USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1946 > Part 4
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The following report was read by Irving C. Austin :
Report of the Committee of Nine for the Site for a High School.
As stated in our report of progress made at the December Special Town Meeting, the question of a location for a new High School had finally narrowed down to two sites-the so-called Birch Meadow area and the present High School site with the taking of additional land to Lowell Street.
Serious consideration had been given to the possible addition on the Junior High School, as originally planned when that building was built. The main objection to this being the combining of two age groups of children in one area, and the congestion there would be in having 1200 or more pupils in a section that is now a problem at times with 600. To improve the approaches would have meant the taking of property on Summer Avenue and Temple Street on which the assessed valuation is approximately $84,033.00, $45,808.00 on Summer Avenue and $38,225.00 on Temple Street.
By referring to the report this committee made to the town at the December meeting, it will be seen that the Washington Street play- ground area had been studied but definitely rejected at our meeting of April 9, 1945.
A suggestion was made to this committee that the Junior High be discarded as a unit in our educational set up, change back to the four year high school, use the Junior High building as a high school and the present high school for the 7th and 8th grades. While this idea affected the decision as to site, it was actually a question to be decided by the School Committee as it meant a decided change in our educational system as well as the additional construction of elementary schools at once. The final decision of the School Committee was against such a change in our present educational system.
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The subject of site finally came to the question of whether a high school should be built on a location as near the center of the town as possible, for the sake of the parents using the auditorium, or whether the Town should build a high school for the children using it. If for the children, we should build where there is land available for outside activities as recommended and being followed by towns and cities for- tunate to have the needed acreage. We are fortunate in this town that it is only necessary to acquire land for the building as the balance of the land needed is already owned by the town and partially developed already for playground purposes.
From a cost of construction comparison there is very little difference between building on the old site, utilizing the old school, and building an all new building at Birch Meadow. The plans as submitted are identical for services and number of pupils. The estimate of cost, which includes salvage value of homes taken down on the old site, is $802,500.00 and at Birch Meadow $800,000.00. These figures do not include land taking or landscaping except immediately adjacent to the building. An estimate has been made of $5,000.00 for the old site and $10,000.00 for Birch Meadow, to complete approaches and landscaping. Taking the land needed at the old site is questionable as to cost, while the assessed valuation is $39,750.00, there is no assurance of what a court would allow these days for a fair value of homes that are today very valuable to their owners.
From the above figures it will be seen that with the same comparable estimates a building will cost practically the same on either site. The above estimates were based on costs as of November-December 1945.
On the other hand, the land at Birch Meadow not owned by the town has a low assessed valuation and the difference in cost of land alone would more than take care of the additional cost necessary for sewer extension.
The assessed valuation of the land recommended to be taken in the Birch Meadow area for the high school is approximately $5,300.00, this including two buildings of which the assessed valuation is $2,400.00 and $1,800.00 respectively.
Building on Present Site
On June 28th, it was voted that the School Committee follow the recommendation of the High School Site Committee to have an archi- tectural study of a high school building as an addition to the present High School building taking in the land bounded by Lowell, Sanborn and Linden Street, and a comparative study made for a high school on the Birch Meadow site, at a cost not to exceed $2,000.00 and further that the architectural firm of Adden, Parker, Clinch & Crimp, be authorized to make these studies.
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The instructions as to number of pupils, service units, etc., to the architects were followed by them in both plans. These called for a building for 800 students with service units and auditorium for 1000.
On completion of the plans, the architects engaged the services of competent engineers to estimate costs of construction and which in the case of the old school, included, of course, cost of remodelling. The final costs, as reported before, on the present site, $802.500.00, this price taking into consideration any salvage value in the wrecking or moving of the five homes now on the property which would have to be taken.
The price on the Birch Meadow site was $800,000.00.
To put this school on the present site would mean utilizing prac- tically all the land for the building, no parking area to speak of and no chance for enlarging the building except by adding in height.
While the building was in process. it would, of course, be necessary to find other space for the High School pupils.
For any outside activities it would be necessary for pupils to report to the Washington Street playground, Memorial Park, Birch Meadow or the Junior High School. Any of these would make it impossible to have outside activities except after regular school hours and not as part of the school program.
If a building only is considered. then the present site with the additional land through to Lowell Street can be used as shown by the plans.
Birch Meadow Site
The land chosen for the site of a high school adjoins the southeast corner of the playground area. There is a considerable amount of this land already owned by the town. The cost for the taking of the pri- vately owned land needed to complete the site is estimated at $10,000.00. The recommended site is a knoll facing the west and the playground beautifully situated for the development of a school.
The architects have taken advantage of the contours of this slope excavating as little as possible, only for boiler room and part of the shops, the balance of the building following the natural contours.
This area has the following approaches from Main Street, Hillside Avenue, and Ridge Road; from the south Bancroft Avenue and Park- view Road, and from the west Hartshorn Street. In the natural de- velopment of the town there undoubtedly will at some time be a road through from Forest Street.
A school on this site would be able to utilize the area already de- veloped by the Board of Public Works and thereby save the town thousands of dollars for the development of a special field for the High School. Already nearly seven acres have been completed and with finish grading on part at small cost, will be available for use. This area would permit an outdoor physical educational program which is
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not possible unless the land is adjacent to the school. The School Committee has conferred with the Board of Public Works regarding the use of this area for school activities and cooperation has been assured.
While the primary purpose of building the High School is for the education of the children, it is also well to consider the community interest as a whole. The proposed auditorium will be of sufficient capacity to permit the gathering of almost any group that would be expected. It has easy approaches from three directions and ample space for parking without blocking roads.
The development of a building on this site is not circumscribed by street lines so that as Reading grows it will be possible to add to the proposed building for additional pupils.
While this site is near the geographic center rather than population center, statistics show that the last few years of building the trend was on the East side. With building already started on the Northeast side it is easy to picture a change in the center of population.
Let's forget the so-called centers and state facts. From Summer Avenue and West Street to Birch Meadow is .9 of a mile, from West and Woburn Streets 1.5 miles. That means a pupil from West and Woburn Streets has 1/2 mile more to walk than at present and that goes for any pupil beyond Woburn Street but the pupils from around West and Summer Avenue have at least 1/2 mile less to walk. From South Street to the Square is 1.4 miles and to the corner of Main and Hillside 2.1 miles. That means those pupils from the south have .7 of a mile more to walk. Parents usually cause most of the transportation prob- lems-do you suppose .7 of a mile would bother children of the ages 15 to 18 when they knew the advantages that could be obtained? Us old timers talk about walking three to seven miles to school.
For the public using the school facilities in the evening, this site is actually .1 of a mile nearer the Square than the Junior High School.
The final action and recommendation of the committee you elected is as follows :
Those voting for the Birch Meadow Site :
Merle W. Wescott
May E. Earley
Gladys F. Milton J. Warren Killam, Jr.
Norman L. Duncan
Irving C. Austin, Chm.
Those dissenting and voting for the present High School site
W. Gardner Long J. L. Devaney M. A. Crosby
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Plans and estimates for both sites are on file at the School Com- mittee Office and available at any time.
Reading, Mass., March 9, 1946.
The following report was read by M. S. Crosby.
Minority Report of the School Site Committee
We, the minority, desire to go on record at this time as still being in accord with the rest of the committee in respect to the need for new school buildings in Reading in the near future. As you will recall this committee of nine was appointed by you to choose a site, and a site only. We mentioned this, because we experienced difficulty in discussing situations which affected the use of the site because these issues were entirely under the control of the majority of the committee. Their specifications are so arranged that there is only one solution and we find ourselves not in accord with them.
We, of necessity had to agree to eliminate the Junior High location as a suggestion for a combined Junior and Senior High for the same reasons set forth in their report.
The Washington Street site was considered and still is a possibility but was thought less desirable than the Birch Meadow or the present site. Low elevation of land, close proximity to the railroad and the number of dwellings involved were the deciding elements.
The plan which suggested the use of the present Junior High (with additions ) as a High School and the construction of a second elementary school still has merit in our opinion. But in as much as this idea did not originate with the committee and was prejudged by the School Committee as not satisfactory and further was not known by the minority until late in December, we were forced to drop discussion on this and go on with Birch Meadow and the present High School site.
The Birch Meadow site has unlimited possibilities, and it is probably these unlunited possibilities that make us so cautious as to that choice. Where we thought, we'll say, ten acres was large enough the rest of the committee had twenty acres in mind, with a possibility of more land later when needed. The development of this virgin tract of land, whether it appeals to you or not, may well run into considerably more money than this town can afford and still maintain its other services. The increased overhead on a new school of this size, alone is a major item in itself wherever it goes, without adding the possibility of future demands for improvements or expanson of this outside ac- tivities. We will very readily agree that these extra school activities may be beneficial, but how much can we afford, how far are you wiling to go in order to have them?
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This brings us down to the present site with the already explained alterations and additions. We readily acknowledge that this choice still leaves us with more to be desired, namely, parking and playground adjacent to the school. We believe these both can be solved, even if not as ideally as you might wish. It is, however, still feasible and practical and within reason to provide adequate education on this site for some years to come, at a cost which we feel the town can afford. As for a room for expansion, please bear in mind that the plans call for a school with a capacity of eight hundred and we dare say under extreme con- ditions by making use of other special rooms even one thousand might be handled in this building. That means a growth in the town of some twenty-five hundred new homes or roughly an increase of two-thirds bringing the population to some twenty thousand and an increase of one hundred per cent over the present high school enrollment.
WVe do feel however, that some progress has been made in that the School Committee has developed what type of building it will need, and specifications were not developed before this committee started to func- tion. Needless to say we are not satisfied with our net results, as we are thoroughly convinced of the school building needs of this town and feel that continued efforts should be made to solve the problem.
Therefore, in conclusion we strongly urge the precinct members to consider further study, by appointing a committee whose powers and scope will exceed those of the previous committee in that it can discuss and study any and all phases which your present committee could not.
Respectfully submitted, W. GARDNER LONG JOHN L. DEVANEY MELVIN S. CROSBY
March 13, 1946
Article 2. On motion of Logan R. Dickie, it was voted that the Report of the Committee of Nine for the Site for a High School be accepted and filed.
Article 45. On motion of John L. Devaney it was voted that the sum of five hundred (500) dollars be raised and appropriated for the general expenses of the 'Capital Expenditures Planning Committee.
Article 6. On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted that the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) be raised and appropriated for the purpose of foreclosing in the Land Court pursuant to provisions of Section 65 of Chapter 60 of the General Laws, the right of redemption of any and all real estate taken by the Town for non-payment of taxes.
Article 7. On motion of Leon G. Bent it was voted that the sum not exceeding one thousand ($1000) dollars be transferred from General Highway appropriation and that the sum not exceeding two thousand
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($2000) dollars be transferred from Surplus Revenue and appropriated for maintenance of various streets previously constructed under Chap- ter 90 General Laws; and that a further sum of thirty-four thousand five hundred ($34,500) dollars be transferred from Surplus Revenue and appropriated for the construction under Chapter 90 General Laws of portions of Lowell Street, Charles Street and Main Street, provided however, that such sums received as reimbursements from the State and County shall be credited to Surplus Revenue
Article 8. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that the sum of eight hundred dollars ($800.00) be raised and appropriated for the care of graves of any persons who have served in the Army, Navy or Marine Corps of the United States, in time of war or insurrection and who have been honorably discharged from such service, as provided by Section 22, Chapter 115, General Laws.
Article 9. On motion of Leon G. Bent it was voted that the sum of three hundred seventy-one dollars and seventy-one cents ($371.71) be raised and appropriated to pay into the Contributory Retirement System for Municipal Employees, excluding school teachers, for the benefit of Mume pal Employees on military leave of absence during the year 1945 as provided for and under the authority of Chapter 419 of the Acts of 1943.
Article 10. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted (110 affirmative and 1 negative) that the Board of Selectmen be, and they hereby are authorized and empowered in the name and behalf of the Town to acquire by purchase, eminent domain, lease, gift or otherwise, certain parcels of land, easements, rights of way or other interests therein, such parcels being situated westerly of Main Street and shown as Lots 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 15 on Town of Reading Assessors' plat No. 1 or such portions thereof as may be determined by the Board of Selectmen, for providing a Municipal Parking Area and that the sum of thirteen thousand (13,000.00) dollars be raised and appropriated for the acquisition of such land and for the construction of such parking area.
Article 12. On motion of Herbert K. Miller it was voted that the sum of two thousand three hundred and fifty-seven dollars and seventy- eight cents ($2,357.78) dollars be appropriated from the amount on hand representing the proceeds derived from the sale of scrap, waste paper and other materials collected for salvage, and to transfer said sum to the account already established to be used for any purpose relating to the welfare, benefit, or commemorating or observing the service of persons who served in the Armed Forces of the United States during World War II and his or her dependents, such sum to be expended as may be determined from time to time and under the direction of a com- mittee consisting of the Board of Selectmen, the chairman and secre- tary of the Salvage Committee; and the Town Accountant be and he
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hereby is authorized and instructed to transfer said sum to said account to carry out the purpose of this vote.
Article 16. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that the provisions of Section 58A of Chapter 48 of the General Laws, being a law regulating the hours of duty of permanent members of the Fire Department of the Town be, and the same hereby are accepted.
Article 20. On motion of James W. Fairchild it was voted that the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) be appropriated from the Cem- etery Reserve Fund receipts from the sale of lots and graves in Laurel Hill Cemetery and Forest Glen Cemetery, for the maintenance, care, improvement and embellishment of said Cemeteries, under the provi- sions of Section 15 of Chapter 114 of the General Laws.
Article 4. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that the sum of two thousand two hundred ($2,200.00) dollars be raised and ap- propriated for the salaries of two additional firemen for the year 1946.
Article 21. On motion of Wendell P. Davis it was voted that the sum of sixteen thousand three hundred dollars ($16,300.00) be appropri- ated from the unexpended balance in the Road Machinery Account and transferred to the Road Machinery Fund for the maintenance, repair and operation of road machinery and for the purchase by the Board of Public Works of two trucks and one trailer and that the proceeds re- ceived from the old equipment shall be appropriated in addition to the $16,300.00 as part of the purchase price for the above mentioned equip- ment and that the Town Accountant be and he hereby is authorized and instructed to transfer said sum to said account.
Article 22. On motion of Wendell P. Davis it was voted that the sum of twenty five thousand ($25,000.00) dollars be appropriated by transferring said sum from the Water Department Available Surplus for the purpose of constructing an addition to the Municipal Garage located on John Street for the Water Department and that the Board of Selectmen are hereby authorized to accept on behalf of the Town any Federal Funds which may be granted therefor, and that the Town Ac- countant be and he hereby is authorized and instructed to transfer said sum to carry out the purpose of this vote.
Article 23. On motion of Wendell P. Davis it was voted that the sum of two thousand five hundred ($2,500.00) dollars be raised and ap- propriated for the purpose of improving and constructing a portion of Main Street from Washington Street northerly toward Reading Square together with such sums as may be provided by the State and County under Section 34, Chapter 90 of the General Laws.
Article 24. On motion of Wendell P. Davis it was voted that the sum of four thousand five hundred ($4,500.00) dollars be raised and appropriated for the purpose of improving and constructing a portion of Charles Street from Pearl Street northerly toward Haverhill Street
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together with such sums as may be provided by the State and County under Section 34, Chapter 90 of the General Laws.
Article 25. On motion of Wendell P. Davis it was voted that the sum of four thousand five hundred ($4.500.00) dollars be raised and ap- propriated for the purpose of improving and constructing a portion of Lowell Street from Grand Street southeasterly toward Reading Square together with such sums as may be provided by the State and County under Section 34. Chapter 90 of the General Laws.
Article 26. On motion of Wendell P. Davis it was voted that the sum of one thousand ($1,000.00) dollars be raised and appropriated for the purpose of completing the construction of the following Streets : West Hill Circle
Wescroft Road 500.00
$250.00
Springvale Road 250.00
all of the above having been laid out as Public Ways by the Town at the Annual Town Meeting held March 17, 1941 under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments.
Article 29. On motion of Otis B. Ruggles it was voted that the sum of fourteen hundred ($1,400.00) dollars be raised and appropriated by including one hundred twenty ($120.00) dollars in the tax levy and by transferring one thousand two hundred and eighty ($1.280.00) dollars from the Insurance Account for the purpose of erecting a flagpole on Reading Common and the Town Accountant be and Ire hereby is authorized and instructed to transfer said sum for carrying out the purpose of this vote.
Article 33. Harold W. Putnam moved that the sum of forty-five hundred (34.500.00) dollars be raised and appropriated for the purpose of conducting and promoting recreation, play, sport, physical education and other sucial, educational and recreational activities upon such land and buildings as defined in Section 14 of Chapter 45 of the General Laws, with authority to exercise all powers conferred therein including the purchase of the necessary equipment and the employment of teachers, supervisors and other officers and employees and the fixing of their compensation.
This motion was lost.
Article 34. J. Warren Killam, Jr., moved that the Board of Select- men be and they hereby are authorized and empowered to acquire for and in behalf of the Town by purchase, eminent domain or otherwise, six parcels of land together with the buildings thereon, lying northerly and being adjacent to the present Senior High School lot and situated on Linden. Lowell and Sanborn Streets, for the construction of a new Senior High School and that the sum of sixty thousand ($60,000.00) dollars De raised and appropriated for the acquisition of such land.
This mation was defeated.
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Article 35. J. Warren Killam moved that the Board of Selectmen be and they hereby are authorized and empowered to acquire for and in behalf of the Town, by purchase, eminent domain or otherwise, cer- tain tract or tracts of land, with the buildings thereon, in or adjoining Birch Meadow, so-called, and to dedicate certain other parcels of land now owned by the Town, and situated in or near Birch Meadow, as the School Committee may determine, for the construction of a new Senior High School, and that the sum of ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars be raised and appropriated for such purchase or taking.
It was voted to lay this article on the table.
Article 36. Joseph D. Knight moved that a committee of seven members be and hereby is established for the purpose of making a comprehensive study and investigation of a suitable site for a new Senior High School and related matters in connection therewith. Such committee to consist of four precinct members, one from each precinct, to be elected by the precincts at meetings called for such purpose; and three registered voters of the Town to be appointed by the Town Moderator, one of these registered voters to be a member of the School Committee, one a member of the Planning Board and the other at large. Such committee shall report at the next annual town meeting or at any special meeting to be held prior thereto, the result of the study and investigation with definite recommendations relative to the subject matter herein contained.
This motion was defeated.
On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted to adjourn and meet in Security Hall on Monday, March 25, 1946 at 7:45 P.M. Adjourned 10:40 P.M. Attendance 135
A true record. Attest :
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