USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1950 > Part 10
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$57 11
Payments to treasurer January 6 to 17, 1951
$57 11
LIBRARY
Cash balance January 1, 1950
$3 88
Receipts :
Fines
$12 92
Sale of old books
2 05
14 97
$18 85
Payments to treasurer
$17 85
Cash balance December 31, 1950
1 00
$18 85
Cash balance January 1, 1951
$1 00
Receipts January 1 to 5, 1951 :
07
Fines
$1 07
Cash on hand January 5, 1951, verified
$1 07
161
WATER DEPARTMENT Rates
Outstanding January 1, 1950
$1,328 48
Commitments
15,432 96
Refunds
26 57
$16,788 01
Payments to treasurer
$14,716 04
Abatements
93 66
Outstanding December 31, 1950
1,978 31
$16,788 01
Outstanding January 1, 1951
$1,978 31
Payments to treasurer January 1 to 5, 1951
$67 20
Outstanding January 5, 1951, per list
1,911 11
$1,978 31
Services
Outstanding January 1, 1950
$444 76
Commitments
1,161 37
Payments to treasurer
$1,236 50
Outstanding December 31, 1950 and January 5, 1951, per list
369 63
$1,606 13
CEMETERY DEPARTMENT Accounts Receivable
Outstanding January 1, 1950
$117 50
Charges
457 00
Refunds
2 50
$577 00
Payments to treasurer
$434 75
Abatements
55 75
Outstanding December 31, 1950
86 50
$577 00
Outstanding January 1, 1951
$86 50
Payments to treasurer January 1 to 5, 1951
$3 00
Outstanding January 5, 1951, per list
83 50
$86 50
$1,606 13
162
Miscellaneous Receipts
Receipts 1950 :
Bequests
$2,075 00
Sale of lots and graves
1,520 00
Interments
381 00
Care of lots
3 00
Payments to treasurer 1950
$3,979 00 $3,979 00
DR. JUSTIN ALLEN LIBRARY FUND
Savings Deposits
Total
On hand at beginnig of year 1950
$564 69
$564 69
On hand at end of year 1950
$578 88
$578 88
On hand January 5, 1951
$578 88
$578 88
RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
1950
Income
$14 19 Added to savings deposits $14 19
January 1 to 5, 1951 No transactions recorded.
H. AUGUSTA DODGE LIBRARY FUND
Savings Deposits
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1950
$1,132 22
$1,132 22
On hand at end of year 1950
$1,160 70
$1,160 70
On hand January 5, 1951
$1,160 70
$1,160 70
RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
1950
Income
$28 48 Added to savings deposits $28 48
January 1 to 5, 1951 No transactions recorded.
163
MAXWELL NORMAN FUND
Savings
Deposits
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1950 On hand at end of year 1950 On hand January 5, 1951
$484 48
$484 48
$499 11
$499 11
$499 11
499 11
RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
1950
Income
$14 63 Added to savings deposits
$14 63
January 1 to 5, 1951 No transactions recorded.
CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS
Cash in General
Treasury
Savings Deposits
Total
On hand at beginning of year 1950
$25 00
$22,396 70
$22,421 70
On hand at end of year 1950
$24,587 06 $24,587 06
On hand January 5, 1951
$24,587 06
$24,587 06
RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
1950
Withdrawn from savings deposits
$483 75
Income
574 11 2,075 00
Cash in general treasury January 1, 1950
25 00
$3,157 86
$3,157 86
January 1 to 5, 1951 No transactions recorded.
.. .
. ...
Added to savings deposits $2,674 11 Transferred to town 483 75
Bequests
164
CEMETERY SALE OF LOTS AND GRAVES FUND
Cash in General Savings
Treasury
Deposits Total
On hand at beginning of year 1950
$10,358 11
$10,358 11
On hand at end of year 1950
$1,520 00
$10,608 80
$12,128 80
On hand January 5, 1951
$1,520 00
$10,608 80 $12,128 80
RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
1950
Income
$250 69 Added to savings deposits $250 69
Sale of lots and graves
1,520 00
Cash in general treasury December 31, 1950 1,520 00
$1,770 69
$1,770 69
January 1 to 5, 1951
Cash in general treasury
January 1, 1951
$1,520 00
Cash in general treasury January 5, 1951 $1,520 00
165
TOWN OF HAMILTON Balance Sheet - December 31, 1950 GENERAL ACCOUNTS
ASSETS
Cash :
In Banks and Office
$113,489 54
Accounts Receivable :
Taxes :
Levy of 1950 :
Personal Property
$1,610 82
Real Estate
13,392 57
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise : Levy of 1950
862 52
Moth Assessments : Levy of 1950
7 50
Tax Titles
$306 08
Tax Possessions
136 53
442 61
Departmental :
Public Welfare
$571 60
Aid to Dependent Children
179 42
Old Age Assistance :
Cities and Towns
624 79
Veterans' Services
100 50
School,
320 00
Cemetery
86 50
1,882 81
Water Department :
Rates
$1.978 31
Services
369 63
2,347 94
State and County Aid to Highways :
State
$2,582 27
County
1.041 13
3,623 40
Underestimates 1950 :
State Parks and Reservations
$121 15
Essex County Tuberculosis Hospital
286 48
407 63
Overlay Deficit : Levy of 1950
626 61
$138,693 95
15,003 39
166
LIABILITIES AND RESERVES
Surplus War Bonus Fund
$965 37
Sale of Town Property Fund
825 00
Cemetery Sale of Lots and Graves Fund
1,520 00
Old Age Assistance Recoveries
542 93
School Lunch Fund
731 83
School Athletic Fund
13 75
Trust Fund Income : Library
$8 59
Cemetery
185 47
194 06
Overestimate 1950 :
County Tax
1,732 64
Federal Grants :
Aid to Dependent Children : Aid
$1,150 19
Administration
105 44
Old Age Assistance :
5,572 47
Administration
1,856 65
Unexpended Appropriation Balances :
Town Clerk-Equipment
$275 82
Town Hall-Painting and Repairs
81 02
Highway Chapter 90-Construction : Essex Street
4,160 73
Sidewalk Construction
758 25
World War II-Memorial Committee
100 00
Memorial-Patton Park
100 98
School Survey Commission
169 64
School Building Commission
6,000 00
Departmental Survey Commission
1,700 00
Civilian Defense
482 85
Water-New Reservoir and Wells
793 70
14,622 99
Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus
6,636 3%
Revenue Reserved Until Collected :
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
$862 52
Special Assessment
7 50
Tax Title
442 61
Departmental
1,882 81
Water
2,347 94
Aid to Highways
3,623 40
Surplus Revenue
9,166 78 93,057 48
$138,693 95
Assistance
8.684 75
167
DEBT ACCOUNTS ASSETS
Net Funded or Fixed
$164,000 00
$164,000 00
LIABILITIES
High School Building Loan
$5,000 00
Water Loan 1939
40,000 00
Water Loan 1947, (Mains)
95,000 00
Water Loan 1947, (Reservoir)
24,000 00
$164,000 00
TRUST AND INVESTMENT FUNDS ASSETS
Trust and Investment Funds-
Cash and Securities
$37,434 55
$37,434 55
Dr. Justin Allen Library Fund
$578 88
H. Augusta Dodge Library Fund
1,160 70
Maxwell Norman Fund
499 11
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds
24,587 06
Cemetery Sale of Lots and Graves Fund
10,608 80
$37,434 55
REPORT of the HAMILTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1950
REPORT OF THE HAMILTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Hamilton :
This has been an eventful year in the Hamilton School Department. The problem of providing for our expanding enrollment has presented many difficulties, in both the long and short range views. Now, climaxing a long period of study and endeavor. the Town has before it an opportunity to vote for a comprehensive school housing program which should solve the problem for at least a generation. The rate of enrollment increase, which has proved faster than expected, and the critical international situa- tion have put an emergency aspect on the school building program; more- over, the very short time available between the appointment of the building committee and the mid-February deadline for completion of plans made the situation doubly precarious. It is therefore especially gratifying that we have this opportunity.
The School Committee wishes to express its appreciation to Messrs. Finlay MacDonald, Gordon Love, Standish Bradford and Forrester Clark of the School Building Committee for their untiring efforts in behalf of the school housing program. They are all busy men. yet they not only unselfishly devoted many long evenings to the project but all of them actually took time off from their own pressing affairs during the day to insure that the needs of the school children and of the Town should be well provided for. Had they not been willing to give such concentrated effort. we should not now have the chance to obtain for our children the space which they so badly need. We are grateful, too, for the consideration and cooperation which they have shown with respect to the problems of the Hamilton High School. thereby enabling us to retain our 6-6 educa- tional program as well as solving our pressing renovation problem. which otherwise would appear as a large item in our budget for a number of years.
The School Committee and Superintendent of Schools have been present at all the meetings with the architects dealing with the building plans. and have approved each step in their development. We feel that the plans as submitted provide excellently for the space needs, the health, and the educational program of our schools. and that they answer equally well our requirements for long range planning and economy of operation and maintenance. We respectfully urge the Town to accept this well thought out and very necessary program.
One of the major events of the year has been the change in superin- tendents. Mr. Elwin F. Towne submitted his resignation in May, effective June 30th. After interviewing a number of candidates. the School Com- mittee elected Mr. Milton C. Blanchard. the Superintendent of Schools
3
4
in Charlestown. Rhode Island, to fill the vacancy. It has been a real pleasure to see Mr. Blanchard analyzing the merits and weaknesses of our system and developing an orderly program for protecting the former and correcting the latter. We feel confident that our educational offerings will continue to improve under his leadership.
In particular. two phases of our program show the benefits of this analytical approach: the commercial and the physical education. In the commercial department an expanding business practice course has been undertaken in place of the former third year typing. which will increasingly enable our business girls to go directly into secretarial work without need for further study. The scope of the physical education program has not only been extended to offer more activities to the student body in general, but now includes training in being a good spectator sport. Even more important. it is being progressively tied in with the health program, through the cooperation of the school doctor and school nurse. The pur- chase of a new audiometer, which we plan to lend to Essex and Manchester in exchange for the loan of their new eve testing equipment, will enable the required physical examinations to be really useful both in uncovering visual and hearing defects and in following them up. This in turn is of great assistance in handling educational difficulties arising from these defects. A new physical and health grid (form) is being adopted which will be kept cooperatively by both physical education and health personnel.
When school opened in September it was found that the third grade previously larger than the desirable maximum. had increased to 47. a num- ber far beyond efficient handling in this very important grade. Obviously it was necessary to split this class as soon as possible ; the problem, however, was where to find space. The Superintendent of Schools made careful studies on all the possibilities which presented themselves: dividing one room in the Lamson School by a partition; use of the basement of the Methodist Church ; requesting return of the Adelaide Dodge Walsh School (now the Legion Hall) ; use of the Community Room at the Town Hall : two platooning a grade. Factors considered in reaching a conclusion were : educational desirability ; cost : approval by Department of Public Safety. It was determined to two-platoon the first grade. first, because time studies made under the direction of Miss Joseph indicated that the first grade work could be adequately covered in a platoon system of moderate length. while other grades required progressively longer terms to complete the day's work : second. because a half-session is highly desirable in the first grade on account of attention span and fatigue limitations in this age group : third. because of adventitious benefits to the functioning of the Lamson School which were considerable: fourth. because of lowest cost. The two platoon system accordingly was instituted, only to meet with a storm of disapproval from the parents of the children involved. As a re- sult of several meetings and considerable three way negotiation among parents. school department. and Department of Public Safety, and through the cooperation of the Selectmen and the Finance Committee. the kinder- garten was moved to the Community Room at the Town Hall and the two first grades reverted to the previous schedule. It should here be noted that this solution does not answer the space needs for next year, and that
10
next year's kindergarten parents will be invited, sometime before the close of schools in June, to confer with the Superintendent of Schools regarding plans for the fall session.
Another problem which must be taken up by the School Department is the gradual encroachment upon transportation facilities which has occurred over the years.
A major event was the resignation, at the close of November. of Mr. Allan MacCurrach, Chairman of this committee. Mr. Morley L. Piper was elected, at a combined meeting of the Selectmen and the remaining members of this committee, to fill the vacancy until the next annual elec- tion.
The mobilization of the nation's resources and men is being felt in our schools in many ways. The resultant danger to our building program has already been noted. Rising costs of all supplies. plus a cost of living increment to school employees, are reflected in our budget. Mr. O'Neil's recall to active duty with the Navy and the departure of one of our senior boys to that service before his graduation are perhaps indicative of a trend which could have far reaching effects on our system. Integration of the schools with Civil Defense is predictable. The number and type of prob- lems which will arise as a result of the international situation cannot be foreseen, yet we can all have confidence that, with good courage and the cooperation of all. our difficulties can be surmounted.
The School Committee takes this opportunity to thank the staff and faculty of the schools, the town officials, the Parent-Teacher Association, and all the many citizens whose efforts have contributed so largely to the success of our common enterprize.
Respectfully submitted. RUTH F. DONALDSON. Chairman GRACE B. LAMSON MORLEY L. PIPER
6
HAMILTON SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
General Expense
Superintendent's Salary
BUDGET 1950 $5,000 00
Expenditures during 1950 $5,000 00
BUDGET 1951 $5,350 00
General Expense
Expense of Office
Superintendent's Travel
100 00
72 99
200 00
Office Expense
15 00
72 00
75 00
Census Enumerator
100 00
100 00
100 00
Salary-Secretary-Clerk
2.500 00
2,500 00
2,650 00
Truant Officer
100 00
100 00
100 00
$2,875 00
$2,844 99
$3,125 00
Expense of Instruction
Teachers' Salaries-
High
35,166 67
34,528 28
36,833 33
Elementary
22,233 33
23,093 36
28,433 32
Art
500 00
475 00
530 00
Writing
450 00
450 00
450 00
Music
500 00
516 00
578 00
Substitutes
550 00
168 00
500 00
Contingency Fund
500 00
. .
500 00
59,900 00
59,230 64
67,824 65
Textbooks and Supplies
Textbooks-High
1,000 00
966 93
1,150 00
Textbooks-Elementary
1,000 00
871 18
1,000 00
Supplies-High and Elementary
1.900 00
1.899 05
2.188 00
Supplies-Shop
400 00
403 49
600 00
Supplies-Home Economics
50 00
49 46
150 00
Supplies-Music
100 00
99 81
100 00
Films
50 00
38 40
50 00
Testing Program
250 00
220 43
250 00
School Board Journal
6 75
6 75
6 75
Art Supplies
200 00
200 00
4.956 75
4,755 50
5.494 75
Operation of Plant
Salaries, Janitor-High
2,450 00
2,450 00
2,600 00
Elementary
2.400 00
2.400 00
2.550 00
Retired
250 00
250 00
250 00
Substitutes
150 00
.
150 00
7
BUDGET 1950
Expenditures during 1950
BUDGET 1951
Fuel-High
2,280 00
1,626 45
2,170 00
Elementary
1,400 00
1,413 66
1,555 00
Electricity-High
800 00
687 30
800 00
Elementary
600 00
497 48
600 00
800 00
786 44
875 00
Janitors' Supplies Gas
200 00
165 67
200 00
Water
200 00
78 10
200 00
11,530 00
10,355 10
11.950 00
Maintenance of Plant
Repairs and Upkeep-High
1,000 00
1,325 79
5,947 00
Repairs and Upkeep-Elementary
800 00
465 96
. .....
1,800 00
1,791 75
5,947 00
Auxiliary Agencies
Transportation
9,024 00
8.745 98
9,435 00
Physician-High and Elementary
400 00
400 00
400 00
Physician-Athletics
60 00
50 00
Nurse
1,120 00
1,120 00
1,180 00
Medical Supplies
90 00
84 73
65 00
Miscellaneous
Graduation
50 00
44 61
50 00
Telephone
205 00
284 65
286 80
Library
100 00
99 74
150 00
Transportation-Athletic and
Educational
600 00
372 33
400 00
Inter-Communication
80 60
.
. . ....
195 00
2,565 00
2,546 66
2,776 80
Outlay
New Equipment-High
300 00
279 76
1,675 20
Athletic-Equipment and Upkeep 600 00
599 47
750 00
900 00
879 23
2,425 20
TOTALS
$98,550 75
96,149 85
114,328 40
. ...
Tuition and Transportation
8
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS
BUDGET 1950
Expenditures during 1950
BUDGET 1951
High
Vocational
1,000 00
549 88
1,000 00
Oil Burner
3,500 00
Cafeteria
7,000 00
5,320 41
Gym Repairs
100 00
100 00
Commercial Equipment
200 00
200 00
. . . . . .
Leakage Repairs-Painting
150 00
150 00
· · · · · ·
Power Mower
140 00
127 50
Heating Equipment
1.000 00
476 72
. . . . . .
Winthrop Park
200 00
199 52
. . . . . .
Elementary
Repair Painting-Outside
500 00
257 75
Reducing overload in electricity
500 00
295 00
Transfers by Finance Board
Kindergarten room in Town Hall
247 45
241 27
Tuition-Beverly
60 00
60 00
. .....
$11,097 45
$7,978 05
$4,500 00
GRAND TOTAL
$109,648 20
$104,127 90 $118,828 40
RE-IMBURSEMENTS 1950
Cafeteria
5.320 41
Sale of deep freeze
5 00
Tuition-Town of Wenham
600 00
Tuition-Town of Essex
80 00
Tuition-State Wards 1949
190 57
Tuition-State Wards 1950
1,345 36
Shop
43 89
State Aid-Gen. Laws Chapter 70
11,540 47
State Aid-Transportation
6,187 00
Vocational-1949
298 25
Total
25,610 95
Net cost to town in 1950
$78,516 95
. . . . ..
. ....
.
....
. .
9
SPECIAL ACCOUNT-CAFETERIA (Revolving Fund)
Receipts-September 1, - December 30, 1950
(Deposited with town treasurer)
$3,769 76
Expended-September 1, - December 30, 1950
Labor $569 00
Food
2,418 84
Miscellaneous (Transportation charges)
50 09
Total 3,037 93
Balance, December 30, 1950
$731 83
Acounts Receivable
Com. of Massachusetts-Federal Assist. October $305.44*
Com. of Massachusetts-Federal Assist. November 284 86*
Com. of Masachusetts-Federal Assist. December 245 74
(Received and deposited with town treasurer January 5 and 12, 1950)
836 04
$1,567 87
Accounts Payable
December bills-Food 907 87
Net Profit to December 30, 1950 $660 00
10
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Hamilton School Committee:
I am pleased to submit my first report as Superintendent of Schools in Hamilton.
As my observations have been of less than half a school year this re- port will serve to summarize the status quo and indicate the direction of progress toward my goal-the best possible school system where the children in Hamilton can obtain the education best suited to their abilities and needs.
The ideal school system will have a staff composed of, first, pleasant appearing. happy teachers who are deeply interested in imparting to their pupils the knowledge and skill their individual potentialities and who are alert to every opportunity for improving their educational background and teaching techniques. During the last year 39% of our full-time teachers took advanced study in education. Then, the staff needs administrators who have the confidence and cooperation of the teachers, who are willing to provide useful devices for improved teaching, and, finally, a school committee and town that know the importance of providing the funds to keep good teachers and secure the best possible replacements as the need arises. In September, Mrs. Jeanntte Houle came to us as instructor of mathematics and girls' physical education to fill the vacancy left when Miss Williams resigned. Mr. Carl Martini was hired as instructor of mathema- tics and boys' physical education when Mr. O'Neil returned to active duty in the United States Navy. The third grade was so large that a separation into two divisions was necessary, so in October, Mrs. Carolyn Lander joined the staff as a third grade teacher. In January, Miss Priscilla McKay be- came a member of the high school English department replacing Mrs. Kimball who had resigned at the end of the year. The high standard of the Hamilton teaching staff is well met in these new teachers. Next year the two third grade sections become two fourth grades so certainly one new elementary teacher will be required to maintain the present level of efficient teaching.
A curriculum that meets the needs of the individual student is neces- sary to a good school system. The high school curriculum has been re- vised to offer a wider choice of courses to each student. But this step must be accompanied by more guidance work if it is to be most effective. The customary high school tests were given, corrected, and interpreted by the Boston University Guidance and Testing Service. The Pintner-Cun- ningham test was given to grade one and the Gates Reading tests to grades one through six. Miss Austen of the high school faculty will be giving in the very near future the Iowa Language Abilities and Iowa Si- lent Reading tests to the seventh, eighth and ninth grades. These are all fine but of questionable value unless the necessary follow-up work and con-
11
ferences indicated by the results of the tests can be carried through. The teachers do as much of this as we can expect when they have such full teaching programs. As my time allows I have been interviewing the stu- dents individually starting with the seniors, but a thorough guidance pro- gram should be continuous certainly through all the high school classes. It is obvious that both the teacher and the pupil must have the same time available if they are to meet and confer. The addition of a staff member with training in the guidance field should receive consideration.
From a questionnaire sent in November, it was learned that of the twenty-six graduates of last year, ten are working, five are unemployed. five are enrolled in nursing and technical schools, three are in business college. and one is at teachers' college. one is in the army and one is mar- ried. The national average of high school graduates attending institu- tions of higher learning is considerably lower than here in Hamilton. All these figures point to the advisability of concentrating our efforts on im- proving the business and vocational courses in addition to strengthening the college preparatory course. The development of these courses must be gradual as the additional equipment needed is expensive. The first and costless step has been taken by having the business course seniors assist in the school offices to gain practical experience. Several business machines have been introduced in the business department and more will be added as the budget permits. Our graduates should be adequately trained to work in most business offices without further study.
Many school activities while not precisely a part of the school curricu- lum are of definite educational value. The cafeteria teaches by example what well-balanced meals are and serves them so appetizingly that we learn to like to eat what is good for us. I call to your attention the separate re- port of Miss Boswell, the Cafeteria Supervisor.
Our school library is an important adjunct to the classroom and it is being steadily expanded. Books the teachers request for reference work are added whenever possible. I wish to express our gratitude to Mrs. Lydia Haraden, Librarian of the Hamilton Public Library and Mrs. Alvin Perley, Librarian of the Branch Library for their gifts of books and help- ful interest.
Athletics have a definite place in the school program and as such de- serve financial support the same as any other course. To acquire the spirit of fair play and team cooperation is an important part of one's edu- cation. Even the athletic hero who accepts tributes modestly and grace- fully has learned an important lesson. Many a mediocre student applies himself more diligently if he can play on the school team and he should be allowed an opportunity to receive the plaudits in the field where he excels. So far I have observed only the football and field hockey seasons. Coach Moyer and the boys of the football squad are deserving of praise for the well-played games and the good sportsmanship that was always evident. The spirit and fine appearance of our cheerleaders made us proud to have them as representatives of Hamilton High School. The girls' field hockey team, coached by Mrs. Houle, had a successful season on the score book but the social hour enjoyed after the games by both home and visiting
12
teams made the actual scores unimportant. I wish to particulary commend Mr. Charles Sakey, the faculty advisor of the Athletic Association for his tireless efforts and unfailing good spirits in coping with the many details of the athletic program and finances. The High School Athletic Associa- tion financial report indicates that the athletic program is not nearly self- supporting. Starting in September with a balance of $5.91. at the end of the year there were $60.54 in bills outstanding despite the use of the profit from the Magazine Drive. The teams must be safely equipped and the games must be properly officiated. The school teams play well and merit more interest among parents and townspeople than is evidenced by the attendance at the games. The Magazine Drive under the direction of Miss Libby Volk amounted to $446.30. After paying for subscriptions and prizes to the students for high sales. the profit of $123.21 was turned over to the Athletic Association to help pay for the new football pants. The Varsity Club with Mr. Martini as advisor took charge of selling programs and refreshments at the football games. It ended the fiscal year with a balance of $11.24. The grades 7-12 organize as classes and levy dues to defray the costs of their social events. The following is a list of classes, advisors and financial standings as of December 31. 1950.
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