USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1931 > Part 9
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Fourth: In 1929 the Town approved the taking of a parcel of land, containing about three acres, located be- tween proposed Crosby Street, proposed Upland Road West, and proposed Highfield Road extension, and appropriated $3,000.00 for that purpose. In preparing for the taking, our Town Counsel discovered a legal obstruction which interferes with giving to the owner of the adjoining parcel a proper right of ingress and egress, because the streets shown on the map are merely "paper" streets drawn by the Board of Survey, but not as yet accepted by the Planning Board. To try and iron out this difficulty, your Committee has made numerous attempts to get in touch with the owner of this property by calling at and telephoning to his place of business, and by letter, but to all requests he has not paid the slightest attention; he has completely ignored them.
When we inserted our Article in the Warrant for. taking the parcel adjoining, we hoped to solve the diffi- culty by securing all the owner's property. We believed it contained about three acres; but it contains seven, and as the first parcel contains about three, ten acres are more
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than we can recommend for school purposes. Hence we deem it for our best interests to drop the matter. We will, however, further examine the territory for another parcel, and hope to bring the matter to your attention at a later date.
All this section at present is in the Russell School district, which is bounded on the north by the Winchester line; on the south by a straight line beginning at the Boston & Maine tracks and running through Wyman and Beacon Streets to Mystic River; on the east by the Mystic River and the Mystic Lakes, and on the west by a curved line starting on Massachusetts Avenue at Schouler Court and running to the Winchester line, where it passes through Hutchinson Road. One of the scenic spots of the Town, where many artistically comfortable homes are built, it will not be long before development is booming and a school necessary.
Fifth: While we are not faced with immediate need of enlarging our Junior High schools, we must not forget that the Junior High West, even with its twenty-four rooms, is filled to capacity, and should be giving thought to how best meet the increased demands for accommoda- tions. We believe a practical solution is to remodel and enlarge Junior High Center and allocate to it some part of the West's district. Conditions in Junior High Center have been unsatisfactory for some time, and they warrant serious consideration.
In 1927 the enrollment was 425, but it included the pupils in a two-room portable, which has been removed, as well as the industrial classes and the Continuation Class, which are now in Old Parmenter. The auditorium of this building is on the third floor, and is entirely in- adequate. There is no provision for physical training, such as is enjoyed at East and West. The present enroll- ment is 305.
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We are told that the present organization is not economical, due to the fact that a highly paid Principal is necessary, and he is not looking after as large a number of pupils as should be the case. Enlarged quarters would rectify this; it would also relieve Junior High West; it would also take classes from Old Parmenter, and leave space in it to accommodate classes from New Parmenter when that school shows further increase, which gives signs of being close at hand.
In connection with improvements at Junior High Center, we must also have in mind securing the two par- cels of land adjoining it; they are necessary to round out our ownership and must be had in case additions are made to the building.
Sixth: In view of the present well-defined plans for further High School development, there is need to be con- sidering the advisability of securing some of the property contiguous thereto in order to round out our ownership.
Seventh: We should also have in mind the import- ance of securing land for a school somewhere in the vicinity of North Union Street to meet the increasing population in the Crosby School district.
Eighth: To give you an idea of what the Town faces in the way of new schools, we beg to state that during the years 1931 to 1935 it is our belief you will be asked to appropriate in the neighborhood of $1,500,000.00 for school buildings and land takings.
We summarize the situation as follows:
1931. Eastern Avenue School (already appropriated) $225,000.00 1931. Additional unit, High School, ap- proximately . 125,000.00
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TOWN RECORDS
1932.
Pheasant Avenue School, approxi- mately . 125,000.00
1932. Junior High Center, approximately . 200,000.00
Land taking, approximately . 25,000.00
1933
Hardy School, approximately 225,000.00 Land taking, approximately 20,000.00
1933-4. Crosby School District, mately . approxi-
225,000.00
Land taking, approximately .
20,000.00
1934.
Parmenter School, approximately ..
100,000.00
Land taking, Russell District, ap- Approximately
10,000.00
Land taking, Locke District, ap- proximately
10,000.00
Land taking, High School, approxi- mately . 50,000.00
Additional unit, High School, ap- proximately .
200,000.00
It may be that the order of expenditure will vary from this list, but so far as we can see this is the program that faces you during the period to 1935.
In closing: A noted educator is reported as saying : "We are running riot in this country on fads and fancies, and nowhere more crazily than in the educational field. Sometimes I wonder that any of us have sanity left."
We are told that there are no "fads and fancies" in our schools. If this is true, then we cannot hold them responsible for the constant call for new schools; but we know we have lads and lassies, and must build schools to accommodate them. Schools are expensive to build and maintain; we spend a lot of money for education, which many think is an expensive luxury; but it is our problem, and we must face it. However, it must be a cheerful sound to the ears of all Arlingtonians to hear the rumors- which appear to be well founded-that proclaim we are
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
about to witness large reductions in the expense of our school management, without in any way decreasing effi- ciency, and with more than bare possibility that efficiency will be increased. If this is true, let's give three cheers to our much-maligned and overworked School Committee for its courage in taking this first step toward well- directed retrenchment. In these days of keeping up with the Joneses, it takes bold and courageous men and women to be what many call "odd."
EARL A. RYDER, CHARLES H. HIGGINS, M. ERNEST MOORE, M. NORCROSS STRATTON, Committee on Additional School Accommodations.
Arlington, Mass., March 2, 1931. On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That the report be received.
Alfred W. Lombard, Chairman of the Committee appointed under vote of the Town, passed January 14, 1926, to consider the Condition of Spy Pond, made the following report:
Arlington, Mass., March 18, 1931.
The Committee on Improving the Condition of Spy Pond herewith submit the following report:
Early in the spring of 1930 the surface of the street in Lombard Road and Lombard Terrace was restored to its original condition prior to the laying of the pipe connecting the old reservoir with Spy Pond. Samples of the water in the Pond were taken at regular intervals, as in the past, up to and until the work was taken over by the Board of Health. This change was recommended by
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TOWN RECORDS
the committee and an appropriation was made under the Board of Health Budget to take care of the work for the balance of the year. The financial statement for the year is as follows:
Balance on hand January 1, 1930 $481.25
Expended 1930 336.71
Balance December 31, 1930. $144.54
Respectfully submitted,
ALFRED W. LOMBARD. J. HOWARD HAYES. WARREN A. PEIRCE. ROGER W. HOMER.
Expenditures 1930:
Weston & Sampson, Services . $95.28
Coleman Bros., Resurfacing Lombard Road 125.28
Spray nozzle. 102.92
Water Department, installing nozzle. 13.23
$336.71
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That the report be received and committee be discharged.
No report was made by the Committee on World War Memorial.
On motion of Elliott R. Barker:
Voted: That the committee, under vote of the Town passed April 10, 1929, to Secure Plans and Estimates for a new High School Building be discharged.
Mr. William A. Muller considered that no report was necessary on the Robbins Library Building.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Elliott R. Barker reported that the committee on the Peirce School Addition was not quite ready to make its report.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That the following report, as made by Mr. Charles A. Hardy of the Tercentenary Committee, be received.
The activities of the Tercentenary Committee have been given in the Selectmen's report in the present Town Report, so I will not take time to read them.
Appropriations :
$600 from the Selectmen's Contingent Fund. $4,500 appropriated April 2, 1930.
Expenditures :
Pageant of Music
$2,456.50
Other expenses . 2,638.78
Unexpended balance . 4.72
CHARLES A. HARDY, Chairman.
Mr. Ernest W. Davis, Chairman of the Committee on Study of School System, made the following report:
March 25, 1931.
PROGRESS REPORT COMMITTEE FOR INVESTIGATION OF SCHOOL SYSTEM TOWN OF ARLINGTON
To Town of Arlington:
At the Annual Town Meeting in March, 1930, the following vote as recommended by the Finance Committee and passed by the Town Meeting Members:
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TOWN RECORDS
Voted: That a committee of three (3) be appointed by the Board of Selectmen to carefully investigate the school system of Arlington with particular reference to the maintenance and operation of school buildings and grounds, to ascertain wherein, if possible, reductions in costs of operation and maintenance may be made; said committee to report to the Town not later than the Annual Meeting in 1931, and any vacancy therein to be filled by . said Board; and further, that the sum of $500.00 be and hereby is appropriated for the use of the committee, said sum to be raised by general tax.
Messrs. Wilson D. Clark, Jr., Charles A. Alden, and Ernest W. Davis were appointed by the Selectmen "to investigate the school system of Arlington" in accordance with the above vote. Owing to illness in his family, Mr. Clark was forced to resign before the committee actively took up its work. Mr. Arthur O. Yeames was appointed by the Selectmen to fill the vacancy in September, 1930.
Early in October the committee met with the Selectmen and the Chairman of the Finance Committee to discuss the scope of the investigation and possible beneficial results to the Town. Later a meeting was held with the Finance Committee of the School Committee, at which the extent of the investigation was again discussed with particular reference to the maintenance of har- monious relations between the two committees.
Before considering the concrete problem of costs of the school system in Arlington, it was found necessary to obtain comparative data for other cities and towns in the neighborhood of Boston-cities and towns having either approximately the same school population or same standards of public school education. After considerable discussion, the following cities and towns were chosen:
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Belmont
Norwood
Brookline
Somerville
Framingham
Waltham
Medford
Watertown
Melrose
Weymouth
Newton
Winchester
From annual reports of the State Board of Education complete analyses have been made of the costs of the Public Schools in the above cities and towns and com- parisons made with similar costs for Arlington. Items considered are as follows:
General Control Salaries of Principals, Teachers, Supervisors
Text-books
Janitors Repairs and Maintenance
Libraries
Health
Other Expenses
Miscellaneous Expenses
Transportation
Tuition
Total for Support
These costs have been analyzed over a five-year period (1926 to 1930) and reduced to a cost per pupil basis.
The committee has visited every school building in Arlington, noting the physical condition of the property, the overcrowding of some of the buildings, and the need of either additional accommodations or rearrangement of present accommodations. These inspections were all made while the schools were in session, giving the com- mittee an excellent opportunity to study the schools when in action.
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TOWN RECORDS
A tremendous mass of data has been collected, and this progress report will show only comparisons between costs in Arlington and in the group of cities and towns selected. A later and final report may show how these costs can be reduced without impairing the standards of education set up by your School Committee.
The overall cost of operating our school system (based on cost per pupil) is exceeded by only two of the twelve communities chosen for comparison-Brookline and Newton. On the other hand, the increase in cost per pupil in these two cities over the five-year period has been only 17% and 19%, while in Arlington it has been 22.0%. The cost per pupil in Arlington is 10% above the average for the group in 1930.
Considering various items of the school budget, we find the following comparisons-all based on cost per pupil :
General Control-Increase over five-year period:
Arlington . 76.9% Average for the group 12.5%
Salaries, Teachers, Principals, Supervisors: Increase over five-year period:
Arlington . 22.2%
Average for the group 16.1%
Text-book Costs-Increase over five-year period: Arlington . 1.6% (decrease)
Average for the group. 6.8%
Text-book cost per pupil served over the five-year period was 37.1% greater in Arlington than the average for the group.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Janitor Service-Increase over five-year period : Arlington . 17.5% Average for the group 13.7%
Maintenance and Repairs-Increase over five-year period :
Arlington . 23.7%
Average for the group . 5.45% (decrease)
Health-Increase over five-year period:
Arlington . 25.4% (decrease) Average for the group 9.34%
The above figures show a steady although not necessarily an alarming increase in the cost per pupil of the Arlington school system over a five-year period. More study will be necessary before definite conclusions can be drawn from the above figures or recommendations made.
The matter of teachers' salaries in Arlington is worthy of considerable study. A readjustment of the teaching staff, together with an increase in the average number of pupils per teacher, may be advisable in order to decrease the cost of instructional service. At the present moment the average number of pupils per teacher is more than 10% less than the average for the group. In view of changes in the personnel of your School Committee and in view of the presence of the new superin- tendent during the coming year, it seems advisable to leave any concrete discussion of this item of the budget for a final report.
In conclusion, the committee appreciates the full co-operation it has received from the School Committee, the superintendent's office, and the Town Accountants. The committee has been particularly impressed with the physical condition of the school property, especially the
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TOWN RECORDS
older buildings. We believe that a word of praise is due the staff of janitors responsible for the cleanliness of the buildings.
The committee feels that it still has a tremendous amount of work ahead of it. It desires to make recom- mendations to the Town based upon facts and not rumors.
The committee would welcome suggestions from citi- zens who are interested in this investigation.
C. A. ALDEN. A. O. YEAMES. E. W. DAVIS.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That the report be received.
Mr. Warren A. Peirce, of the Committee on Con- struction of Chapel in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, made the following report:
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE CHAPEL, MOUNT PLEASANT CEMETERY
At the annual Town Meeting in March, 1930, an appropriation of $26,500.00 was made, and at the meeting in January, 1931, an appropriation was voted of $1,005.87, making a total of $27,505.87.
The Cemetery Commissioners were made a Com- mittee with full power to erect a suitable building for chapel, storehouse, and office purposes.
The committee engaged Gay & Proctor as architects
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
to make plans for their consideration, after instruction from the committee as to the necessary room required. Mr. Proctor, accordingly, presented a plan which was adopted after some changes were made, so as to conform to the rules. Proposals were given to six general con- tractors, and the Arlington Construction Company being the lowest bidder on the main building was awarded the general contract.
The contracts for equipment, etc., were awarded in the same way, receiving at least four bids on each item.
The contracts were awarded as follows:
General contract, Arlington Construction Co. $20,795.87 Plumbing, F. B. Wood Co. 872.00
Heating, F. B. Wood Co. 973.00
Electric wiring, cable, etc., Sword Bros.
1,026.20
Pews, George W. Wise Co.
713.00
Linoleum, S. W. Rollins Co.
225.00
Hardware, Chandler & Barber Co.
325.00
Vestibule tile, N. P. Currie .
221.00
Lighting fixtures, E. S. Parker Co.
228.00
Incidentals and furnishings
176.00
Land damage for cable.
100.00
Insurance .
37.33
Architect's commission
.
1,536.15
Office furniture 246.75
$27,474.15
Appropriation.
$27,505.87
27,474.15
$31.72 balance
A wall clock for the office and a Vose piano for the chapel were contributed by friends of the committee, which are greatly appreciated.
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TOWN RECORDS
On the evening of February 19th, George G. Allen, our beloved friend and a member of the Cemetery Com- mission for more than thirty years, passed this earthly life to the eternal life beyond. He was always active and interested in everything that was for the good of the Town, and we are indebted to him for the generous time he gave in planning for the development of the Cemetery, and for his valuable assistance in selecting and planning the trees, shrubs, and flower beds that beautify and adorn the Cemetery. The Town greatly appreciates his valuable assistance in making our Cemetery a Garden of the Dead.
Respectfully submitted,
WARREN A. PEIRCE, J. EDWIN KIMBALL,
Committee.
On motion of G. Bertram Washburn:
Voted: That the report be received.
Jacob Bitzer, Chairman of the Committee on an Ele- mentary School on Eastern Avenue, made a report of progress and informed the Town Meeting Members of the action of the School Committee at its recent meeting in adopting the name of "Brackett School" for this building, in honor of the late ex-Governor Brackett.
No report was made by the Committee to Investigate and Study the Library Accommodations at Arlington Heights.
Hollis M. Gott, Chairman of the Board of Select- men, presented the following report of the Board of Selectmen on the new High School Building:
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
REPORT OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN ON THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING :
Review of High School Building Question:
Under Article 43 of the Annual March meeting of 1929, the following vote was passed:
Voted: That a committee of five, including the Building Inspector, be appointed by the Moderator to secure plans and estimates for a new High School Building, such committee to have power to fill vacancies, and to report to the Town not later than the annual meeting of 1930; that the sum of $1,000 be and hereby is appro- priated for the use of the committee, and that the sum be raised by general tax.
At the Annual Town Meeting of March, 1930, the committee reported, and under Article 38 of the Warrant showed plans of a building. The Finance Committee recommended an appropriation of $325,000 for the con- struction of a building without an auditorium and no separate manual training or shop building. This motion was lost.
A substitute motion was offered calling for an ap- propriation of $325,000 for a school building. This was tabled and at an adjourned meeting the motion was with- drawn, and a substitute motion offered to construct building with separate heating plant and no separate manual training or shop building, requesting appropria- tion of $325,000.
Voted: That we do not make at this meeting any appropriation for the construction of a building upon land described in Article 38.
Voted: To refer this matter to the School Building
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TOWN RECORDS
Committee with instructions to study the matter of an addition to the present High School Building and to report at a special Town Meeting, and that the sum of $1,000 be appropriated for the use of this committee.
SPECIAL MEETING MAY 26, 1930
Article 9. Scheme A. Voted: That the Town do not now vote under Article 9 of the Warrant to construct a building or an addition to the present "High School Building."
Article 10. Scheme B. Voted: That the Town do not now vote under Article 10 of the Warrant to construct a building or an addition to the present "High School Building."
Article 11. Scheme C. Voted (unanimously) : That the sum of $389,194 be and hereby is appropriated for the construction of a building, including the cost of original equipment and furnishings of said building, to be used for High School purposes.
A Referendum on this vote was petitioned for, and on June 19th referendum vote nullified the action of the Town Meeting.
SPECIAL MEETING JULY 15TH
Under Article 2 Scheme C was again acted upon and was defeated.
A substitute motion was offered presenting Scheme X, calling for twenty-one classrooms. This motion was lost. A substitute motion was then offered and it was Voted (142 voting in favor and 7 in opposition) :
That the sum of $277,000 be and hereby is appro-
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
priated for the construction of a building capable of addi- tions, including the cost of original equipment and fur- nishings ... and that said appropriation be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen, which said Board shall have full authority to construct such school building within the sum herein appropriated, and to employ such technical advice as they may deem necessary.
The members of this Board in assuming the re- sponsibility placed upon them by vote of the Town Meeting approached this problem with an open mind, without bias or preconceived ideas, and with the sincere purpose to pro- vide a building which would serve the best interests of the Town and the school system.
The only restriction placed upon the Board, under the vote was that the new building should be capable of future additions.
It was, therefore, clearly implied in the vote that the Town Meeting Members did not consider it possible to construct a building for $277,000, which would provide adequate accommodations to meet the increasing require- ments and needs of the High School, but that additions would be required.
George Ernest Robinson was engaged as architect.
Conferences were held with representatives of the School Committee and the architect, and very careful study was given to the facilities required by the High School pupils and was approached from various angles.
The architect was directed to disregard absolutely all plans previously considered and to proceed to draft plans based on conferences held with the Board and the School Committee jointly, showing a building so arranged that sections could be constructed as needed.
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TOWN RECORDS
Sketches were made, also a model to scale with plans, and submitted to the Board for consideration with approximate figures showing what might be done in the different sections of the building.
These were then discussed with the School Com- mittee and from these discussions the construction of the first unit was decided upon.
Final blueprint drawings and specifications were delivered to the Board November 6th, and bids were publicly opened November 17, 1930. November 28th general contract awarded to Arlington Construction Com- pany for $215,000.
December 8th construction was started.
DESCRIPTION OF NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING Now UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The architecture of the new High School Building is eighteenth-century style, or better known as Colonial.
The present construction consists of a classroom section in the rear or northwest side, containing nine regulation classrooms seating thirty-five pupils each, and two larger classrooms which will seat sixty pupils each, providing total accommodations for four hundred and thir- ty-five students. This section of the building also contains on the ground floor an entrance lobby of large propor- tions, two teachers' rooms, and two large book and supply storage compartments. This section of the con- struction also contains three stairways, one of which will serve a future addition of classrooms on the northeast side.
In the basement of this rear or classroom section is provided locker and shower facilities for girls and boys,
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
and a central heating plant with space enough to take care of four large boilers, hot water storage and incidental equipment to the heating plant, and will be large enough to serve the entire program as outlined in plan and model.
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