USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1960 > Part 12
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3.92
Art. 81 -- 1960, Accept Layout, Moody Rd., Harwich Port
10.90
Art. 82-1960, Accept Layout, Victoria Rd., E. Harwich
25.00
Art. 83-1960, Oiling & Improving Roads, As Listed
899.39
Art. 86-1960, Accept Layout Moss Hill Rd., Harwich
100.00
Art. 87-1960, Accept Layout Old Mill Lane, Harwich
100.00
Art. 90-1960, Extend Water Mains from Lower County Road, S. Harwich along Deep Hole Rd. to Various Streets Art. 91-1960, Extend Water Mains from Hersey Rd., So. Harwich to Red River Beach Along Deep Hole Rd.
1,848.13
Art. 95-1960, Extend Water Mains from Sea Way to Beach
223.26
Art. 96-1960, Install Water Mains on Patricia Lane, W. Harwich
Art. 97-1960, Install Water Mains North Harwich to
1,080.37 Residence of R. DeCoster 277.26
Art. 98-1960, Water Mains on Elinor Lane, W. Harwich
1,789.84
Art. 99-1960, Extending Water Mains where Requested 645.99
Total Balance of Articles Carried to 1961
$130,753.86
Art. 85-1960, Accept Layout Harden Lane, E. Harwich
100.00
278.35
180
TRANSFERS
From the Reserve Fund:
Snow Removal
1,000.00
Veterans' Services
3,000.00
Welfare Grants Town Fund
2,000.00
Police Dept. Special Officers
1,200.00
Forestry Dept.
200.00
Park Dept.
100.00
Fire Dept., Callmen's Salaries
500.00
Total
$8,000.00
$8,000.00
Transfer to Highway Dept. for gasoline used
by the following Depts. in 1960:
Police Dept., Equipment Expense, Cruisers
1,761.11
Fire Dept., Equipment Expense
950.41
Water Dept., General Expense
692.93
Total
$3,404.45
Receipts of Dog Fund from County to Brook's Library At the Annual Town Meeting to Reduce the Tax Rate
854.23
220,000.00
Art. 102, Transfer of Unexpended Balances of Special Articles to Surplus Revenue
5,491.23
181
Schedule of Principal and Interest for 1961 on School Bonds dated April 1, 1948.
Principal
Interest
Date Due
17,000.00
1,360.00
4/1/61
1,190,00
10/1/61
School Bonds dated July 1, 1953
Principal
Interest
Date Due
3,510.00
1/1/61
20,000.00
3,510.00
7/1/61
Water Main Loan dated April 1, 1954
425.00
4/1/61
10,000.00
340.00
10/1/61
Water Bonds dated 7/15/55
4,342.50
1/15/61
40,000.00
4,342.50
7/15/61
87,000.00
19,020.00
Total
Respectfully submitted,
DOUGLAS B. SAWYER Town Accountant
TOWN OF HARWICH Balance Sheet-December 31, 1960 GENERAL ACCOUNTS
Assets
Liabilities and Reserves
Cash
$318,928.23
Federal Withholding Tax
$15,931.23
Accounts Receivable:
State Withholding Tax
1,320.08
Taxes:
Real Estate Tax 1958
6.22
Levy of 1959
State Grant Marine Fisheries
1,432.68
Poll
$28.00
Personal Property
438.06
Real Estate
1,888.34
Johnson-Ulm Scholarship
106.10
2,354.40
Levy of 1960
Poll
80.00
Personal Property
3,199.07
Real Estate
42,125.24
Disability Assistance:
Administration
$1,605.79
Motor Vehicle & Trailer Excise: Levy of 1959
1,426.44
Levy of 1960
12,874.08
14,300.52
Administration Aid
12,929.11
Tax Titles & Possessions:
Tax Titles
3,535.85
Administration
1,609.89
Tax Possessions
959.81
4,495.66
Assistance
3,941.70
Departmental:
General Relief
1,860.87
Revolving Funds:
ยท Aid to Dependent Children
4,524.10
School Lunches
1,572.26
Old Age Assistance Veterans' Services
255.62
High School Atheltics
39.14
50.00
Public Law 864
National Defense Education
129.99
Schools
510.02
7,200.61
1,741.39
182
45,404.31
Recoveries: Old Age Assistance Federal Grants:
14,974.94
Assistance
721.21
Aid to Dependent Children:
1,502.92
Old Age Assistance:
22,310.62
Trust Funds, Income: Caleb Chase Charity $63.73
169.83
Water Rates & Services Aid to Highways: State County
5,281.07
Appropriation Balances Overestimates 1960: County Tax
776.13
Sale of Real Estate Funds
3,422.75
Barnstable County Retirement System
1,039.33
Excess receipts in land of low value sale
41.88
Overlay Surplus
2,667.66
Levy of 1958
109.10
Levy of 1959
191.28
300.38
State Parks & Reservations
675.86
Barnstable County
Retirement System
9,352.61
Motor Vehicle & Trailer Excise $14,300.52
Final Judgements
6,500.00
Departmental
7,200.61
Snow Removal
3,984.34
Water
5,281.07
Public Welfare Grants
2,999.19
Aid to Highways
17,073.43
Veterans' Services,
Cash & Material Grants
3,991.47
Surplus Revenue
197,592.14
$442,842.08
$442,842.08
183
130,753.86
9,430.07 7,643.36
17,073.43
Overlay Deficites:
Overlay Reserved for Abatements: Levy of 1957 $20.40
Levy of 1960 289.65
310.05
Revenue reserved until collected:
10,028.47
Tax Title & Possessions Revenue
4,495.66
48,351.29
DEBT ACCOUNTS
Assets
Net Funded or Fixed Debt: Inside Limit: General Outside Limit: Public Service Enterprises
$396,000.00
436,000.00
Outside Limit: Public Service Enterprises, Water
436,000.00
$832,000.00
$832,000.00
TRUST AND INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS
Trust and Investment Funds: In Custody of Town Treasurer
In Custody of Trustees
$72,052.50 27,360.40
In Custody of Town Treasurer: School Funds
Henry C. Brooks Medal
$1,377.91
Johnson-Ulm Scholarship
33,110.74
Cemetery Perpetual Care
35,395.44
Investment Funds Post War Rehabilitation Stabilization Fund
1,056.48
In Custody of Trustees:
Caleb Chase Charity Fund
21,102.28
Library Funds: Howard Mitchell Fund 1,207.27
George W. Nickerson Fund
5,050.85
John J. Small Fund
$99,412.90
$99,412.90
= ====
Respectfully submitted,
DOUGLAS B. SAWYER Town Accountant
184
Liabilities and Reserves
Serial Loans: Inside Limit: General-School
$396,000.00
1,111.93
185
Annual Report of the
School Committee
and the
Superintendent of Schools
TOWN OF HARWICH, MASSACHUSETTS
For the Year Ending
December 31, 1960
ORGANIZATION FOR THE YEAR 1960
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Mrs Margaret Leonard, Chairman
Term Expires 1961
Donald T. Bates
Term Expires 1962
Rev. Charles H. Monbleau
Term Expires 1963
Milton L. Cahoon
Term Expires 1961
V. James Nikula
Term Expires 1963
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.
186
Report of the School Committee HARWICH 1960
To the Citizens of Harwich:
The Harwich School Committee has met regularly twice each month to transact necessary business and to discuss the work of the schools. Meetings have been held twice during the year with the Chatham School Committee. In addition it has worked closely with the Regional Planning Board of Harwich and Chatham.
Attention has been paid to the care of the physical plant. Some items have been interior painting and replacement of fire chambers in the boilers in the original elementary school. At the Harwich High School the floor has been replaced in the cafeteria, fluorescent lighting fixtures have been installed and a new oil burner has been placed in one boiler.
Due to overcrowding two additional school busses have been added. This makes a better schedule, eliminating so much waiting by children and does away with the previous safety hazard.
The Committee has revised the teachers' salary schedule. The new beginning salary will be $4,400, and the maximum will be $6,600 for the bachelor's degree. It is hoped that this will bring Harwich up to some of our neighboring commun- ities and will aid us in securing new teachers.
There is still a great shortage of good teachers. We have been most fortunate in the three beginners we obtained for the High School, the Elementary School and Brooks Academy. Since two of these were additional teachers it means that we lost only one teacher this year. Our excellent teaching staff is experienced and mature.
The School Committee have found the Harwich citizens most cooperative both to the Committee and to the teaching staff. With the spirit existing between School Committee and citizens the schools must go forward-constantly improving.
The Harwich School Committee
Mrs. Margaret Leonard, Chairman Donald T. Bates Charles H. Monbleau Milton L. Cahoon V. James Nikula
187
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Expenses 1960
Needed 1961
General Control:
Superintendent of Schools
Enforcement of Law: Salaries
$9,775.00
Other expenses of General Control
1,753.23
$11,528.23
$12,685.00
Instruction:
Salaries of Supervisors, Principals and Teachers
$264,646.72
3,016.72
Textbooks Supplies
8,450.90
$276,114.34
298,068.00
Operation:
Custodians
$19,638.74
Fuel
8,063.21
Maintenance materials and services
(Gas, Electricity, Maintenance Materials, etc.)
8,279.13
$35,981.08
38,040.00
Maintenance:
Repairs, Replacement & Upkeep
$19,580.20
8,225.00
Auxiliary Agencies:
Libraries
$1,006.98
Health-Nurse, Physicians, Supplies
5,093.82
Transportation
24,157.04
Miscellaneous (Graduation, Telephone, Rubbish disposal, Teachers' expenses,
Driver Education expenses)
2,343.10
$32,600.94
43,079.00
Outlay:
New Equipment
$9,497.03
7,940.00
Contingencies
3,000.00
$385,301.82
$411,037.00
Appropriation 1960 Refunds
$385,965.00
89.18
$385,054.18
1960 Expenses
385,301.82
To Revenue
$ 752.36
.
188
NET COST OF SCHOOLS
Expenditures
$385,301.82
Accounts Receivable:
Schools Funds & State Aid-Chap. 70
$37,843.66
All School Transportation
15,687.98
Comm. of Massachusetts Dept. of Education Division of Special Education
10,037.21
Tuition: Special Classes
Town of Barnstable
$ 92.12
Town of Dennis
500.00
Town of Chatham
289.44
Town of Eastham
157.92
Town of Sandwich
500.00
Town of Yarmouth
960.60
Telephone reimbursement: Town of Chatham
130.37
Miscellaneous cash received for telephone,
vending machines, lost and damaged books
227.57
66,426.87
Net Cost of Schools 1960
$318,874.95
SPECIAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACCOUNTS
High School:
Brought forward from 1959
$ 221.45
Appropriation 1960
500.00
Sales of Lunches, Federal Subsidies
10,957.85
Available Funds
$11,679.30
1960 Expenses
11,380.82
Carried to 1961
$ 298.48
Requested for 1961-$500.00
Elementary School:
Brought forward from 1959
$ 967.99
Appropriation
1,000.00
Sales of Lunches, Federal Subsidies
25,114.64
Available Funds
27,082.63
1960 Expenses
25,808.85
Carried to 1961
$ 1,273.78
Requested for 1961-$1,500.00
189
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ACCOUNT-1960
Appropriation 1960
$1,500.00 92.65
Receipts 1960
522.95
Available Funds 1960
$2,115.60
1960 Expenses
2,076.46
Carried to 1961
$ 39.14
Received on account of Vocational Education
$2,309.32
Requested for 1961-$1,500.00
-
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
Appropriation 1960
$6,970.00
1960 Expenses
5,890.04
To Revenue
$1,079.96
Requested for 1961-$7,580.00
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
$1,500.00
1960 Expenses
1,500.00
Requested for 1961-$1,500.00
PUBLIC LAW 864 National Defense Act
Carried forward from 1959
$ 428.81
Received-1960
1,274.03
1960 Expenses
1,572.85
To 1961
$ 129.99
REPORT OF THE JOHNSON-ULM SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Total of Fund
$32,000.00
Working Fund
2,735.74
$34,735.74
Scholarships granted
1,625.00
Statement of Account as of Dec. 31, 1960
$33,110.74
Appropriation 1960
$1,702.84
Brought forward from 1959
190
Tuition scholarships have been granted to the following persons for the school year 1960-1961:
Beverly Baldwin
Becker Junior College
Albert Barker
Mass. Maritime Academy
Rachael Cahoon
Bridgewater Teachers College
Jane Dalzell
Becker Junior College
Maria D'Elia
Radcliffe College
Peter Eklof
Tufts University
Judith Ernst
Framingham Teachers College
Gerald Gardner
Providence College
Leonard Gardner
Providence College
David Hurst
Bridgewater Teachers College
Eric Jorgensen
North Adams Teachers College
Karen Jorgensen
North Adams Teachers College
Derrell Lynch
University of Mass.
Philip Moskoff
Stockbridge School of Agriculture
Peter Nickerson
Brown University
Richard O'Donnell
University of Miami
Bruce Stanford
University of Massachusetts
Donna Strout
Framingham Teachers College
Chauncey D. MacKay, Chairman
Mrs. Margaret Leonard
Donald T. Bates
Rev. Charles H. Monbleau
Milton L. Cahoon
V. James Nikula
Jesse J. Morgan, Secretary
Johnson-Ulm Memorial Scholarship Committee
191
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the Harwich School Committee:
Following is my report for 1960 for your consideration. Appended are the reports of the principals, supervisors, school nurse and physicians containing a detailed statement as to work carried on in the Harwich Schools.
GROWTH
As expected, the enrollment in the schools continues to grow. This year the School Committee provided two ad- ditional teachers, one at the Brooks Academy building for grade seven and one for the High School building for grade eight. This will enable us to give better instruction for the more able and the average as well as the slower pupils in the grades. The additional teacher at the High School repre- sents about all that can be done at that school. All rooms are in full use. Scheduling of classes has become very difficult.
REGIONAL SCHOOL
The people of Harwich showed that they recognize the need for increased facilities by voting for a regional high school at the annual town meeting in March. This year should see the beginning of the planning and construction of additional high school space, either through a regional school, a new school in Harwich or additions to the present high school. Agreement is pretty general that the regional school would be better educationally and more economical financially. The over crowding at the high school building is a serious problem that requires an immediate solution.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Harwich, the pioneer town on Cape Cod in special edu- cation maintains three special classes, doing fine work in training and educating a segment of the school population. In each of these classes there should be five pupils to justify the maintenance of a class. If a community is forward look- ing it will maintain a group with only three or four pupils. This, Harwich has done. In fact during the last two years there has been only one Harwich pupil and several out-of- town children in the trainable class. In view of this and the fact that Harwich's one pupil can now profit by transfer
192
to an educable class the School Committee have voted to abolish the trainable special class at the end of the present school year. This does not indicate that the Harwich School Committee believe any less strongly in special education but that the members do not believe that a class for one Harwich pupil and several from neighboring towns can be justified from the standpoint of common sense and wise expenditure of public funds. The two educable classes will be continued as before.
REVISION OF SALARY SCHEDULE
Three year ago the Harwich School Committee voted to place all members of the teaching staff on the salary schedule by the end of 1960. This task was completed last September, although the last of the cost will appear in the 1961 school budget.
Now due to increase in cost of living, a new legal state minimum ($4,000), loss of bargaining position in the neigh- borhood and state, and difficulty experienced this year in securing good beginning, and good experienced teachers the School Committee felt it necessary to re-examine the schedule.
Consequently a committee was formed composed of school committee members, teachers and the superintendent of schools. A detailed study of the situation was made and a report presented to the full school committee. After care- ful consideration it was decided that if Harwich is to be in a position to retain and particularly to obtain good teachers the schedule must be revised upward.
The revised schedule is based upon a bachelor's degree classification beginning at $4,400 and ending at $6,600. This represents a $400 increase in the schedule. The master's degree classification was treated accordingly. The master's plus thirty and the doctorate columns were raised a smaller amount.
THE BUDGET
The remainder of the school budget remained pretty even except for the transportation item which is discussed in the report of the School Committee.
THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT
Public Law 864 provides for matching funds for the im- provement of Guidance, Mathematics, Foreign Language and Science in the schools. The Harwich School Committee have taken full advantage of funds allotted to Harwich for these purposes.
193
SCHOOL PLANT
Several major jobs have been done in the school buildings. They are listed in the report of the School Committee. We look forward to 1961 with no known major items in sight. Our present buildings are at last temporarily at least, in good shape.
NEW TEACHERS
We were most fortunate to lose only one teacher and one administrative officer in 1960. We hope this means that our teachers are reasonably happy working for the Harwich School Committee, parents, and school children. We feel that it also means that the salary schedule is doing its job reasonably well as far as holding teachers is concerned. We know that we still have a hard time to secure good teachers when a vacancy occurs.
The present staff is strong, dedicated and for the most part made up of experienced people. I feel that we have been most fortunate in the few beginners who have come to us although finding them has been a very difficult task. I feel that Harwich should be pleased with its teachers.
CONANT REPORT ON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
In 1959 Dr. Conant's report on Senior High was presented and widely discussed. It will be remembered that he strongly urged the abolition of small high schools. He said "I have become convinced by what I have observed in the last year and by evidence presented by those with wide experience in school administration that a high school with a graduation class of less than 100 cannot provide a satisfactory educa- tion-". I should like to point out that next June the com- bined graduating classes in Harwich and Chatham will be only 65, considerably below the minimum figure set by Dr. Conant but much greater than the separate schools.
In 1960 Dr. Conant presented another report entitled, "Education in the Junior High School Years." Following the pattern of his preceding survey it is a sensible, down-to- earth document that should be read by all interested in the public schools. He makes thirteen specific recommenda- tions in regard to a variety of phases of Junior High School education.
The essence of his thesis appears to me to be that the organization of grades 7-8-9 is of much less importance than the program provided for adolescent youth, that the pro- gram should reflect the transitional nature of these grades, that teachers in these grades need an unusual combination
194
of the qualifications of the elementary school teacher and the high school teacher and that a proper program cannot be offered unless there are a minimum of 125 pupils in each grade. The pamphlet contains 45 pages of readable con- clusions.
CONCLUSION
Another year is past. I think progress has been made in all phases of the education of Harwich children, through the building up to curriculum and equipment, the growth of the staff, the addition of teachers, and the improvement of the physical plant. If this is so it is due to the leader- ship of the School Coommittee and the cooperation of citizens, parents, teachers, and other school employees.
1961 will be a most important year in the history of the Harwich Schools. Plans formulated and put into execution will fix the pattern of education for many years. Let us all hope that the decisions made will be a firm foundation for the schools of the future.
J. J. MORGAN,
Superintendent of Schools
195
Report of the Principal of the High School
For several years we have been concerned about our marking system. We wondered whether the letter grades we have been using were so uncommon as to be confusing Since there is no mandatory system of grading, each school system chooses its own. As a result, grading systems through- out the Commonwealth vary considerably.
As a result of this concern, a study of our marking sys- tem was discussed during a faculty meeting early during the school year 1959-60. Five members of the faculty volunteered to make a survey of present marking systems with a view toward making recommendations for changes. Miss Drew, Mr. Ebbett, Mrs. Ford, Mr. LaFrenier and Mr. Letts as Chairman, volunteered to serve on this committee.
In brief, 95 questionaires were sent to cities and towns in Massachusetts and Connecticut, including all towns on the Cape. Eighty-one replies were received. From the data thus obtained, the committee recommended that the report cards at the high school level be sent home four times during the school year, and that the following marking scale be used:
A+ = 95-100 C+ = 75-79 A = 90-94
C = 70-74
B+ = 85-89 B = 80-84
F = Below 70 (Failure)
Other recommendations particularly concerning sup- plementary information to be included on the report card were made.
The committee is to be complimented for a thorough study and for a detailed report. The recommendations were adopted. The present marking system, the result of this study, is we believe, an excellent one.
In September 1960, the eighth grade numbered 64 students. In September 1961, we expect from 70 to 75 in the eighth grade. In June 1961, we expect to graduate only 26 seniors. Obviously, the membership in the high school will increase tremendously during the next few years. I doubt that we shall be able to find accommodations for the
196
number of students expected after three more years, in our present high school plant.
We have, for example, found it desirable to separate the present eighth grade into three sections which meet in different home rooms and attend different classes. There is the college preparatory group, the non-college group, and a remedial class. The latter is intended for those who have had difficulty in reading during some time in their elementary school experience and have not caught up to their proper reading level. We emphasize reading because that is a pre- requisite to any high school subject in which reading is neces- sary. Even in the reading of problems in mathematics a student may fail in mathematics primarily because be can- not thoroughly understand the problems.
Remedial classes for eighth grade students in this class include besides reading: science, history and mathematics.
We intend to make a study of the method for grading students who are working up to capacity but who are not able to achieve up to the standards of the grade.
We have instituted a class in civics for first year, non- college, preparatory students. We believe that such a class is more valuable to these students than early world history which was formerly offered. The college preparatory student may take ancient history during the freshman year.
Again, I have enjoyed a pleasant and, I believe, a fruit- ful year working with our excellent faculty in the high school.
C. D. MacKAY,
Principal
REPORT OF THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL
I herewith submit my seventh annual report as Prin- cipal of the Harwich Elementary School.
Much of the work accomplished in any school can be described as unglamorous. Each day the child comes to school, is taught, learns, and returns home. This particular occurance is repeated 180 times and the child is generally promoted to the next grade. But most important is what goes on in the teaching-learning process.
All too often a school is judged not so much on how much learning takes place but more upon the showy characteristics
197
of a school-the elaborate assembly programs occurring all too often-the number of pictures in the newspaper-and the like. Of course assembly programs are important-but not to the extent of stealing large quantities of time away from the academic pursuits. However, we can all agree that the major work of any school is teaching. Therefore, every effort must be made to keep at a minimum those things which are not educational in scope.
This year the teachers were relieved of the time con- suming responsibility of collecting and accounting for lunch money. This is a step in the right direction. Up to 20 or 25 minutes a day is saved in this manner-time which is now used for the matter at hand-teaching.
In this matter the faculty at Harwich Elementary School is second to none. Each teacher is fully aware of his re- sponsibility in this area and does his utmost to fulfill this responsibility.
Also continuing in effect are the music appreciation classes of Mr. Samuel Griffiths, the professionally presented classical music concerts, field trips to observe the operation of various community agencies, the utilization of the exhibit offerings of the Cape Cod Junior Museum, the Rinehart Handwriting supervision, the Audubon Society nature classes, library classes for grade six at the Brooks Library, the presentation of major assembly programs several times each year, the work of the school safety patrol, the school savings program, and the excellent work of the school nurse and the doctors, the school bus drivers and the school custodians.
The second annual science fair was, if judged by com- ments from parents and townspeople, a huge success. The exhibits themselves showed a greater emphasis on research and study than the year before. Therefore, the science fair, all things being equal, will prove to be a greater educational experience with each succeeding year.
I have wondered how many parents are aware of the handwriting program conducted in our schools by the sup- ervisors of the Rinehart Functional Handwriting system. Once each month a trained handwriting specialist visits each classroom to teach the pupils, grade samples, consult with classroom teachers, and plan the work for the month. We may be justly proud of the results of this very effective program.
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