USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1955 > Part 9
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$48.90
WATER LIENS ADDED TO TAXES-1955
Commitment per warrant, $152.80
Payments to treasurer 1955,
$152.80
$59.40
$111.99
$64.99
143
WATER DEPARTMENT Rates
Outstanding January 1, 1955,
Commitments,
Refunds,
$37,058.70
Payments to treasurer,
$32,358.29
Abatements,
295.90
Water liens added to taxes 1955,
152.80
Outstanding December 31, 1955,
4,251.71
$37,058.70
Outstanding January 1, 1956,
$4,251.71
Overpayments to be refunded,
17.00
$4,268.71
Payments to treasurer January 1 to 7, 1956,
$332.70
Outstanding January 7, 1956, per list,
3,936.01
$4,268.71
Services
Outstanding January 1, 1955,
$174.00
Commitments,
1,998.63
Refunds,
5.00
Payments to treasurer,
$2,010.58
Outstanding December 31, 1955 and
167.05
$2,177.63
CEMETERY DEPARTMENT Accounts Receivable
Outstanding January 1, 1955,
$159.50
Commitments,
522.50
Refunds,
3.00
$684.50
Payments to treasurer,
$501.00
Abatements,
92.50
Outstanding December 31, 1955
91.00
$684.50
Miscellaneous Receipts
Receipts 1955 :
Perpetual care bequests,
$1,125.00
Sale of lots and graves,
140.00
Sale of lots and graves,
25.00
Interments,
507.00
$1,797.00
Payments to treasurer 1955,
$1,797.00
and January 7, 1956,
$2,177.63
January 7, 1956, per list,
$2,908.30 34,071.40 79.00
144
DR JUSTIN ALLEN LIBRARY FUND
On Hand January 1, 1955, December 31, 1955, January 7, 1956,
Savings
Deposits
Total
$648.87
$648.87
$669.28
$669.28
$669.28
$669.28
1955
RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
Income, $20.41
Added to savings deposits, $20.41
January 1 to 7, 1956 No transactions recorded
H. AUGUSTA DODGE LIBRARY FUND
On Hand
Savings Deposits
Total
January 1, 1955,
$1,304.22
$1,304.22
December 31, 1955.
$1,343.63
$1,343.63
January 7, 1956,
$1,343.63
$1,343.63
1955
RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
Income, $39.41 Added to saivngs deposits,
$39.41 .
January 1 to 7, 1956 No transactions recorded
MAXWELL NORMAN FUND
Savings Deposits
Total
January 1, 1955, December 31, 1955,
$579.15
$579.15
January 7, 1956,
$579.15
$579.15
1955
RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
Income, $16.98 Added to savings deposits, $16.98
January 1 to 7, 1956 No transactions recorded
On Hand
$562.17
$562.17
145
CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS
On Hand
Savings Deposits
Total
January 1, 1955, December 31, 1955, January 7, 1956,
$27,553.76
$27,553.76
$29,048.54
$29,048.54
$29,048.54
$29,048.54
1955
RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
Withdrawn from savings deposits,
$536.00
Income,
905.78
Bequests,
1,125.00
$2,566.78
$2,566.78
January 1 to 7, 1956
No transactions recorded
CEMETERY SALE OF LOTS AND GRAVES FUND
Cash in General
Savings
On Hand
Treasury
Deposits
Total
January 1, 1955,
$175.00
$12,181.92
$12,356.92
December 31, 1955,
$11,870.81
$11,870.81
January 7, 1956,
$11,870.81
$11,870.81
1955
RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
Withdrawn from savings deposits,
$1,000.00
Transferred to town. 1,000.00
Income,
373.89
Sale of lots and graves,
140.00
Cash in general treasury January 1, 1955, 175.00
$1.688.89
$1,688.89
January 1 to 7, 1956 No transactions recorded
.
Added to savings deposits,
$688.89
Added to savings deposits, $2,030.78 Transferred to town, 536.00
146
TOWN OF HAMILTON Balance Sheet-December 31, 1955 GENERAL ACCOUNTS
ASSETS
Cash :
General,
$244,714.89
Accounts Receivable :
Taxes :
Levy of 1955 :
Personal Property,
$800.10
Real Estate,
11,254.45
12,054.55
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise :
$79.73
Levy of 1954, Levy of 1955,
358.38
438.11
Special Assessments : Moth-Levy of 1955,
5.50
Tax Titles,
756.38
Departmental :
Aid to Dependent Children,
$714.93
Old Age Assistance,
312.90
School,
90.00
Cemetery,
91.00
1,208.83
Water:
Rates,
$4,251.71
Services,
167.05
4,418.76
Aid to Highways: State, County,
$5,112.13
3,500.00
8,612.13
Underestimate 1955:
County Tax, 428.74
$272,637.89
.
147
LIABILITIES AND RESERVES
Trust Fund Income :
Cemetery Perpetual Care,
$624.16
Recoveries :
Old Age Assistance,
2,842.69
Federal Grants :
Disability Assistance :
$40.09
Administration, Assistance,
3,673.95
Aid to Dependent Children :
176.23
Administration, Aid,
4,377.75
Old Age Assistance :
Administration,
2,662.50
Assistance,
27,101.23
Revolving Funds :
School Lunch,
$1,869.88
School Athletics,
60.11
Appropriation Balances :
Revenue :
General,
$9,299.31
Water-Fluoridation,
1,950.00
Overestimates 1955 :
State Recreation Areas
$89.87
County Hospital Assessment,
1,206.70
Sale of Real Estate Fund,
1,225.00
Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus,
8,766.98
Overlay Reserved for Abatements : Levy of 1955,
2,337.88
Revenue Reserved Until Collected :
Motor Vehicle and Trailer
Excise,
$438.11
Special Assessment,
5.50
Tax Title,
756.38
Departmental,
1,208.83
Water,
4,418.76
Aid to Highway,
8,612.13
15,439.71
Surplus Revenue : General,
188,893.85
$272,637.89
38,031.75
1,929.99
11,249.31
Assessment,
1,296.57
148
DEBT ACCOUNTS
Net Funded or Fixed Debt:
Inside Debt Limit : General,
$208,000.00
Outside Debt Limit :
General,
Public Service Enterprise,
$419,000.00 87,000.00
506,000.00
$714,000.00
Serial Loans :
Inside Debt Limit :
General :
School,
$208,000.00
Outside Debt Limit :
General : School,
$419,000.00
Public Service Enterprise :
Water,
87,000.00
506,000.00
TRUST AND INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS
Trust and Investment Funds :
Cash and Securities : In custody of Treasurer,
$43,511.41
$43,511.41
In Custody of Treasurer :
Dr. Justin Allen Library Fund,
$669.28
H. Augusta Dodge Library Fund, Maxwell Norman Fund,
579.15
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds,
29,048.54
Cemetery Sale of Lots and Graves Fund,
11,870.41
$43,511.41
1,343.63
$714,000.00
REPORT of the HAMILTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1955
TABLE OF CONTENTS
REPORTS OF :
PAGE
School Committee Letter of Transmittal 3
Superintendent
4
Principal of the High School 10
Principal of the Elementary School 15
School Physician
17
School Nurse
19
APPENDICES :
1. Hamilton Public Schools' Financial Statement of 1955 and Budget of 1956 21
2. Local and State Reimbursements for 1955 21 .....
3. Special Financial Reports :
22
a. Athletics
b. Cafeteria 22
4. School Census 23
5. Membership Chart 23
6. Hamilton Public Schools' Directory 24
Commencement Exercises 26
8. School Calendar 28
9. Miscellaneous Regulations :
a. Age of Admittance 28
b. Vaccination 28
c. No-School Signal
28
REPORT OF THE HAMILTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Voters of Hamilton:
The School Committee herewith accepts the report of the Superin- tendent of Schools and transmits it to the town as a report of its 1955 activities.
As will be seen in the report, this has been an eventful year for our public schools, during which we have constantly strived to improve the system, and to keep pace with the always increasing size of our school enrollment and the accompanying problems of school housing, acquirement of teachers, and curriculum revisions.
Projects that the Committee hopes to pursue during the coming year include another two-room addition to the Manasseh Cutler School, a high school curriculum study, the installation of an instrumental program for the fourth grade up, and working with the School Building Needs Com- mittee on future plans to solve our housing shortage, and renovation of the present library space in the high school to provide an extra classroom in that building.
Our 1956 budget has increased over 1955 by 16.6% which provides the wherewithal to acquire additional teachers, supplies and equipment necessary to provide for the growing system.
The Committee wishes to express its gratitude to the administration, the faculty and staff, to the townspeople and to the other officers of the town for their support and cooperation extended during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
MORLEY L. PIPER, Chairman GRACE B. LAMSON ALLAN MACCURRACH
3
4
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Hamilton:
It is my pleasure to submit herewith my fourth annual report, the fifty-fourth in the series of superintendents' annual reports to the School Committee of the Town of Hamilton.
This has been an eventful year in our public schools and I would like to review our major areas of growth in the material which follows.
The Staff
In September, 1955, we welcomed several new people to our staff. At the high school Mr. Harold Herber took over a section of Grade VII. Mr. Benjamin Draper became our language teacher, and Mr. Natale Federico assumed responsibility for teaching arithmetic and physical education, and was assigned to coach varsity basketball. With the retirement in June of Mrs. Hazel Ramer, high school principal, the School Committee began the difficult task of choosing the replacement. Following a comprehensive examination of many applicants, the Committee appointed Mr. Peter Coffin, former principal of the junior high school and assistant principal of the senior high school in Billerica, to be principal of Hamilton High School.
New people at the elementary school level were Miss Nancy Chittick, kindergarten, Mrs. Harriet Watson, Grade I, Miss Edith Ross (former kindergarten teacher) and Mrs. Jean Howland, Grade II, and Mrs. Betty Foster, Grade IV.
The Hamilton Public Schools are fortunate in having the continuous services of a great majority of our able staff. Our teacher turnover is rela- tively small and we have been successful in securing well qualified replace- ments and additions to our group.
The School Committee, constantly aware of the contribution which the teacher makes to the total school effort, has done everything possible to secure and retain able people on the staff. A new salary schedule which increases minimums to state averages and sets present maximums within the ability of the Town to pay will become effective in September of 1956. Under the new schedule, the Committee proposes to recognize superior teaching and reward it accordingly. Continued professional growth of the staff is a built-in requirement of the salary schedule.
During the year the School Committee regretfully accepted Dr. Daniel Rogers' resignation as school physician. For many years our children have benefited by Dr. Rogers' professional skill and sound counsel and we are grateful to him for his many outstanding services. We welcome Dr. Robert Love to our staff as our new school physician and we look forward to the continuance of our established program under his able direction.
We are pleased to welcome Mrs. Gardner Burton to our staff as a part- time clerk in the high school.
We are indebted to our cafeteria and janitorial personnel for their continued fine efforts in caring for our children. Mrs. Nellie Knowlton and Mrs. Lois Piotrowski are now full-time workers at the Manasseh Cut- ler School. Mr. Bernard Cullen was confined to the hospital and later his
5
home for a considerable period and during this emergency Mr. Vernal Pollard helped out on a part-time basis at the high school.
As we all know, our total staff will continue to grow in the period ahead. Next year it is certain that four additional teachers will be needed to take care of increased enrollment. I urge the Committee and through them the townspeople to give every consideration to the necessity for at- tracting qualified people to the teaching profession. The present and future teacher shortage is of national concern. Hamilton can continue to hold and add good people in our town in direct proportion to its willingness to make teaching in our schools a personally and financially rewarding experi- ence.
The Curriculum
The challenge of a dynamic curriculum is ever before our staff. The results of our study of the (preceding) year or years are implemented through changing programs at all levels. Each recommendation of the staff is appraised by the School Committee and incorporated into our pro- cedures if real progress will probably be effected.
. After further careful consideration, the entrance age to our schools will be as follows effective September, 1956: for entrance to the kinder- garten in September a child must have been at least four years of age on January 1 immediately preceding his September entrance; children enter- ing the first grade in September must have been at least five years of age on January 1 immediately preceding his September entrance.
The new age limits should result in better work and deeper satisfaction for the child as he begins his school years enough older to make him just a little more independent in his initial school adventure.
Even with the new age requirements we still admit children at a younger age than does the average school in Massachusetts. We shall con- tinue to study the achievement of our children and we shall make addi- tional recommendations if such seem necessary.
As is reported in the separate reports of our principals included here- with, continuing curriculum studies are being made at the subject and grade level. In the high school our cooperative efforts have been directed first toward revising our various curriculums in terms of the known needs of our youth. We are deliberately increasing the required courses in all areas of specialization in order to insure that each pupil includes certain basic subjects in his program.
It is obvious that each pupil must build his high school program on a long range basis in order to meet his known or probable objectives. To best serve him, therefore, the principal and his staff must make use of every piece of evidence and information in guiding him to wise choices. Our continually expanding testing program is providing significant data which are invaluable in our work with the individual. These same data used for classes or subject areas give us reliable bases upon which to effect major curriculum changes. We feel that our growing knowledge of our pupils and their achievements makes it imperative that each staff member become a guidance counselor; it is heartening to note that exactly this is happening in many cases.
Our efforts in grades one through six, and including the kindergarten,
6
have been directed to a restudy of the major skills areas. We have worked to coordinate and articulate the total skill building program from grade to grade. Objectives and guides for achievement of these goals have been developed for each grade and each teacher of a section constantly checks the progress of her class against the norm.
In view of the national publicity given during the past year to the pros and cons of instruction methods in reading, arithmetic and writing, we have re-examined our own approaches to these basic curriculum areas. We are pleased to report that our teachers have been and are continuing to use methods which combine the best of the old and the new.
Learning to read and to use language correctly in daily living is a com- plex task for every child. Each youngster learns in many ways under the expert guidance of his teacher. Every teacher knows that methods of in- struction must be adapted to the needs of the child,-what produces real learning and progress for one, will do almost nothing for another. All pupils are taught to use every tool in their growing skill of reading. How- ever, some may need to develop visual memory, some may need help in building auditory discrimination, some may need to build power in indi- vidual word analysis. These are only examples of techniques which the teacher must use in her work with each child.
The real test in developing skill is simple,-is the child able to read satisfactorily at his grade level and does he enjoy using his new found ability? We believe that the vast majority of our pupils can answer a resounding "yes" to these questions.
For several years we have been concerned about the lack of an instru- mental music program in our public schools. During the past year the groundwork of a plan to begin instruction in this vital area has been worked out and should be in operation before the end of the current school year. Under this proposed plan any pupil who wishes may sign up for instruc- tion on the instrument of his choice. Parents will be expected to arrange for securing an instrument either by rental with an option to purchase or by outright purchase. A qualified teacher will be in our schools one day per week at the start of the program to work with our children either in- dividually or in small groups. The instruction will be provided as a part of our total music program at no cost to the parent. We have great hopes that from this modest beginning a worthwhile and stimulating interest in instrumental music can be built up in our public schools.
We might conclude this section on curriculum by reaffirming that our staff is constantly working to meet the challenge of the needs of our chil- dren,-our curriculum must provide for the slow learner as well as the average pupil, and never neglect the necessary stimulation of the gifted. We know that we have representatives of all three in our classes and we pledge ourselves to increasing efforts in their behalf.
The School Plant
Each opening day in September seems to be a new record setting day in terms of total enrollment. Figures for the past four years are interest- ing: 1952 572; 1953 679; 1954 765; and now 1955 872. In order to accommodate this number of pupils, we continued to house the kinder-
2
garten and sixth grade at the high school. and the sixteen sections of grades one through five in the Manasseh Cutler School.
The year 1955 was highlighted by the construction and occupancy of the new experimental two-room unit at the Cutler School. This unit, built and made available to the School Committee for trial purposes, proved eminently successful. One section each of the second and third grades moved in on opening day and they have been enjoying their new home ever since.
The School Committee and Building Needs Committee asked for a special Town meeting on December 14, 1955 which was postponed to January 4. 1956 for lack of a quorum. On January 4, 1956 the town voted to purchase the new unit as it had been recommended so highly by the School Committee.
Reports of the Building Needs Committee are included elsewhere in this Annual Town Report and the reader is referred to them for the details of the work of the Committee. By way of general summary, there is an acute and continuing need for additional classrooms in our schools. Suggestions and recommendations for providing them have been and will continue to be made.
A Building Committee is now at work and taking the necessary steps to plan with the State School Building Assistance Commission for the construction of an additional two-room unit to the Cutler School. The new unit would be similar to the one already purchased by the Town. With this addition the Cutler School will have reached its maximum size of eighteen classrooms. At a later date, and after all classroom needs are taken care of, it would be desirable to consider the possibility of adding more playroom-auditorium space to this building.
The School Committee during the year turned the unused Jonathan Lamson School building back to the town. This step was taken only after long and careful deliberation by both the School Committee and the Build- ing Needs Committee who concurred that there could be no further con- structive school use for this building. Some of the reasons leading up to this decision may be of interest and they are included herewith.
The South School (renamed the Jonathan Lamson School in 1935) was built in 1890. The building has been added to and additions have been removed from it at various times in the intervening years. It has been in its present general form since 1932 and housed grades 1-6 until 1952 when it was closed upon the transfer of its pupils to the new Manasseh Cutler School.
The Town authorized a comprehensive study of the school needs in- cluding school housing in 1949. This survey which cost $2,000 was made by Educational Service Associates and recommended the construction of additional school space and had this to say about the Lamson School. "In view of the limitations of the plan of the building and the other deficiencies in regard to safety and inadequacies in room requirements, Educational Service Associates conclude that the Lamson School should be abandoned. On the McLeary Guide for Evaluating School Buildings, the Lamson School was given 181 points out of a possible score of 1,000 points. This means that the building is obsolete and should be replaced as soon as
8
feasible. It is recommended that no substantial funds be spent on this structure beyond such as are absolutely necessary to keep it in operation until adequate facilities can be provided elsewhere." The full report which goes into a detailed analysis of the total building is on file in the offices of the town clerk and the School Committee.
In March, 1954 the town authorized the appointment of a new School Building Needs Committee to again study the immediate and future needs for school facilities in the town. This Committee, early in its delibera- tions, decided to re-examine the closed Lamson School to see if it had any future possibilities as a part of the total school plant.
As a first step the Committee employed the services of Mr. Raymond Thibedeau. architect, and instructed him to prepare plans and specifica- tions and determine accurate costs for the remodeling of the Lamson School. Mr. Thibedeau, who had had previous experience in planning remodeling programs for buildings including a school similar to the Lam- son School, completed a comprehensive study for the Committee and pre- sented his findings. His conservative cost estimate broken down into major categories of plumbing, heating, electrical, and general contract together with furnishings and a contingency fund totaled $139,040.00.
If this money were spent, the Committee would secure nine classrooms and a cafeteria. Of course no state aid could be obtained whereas it could be in the case of new construction.
Even after remodeling we would still have a combustible two-story wooden frame building with attendant hazards for very young children. If it were used for older children then there were other serious educational shortcomings such as very limited outdoor play space, no gymnasium, no assembly hall or auditorium, no industrial arts or home economics provi- sions and no laboratories for science classes.
The Committee also recognized that nine classrooms would not meet the known need for additional space so another school was a must in the future. If this type of construction used in the new addition to the Cutler School were adapted to a whole school, the Committee saw the possibility that a new school, on which we could secure state aid of approximately 28%, would not represent a significantly larger proportioned outlay.
For all these reasons, therefore, the School Committee and the School Building Needs Committee finally concluded that the Jonathan Lamson School should not be considered again as a school building and so recom- mended to the town in its report in December, 1954.
The School Committee, by unanimous vote in a meeting held on October 4, 1955, conveyed the building back to the Selectmen. Official acceptance of the building by the Selectmen was acknowledged in their letter of October 18, 1955.
The Building Needs Committee has continued its investigation and has made its third report to the town in which it suggests the desirability of further study of the need for a new twelve or more room school at the elementary level. We concur in this thinking and can only urge that utmost speed be exercised in future planning so that such a building may be available as soon as possible. Our school enrollment will pass the 1,000
9
pupil mark either this year or next and housing for them must be pro- vided.
This report on our school plant must take cognizance of the fine schools which we now have,-our buildings provide a delightfully pleasant environ- ment in which to carry on the work of the schools. We are grateful for what we have and we only urge the Town to make long-range plans which will add comparable units as we expand into the future.
Miscellaneous
Our cafeteria program continues to grow in its service to our pupils. Well balanced, nourishing and attractive meals are served every school day at a moderate total cost, including milk and dessert, of twenty-five cents. In addition, all pupils may have all the extra milk they wish to drink at three cents per half pint. Our participation in the Federal Lunch Pro- gram helps to make these prices possible. Every parent is again urged to have his children take advantage of these excellent low-cost meals.
The cost of operating our public schools is increasing of course. Ris- ing costs of services and materials coupled with growing enrollments have automatically meant increases in our budget. Every effort to keep our budget within reasonable bounds has been made. No essential services have been eliminated but no unnecessary frills have been added. The requested appropriation is always larger than our final net cost for the year because we are reimbursed from state funds. Please refer to pages 26-27 for an analysis of our 1955 and 1956 budget.
Conclusion
This has been a rewarding year for all of us in our schools. We are grateful for the growing interest in our efforts by our parents as evidenced by their fine support of our Parent-Teacher Association, their participation in all of our school activities, and their cooperation with our teachers. We have enjoyed loyal support from our staff and the student body as we have worked together to assure continued progress for all.
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