USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Norwell > Town of Norwell annual report 1960-1969 > Part 69
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This does not take into account the requirements of State aid. We have no assurance that the present practices will continue indefinitely. In any event we are citizens of the State as well as of the Town and it ill becomes us to deliberately establish an inefficient system for this reason alone.
An intangible effect of centralizing our bus system would be the volume of traffic generated on Main Street by arrival of 60 or more bus loads of pupils.
Operating Personnel
Wages and salaries are the "lion's share" of a school budget and it is to these we must look for possible savings. A relatively small annual saving will accumulate to a substantial amount throughout the years. For this reason we have endeavored to analyze, as well as possible, just how each of the two systems would be staffed in Norwell today and in the near future. If we enter into philosophical discourses involving future intangibles and possible changes in educational methods, the problem appears impossibly complex. If we consider only its application to Norwell and do not digress into theoretical discussions we should be able to sort out the data we need to make a judgment on the effect either type of school system will have on Norwell pocketbooks and Norwell children.
To accomplish this we have again separated the problem into com- ponents:
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Professional, or Teaching, Personnel Administrative and Staff Personnel Maintenance Personnel
Professional and Teaching Personnel
It is possible that the future may bring changes in teaching methods whereby one system of school location may acquire an advantage over the other. Much discussion on this subject demonstrates that at present all these possibilities are theoretical, even controversial, and that to arrive at an immediate answer we must confine ourselves to our present elemen- tary school teaching methods. This position is strengthened by our being in step with the great majority of schools. Adoption of neither type will insure us against unknown teaching methods.
Therefore, having come to this conclusion, it is apparent that the geographical location of the schools will have no apparent effect on the number of classroom teachers required. An argument in favor of Cen- tralized schools has been that they permit better utilization of special teachers. Analysis of schedules shows this to be an administrative rather than a physical problem. The effect of bringing the pupils to the teacher rather than the teacher to the pupils is debatable. Common sense appears to favor the latter.
In short, to condense much talk into few words, we were unable to find any significant difference in the cost of teachers under either system.
Administrative and Staff Personnel
Here we at last seemed to find a chance for real savings because ob- viously a single principal could serve the collective schools, whereas three would be needed for neighborhood schools. However, when we analyzed the salaries we should expect to pay, we found the total of a higher salary for the principal with more responsibility and the smaller salaries for two assistant principals required by centralized schools, just about equaled the total salaries of individual principals for three neighborhood schools, leaving no choice between them on this score. One point to be considered is that the higher salary of the centralized schools might attract a man of higher calibre, or at least improve our competitive position when hiring a principal.
The number of secretaries and clerks needed under each system is dif- ficult to establish without going into inordinate detail, some of which may be arguable. However, since our purpose is to determine whether or not we can save money by changing our present system, we looked to what we are now doing for an answer.
Secretaries, in the strict sense of the word, could undoubtedly be eliminated, but we found the definition to be rather loosely applied. A
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secretary in our present elementary schools appears to function as a secretary, clerk, telephone operator, nurse, matron and part-time mother. In other words, since their time is fully utilized, there appears to be no particular saving to be made on this score.
Maintenance Personnel
More efficient use of custodians would certainly save an appreciable sum of money, and full examination was made of this problem. We found that a twelve room school, with its attendent facilities, is apparently a little too much for one man to handle, requiring one full time and one part time man. Two men can probably handle a 24 room school. Therefore, we would eventually require the same number of custodians under either system. Consideration was given to the possibilities of more efficient use of part time men. Here again efficient scheduling, rather than geography, appears to be the answer. There are weekly as well as daily custodial chores and it appears to be more desirable to have part time fill-in men report to different schools on different days than to attempt to move them from building to building during the day, and to schedule work accordingly. In the final analysis it does appear more sensible to bring the custodian to the school than the school to the custodian.
CONCLUSIONS - OPERATING COSTS
Here again we came to the same conclusion as we did with Capital Costs - there appears to be no great difference between the system except for some of the general items which are debatable and which may or may not have real application to our particular system.
The small advantage which Centralized schools possess in the purchase of electricity is probably more than offset by added bus transportation costs.
GENERAL
Many other facets of this problem have been discussed such as:
Could we do our own maintenance work and have a central shop and central supply?
Can we save by having cafeteria food pre- pared centrally?
Could a sewage treatment plant, if needed be more cheaply installed?
Could special instruction, such as remedial reading or music, be made more effective?
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Could medical facilities be centralized?
All of these, and others, offer possibilities one way or another. We have been unable to apply them practically to any extent and with any degree of certainty to our own particular situation.
Research was done on what may have been written on this and other similar problems. It was found that, while some extolled the virtues of centralized schools, the centralized school described was no larger than our own neighborhood school. We could find no practical help in contem- porary literature on the subject.
A few towns have centralized schools. Whether they were created deliberately by foresight and planning, or came about because at a par- ticular time in its growth a town happened to have a large tract of land available, is difficult to say. The great majority of elementary schools are of the neighborhood type, again whether by choice or chance is a moot question.
The time for decision in Norwell on Neighborhood vs. Centralized Elementary Schools was just prior to the construction of the original Cole School, at which time the question was considered and a decision made. As a result, if we change now, one of our larger units will be excluded, which will certainly introduce many complications into a Centralized sys- tem with a consequent deleterious effect on any advantages this system may have.
CONCLUSIONS
Our overall conclusion is that there appears to be no ascertainable difference between the costs of neighborhood or centralized elementary schools, either for construction or in operation. If one has educational advantages over the other they are minute and not readily discernable and become even more so if we become involved in theoretical discussions of future changes in teaching methods.
RECOMMENDATION
Since neither system appears to have significant economic or educa- tional advantages over the other, we see no reason to reverse a decision previously made.
We recommend that future elementary schools in Norwell be con- structed as "Neighborhood" schools, located in the Town to best suit our population distribution.
NORWELL PLANNING BOARD NORWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE NORWELL COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
February, 1964
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ARTICLE 2
Motion made, seconded and VOTED UNANIMOUSLY that the Town raise and appropriate the sums of money as indicated in the recommended column of the Transcript of the Articles in the Warrant and Budget for 1964 for the Town of Norwell, and for the purposes as noted for all items in Article 2, excepting Items 9, 21, 33, 41, 48, 49, 50, 51, 63, 65, 80, 81, 87, 88, 90, 93, 94, 101, 102, 103, 104, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 149 - and that the Town fix the salaries and compensation of all elective officers of the Town as shown in the recommended column effective from January 1, 1964, as provided by Section 108 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws.
ITEM 9. Motion made, seconded and VOTED that $16,000 be raised and appropriated, Town Hall Clerks, Salaries.
ITEM 21. Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,800, COLLECTOR, Deputy Collector's Salary.
ITEM 33. Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000, Town Clerk, Clerical Assistance.
ITEM 41. Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $300. Development and Industrial Commission, Expenses.
ITEM 48. Motion made, seconded, and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $22,900, Police Department, Regular Police Officers.
ITEM 49. Motion made, seconded and VOTED, 213 yes, 183 no, to raise and appropriate the sum of $9,422, Police Department, Payroll.
ITEM 50. Motion made, seconded and VOTED that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $1175, General Expenses, Police Depart- ment.
ITEM 51. Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $4,210, Cruiser Expense, Police Department.
ITEM 63. Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $9,600, Salaries and Expenses, Emergency Communica- tions Center.
ITEM 65. Motion made and seconded that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $5,200, Salary, Tree Warden, Supt. of Public Grounds and Moth Dept.
Amendment made, seconded and VOTED that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $6,000, listed in the requested column in Item 65 under Article 2.
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ITEM 80. Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $200, Salary and Expenses, Inspector of Animals.
ITEM 81. Motion made and seconded to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,800, Salary, School Nurse. Amendment made and seconded, but FAILED TO CARRY, to amend Item 81 of Article 2 to read $4,300, as the 1964 salary of the School Nurse. The main motion of $3,800, CARRIED.
ITEM 87. Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $4,000, Expenses, Mosquito Control.
ITEM 88. Motion made and seconded to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,900, Salary, Highway Surveyor. Amendment was made that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $6500, Salary, High- way Surveyor. The original motion was withdrawn, leaving the amendment as the only motion on the floor. The sum of $6500, was VOTED.
ITEM 90. Motion made, seconded and VOTED that the sum of $6500 be raised and appropriated, Chapter 81, Expenses.
ITEM 93. Motion made and seconded to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000, Snow Removal and Sanding Highways.
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to amend the sum to $28,000. The main motion as amended was voted.
ITEM 94. Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $7,000, Road Machinery Maintenance Operation.
ITEM 101. Motion made and seconded that the sum of $500, be voted for Veterans Agent's Salary. Motion made and seconded to amend this to raise and appropriate the sum of $200, for Agent's Salary. The amendment was VOTED. The main motion was not carried.
ITEM 102. Motion made and seconded that the sum of $250, be voted for Veterans Service Officer. This was amended to read $300. The Amendment CARRIED. The main motion was defeated.
ITEM 103. Motion made and seconded that the sum of $350, be voted for Agent's Expenses. Amendment made and seconded that the sum of $250, be voted for Agent's Expenses. The amendment was VOTED. The main motion was defeated.
ITEM 104. Motion made and seconded that the sum of $6,000 be voted for Aid and Expenses, Veterans Benefits, based on what was
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spent last year. Amendment made that $5,000, be raised and appropriated. The amendment CARRIED. The main motion was defeated.
Motion made and seconded that the town replace items 107 through 113 with a newitem numbered 107, entitled General Educational Expense in the amount of $754,073. Motion was made, seconded and VOTED to amend the main motion to read that the Town replace Items 107 through 111, plus Item 113, with a new item numbered 107, entitled General Educational Expense in the amount of $753,303.
ITEM 112. Motion made, seconded and VOTED that the Town appropriate $770, for Out-of-State Travel.
Mrs. Margaret E. C. Reeser made a motion to amend, which she later withdrew, as follows:
ITEM 107.
$ 18,861.00
General Control
ITEM 103.
574,271.00
Instruction
ITEM 109.
70,527.25
Operation
ITEM 110.
14,000.00
Maintenance
ITEM 111.
68,173.00
Auxiliary Agencies
ITEM 112.
Out-of-State Travel
ITEM 113.
5,000.00
Capital Outlay
TOTAL $752,948.00
The Advisory Board unanimously recommended a lump sum School Budget of $754,073 to be executed under the charge of the School Committee and in accordance with the agreement of the School Committee to report annually to the Town in detail accounting for the expenditures under the following categories: (1) General Control, (2) Instructions, (3) Operation, (4) Maintenance, (5) Auxiliary Agencies, (6) Out-of-State Travel and (7) Capital Outlay; and further, that the School Committee shall keep well informed the Advisory Board before sanctioning large budget expenditures without previous conference with the Advisory Board.
ITEM 115. Motion made, seconded and VOTED that the sum of $700, be raised and appropriated for Adult Practical Arts Classes.
ITEM 149. Motion made, seconded and VOTED that the sum of $15,000, for the Reserve Fund be appropriated from available funds as follows: $9,987.33 from Overlay Surplus and $5,012.67 from Free Cash.
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ARTICLE 3
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1965, and to issue a note. or notes therefore, payable within one year in accord- ance with General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 4, as amended, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for less than one year in accordance with General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 17, as amended.
ARTICLE 4
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $14,300, in anticipation of repayment by the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, for Chapter 81 work on the highways.
ARTICLE 5
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $18,000, in anticipation of repayment by the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts and the County of Plymouth, for Chapter 90 work on the highways.
ARTICLE 6
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to authorize the Town Accountant to close out the unexpended balance of the 1962 Highways Chapter 90 appropriation of $19,000, for Tiffany Road - East Street Bridge.
ARTICLE 7
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $7,660.08 in anticipation of repayment by the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, Chapter 882, Acts of 1963, to be applied to Chapter 90 Construction on Main Street.
ARTICLE 8
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000, for a mix-in-place surface on River Street for a distance of three thousand (3000) feet.
ARTICLE 9
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,025, for a mix-in-place surface on Oak Street, for a distance of one thousand and twenty-five feet (1025).
ARTICLE 10
Motion made, seconded, but FAILED TO CARRY, to raise and appro-
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priate the sum of $2,200.00 for a mix-in-place surface on Norwell Avenue, for a distance of two thousand and twenty-five feet (2025), from Central Street and Old Oaken Bucket Road.
ARTICLE 11
Motion made, seconded but DEFEATED UNANIMOUSLY to accept an alteration of the layout of a portion of Winter Street, as laid out by the Selectmen, in accordance with the description and plan presented at a hearing in the Cushing Memorial Town Hall and now on file in the Town Clerk's office, which involves acquisition of land in order to straighten Winter Street in the vicinity of Burns Lane, by acquiring by purchase or taking by eminent domain, three contiguous parcels on the opposite side from Burns Lane, Belonging now or formerly to: Emma M. Stetson (approximately three quarters of an acre), Webster Cranberry Co., Inc. (approximately four and three tenths acres), and William A. and Ella Eva Stillman (approximately four and three tenths acres), making a total of nine and one third acres more or less; and for that purpose to raise and appropriate, the sum of $4,500.00.
ARTICLE 12
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to accept Cape Cod Lane as a Town Way as laid out by the Selectmen in accordance with the description and plan presented at a Hearing in the Cushing Memorial Town Hall and now on file in the Town Clerk's office, without appropriation.
ARTICLE 13
Motion made, seconded, but FAILED TO CARRY, to raise and appro- priate the sum of $2,500.00 for the purchase of a new pick-up truck for the Highway Department.
ARTICLE 14
Motion made, seconded but FAILED TO CARRY to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 for the purchase of a new, small v-body salt and sand spreader of approximately one and one-half yards capacity for the Highway Department.
ARTICLE 15
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $400.00 for a new steel broom core and repairs to our present street sweeper.
ARTICLE 16
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to change the name of that part of
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Green Street, running between Pleasant Street and Pine Street, to "Wildcat Lane," the name by which it has been known for many years.
ARTICLE 17
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to rename to South Street that portion of Pleasant Street from its present junction with South Street to the Hanover Town Line at the Hanover Pumping Station, so that South Street will extend from Main Street to the Hanover Town Line and Pleasant Street will extend from Circuit Street to South Street.
ARTICLE 18
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to rename that section of Town road extending from the present Pleasant Street westerly to the Hanover Town Line (about 200') to Mill Street.
ARTICLE 19
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $13,000 to purchase and equip a new fire truck for the Norwell Center Fire Station.
Motion made to adjourn at 11:15 P.M., but was withdrawn.
ARTICLE 20
Motion made, seconded but FAILED TO CARRY, to raise and appropriate $1750 and to appropriate from available funds the sum of $1750, a total of $3500, to install a two-way radio base station in the Emergency Communi- cations Center and to install two-way radio mobile units in such town-owned vehicles as may be designated by the Emergency Communications Center Board; such radios to operate on a frequency as assigned and approved by the Federal Communications Commission for use of the Town of Norwell only and which shall be distinct from the Fire and Police frequencies already in use and which shall be under the control of the Emergency Communications Center Board.
ARTICLE 21
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,600 for the purchase of a 1964 Station Wagon, to replace the Plymouth Station Wagon Police Cruiser.
ARTICLE 22
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to instruct the Board of Selectmen to appoint a committee of five (5) members, to be known as the Elementary
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School Site Committee, one from the School Committee, one from the Permanent Building and Maintenance Committee, one from the Norwell Council for Public Schools, one from the Planning Board, and one member at large, with the Chairman to be named by the Board of Selectmen, to select a site for construction of an elementary school building and to pre- sent their recommendations for action at the next Annual Town Meeting.
ARTICLE 23
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $500 for use by the Elementary School Site Committee for the purpose of obtaining preliminary surveys, plans, appraisals, borings, etc., as may be needed to determine the suitability of the site proposed for school building purposes.
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to adjourn at 11:25 P.M.
NELLIE G. TARR,
Town Clerk
ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
MARCH 10, 1964
The Adjourned Annual Town Meeting was called to order on March 10, 1964, at the Senior High School at 7:50 P.M. with 366 voters present.
The checkers on the voting sheets were Mrs. Minna Senger, Mrs. Gloria Broderick, Mrs. Julia Rosebach and Mrs. Ruth Hersey.
Motion made, seconded to reconsider Item 81 under Article, Salary of School Nurse. The Moderator announced that a majority vote would be needed.
Mr. Silvia, the Moderator, announced that the Communication Center in the Town Hall had received an anonymous call that a bomb in the High School was due to explode at 10 P.M. Motion made, seconded and voted to adjourn the meeting to the Junior High School next door. The transition was made in an orderly fashion, though it was snowing and sleeting outside.
A roll-call by the Moderator showed 236 voters present.
The motion to reconsider Item 81 under Article 2, Salary of School Nurse was VOTED. Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and ap- propriate the amount of $4100. School Nurse's Salary.
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ARTICLE 24
Motion made, seconded that Article 24 be indefinitely postponed.
Motion made and seconded that Articles 24 through 31 be indefinitely postponed. This motion was ruled out of order by the Moderator. The original motion was VOTED.
ARTICLE 25
Motion made and seconded to establish that future elementary school buildings shall be designed and constructed as free-standing buildings centrally located in the vicinity of the present Center Elementary School on Main Street. Motion made, seconded, and VOTED that action on Article 25 be indefinitely postponed.
ARTICLE 26
Motion made and seconded that the Town vote to establish that future elementary school buildings shall be designed and constructed as free- standing neighborhood schools located as required by future needs of the Town.
The following amendment was made and seconded: "that the Town vote to construct, in one or two stages, the next elementary school as a 24- classroom building in the vicinity of, and to be used in conjunction with, the Center Elementary School, subject to satisfactory sewage disposal.
Motion made, seconded and VOTED that the Town establishes as a policy that future elementary school buildings shall be designed and con- structed as free-standing neighborhood schools located as required by future needs of the Town and specifically that the next Elementary School under consideration by the Elementary School Site Committee be such a free-standing neighborhood school.
ARTICLE 27
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to instruct the Board of Selectmen to appoint a committee of five (5) members, to be known as the Athletic Field Committee, for the purpose of determining the suitability of the present town-owned land behind the Junior High School for development as athletic fields; said committee to consist of one member each from the School Committee, Permanent Drainage Committee, Permanent Building and Maintenance Committee, and the Planning Board, with one member at large; Chairman to be named by the Board of Selectmen, and to instruct this committee to report to the next. Annual Town Meeting with its recom- mendations for this site, and for an alternate, should this site be found to be unsuitable.
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ARTICLE 28
Motion made, seconded and VOTED to raise and appropriate the sum of $500 for use by the Athletic Field Committee for the purpose of obtaining preliminary engineering service as may be needed to determine the suita- bility of the site proposed for athletic fields.
ARTICLE 29
Motion made and seconded to instruct the Board of Selectmen to appoint a committee of not less than three (3) nor more than five (5) members, and to name a chairman of this committee, for the purpose of studying the advisability of obtaining additional land adjacent to, or in the immediate vicinity of, the Town Hall for the purpose of providing for future construc- tion of new combined quarters for the Fire Department, Police Department and Communications Center; and to further instruct . said committee to submit a report and recommendations at the next Annual Town Meeting.
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