Town annual reports of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, town clerk, and school committee of West Bridgewater for the year ending 1960-1963, Part 8

Author: West Bridgewater (Mass. : Town)
Publication date: 1960
Publisher: Town Officers and Committees
Number of Pages: 828


USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Town annual reports of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, town clerk, and school committee of West Bridgewater for the year ending 1960-1963 > Part 8


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18.36


Plymouth County Mosquito Control


1,992.33


Plymouth County Hospital


9,005.91


U. S. Treasury Bills


104,388.22


Tax Anticipation Notes


130,000.00


Refunds and Miscellaneous


6,826.64


TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS


$1,342,577.54


TREASURER


The financial transactions of the Town for the year 1960 may be briefly summarized as follows:


Cash on Hand, December 31, 1960:


General Fund $ 80,983.82


High School Construction Fund


3.84


Elementary School Construction Fund


55.49


Water Construction Account


1,414.10


Receipts from Tax Collector


660,527.65


Receipts from Other Sources


608,861.08


Payment of Selectmen's Warrants


1,337,610.67


Tax Title Account


9,371.27


Tax Title Redemptions


6,021.47


PUBLIC TRUST FUNDS


CEMETERY TRUST FUNDS


Name of Fund


Jan. 1, 1960


Income Earned


Income Paid Out


Dec. 31, 1960


Evrard-Alger


Brockton Savings Bank


$ 222.39


$ 7.85


$ 7.50


$ 222.74


Alfred E. Alger


Bridgewater Savings Bank


210.22


7.41


7.50


210.13


Nathan Alger


Bridgewater Savings Bank


102.77


3.16


3.50


102.88


Sanford Alger


Bridgewater Savings Bank


51.10


1.78


1.75


51.13


William Burke


Bridgewater Savings Bank


162.31


5.73


3.50


164.54


M. A. Clapp


Brockton Savings Bank


418.37


14.76


14.00


419.13


Davis Copeland


East Bridgewater Savings Bank


201.40


7.09


8.00


200.49


Mrs. Henry Copeland


Brockton Savings Bank


101.55


3.57


4.00


101.12


Lyman & Pardon Copeland


East Bridgewater Savings Bank


661.56


23.35


25.00


659.91


Samuel G. Copeland


Bridgewater Savings Bank


207.02


7.30


7.00


207.32


Samuel G. & James Copeland


Brockton Savings Bank


1,133.30


40.01


37.00


1,136.31


Martha K. Crosby


Bridgewater Savings Bank


104.15


3.66


4.00


103.81


Mary A. Dwyer


Bridgewater Savings Bank


104.09


3.66


3.50


104.25


Michael Dwyer


Bridgewater Savings Bank


101.71


3.57


3.50


101.78


John E. & Desire L. Gould


Brockton Savings Bank


101.00


3.56


3.50


101.06


Hartwell Fund


Bridgewater Savings Bank


305.41


10.77


10.50


305.68


Etta L. Hartwell


Bridgewater Savings Bank


356.24


12.57


12.00


356.81


Frank P. Hatch


East Bridgewater Savings Bank


160.00


5.64


5.00


160.64


Julia M. Hooper


East Bridgewater Savings Bank


215.29


7.59


222.88


Alba Howard


Brockton Savings Bank


102.53


3.61


3.50


102.64


Isabelle Howard


Bridgewater Savings Bank


102.41


3.61


4.00


102.02


S. Nelson Howard


Bridgewater Savings Bank


102.08


3.59


3.50


102.17


Samuel Howard


Bridgewater Savings Bank


103.36


3.64


3.50


103.50


134


CEMETERY TRUST FUNDS


Name of Fund


Jan. 1, 1960


Income Earned


Income Paid Out


Dec. 31, 1960


Harriet M. Jennings


Brockton Savings Bank


101.18


3.56


3.50


101.24


Abbie B. Jones


Brockton Savings Bank


101.42


3.57


3.50


101.49


Frank H. Jones


Bridgewater Savings Bank


172.06


6.07


3.50


174.63


Smith R. Kelley


Bridgewater Savings Bank


544.72


19.22


10.50


553.44


Sumner D. Keith


Bridgewater Savings Bank


109.95


3.85


3.50


110.30


Warren C. Kinney


East Bridgewater Savings Bank


201.55


7.11


8.00


200.66


Henry J. LeLacheur


Brockton Savings Bank


103.78


3.64


3.00


104.42


Elihu Leonard


Brockton Savings Bank


315.35


11.11


10.00


316.46


Axel Lothrop


Bridgewater Savings Bank


172.06


6.07


3.50


174.63


Joshua Morse


Bridgewater Savings Bank


127.20


4.48


3.50


128.18


Emma F. Paekard


Bridgewater Savings Bank


325.47


11.48


10.50


326.45


Frcd A. Perkins


Bridgewater Savings Bank


101.90


3.57


3.50


101.97


Rosa R. Shaw


Brockton Savings Bank


363.54


12.81


10.50


365.85


Sarah F. Shipman


Bridgewater Savings Bank


102.24


3.61


3.50


102.35


Orrin A. Smith


Bridgewater Savings Bank


154.86


5.45


5.00


155.31


South St. Cemetery


Bridgewater Savings Bank


133.02


4.69


137.71


Flora Snell


Broekton Savings Bank


101.18


3.56


3.50


101.24


Robert Tibbetts


Bridgewater Savings Bank


102.12


3.59


3.50


102.21


Charles C. Thayer


Bridgewater Savings Bank


286.00


10.09


296.09


Mary E. Wilson


Bridgewater Savings Bank


204.20


7.19


7.00


204.39


9,154.06


322.65


274.75


9,201.96


James C. Keith Cem. Trust Fund


Bridgewater Savings Bank


5,081.25


179.40


50.00


5,210.65


$14,235.31


$502.05


$324.75


$14,412.61


135


136


SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND


William J. & Anna Clifford Howard


$5,217.48


SUMMARY


12-31-59 Balance


Receipts


Payments


12-31-60 Balance


Cemetery Trust Funds


$14,235.31


$ 502.05


$ 324.75


$14,412.61


Library Trust Funds, Principal


34,741.16


34,741.16


Library Trust Funds, Interest


1,831.59


1,422.30


767.21


2,486.68


Wm. J. & Anna C. Howard Scholarship Fund


5,210.07


7.41


5,217.48


Post War Rehabilitation Fund


4,895.65


172.83


5,068.48


Stabilization Fund


11,652.73


15,411.39


27,064.12


$72,566.51


$17,515.98


$6,160.44


$83,922.05


Name of Fund Cornelia Alger Edith Dunbar Blanchard Nathan Copeland Eliza P. & M. O. Dalton


12-31-60


12-31-60


Balance


Name of Fund


Balance


$ 675.00


Francis E. Howard


$ 500.00


13,717.00


William J. & Anna Clifford Howard


2,599.66


500.00


Mary L. Perkins


1,000.00


250.00


Mary P. Whitman


15,000.00


Mary N. K. Edgerly


500.00


Total this Column


19,099.66


$15,642.00


Amount Brought Forward


15,642.00


$34,741.66


Interest Account #1


743.16


Interest Account #2


750.61


Interest Account #3


992.91


Name of Fund


LIBRARY TRUST FUNDS


137


BONDED INDEBTEDNESS


SCHOOL LOANS


Date of


Maturity


2% Bonds Issued 1950


1.90% Bonds Issued 1952


21/2% Bonds Issued 1955


Total


1961


$ 50,000.00


$ 15,000.00


$ 20,000.00


$ 85,000.00


1962-69


400,000.00


120,000.00


160,000.00


680,000.00


1970


48,000.00


15,000.00


20,000.00


83,000.00


1971-72


30,000.00


40,000.00


70,000.00


1973-75


60,000.00


60,000.00


Totals


$498,000.00


$180,000.00 $300,000.00


$978,000.00


WATER LOANS


Date of


Maturity


2% Bonds Issued 1948


3.40% Bonds Issued 1958


3.50% Bonds Issued 1958


Total


1961


$ 10,000.00


$ 3,000.00


$ 6,000.00


$ 19,000.00


1962


10,000.00


2,000.00


5,000.00


17,000.00


1963


9,000.00


2,000.00


5,000.00


16,000.00


1964-70


14,000.00


35,000.00


49,000.00


1971-73


15,000.00


15,000.00


Totals


$29,000.00


$21,000.00


$66,000.00


$116,000.00


Total Water Bonds


$116,000.00


Total School Bonds


$978,000.00


TOTAL BONDED INDEBTEDNESS


$1,094,000.00


REPORT OF WAGE AND PERSONNEL BOARD


A Wage and Personnel Board was authorized at the 1960 Annual Town Meeting.


The Board has met weekly since early last fall. It has studied the literature on this subject which is available from the Massachu- setts Municipal Personnel Boards Association and the Bureau of Government Research, University of Massachusetts. Members of the Bridgewater Wage and Personnel Board have been very helpful in sharing their experiences with us.


138


In connection with our work, all town employees were asked to furnish us with job descriptions, and we are very happy to report that we received excellent cooperation. We have also met with some department heads for the purpose of reviewing job descrip- tions and obtaining additional information, and plan to meet with all other department heads and elected officials.


We have not progressed far enough with our work to make a final report and recommendations to the Town.


We reviewed the situation with the Town Finance Committee and after discussion with them it was decided not to recommend any wage increases for the following reasons:


1. Because our work had not progressed far enough, we were not in a position to make a recommendation.


2. Since only a few increases had been requested, very few employees were involved. We had first thought that if there were only a few requests to consider, we might be able to make individual recommendations. However, we decided that it would be im- possible for us to consider any job by itself because of its relation- ship to other jobs.


3. We felt that no hardship would be suffered if no increases were granted this year. This opinion is based on a 1960 Salary Survey of certain town jobs made by the Massachusetts Municipal Personnel Boards Association which shows that the rates paid in West Bridgewater compare favorably with the rates paid by other towns of our size.


The Board appreciates the difficult nature of its work. To do a good job, the Board will need the cooperation of all town em- ployees, and from the response so far we are sure we will get it.


Respectfully submitted,


WARREN H. ANDERSON, Chairman STANLEY O. CARLSON EDWARD J. GRANT, Secretary HARRY J. POMEROY, SR. FRED WRIGHT, JR.


139


EXTENSION SERVICE


By Robert B. Ewing, County Agent-Manager


The Plymouth County Extension Service (legal name - County Aid to Agriculture) is located in the Court House, Brock- ton. Since 1915, when it was first established, the Extension Serv- ice, in cooperation with the University of Massachusetts and the United States Department of Agriculture, has been furnishing information in three categories - Agriculture, Home Economics and 4-H, to the citizens of Plymouth County.


The Extension Service is known as the educational arm of the United States Department of Agriculture. In other words, its job is to supply information to people who request it and who reside in Plymouth County. A staff of agents conduct programs (in Agriculture, Home Economics, and 4-H Club Work) by fur- nishing educational information through farm and home visits, letters, newspaper articles, radio talks, meetings, and office visits. Basically the job of the Extension Service has been the same since 1915, namely to supply information. The programs may vary from time to time and be of a tentative nature to meet an emergency. The basic objective of the Extension Service remains the same but people and times do change.


When the Extension Service was first organized, its job in Agriculture was to supply information to commercial farmers. However, with an increased population estimated at 30% for the past 10 years in this county the Extension Service is faced with the task of supplying information, not only to commercial farmers, but to part-time farmers, and the new home owners. The Exten- sion Service furnishes the information, but it is up to the individual to make the decision as to how this information can be used to the best advantage.


This year, along with the normal requests for information, we had an exceedingly large number of requests pertaining to lawns and the care of lawns. This includes seeding, fertilizing and control of insects, diseases and weeds. We also had more than the usual number of requests for information on Japanese beetles, squirrels,


140


pigeons, ants, mosquitoes, etc. It is gratifying to know that many who followed the information obtained satisfactory results.


In general, it is quite difficult to find out how much money an individual farmer saves as a result of educational information that he obtains through the Extension Service. However, this past year we were able to do this in one particular instance. Poultrymen and dairymen in Plymouth County had asked for information pertaining to the home-mixing of grain. As a result of a series of meetings set up by the Extension agents, at which information on this particular subject was discussed, members of one cooperative in Plymouth County are now saving in the vicinity of $5 per ton of grain. At this rate it means that the dairymen and poultrymen in this cooperative are saving over $20,000 a year in their grain costs.


A new Home Department Advisory Board was established this year to assist the agents with some phases of the Home De- partment programs.


The young people in Plymouth County who are in 4-H Club Work participate in one of the finest "fair programs" that is con- ducted in Massachusetts. Plymouth County 4-H Fair, local com- munity fairs, and other major fairs in southeastern Massachusetts provide an excellent opportunity for 4-H club members to exhibit the products they have grown, produced and made as a result of their project work. When five hundred or more 4-H club members participate in a program, it gives the public an excellent oppor- tunity to see the results of their activities. We are particularly proud of the achievements of our Plymouth County 4-H club members.


Every citizen in Plymouth County should be aware of the fact that the Extension Service is supported by the county, state and federal governments, and that a large number of Plymouth County citizens avail themselves of the opportunity to secure free help and information pertaining to the Home, Home Grounds, 4-H Club Work and Agriculture. Requests for such information should be directed to the Plymouth County Extension Service, Court House, Brockton, Mass.


Funds for the Plymouth County Extension Service are derived principally from the County. Some federal funds are also made


141


available through the University of Massachusetts. Most towns in Plymouth County make an appropriation at the town meeting which is used for the general expenditures of the Plymouth County Extension Service. Town Directors are appointed in those towns where an appropriation is made. These Town Directors are unpaid volunteer leaders who serve as the Extension Service rep- resentatives in their respective towns.


A Board of Trustees, appointed by the Plymouth County Commissioners, administer the Extension Service program, and is composed of the following members:


Gilbert Blackledge, Whitman, Chairman Mrs. Harold D. Bent, Brockton Lewis Billings, Plympton Mrs. Mabel Chandler, Duxbury Robert Hammond, Wareham John A. Howe, West Bridgewater


John W. Little, Marshfield


John Prentice, Plymouth


Mrs. Herbert Wydom, Brockton


ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND


Superintendent of Schools


OF THE TOWN OF WEST BRIDGEWATER


FOR THE YEAR 1960


144


MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1960 - 1961


Thomas Kemp, Chairman, East Street JU 3-7461 Term expires 1961


Erland Thayer, 16 Union Street


JU 3-1402 Term expires 1961


Scovel Carlson, East Street JU 7-0312


Term expires 1962


George Noonan, Crescent Street JU 6-1971


Term expires 1962


Norman Churchill, East Street


JU 6-0610


Term expires 1963


Leon Beaulieu, East Street


JU 7-2038


Term expires 1963


SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS


Second Monday evening of each month at 7:45 P.M. at the High School.


SUPERINTENDENT Bert L. Merrill


Office: High School JU 6-5094


Residence: 277 Spring Street, West Bridgewater JU 6-4428


Conference by appointment


SECRETARY


Mae E. Mather, 272 No. Elm St., West Bridgewater JU 7-1310 Office hours: Monday through Friday 8:15 A.M. - 4:15 P.M.


SCHOOL PHYSICIAN


Dr. Joseph Calitri, 17 Central Square, West Bridgewater JU 7-0678


SCHOOL NURSE


E. Myrtle Howard, 272 River St., West Bridgewater JU 3-4302


145


ATTENDANCE OFFICER Douglas Eaton, Prospect Street, West Bridgewater JU 6-9191


WEST BRIDGEWATER PUBLIC SCHOOLS


School Calendar 1960 - 1961


School open Wednesday


September 7, 1960


Thanksgiving recess: Schools close Wednesday noon Schools reopen Monday


November 23, 1960


November 28, 1960


Christmas vacation: Schools close Thursday


December 22, 1960


Schools reopen Tuesday


January 3, 1961


Winter vacation:


Schools close Friday Schools reopen Monday


February 17, 1961


February 27, 1961


Spring vacation: Schools close Friday Schools reopen Monday


April 14, 1961


April 24, 1961


Schools close Friday


June 23, 1961


Holidays


Columbus Day, Wednesday


October 12, 1960


Plymouth County Teachers' Convention, Friday


October 21, 1960


Veterans' Day, Friday Good Friday


November 11, 1960


March 31, 1961


Memorial Day, Tuesday Monday


May 30, 1961


May 29, 1961


No School Information


The policy of the school department is to hold school on stormy days. The decision as to whether or not a child should attend school will be left to the discretion of the parent. In ex- tremely bad weather when it is deemed wise to have no school, such notice will be broadcast over radio station WBET, Brockton


146


and televised over station WBZ, Boston. Fire alarm signals will be as follows:


1 long - 2 short blasts of the fire alarm at 7 A.M., no school grades 7 - 12 inclusive all day.


1 long - 2 short blasts of the fire alarm at 7:15 A.M., no school for grades 1 - 6 inclusive all day.


FINANCIAL STATEMENT


1. Administration


1960 BUDGET 11,460.00


1960 SPENT 11,384.66


2. Instruction


Salaries


272,106.00


270,439.41


Supplies


13,492.50


11,760.75


Textbooks


4,000.00


3,630.93


21" Classroom T.V.


325.00


Contingencies


200.00


129.80


Field Trips


700.00


558.30


3. Operation


Salaries


23,700.00


23,547.03


Rubbish Removal


500.00


500.00


Fuel


8,200.00


7,485.65


Electricity


7,000.00


6,467.91


Water


400.00


342.42


Gas


800.00


749.51


Supplies


4,000.00


3,852.35


4. Maintenance


7,714.50


6,390.48


5. Auxiliary Agencies


Health


5,907.00


5,949.91


O.C.A.M.H.


600.00


584.50


Transportation


17,100.00


18,724.89


Tuition


2,700.00


4,684.20


Insurance


200.00


199.21


Miscellaneous


100.00


6. Capital Outlay


6,986.00


6,240.36


TOTALS


388,191.00


383,622.27


147


REIMBURSEMENTS 1960:


Chapter 70


65,611.59


Superintendent Salary


2,488.89


Transportation


11,817.89


Household Arts


2,734.87


Tuition Vocational


1,305.75


Transportation Vocational


258.75


Tuition & Transp. State Wards


1,206.86


Education Physically & Mentally Handicapped


3,779.60


National Defense Education Act (Federal)


2,704.69


Public Law 874 (Federal)


4,366.00


Tuition, Raynham and Bridgewater Educational Therapy Pupils


762.50


Total Reimbursement


97,037.39


Net Operation Cost for 1960


286,584.88


SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP - OCTOBER 1, 1960


ELEMENTARY


1


2


3


4


5


6 TOTAL


Sunset Avenue


35


29


22


36


122


Spring Street


95


83


73


74


93


418


Junior High


80


80


Special Class


14 14


HIGH


7


8


9


10


11


12


High School


109


102


109


74


76


55


525


Total enrollment elementary and high school


1159


CENSUS REPORT


5 YEARS OF AGE OR OVER AND UNDER 7


7 YEARS OF AGE OR OVER AND UNDER 16


Boys


124


454


Girls


115


446


Totals


239


900


148


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


To the Citizens of West Bridgewater:


The organizational meeting of the School Committee held after the Town Meeting in March, re-elected Mr. Thomas Kemp, Chairman, and Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Bert L. Merrill, as secretary. Also elected to serve on the Raynham-West Bridgewater School Union Committee were Mr. Erland Thayer, Mr. Norman Churchill and Mr. Thomas Kemp. Present at this meeting was a newly elected member, Mr. Leon Beaulieu, who replaced Mr. Walter Olson. Mr. Olson did not seek re-election.


In September it became necessary to transfer part of the first grade pupils from the Sunset Avenue School to the Spring Street School due to the large enrolment of first grade pupils in that section. Third and fourth grade pupils residing on Copeland and Matfield Streets were transferred from the Spring Street School to the Sunset Avenue School for the same reason.


Since the Board had no further use for the front and rear Center Schools, they were turned back to the Town through the Board of Selectmen.


During October, the Committee formally accepted the newly erected enclosure of the passageway between A and C blocks at the Spring Street School. The Committee was appreciative of the efforts of Mrs. Doris Calitri for bringing this project to a success- ful conclusion.


A new salary policy was voted to become effective in Septem- ber of 1961. This is adopted in line with State Law, minimum and maximum salaries of towns of our relative size and wealth and is designed to at least hold us in a median position in this respect. We hope it will be adequate to attract and retain well qualified teachers who are the heart of and the most important part of any well adjusted school system.


As of the writing of this report, it is still early to tell when the addition to the high school will be completed. However, the Com- mittee feels that upon completion its first function will be to


149


rclieve the enrolment in the upper elementary grades. Adjustment would then follow in high school grades and some of the other grades.


Through the efforts of the Town Counsel, Willis Downs, Rich Brothers Construction Company, who built the Junior- Senior High School are attempting to make repairs to the roof and prevent further leaks. Also to stop the dripping of mastic material throughout sections of the building.


Provisions have been made in the budget to construct an en- closure on the roof over the stage in the auditorium. This should prevent further leakage in that area.


The Committee appreciates the contributions by all of its school personnel to the education of our Town's young people.


Respectfully submitted,


THOMAS KEMP, Chairman ERLAND THAYER NORMAN CHURCHILL SCOVEL CARLSON GEORGE NOONAN LEON BEAULIEU


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


To the West Bridgewater School Committee:


I submit herewith, my 11th annual report as Superintendent of Schools of West Bridgewater.


"America is committed to freedom of the individual, freedom from tyranny, ignorance, fear, superstition. America is committed to the belief that each person can choose his own way of living and, at the same time, live within a framework of basic national committments. In carrying out this ideal America stands foremost in the world. The state and all its institutions, especially the schools, exist to serve this purpose. Even the problem of the


150


national need for skilled manpower is solved by assuring the nation's children the opportunity to develop a galaxy of diverse interests and great range of specific individual capacities."


The above is an excerpt from a joint statement, made by five prominent educational groups. It best expresses our desire to install in each pupil self confidence, the ability to think creatively, and to recognize his potentialities.


PERSONNEL CHANGES


Fewer new teachers were employed than in the previous year and those were mostly in the Junior-Senior High School. Two re- placements were made in the elementary grades.


New Teachers Appointed Junior-Senior High School


Frederic French, Jr.


Robert W. Orr


Mrs. Barbara Litzen


Mrs. Helen Socarides


Mrs. Marylou MacBride


Charles Loverin


Charles McDowell


Elementary Mrs. Marion MacDonald


Resignations Junior-Senior High School


Charles Bunker Henry Moss


Mrs. Janet Colford


Mrs. Doris Pailes


Frederick Keylor Miss Nancy Washburn


Elementary Mrs. Priscilla Olson


Expansion of our construction in the elementary grades and the enrichment of the art program in the high school, by the intro- duction of an Art major course, greatly increased the duties of the art supervisor. In order to reduce his teaching load Mrs. Doris Prince was elected to teach art in the primary grades two days a week.


Mrs. Katherine Pope, third grade teacher in the Spring Street School, is on leave of absence for the rest of the school year. Mrs.


151


Alma Rohdin has been appointed to fill the position until Mrs. Pope's return.


CURRICULUM


We are aware that constant curriculum revisions have to be planned to meet the increasing educational needs of our pupils. The elementary children under the guidance of the teachers, are being carefully and adequately prepared for entrance into high school. The high school teachers are mindful of college require- ments and the demands of business stimulate and encourage high standards of learning.


ADDITION TO THE HIGH SCHOOL


The vote of the Town to appropriate money for the purpose of adding classrooms and needed facilities to the high school dem- onstrates the interest and pride citizens of West Bridgewater take in the education of our youth. This addition will relieve the over crowded conditions mentioned in previous reports.


The Survey and Building Committee have held meetings with the architects. Working plans and specifications were care- fully prepared previous to final approval by the School Board Assistance Commission. The Committee should be commended for the service it has rendered the Town. The addition will help to expand and improve our educational program.


NATIONAL DEFENSE EDUCATION ACT


The National Defense Education Act, passed by the Federal Government, provides matched funds to the school committee, enabling them to purchase additional needed equipment and materials for the teaching of mathematics, science and foreign languages. Sound projectors, microscopes, film strips, tape re- corders, reference materials and science demonstration tables have already been bought. Additional purchases may be made from available money under the jurisdiction of the School Com- mittee.


PUBLIC LAW 874


The Federal Law provides that if three per cent or more of the parents of school pupils are employed on classified federal properties, the School Committee is eligible to receive an allot-


152


ment of money which may be used for the maintenance of schools. Surveys have previously been made to ascertain if the school com- mittee could make application for a grant. This is the first year we have qualified. Our allotment totaled $5822, of which $4366 has been received. The balance of $1456 will be due soon.


SCHOOL MAINTENANCE


Maintenance of all schools is done on a rotation basis over a five year period with certain specified amounts of work being done each year.


I want to commend the school custodians, who, under the able direction and supervision of Arvid Hagglund, Head Custodian, take pride in maintaining the schools and keeping them in first class condition.


Special projects, obviously, have to be done by outside contractors.


All rooms on the second floor in the high school were re- painted.


Boys and girls locker rooms, dressing rooms and shower rooms, were all refinished. Classroom seats and desks were sanded and varnished. The gymnasium floor was scraped, cleaned and refinished.


Several water leaks still occur, especially after heavy storms and the melting of snow, in spite of the fact that constant roof repairs are made. The mastic material continues to drop from the ceiling in sections of the building. These conditions have been previously reported many times since the high school was con- structed eight years ago.




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