USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > Town of Lynnfield, Essex County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, annual report 1961-1970 > Part 38
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In conclusion, the Committee feels that a good building is being constructed. Cooperation among all persons involved has been excellent, problems encountered have been of minor degree and much pro- gress has been made.
WALTER H. KUESTENMACHER Chairman
34
School Plant Needs Committee
The School Plant Needs Committee is charged with the responsibility for continually evaluating the need for school facilities in Lynnfield. In carrying out its duties, the committee has this year review- ed its previous work, gathered new data, and issued its findings in a report. A copy of this report is on file at the main library available to anyone interested.
The committee has developed two forecasts. One, a short range projection, indicates the anticipated enrollments six years from now; the other, a long range estimate, indicates the expected maximum school population.
The short range projection shows that a slow but steady growth in total school enrollment can be expected in the immediate future. Opening of the new High School in the fall of 1965 will not only re- lieve the secondary school overcrowding but will, for a time, make space available in the Junior High School building to accommodate an anticipated overflow from the lower grades.
Although present School Department plans call for placing grades 9 through 12 in the new build- ing for the coming school term, it may become necessary to return the ninth grade to the Junior High building within a few years. The projections show that if the ninth grade is returned, the 1970-71 total of 2085 students for grades 1 through 9 will be essentially equal to the combined capacity of the Junior High plus the elementary schools, and there will still be more than 700 in the High School.
If these figures prove to be correct, additional space will be required by the fall of 1971. This ad- ditional space might take the form of an addition to an elementary school, expansion of the high school, or construction of a new building. Obviously the 1971 date would change one way or the other if actual enrollments differ greatly from the projected ones. The exact date is not significant now, however, since it is the intent of the committee to update its projections annually - thus correcting dis- crepancies before they have an important bearing on future plans.
The long range study, made for the purpose of estimating the ultimate size of the school system, consisted of an expansion of the analysis contained in last year's report. In order to encompass the different conclusions that can result from apparently reasonable but inconsistent assumptions, ranges instead of single values have been presented for the expected future maximum enrollments in both secondary and elementary schools. The calculated range for grades 7 through 12 came out to be 1600 to 2300 which is substantially in agreement with the 1700 to 2400 previously reported by the Senior High School Building Committee. The range for grades 1 through 6 was computed at 1700 to 2350. With provisions for future expansion already incorporated in the design of the new High School, the Junior-Senior High School situation seems to be well under control for the foreseeable future. Additional planning will be necessary to provide for growth of the elementary system, however.
Of the four elementary buildings in town, the Summer Street and Huckleberry Hill Schools appear to be most suitable for physical expansion. Even though these two may be increased in size to care for the maximum of 500 students recommended by our school authorities, the resultant total capacity of all four would still fall short of the need shown by the lower end of the predicted range. Closing this gap would require the more costly expansion of the South and Center Schools or the construction of a new building. Considering these facts and recognizing that the elementary enrollment could exceed the minimum forecast, the School Plant Needs Committee feels that an additional site will eventually be needed. Acquisition of this site should be seriously contemplated at such a time as is most favor- able to the town - taking into account the long range plans of the School Department, availability of suitable land, overall cost and other financial considerations.
ARTHUR E. FOULDS, Chairman WILLIAM D. SHAPIRO, Secretary JOHN W. WYNN CLIFFORD H. HAHN RUSSELL E. FRANCK WILLIAM E. SWEETMAN LOUIS D. SAVAGE
35
Industrial Development Commission
Since our last report this Commission has been involved in the following activities :
The owners of the land off Main Street, known as Cox Farm, met with this Commission and the Planning Board about rezoning this land for limited industrial use. No action was taken on the proposal.
The Commission has kept itself informed on the plans of the State for location of proposed Route 95, and of the plans of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
MALCOLM STONE Chairman
Veterans Service
As of January 1, 1964 there were two permanent cases on the Veterans Benefits Program. Three cases of an emergency nature were added, two of which were of a temporary period ranging from three months to two weeks duration. Illness and unemployment were the prime factors of these ad- ditions.
In October and November two more permanent cases were added, bringing the present case load to four.
During 1964 approximately 34 veterans and dependents were advised as to their rights and benefits as administered by the Veterans Administra- tion program.
In May all veterans graves in the town were inspected and found to be in excellent condition. Each grave was decorated with a geranium and American flag for Memorial Day, this being done as in the past years by Lynnfield Post 131 American Legion.
Burton B. Cogswell
At this time I wish to thank all town departments, organizations and veterans for their help to Vet- erans Services during the year 1964.
BURTON B. COGSWELL Veterans Services Director
School Site Selection Committee
This committee, established in accordance with Article 24 at the 1964 Annual Town Meeting, is charged with the responsibility of locating suitable school building sites consistent with requirements determined by the School Plant Needs Committee. Tentative school sites are to be analyzed from the standpoint of availability, size and location, land costs, sewage disposal, and other construction prob- lems which would affect building costs.
The seven members of this committee appointed in 1964 include : Carl W. Wood, William M. Coffill, William D. Shapiro (School Plant Needs Committee Representative), Rupert B. Daniels, Jr., Calvin J. Osberg (Planning Board Representative), and Richard D. Morrow (School Committee Repre- sentative) .
This committee will report its findings together with its recommendations to the 1965 Annual Town Meeting.
36
Library Trustees
Again the Board of Library Trustees reports continued increase in every area of library use and service as shown by the following chart :
1964
1962
1960
1958
Circulation
99,411
82,752
62,030
38,546
Book Purchases
2783
3242
1852
840
Fines
.....
........
$2,206.65
1,829.55
1,256.25
566.75
Story Hour Attendance
1727
1479
617
Frederick D. Eble Chairman
Charles E. Herlihy, Jr.
Richard N. Eckert
The number of books charged out during the year and the number of card holders are often taken as the sole measure of the use of a library. These do not indicate the student use, the reference service, the children's programs, or the public school-library curriculum cooperation. Since the high schools are on double sessions, the Green Library has opened school mornings from 9-12, with a trained reference librarian on duty to assist the students, so that the junior high students might have an opportunity to study at the library. This service will be discontinued when the new high school is opened. This situation has relieved somewhat the overcrowd- ing of the reading room in the afternoon and evening, but with the opening of the new school year, the study areas will again be seriously insufficient, especially with more and more college students using the facilities.
The increase in the circulation of books has necessitated a change- over to machine charging. Gaylord charging machines were leased, and the patrons have been re-registered.
Two members of the staff took courses in children's literature, which were offered by the Division of Library Extension of the Massachusetts Board of Education. Monthly staff meetings have been held at which library problems and various areas of library work are studied and discussed.
Cooperation and coordination of work with the public schools has progressed. Mrs. Lewis Brooks, a member of the Board and a professional librarian has been appointed by the trustees to work as liaison between the public library and the schools. Collections of books are loaned to the schools upon request of the teachers. The sixth grades have visited the library for instruction by the librarian in the use of the catalog and reference tools. Follow-up visits were made by four classes for actual experience in directed studying.
Each class in the elementary schools, both public and parochial, was visited to explain the summer reading program. Seven hundred children registered and five hundred received certificates for completing the re- quired reading and reporting of books. This program was sponsored by the Friends of the Library and culminated in a party which was held at the Summer Street School because of lack of space at the library. The story hour has continued to be popular as evidenced in the increased num- ber in attendance.
Since its organization in 1959 the Friends of the Lynnfield Library has been an important factor in the progress of the library. The winter lecture series adds much to the cultural life of the town besides providing funds for special books and services beyond those permitted in the budget. The expenses of the children's summer reading program were paid by this group and a polaroid camera was purchased to take pictures of the various library activities.
37
Nancy Santeusanio
Natalie A. Brooks
The Lynnfield Garden Club, the Centre Garden Club, Village Garden Club, and the Flower Workshop have provided arrangements and displays for both the Green and Branch libraries, and have filled and cared for the window boxes.
The League of Women Voters made a study of the Lynnfield Library System and held a meeting at the Green Library to hear the history and needs of the Library with Mr. Fred Eble, Chairman of the Board of Trus- tees, and Mrs. Flewelling, Librarian, as speakers. The League also pre- sented a beautiful American flag to the Green Library in memory of Mrs. Dorothy Cutler.
Books have been presented in memory of Mrs. Cutler and Mr. Wesley Monroe. Many books and subscriptions to several periodicals have been given by interested patrons.
A state grant of $2,099.50 towards library service was again received by the Town because standards set by the state had been maintained.
The library has run out of space. The windowsills are being used for book shelves, which is very poor library practice. Books which should be readily available have been stored in the basement stacks, resulting in a substantial loss of circulation among these books. It will be necessary in the coming year to curtail both the reading and study areas to make room for book shelves. A growing educational system in a growing community demands a library adequate in space, books, and services.
FREDERICK D. EBLE Chairman
Story hour in Branch Library
Study at the Green Library
38
Library Building Committee
The Library Building Committee, authorized by Article 13 of the 1963 Town Meeting, was charged with obtaining preliminary plans and estimated construction costs for an addition to the Green Libra- ry. The seven-member committee appointed by the Selectmen included representatives from the Capi- tal Outlay Committee and the Library Trustees.
As a starting point in the preparation of a proposed building program, the recommendations of the Library Facilities Study Committee were reviewed in detail. Additional information was obtained from discussions with several library consultants and from careful study of statistical data which re- flected the library needs and experiences of a large group of towns of comparable size throughout the state. Visits were made to selected libraries to observe the good features and their shortcomings. These investigations confirmed the findings of the Facilities Study Committee and emphasized the serious extent of present facility deficiencies. It was apparent to the Committee that the need for expanded facilities was immediate and even more pressing than realized by the Library Facilities Study Com- mittee.
The building program which ultimately evolved, closely paralleled the recommendations of the Facilities Study Committee. In its final form, the proposed program made provisions for the foresee- able future needs of the town and recognized the constantly increasing demands being placed on the library facilities by the growing school population, college students, and the expanding interest in adult educational programs.
The architectural firm of Richmond and Goldberg was selected, based on its considerable library design experience. The building plan as finally approved by the Committee provided separate func- tional areas for children, young adults, adults, and reference use, so laid out as to insure central control and supervision, yet economical to operate during off-peak periods. Construction costs were estimated by a professional estimator of established competence.
Article 15, requesting an appropriation of $232,995 to construct and equip the proposed addition, was inserted in the 1964 Town Warrant. This article was narrowly defeated in the 1964 Town Meet- ing with 315 in favor and 162 opposed, thus failing to reach the required 2/3 majority by four votes.
Subsequent to the Town Meeting, the Library Building Committee and the Library Trustees jointly reviewed the proposed plan to determine what changes could be made. Both were in agreement that the general plan was proper and in keeping with the needs of the town. The architect was consulted for possible economies and the proposed plan was recosted by a different estimator resulting in an esti- mate which was substantially the same. The Building Committee, Library Trustees and the architect jointly agreed that some items, desirable but not totally essential, could be deleted, thereby reducing the estimated cost of the construction to $200,000.
The Library Building Committee has requested that the Library Trustees introduce an article in the 1965 Town Meeting Warrant calling for an appropriation of $200,000 to construct and equip the proposed addition to the Green Library.
FREDERICK D. EBLE Acting Chairman
Board of Public Assistance
Wesley W. Munroe, whose death brought sorrow to the Town in the last quarter of the year, directed the work of this Board for most of the year. For the remainder of the year the Board made an emergency appointment of Burton B. Cogswell, Veterans' Agent, who in turn was replaced by Mason J. Condon as Acting Veterans' Agent.
A brief explanation and summary of our expenses for the year following :
Wesley W. Munroe
Old Age Assistance
Federal Share $54.00 per month/case.
State 70% and Town 30% of remainder.
Government
Amount
Per Cent
Federal
$15,444.00
66.6
State
5,404.03
23.4
Town
2,316.00
10.0
Total
$23,164.03
100.0
Medical Aid for the Aged
Federal Share 1/2 of total
State 2/3 and Town 1/3 of remainder
Government
Amount
Per Cent
Federal
$14,914.34
49.1
State
10,332.89
33.9
Town
5,166.44
17.0
Total
$30,413.67
100.0
Aid to Dependent Children
Federal Share $20.50 per month for each eligible person.
State 1/3 of total and Town - remainder
Government
Amount
Per Cent
Federal
$1,558.00
36.3
State
1,548.30
36.1
Town
1,184.42
27.6
Total
$4,290.72
100.0
Aid to the Disabled
Federal Share $46.50 per month Town 1/4 of total and State - remainder
Government
Amount
Per Cent
Federal
$558.00
56.1
State
187.89
18.9
Town
248.71
25.0
Total
$994.60
100.0
General Relief
Federal Share - None State - 20% of local cases 100% of unsettled cases
Town - 80% of local cases
Government
Amount
Per Cent
Federal
$ 00.00
00.0
State
15.00
20.0
Town
60.00
80.0
Total
$ 75.00
100.0
The Town pays approximately one-third of the total administrative costs of welfare.
Federal reimbursements are received in the year the aid is granted and may be spent for the same purpose without appropriation. State aid is counted only as a departmental receipt in figuring the tax rate.
HARRY C. WENDT Chairman
40
285
SCHOOLS
A&C
Art
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THE "SPECIAL" - Elementary Project Reporters in action.
EUROPE
GIRL TALK - American Field Service Student Anni Wrang, right, and Caryn Elly.
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HEALTH CHECK - Dr. Charles A. Worthen, Jr., Ellen Hoyt and Mrs. Beatrice W. Lyon, R.N.
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START OF THE FINISH - Old furniture gets a new look at one of the town's first adult education classes.
!Y DAY
ELAP
FOODWAY TO EDAWOW
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PARSING - Junior High English Class.
CONCENTRATION - Lower grades mix it up.
School Committee
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THE PLANNERS - School Committee members, left to right, Carl F. VanBennekom, Dr. Richard D. Morrow, Mrs. Norman E. Northrup, chairman; Robert W. Davis and Dr. Louis D. Savage.
The Lynnfield School Committee is a board of five - elected by the town to fulfill the duty as defined by law "to have general charge of all the schools". This means that its principal responsibilities are policy determination, budget making, appointment of personnel, approval of courses and textbooks, planning of school services, and evaluation of the educational program. The School Committee members are the elected representatives of the people, and therefore should reflect the attitude of the people toward public education.
Since it is the citizens who support, maintain, and populate the schools, the schools should provide the curriculum and facilities for a program which is geared to the specific needs of the town. The edu- cators are the experts hired by the School Committee to achieve these ends. It is the privilege of the committeemen to present their own views and to enlist public support for them, and it their duty to lead the community in the course of action which, in their judgment, is wise.
The School Committee is also the liason between the public and the superintendent, and has a res- ponsibility to communicate with clarity to both. This year, for example, as soon as it was decided that double sessions were the best solution to overcrowding in the secondary schools, a letter was mailed to parents of each student in grades 6-11, explaining the plan and its effects. The general amiability of the parents and students in meeting and overcoming the inconveniences of double sessions was helped by accurate information and understanding created by this early communication.
44
Policewomen Needed
When the traffic supervisors were discharged after the requested police budget had not been voted at a session of the annual town meeting, the School Committee voiced its concern, and worked to have them reinstated.
The Committee recognizes that it has no authority over vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the highways of Lynnfield, but it has a real responsibility for the safety of all students going to and from school. The Committee thought that, after ten years of adequate supervision when traffic was much less severe, the wishes of the people had been violated. Article Two, which was voted at the special town meeting, states that "the Police Department provide traffic supervision for the protection of the school children at the principal school crossings during such hours as supervision may reasonably be required". Since this article did not allow any question as to location, only hours, the Committee ex- pressed its continuing concern about the lack of coverage during the Spring, and asked in writing that funds be requested in the 1965 police budget designated specifically for school traffic supervisors.
This year the systematic construction of sidewalks in Lynnfield had progressed so that the three- quarter-mile walking distance to the elementary schools was increased to one mile. In some areas there was such serious concern by parents of younger children for their safety in crossing the main streets that buses were provided, and will remain until all safety factors can be controlled.
Expanding Program
Expansion of the school program often results from evidence of a special interest by students or townspeople. A new soccer program was approved in 1964 with funds to be provided in the 1965 budget to cover the cost of the sport. For more than two years, an enthusiastic group of boys have played and arranged their own games with teams from other towns. The participation and interest is genuine enough to justify adding it to the athletic program. This addition parallels the history of hockey, which grew from a nucleus of informal activity to an important sport for the school.
This Spring the League of Women Voters recognized a community desire for adult education, and in the unit meetings conducted a thorough study of all types of programs, and concluded that a modest local one was the best to inaugurate. The administration and School Committee concurred and conducted a survey to see if such a program was warranted. The results were sufficiently positive to initiate a few selected adult education courses which are tailored to the desires of Lynnfield residents.
Role of Committee
The role of the School Committee in policy and curriculum is often less obvious than its consid- eration of monetary matters. Actually, the general philosophy, curriculum, and cost are interwoven. Financial items appear on the agenda throughout the year, but the preparation of the budget takes place from September to December. Following is a brief summary of some of the steps involved :
The individual teacher or worker (custodian, nurse, etc.) makes requisitions which must be ap- proved by department heads or principals, who submit their revised versions to the Superintendent, who, with his staff, analyzes, studies and adjusts the requests, submits them to the School Committee. The Committee studies, discusses and amends the requests further, then submits a proposed budget to the Town Accountant by December first.
Before presentation to the Town, the capital outlay items are discussed with the Capital Outlay Committee, and the whole budget is discussed in detail with the Finance Committee with a goal of mutual understanding and agreement. By the time it comes before the town meeting in its final form, the administrators and School Committee have studied the 114 items in depth, and have justified each, to their own satisfaction, for its value to the curriculum or to the proper maintenance and protec- tion of the buildings.
Maturing System
Through the years Lynnfield has been a remarkable community in keeping a lively interest in its schools and providing their necessary support. The problems resulting from rapid growth were met with courage and foresight. The Town as a whole has been rewarded not only by its cultural environ- ment, but also by its increased property values.
45
A responsible family coming into the area selects the community which offers the best opportu- nity in education for all its children. The eagerly anticipated opening of the new Senior High School in September 1965 will provide the much needed space necessary to implement the full curriculum, and will at the same time make Lynnfield more attractive to someone selecting a new community for his home.
There was evidence in June of the maturing of the school system when members of the first class of 1960 graduated from college. This approaching maturity does not mean that there can be any re- laxing of support. During the discussion of taxes following the recent town-wide re-evaluation, the school budget, as the largest expenditure, was a target for the indignation of some citizens. However, this should be explained as superficial complaining, for the Committee has found no change in the at- titude of the majority of citizens toward the schools, unless it is an increase in the importance of education.
The School Committee has been aware of the conflicting trends in educational philosophies and curricula in the past thirty years. Although the Committee does not often formalize its philosophy, by its decisions and actions it endorses a curriculum which provides for a systematic presentation of sub- ject matter in a disciplined manner. With the publishing of each new study by Dr. James Conant, and the election by popular vote in California of Dr. Maxwell Rafferty as superintendent of all public schools, there is developing a long-needed communication and understanding of goals between educators and the general public. The minor differences of opinion which will always exist are healthy, but a unifi- cation of the goals may produce the most exciting advance yet in American public education.
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