lowell Teachers College
CHAUNCEY D. MACKAY, Chairman DONALD T. BATES
MILTON L. CAHOON
MRS. MARGARET LEONARD
REV. CHARLES H. MONBLEAU
H. WILLIAM MOREY JESSE J. MORGAN, Secretary Johnson-Ulm Memorial Scholar- ship Committee
200
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of Harwich:
The year now closing witnessed an educational awaken- ing which temporarily, at least, stirred America deeply. Cer- tainly there is keener interest in education everywhere in the country to-day than there has been for many years. Par- ents, the general public and educators have become deeply concerned. Criticisms, nothing new to American education, have been levelled at the schools from all directions. Many of course were not justified. Good things thrive on criticism. The most shallow of these is worthy of full and careful ex- amination. We know that modern equipment, adequate sup- plies, the best textbooks, good plant, and above all excellent teachers are imperative. The future of this country is depen- dent on our schools. The kind of preparation we give our children will be directly reflected in the strength of the America of the future.
In Harwich the School Committee have earnestly and conscientiously endeavored to provide an atmosphere, a cli- mate, for the improvement of the training of the children of the community. The citizens and taxpayers of the town have granted the Committee's request for adequate funds for the support of the schools. Needed textbooks, encyclopedias, maps and supplies have been purchased.
At the High School new floors were installed in both cor- ridors and the gymnasium. Weather proofing has been done and the remainder of the cracked cornice replaced. Ceilings were repaired and painted wherever necessary in the build- ing. The household arts department and the cafeteria were redecorated. The addition to the Elementary School was painted. The fume hood in the chemistry laboratory was put into useable condition by the installation of a blower. Fluore- scent lights were installed in both corridors at the high school. A great deal of needed equipment was purchased for all of the schools-furniture, science equipment, typewriting department, household arts and many other areas. New musi- cal instruments, to the value of over $1,000, were secured from the Surplus Depot at Camp Myles Standish. Small tools were also received. The only cost to us was transportation.
201
At the High School Mr. Mackay has introduced an ex- tensive club program which should be a great help in build- ing and maintaining school morale.
The reports of the High School Principal, the Director of Guidance, the supervisors and the health department are included and are well worth reading if one is to get a complete picture of our school in action.
ADULT EDUCATION
Our evening school classes are going well under the di- rection of Director, Arthur LaFrenier. Classes in sewing and tailoring for 20 weeks are in progress under the auspices of the Department of Education, Vocational Division. Two class- es in typewriting and one in shorthand have been organized under the direct sponsorship of the School Committee. In these classes the cost of the instructors' salary is borne by the participants. The Advisory Committee of Mrs. Elizabeth Cahoon, Miss Adelyn Peabody, Mrs. Evelyn Strout, Mrs. Beat- rice Taylor, Mrs. Ruth Titus and Chairman, Mrs. Eileen Ca- hoon are efficiently serving again this year as administrators.
CAFETERIAS
To our regret Mrs. Grace Long, Manager of the High School Cafeteria, retired in June after thirteen years of loyal service. In September the high school and elementary caf- eteria were placed under the supervision of Mrs. Emma Symmes. This arrangement is working out very well.
OUR INCREASING ENROLLMENT
The opening of schools in September saw an increase in enrollment of approximately 60 pupils. This is nearly ten per cent more than the previous year. All rooms are in use. The present wave of elementary pupils will soon pass on into the high school which is already inadequate and full. The School Committee are modernizing the building but cannot make it do a job for which it was never planned. There is almost no storage space in the building, one shower room for both boys and girls, a tiny kitchen, so inadequate that there is no space even to install a dishwasher. Shops, household arts, science room and gymnasium are inadequate. Fortunately the Har- wich School Space Needs Committee and the Regional Com- mittee are aware of this situation and have been studying it for some time. We are all awaiting their recommendations. It is terribly expensive to operate a small high school. It is
202
also almost impossible because of prohibitively high costs to offer a curriculum broad enough to do a good job. Last year James B. Conant, former President of Harvard, began a study of the American High School under the auspices of the Car- negie Corporation. In visits to more than 50 comprehensive public high schools in 20 states, he has been observing edu- cational practices and analyzing their effects on the total school program. He has made a report as to his findings. It is important for it is the considered opinion of a brilliant and mature mind that has been dealing with educational prob- lems for 40 years. Dr. Conant's original work in education was in the secondary school, an important factor in making this survey. Space does not permit printing his conclusions in full. However they will be available to parents and to the general public. Some of his conclusions deal specifically with the sec- ondary school problem in Harwich, in fact in Chatham, Prov- incetown, Wellfleet, Bourne, Sandwich and Falmouth to mention some nearby communities. They are so pertinent to our problems that they seem to be aimed in our direction. Fol- lowing are some quotes from Dr. Conant's report on secondary schools:
"Every community needs a school board composed of honest, intelligent, and devoted citizens." We are fortunate to have Committees that measure up to Dr. Conant's standard in both Chatham and Harwich.
"In some states the number one problem is the elimina- tion of the small high school through wise district reorgani- zation" - I have become convinced by what I have observed in the last year and by the evidence presented by those with wide experience in school administration that a high school with a graduating class of less than 100 cannot provide a sat- isfactory education - this is particularly true in regard to the education of the more able pupils - in California less than five per cent of the youth of high school age attend a school that is too small - there are other states where two thirds are going to school in which they cannot obtain a sat- isfactory education because the school is far too small - if district organization were as effective in all states as in Cali- fornia and New Jersey, one can conclude that, instead of 23,- 000 high schools in the nation there would be only 8 or 9,000 - over 53% of the high schools in Massachusetts are too small to provide a satisfactory education - taxpayers have a right to try to keep taxes low and act as watchdogs on the use of public funds - there has been a change in the nature of construction - glass and steel instead of brick makes
203
modern construction look expensive but the increase in the costs of building schools less than other building costs -the fraction of the annual school budget devoted to the amorti- zation of the cost of a new building is never high!
In this report Dr. Conant has many other things to say of the secondary school curriculum, graduation honors, di- plomas, vocational education, the study of foreign languages, European education as compared to ours, grouping pupils according to ability, the three to five per cent, called "the highly gifted", and homework.
Not everyone will agree with his conclusions. However, one thing is clear and that is the need for additional space in Harwich schools in the very near future.
OUR TEACHERS
Last April Dr. James B. Conant in addressing the Annual Meeting of the American Association of School Administra- tors in Cleveland said "there are two prime requisites for a good public school system. The first is an intelligent, honest and devoted school board; the second is a first rate superin- tendent. And where one is concerned with the public high school, as many are today, there is a third perequisite which needs to be named: that is a first-class principal-there are many other factors, of course, but the determining role of a few personalities is rarely appreciated by American citizens when they talk about schools." In this instance Dr. Conant was addressing an audience largely composed of 10,000 school superintendents. I am sure he did not intend to place class- room teachers in a secondary position for it has been univer- sally agreed that the classroom teacher is the key person in any educational situation. The old adage "as is the teacher so is the school" is just as true as when it was first pro- nounced many years ago. We know that without excellent teachers the schools degenerate into mediocrity. The Harwich School Committee measured up, they recognized this fact when the new salary schedule was adopted. At that time the Committee clearly stated that two major purposes of the schedule were to obtain and to retain the services of strong teachers. Encouraged by the schedule a large number of teachers engaged in professional study this year. Some ob- tained master's degrees, some bachelor's and others took courses to improve their professional position. In Chatham this year there were only two vacancies, and both were re- tirements. In the case of Mrs. Crowell, 15 years had been
204
spent in the service of Chatham children. The salary schedule enabled us to secure replacements with both good training and experience. In Harwich there was only one vacancy, again in this case the reason was retirement. We were able to secure the services of a well-trained, experienced, mature teacher. The small number of vacancies may well be due to the holding power of the salary schedules.
In 1957 it was decided to place all teachers and super- visors on the proper step as determined by training and ex- perience. Due to the expense it was decided to do this over a three year period. The first third of the journey is now be- hind. In 1960 it will be completed. At that time both Com- mittees will be in excellent position to retain good teachers and to obtain good ones as need arises. Our teachers are rapidly becoming a respectably paid group. There is one fact that they should not, and I am sure will not forget, it is if they are to be well-paid the School Committee, the taxpayers and the parents have a right to expect conscientious efforts - excellence in teaching from them. High standards of teach- ing automatically must go along with a good salary schedule. We must all remember that the children of Harwich and Chatham will increasingly profit by any and every improve- ment in the salary schedule.
CONCLUSION
The year has been productive due to the support of the School Committee' program by the taxpayers and parents and due to the cooperation between the staff, and other employees and the Committee. From the standpoints of in- service training, improvement of teachers, improvement of the curriculum, adequate equipment, organization of the program, the improvement of the existing plant, the imple- mentation of the salary schedule progress has been made. There is much more to do.
Our task-the task of the home, school and community - is to see that no child is undereducated and that every child receives a balanced education. The future demands of education will be met because parents, educators, and citi- zens know that education is an invulnerable defense for a free people.
Respectfully submitted,
J. J. MORGAN Superintendent of Schools
205
Report of the Principal of the High School
I submit herewith my sixth annual report for the Har- wich High School:
During the past year we have introduced a course called Senior Science for seniors who do not expect to go to college. Previously, only Physics and Chemistry were available to seniors. For the college preparatory seniors, these subjects were satisfactory but physics and chemistry did not meet the needs of other seniors who wished to take an advanced science course. Senior science is adapted to acquaint these students with an understanding of many scientific principles and laws and their uses in our modern world. A greater know- ledge and respect for science is becoming more necessary than ever before. We believe that this senior science course will help to satisfy that need.
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