USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > Town of Lynnfield, Essex County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, annual report 1949-1960 > Part 60
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A recent report shows that, in the six year period just ter- minated, Lynnfield has had the second highest percentage of growth in pupil enrollment in the entire State. This means the enrollment growth, in terms of space, staff, and significant re- organizations, continues to be of primary importance in the activities of the school system. The growth pattern for the past several years is as indicated below:
Dec. 1952
Dec. 1953
Dec
Dec. 1955
Dec. 1956
Grade I
114
115
134
148
175
Grades 11 - VIII
586
687
783
952
1028
Grade IX
46
59
84
85
140
Grades X - XII*
123
127
150
205
226
Vocational
6
7
7
7
0
Totals
875
995
1158
1397
1569
* At Wakefield High School
The most recent addition to the school system plant, the Summer Street School, was opened in September of 1956, and has a full quota of pupils at this time. Our continued growth indicates that there will be necessity for providing six elemen- tary classrooms, beyond the thirty-three now used, with the opening of school next September. Our present class size in elementary grades averages twenty-nine pupils per room, with several classes having a class size in the middle thirties. An- ticipated numbers for the next year and projected classroom needs demonstrate clearly the necessity for providing additional classes for the 1957/58 school year in elementary grades .
Meanwhile, construction is under way on the high school wing, with the expectation that this project will be completed sometime late in the fall of 1957. Commitments are already made requiring that we provide for Grade X within the Town with the opening of school in September of 1957. The total result, in terms of facilities and enrollment, of the anticipated growth will mean that there will be a 50% increase in plant size between June of 1956 and the late fall of 1957. It will also mean that we will be providing for 20% more students within the Town next September than we were in December 1956.
While we will have a reduction in the number of students at Wakefield High School starting in September 1957, there has been a sharp increase in the tuition rate charged for our pupils attending there, effective for the fiscal year 1957. This in- crease is in the amount of $60 per pupil, and means an expendi- ture of $12, 000 additional for high school tuition in 1957 due
to this factor alone. The per pupil costs for pupils educated within the Town and at Wakefield High School for the 1955/56 and the 1956/57 school years are indicated below:
1955/56
1956/57
In Town
$229
$250
Wakefield
412
440
School Income
The following incomes were received by the Town as a result of school operations in 1956:
Chapter 70
- $53,357
Transportation -
23,897
We anticipate that from the same sources we will receive $91,000 in 1957. These amounts are deposited in the General Fund of the Town, and reduce the net operating costs of ed- ucation accordingly. Lynnfield continues to be in a relatively favored position under the State Aid formula now in effect. However, this has not been revised since 1945, and there are bills in the present session of the legislature which might alter the formula. We hope that such alterations will give adequate protection to the rapidly growing community .
The total budget for the 1956 fiscal year was as indicated below. This was allocated in the major budget categories as shown. For purposes of comparison, we have also indicated the national averages, the 1954 budget allocation and the 1957 budget allocation:
1956 Amounts
1952 %
1956 %
1957 %
Nat. Mean
1. General Control
14,485
4.4
3.6
3. 4.6
II.
Expense of Instruction
300, 440
71.
73.
74.
72.4
III.
Cost of Operation
40, 394
7.5
10.3
10.
10.6
IV. Maintenance
9,735
1.2
2.5
2.5
4.8
V. *Auxiliary Agencies
40,680
14.3
10.4
8.5
5.4
VI. Fixed Charges )
100
.3
.3
.6
2.2
VII.
Capital Outlay)
1,100
406,934
*Health and Transportation
You will note that, as the school system increases in size, our budget allocations have taken an increasingly satisfying pat- tern in comparison with the national averages. While our cost for Auxiliary Agencies, which includes our cost for transporta- tion, continues to be higher than the natural average, this category is in better proportion than it has been in the past. The proportionate percentage expended for instruction, which is the actual core of the school program, is realitvely high, while the unit cost of administration continues to decrease .
It is impossible, in a brief report, to discuss the total ac-
48
1954
complishments and needs of the community's largest single in- vestment area, the schools. We will confine the discussion to briefly listing the problem areas to which solutions must be found in the immediate future, plus following our usual practice, a discussion of one element of the school pattern of pertinent, immediate interest .
(1) The largest single task facing the schools is the planning and development of the high school program. Much has already been done in this area, but much remains to be done in terms of planning, programming, and staffing in the years immediately ahead.
(2) Elementary housing sufficient to handle in a timely manner the numbers of children who will be educated in our schools in the next several years must be provided if we are to avoid deterioration in our educational program due to lack of an adequate number of classrooms .
(3) Some program providing for special education for the seriously mentally retarded child must be launched upon by the community within the next year or two. The necessity for this is two-fold. One is the legal requirement under recent legisla- tion, and the second, and certainly equally important, is the responsibility for providing adequately for those children who fall into this category . While they may be few in number, that does not diminish our responsibility for providing adequately for their needs .
Longer School Day
We are faced with the necessity for launching upon a second- ary school program during a time which is unique in the history of American education. At the same time that we are establish- ing our high school, there is a very extreme growth in high school enrollments throughout the country . This will be climaxed in 1960, the year in which our first seniors will graduate, with an increase amounting to about 50% over the 1955 graduating numbers on a nation-wide basis. This means that nearly twice as many students will be competing for entrance into college, industry and business in the summer of 1960 as contrasted with
ENG
-
Here, in costume, are third grade Center School pupils who took a 35, 000 mile airplane tour through 12 European Countries last summer (in imagination), while their teacher, Mrs. Pauline Chadwell, made the trip in reality, visiting countries which they study in their Basic Reader, "If I Were Going".
the preceding years. Obviously, the competition is going to be very intense. Just as obviously, those children who are least well prepared will be the ones who will stand the greatest chance of failing to be in a position to enter upon their chosen educa- tional or vocational interests on graduation from high school .
For many years, educators have become increasingly aware of the need for improvement in the secondary school program, both in terms of variety of subject area and in terms of quality improvement. Numerous studies have indicated that the in- creasing complexity of the learnings expected of the student point up the need for a longer period of time in which to work with the student within the school situation. This can be pro- vided in two ways:
Under discussion in many communities is the lengthening of the school year, perhaps running into two hundred or more school days as contrasted with the normal present pattern of one hundred and eighty days. The alternative method for providing more learning time for the student lies in the lengthening of the school day .
Starting in September 1956, Lynnfield Junior High School was placed on a longer day than is normal in this immediate area . It is, however, a pattern which has been followed successfully in other parts of the country for many years, and we are certain it provides a greater possibility for preparing students adequately for the competitive situation facing them than any other single device.
We recognize that our students are gaining more help within the school time, but we do feel that there is still the necessity for some amount of out of school study if the student is to com- pare favorably in achievement with other children within the school system and other communities. We recognize that this will call, in some cases, for a reorganization of thinking on out of school time use, including the child's social commitments, but we feel it is only realistic to point out that such organiza- tion of time is a normal part of our life, and that the parent and child should be able to arrive at decisions which will allow for satisfactory achievement at school and still allow for a reasonable number of out of school activities to be undertaken.
We intend, under the longer period arrangement, to provide a certain amount of study time under supervision, but believe that each student should, nevertheless, grow in the ability to study independently, and will expect this independence of study approach to be developed by those students who wish to go on to college .
In terms of standards, we expect our passing grades to be indicative of a standard of achievement comparable with ex- pectations in other secondary schools, and that the large bulk of our students should be able, with moderate effort, to achieve such grades. We feel, however, that B's and A's at the second- ary level should definitely be indicative of high and superior achievement, and we do not visualize that it will normally be possible for students to receive such grades without making significant personal efforts.
Walter J. Vorse Superintendent of Schools
49
Report of LIBRARY TRUSTEES
The Library Department of Lynnfield compares favorably with the State standard .
Representing the Lynnfield Board of Trustees in Worcester at the Annual Luncheon Meeting of the Massachusetts Library Trustees Association in September, Mrs. Pauline Chadwell parti- cularly noted that Lynnfield was well in the forefront in the re- commended establishment of cordial relations with local news- papers; in coordination of public and school libraries for complete service to children; and in location of branch buildings on convenient sites .
According to the State standard, the Lynnfield Board's Annual selection of books and careful supervision of maintenance met with approval.
Townspeople are cordially invited to present suggestions to the Trustees, or Librarians, not only for adult reading matter, but for children's books as well. Reference material for specific subjects will be made available to the public wherever possible .
Graded reading material is available at the libraries for children of varying abilities. Please consult your local librarian about these .
Both libraries show a marked increase in the number of books loaned and the number of books bought .
The Center Garden Club, under the direction of Mrs. Ralph Sias, is especially commended for keeping the Center Library attractive with colorfully filled window boxes, as well as dona- ting the annual Christmas wreath for the door.
Respectfully submitted,
Pauline Chadwell, Secretary James Lake, Chairman Rudolph P. Schlenker, Trustee
LYNNFIELD LIBRARIAN'S REPORTS
Center Library
Books bought
424
Books Given
53
Book Patrons
1,011
Books Loaned
12,864
Magazine Patrons
65
Magazines Loaned
995
r
Received in fines $298.82
Magazine Subscriptions
12
Magazines were given by Mr. and Mrs. John Ward, Miss Alice Ward, Mrs. Harriet Olmsted, and Mr. William Russell.
Books have been presented to the Center Library by Mrs. Fred Klodner, Mrs. Edyth Roach, Miss Gail Goring, Mrs. Mary Goldwait, Mrs. Martha Christopher, Kenneth Welsh, Merita Colonas, Mrs. Robert Bowser, Mrs. Dora Lewis, Janet Bradbury, Judith Bradbury, Paul Schellingburg, Cynthia Pearson, Engina Fitts, and Christ's Methodist Church, N. Y.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth W. Green, Librarian M. Lois Flewelling, Ass't. Librarian
South Lynnfield Library
Patrons
267
New Books Received
299
Books Loaned
5,774
Magazines Received
12
Received in fines
$133.40
Respectfully submitted;
James C. Marshall, Librarian
Report of PLANNING BOARD
The town of Lynnfield has continued to grow at a rapid rate during 1956.
As in previous years the Planning Board made recommenda- tions to the Town on matters pertaining to zoning. Our recom- mendations are based on what we sincerely believe to be for the best interest of all the citizens of the Town, both present and future. We believe that the growth of the Town should follow a pattern consistent with good planning and not be dependent on the desires of people who are interested only in profit .
Unfortunately, on some occasions the recommendations of the Planning Board conflict with the desires of developers, and other individuals, who have plans that will allow them to obtain
the most profit from their investment, regardless of how ad- versely their plans may affect the other citizens of Lynnfield.
The amendments to the Zoning By-laws voted by the Town and approved by the Attorney General on February 23, 1954, were challenged by a group of citizens including some developers, and the Town was sued with the objective of having the amend- ments declared void. The decision of the Court was in favor of the Town and the Zoning By-laws remain as amended.
Those citizens of Lynnfield that were present at the ad- journed Town Meeting last March voted against the Planning Board recommendations on Article 41 and 43. The Planning Board believes that their recommendations were for the best in-
50
te
0 fu
TE
Z
terests of the Town. We also believe that if a sufficient number of unbiased voters has been present at this meeting and had been fully aware of the problems involved, they would have voted to follow the recommendations of the Board.
Article 41 of the March 1956 Warrant was for the purpose of rezoning a small area of land on Salem Street, adjacent to the site of the old South School, from a "Limited Business" to a "Residential Zone." This area should be "Residential ." It is zoned for "Limited Business" only because a small variety store had been located there for many years prior to the necessity of the Town's adopting adequate Zoning By-laws. If thisarea were rezoned to "Residential", it would have no effect on the op- eration of the variety store by the present or future owners of the property "unless and until abandoned for a period of one year . '
If the above area remains as a "Limited Business District", it can be used for any purpose permitted in this type of zone . with an entirely inadequate area and absolutely no provision for parking .
Article 43 of the March 1956 Warrant was for the purpose of rezoning an area at the junction of Route 1 and Salem Street from a "Residential " to a "Limited Business Zone." The Planning Board definitely recommended against the adoption of this change in zoning . This area included the land formerly occupied by the Lynnfield Post Office. The Post Office was relocated because of the inadequateness of parking facilities. A "Limited Business Area" located at the junction of two heavily travelled highways is a definite safety hazard and in every respect is against all good planning principles .
The major objective of a "Limited Business District" is to provide services "primarily for residents of the surrounding neigh- borhood." The Planning Board could not find any reason why a business for "residents of the surrounding neighborhood" should be located at the intersection of two main highways where parked automobiles would add to the already hazardous condition.
Those present at the adjourned Town Meeting voted to change this area to a "Limited Business District", and it now can be used for any purpose permitted in this type of district .
The Planning Board believes that the Town should purchase several areas for Parks or Playgrounds in different sections of the Town before all of the possible areas are developed into house lots. We do not believe that there is adequate land left for this purpose in some of the older sections, and strongly recommend that the articles proposed by the "Park and Playground Study Committee" in future Town Meeting Warrants be given the sup- port of the voters.
The Planning Board has inspected several of the paths and lanes on which some homes have been and are being built and believe that for the safety and convenience of the people of Lynnfield action should be taken to prevent additional building permits to be issued on ways that can never be made into ade-
quate width streets.
We have had representation at most of the "Board of Appeals" hearings. At these hearings we have generally objected to the granting of variances from the Zoning By-laws. In every case we have specifically stated the reasons why we do not believe a variance is justified. The Planning Board does not believe that the mistakes of past years should be perpetuated. Permits should not be issued to build houses on lots with insufficient area to take care of the sewage problem, particularly in areas already overcrowded. Permits should not be issued for homes to be built on narrow ways that can never be made into streets sufficiently wide for safety.
The necessity for adequate lot area for health reasons was pointed out in a recent article in a Boston newspaper regarding the Town of Randolph. The following remarks were made by Doctor F. Randolph Philbrook, Health Officer for the Town of Randolph:
"The poor sanitary condition of septic tanks and cess- pools in the town could favor the spread of virulent germ.
We feel that the Randolph polio rate in 1955, which was higher than any comparable community, may be directly connected to the poor sanitary condition. The number of houses close together in small lots and the poor percolation of cesspool runoff in our soil is a growing health danger in this town which has doubled its popula- tion in the past decade. "
Theodore N. Ferren, Chairman and the most experienced member, resigned from the Planning Board on June 30. Ted served the Town faithfully for many years, both as a member of the Planning Board and as a member of the Finance Committee. The remaining members of the Planning Board regretted that Ted's decision to resign could not be changed.
Mr. John E. Harriss was unanimously elected Chairman and Richard L. Hobbs, a former member of the Board, was appointed to replace Mr. Ferren until the 1957 election.
Mr. Robert Newton, Assistant Clerk of the Planning Board, was transferred by his employer to Puerto Rico. Miss Ruth P. Oliver acted as assistant clerk temporarily until Mrs. Helen Ross accepted the position .
The Planning Board granted 9 requests for Subdivisions con- sisting of 123 house lots and 2.1 miles of streets .
Respectfully submitted,
LYNNFIELD PLANNING BOARD
J. E. Harriss, Chairman F.R. D'Entremont, Clerk C.L. Burbank, Jr. R.L. Hobbs C.J. Osberg
51
Report of BOARD OF APPEALS
The Board of Appeals under the Zoning and Building By-laws held 20 public hearings during 1956.
Variances were granted to permit the erection of 15 dwellings, occupancy of 2 existing dwellings, 3 private garages and a garden tool house on lots where the area, street frontage and/or lot line clearances did not meet the minimum requirements of the Zoning By-law. One such appeal was denied, as was an appeal to per- mit two families to occupy a dwelling in a single residence district.
The Lynnfield Community Church was permitted to erect an addition at the rear of the church building closer to the side lot line than the Zoning By-law prescribes.
A request for a permit to remove gravel from land near the former State Forest was withdrawn after objections were voiced at a public hearing .
The Jenney Manufacturing Co. was refused permission to erect an addition to its service station at Lynnfield Square which would have constituted an extension of a non-conforming use and where the proposed set-back from Salem Street was less than that prescribed by the Zoning By-law.
The appeal of Renda's Market on Main Street for permission to install a third gasoline pump was withdrawn.
An appeal for a permit to erect an additional room to be used for hairdressing in a residence was withdrawn after the favorable decision by the Board was appealed to the Superior
Court .
Colonial Country Club was permitted to build an outdoor swimming pool (with restrictions governing its maintenance and use) and a building to house locker rooms, golf shop and grille.
Construction of a commercial greenhouse on a farm off Chestnut Street was permitted with restrictions as to size and use .
Zion Evangelistic Fellowship of Massachusetts was granted an occupancy permit authorizing it to continue to operate a rest home on Grove Street .
An appeal for a permit to erect a pre-fabricated house which does not comply with some requirements of the Building Code has been taken under advisement .
The decision of the Board in 1954 that the proposed use of property on the Newburyport Turnpike for the manufacture and retail sale of baked goods (with limitations governing the size of the building, etc.) was as a matter of law a permitted use in a General Business District, which was upheld by the Superior Court in 1955, was upheld by the Supreme Judicial Court.
The Board collected $280 in fees and had expenses totaling $385.81.
Members
Glen R. Smith Hubert G. Wall, Secretary Eliot K. Grant, Chairman
Alternate Members Augustus S. True William K. Widger Malcolm V. Smith Theodore N. Ferren
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The Village Room
Heathers FOOD MART
LY 4. 301
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52
MARRIAGES
Date Place of Marriage FEBRUARY
Bride & Groom
Residence
Date Place of Marriage JUNE
Bride & Groom
Residence
11
Lynnfield
William H. White
Quincy
2 Lynnfield
Charles A. Jortberg
Lynn Lynn
12
Lynnfield
Angelo Rossi, Jr.
Boston
9
Lynnfield
Benjamin Gould Cox, Jr.
Lynnfield Wellesley
12
Lynnfield
Robert Moore
New York
10
Middleton
Fletcher Irving Oakes
Lynnfield
17
N.H.
Paul Warren Barrett
Reading
16
Everett
Norman A. Newhall
Lynnfield Everett
...
22
Lynnfield
Gerald R. Robinson
Lynn
16
Lynnfield
Adrien E. LeBlanc
Diane E. Crowell
Lynnfield
22
Saugus
Richard Dutton Pope Frances D. Nolan
MARCH
3
Lynnfield
Meridith H. Powell
Boston
23
Lynnfield
Richard F. MacWhorter
9
N.H.
Arthur True Buswell
Lynnfield
23
R.I.
Robert Francis McDavitt Dorothy Mary Cummings
10
Lynnfield
James Ernest Leone
Quincy
24
Lynnfield
George W. Starcher
N. Dakota
Mary Arlene Hayes
Lynnfield
Medway
30
Lynn
Harry E. Scribner, Jr. Janice Rose Smith
Lynnfield Lynnfield Lynn
24
Lynnfield
George H. Pilling
Lynn Lynr
JULY
7
Lynnfield
Terence E. Gibbons
Lynnfield
29
Lynnfield
Gordon C. Millar
Lynnfield
14
Lynnfield
Theodore C. Parady
Rockport
Magda C. Messerschmidt
Lynnfield
16
Lynnfield
Richard A. White
New York
APRIL 1
Lynnfield
Donald Emerson Worth Shirley Evelyn Edwards
Beverly
21
Lynnfield
Herbert N. Holbrook
Lynn
6 Lynn
Roger C. Lummus, Jr.
Lynnfield
21
Lynnfield
Robert E. Bernardin
Metheun
Grace A. Mutrux
Lynn
7 Melrose
Edwin C. Weeks
Lynnfield
Melrose
AUGUST
8
Lynnfield
Robert M. Aldenberg
Wakefield
4 Wakefield
James E. Beherrell
Lynnfield Wakefield
14
Lynnfield
Salvatore V. Barrile
Waltham
4 Chelsea
James E. Peddle
Lynnfield Chelsea
14
Lynnfield
Ann Patricia Wilkie Alfred J. Francullo Lorraine M. Long
Lynn
4 Needham
William B. Puffer
Lynnfield
14 Boston
Robert A. Dwight
Lynnfield
9 Greenfield
Byron Otis Bush, Jr. Doris E. Steward
Lynnfield Lynnfield Wakefield
15
Lynnfield
John Alden Reed
Maine
11
N.H.
John Francis Donegan Annette Marie Haling Jack Terry Evjy
Lynnfield
28
Lynnfield
Charles Dexter Taylor, Jr. Helen Marie Moore
Lynnfield
24
Lynnfield
Ruth Hamilton Burke
Lynnfield Saugus
MAY 20 Lynn
Bernard J. McCadden
Saugus
26
Woburn
David Harry Palmer
Lynnfield
Tora Elizabeth Johnson
Wakefield
26 Fiskdale
Robert L. Cusick
Lorraine I. Menard
Sturbridge
SEPTEMBER
27
Lynn
Lawrence M. Ross
Lynnfield
1
Lynnfield
Robert E. Anderson, Jr. Diane June Dalton
No. Reading Lynnfield
24
Lynnfield
Warren C. Carberg, Jr. Carol M. Roberts
Martha Vera Shea
24
Wakefield
Willard M. Wing
Lynnfield
Wakefield
Loretta R. Foglietta
Lynnfield
Patricia A. Toomey
Boston
Anne M. Connary
Lynn
Lynnfield
Florence F. Stier
Lynn
Gloria Chadbourne
Lynn
Waltham
Sara Jane Phillips
Nancy Wolcott Speer
Needham
Lynnfield
Margaret L. Flaherty
Boston
Waltham
N. Carolina
25
Lynnfield
George V. Williams
Patricia A. Donovan
Lynn
Carolyn G. Taylor
Lynnfield Lynnfield
Lillian Ida Stadolnick
Lynn
Kathleen M. O'Brien
Nancy J. Latheau
Peabody
Lynn
Danvers
Mabel E. Jewett
Middleton
Jean Frances Malenson
Lynnfield
Phyllis H. Howell
Saugus
Thelma Tangredi
Saugus
Lynnfield Lynn Winthrop Lynnfield Lynnfield Rhode Island
Constance Allen
Lynnfield
Marianne C. Ricci
Barbara Marie Maguire
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