USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1959 > Part 9
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The School Committee in setting up its 1960-1961 salary schedule made its first break-away from the traditional preparation-experience formula for determining teachers' salaries by establishing a "career" category. This provides for higher salaries above the standard maxi- mum for teachers who will be hired on an eleven-month basis and will assume certain additional duties such as summer school teaching, course planning, studying special courses, and so on. It is anticipated that this category will eventually do away with the present makeshift system of differentials except possibly for athletic coaching. By intro- duction this change from the old hide-bound formula, the School Com- mittee believes it has laid the ground-work for a career teacher to be able to look forward to financial rewards comparable to those in other professions.
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL R. BERGHOLTZ, Chairman
WILLIAM E. BURPEE
NEWELL H. MORTON DR. HENRY M. PAYNTER
ROBERT E. TURNER BARBARA E. WINKLER
98
SCHOOL COMMITTEE BUDGET - 1959
Appropriations, Transfers & Refunds 1959
Expended 1959
SALARIES:
$
53,315.99
Supt., Clerk and Enf. of Law
$ 52,743.10
50,516.66
Directors
51,005.28
3,000.00
Misc. Salaries of Instruction
2,667.53
49,033.30
Principals
49,153.36
712,741.70
Teachers
707,729.55
94,546.00
Custodians and Matrons
94,194.92
12,022.65
Health
11,809.50
$ 972,176.30
$ 969,303.24
MAINTENANCE:
Supt. Office Expense
$ 956.22
400.00
Research and Prof. Study
400.00
595.00
Printing
736.75
500.00
Travel Expense
207.70
800.00
Prin. Office Expense
920.74
3,300.00
Telephone
3,418.75
$ 6,595.00
Total General Control
....
$ 6,640.16
INSTRUCTION:
$ 1,200.00
Travel Exp. Directors and Prin. $
1,007.92
14,750.00
Textbooks and Supplementary Books
13,734.38
14,000.00
Supplies - School
12,593.22
2,500.00
Supplies - Shop
2,403.59
1,000.00
Supplies - Dom. Science
877.98
1,845.00
Audio-visual
1,092.45
919.75
Educational T V
919.75
1,400.00
Physical Ed. Equipment
1,395.55
1,500.00
Tests
1,461.70
4,565.77
Instructional Apparatus
4,569.47
100.00
Express Charges
62.68
43,780.52
Total Instruction
$ 40,118.69
OPERATION OF PLANT:
$
25,500.00
Fuel
$
23,660.10
2,000.00
Water and Sewer
2,268.00
20,500.00
Electricity
20,542.08
500.00
Gas
414.38
200.00
Laundry and Summer Cleaning
69.71
400.00
Ash Removal
224.25
600.00
Travel and Operation of Vehicles
823.30
7,000.00
Janitors Supplies
6,848.97
$ 56,700.00
Total Operation of Plant $ 54,850.79
99
$ 1,000.00
MAINTENANCE OF PLANT
$ 2,605.00
Grounds
$ 2,990.99
9,629.00 635.00 5,045.00 None
Buildings
12,126.70
Service System
688.31
Plumbing and Heating
7,318.08
Furniture Repair and Replacement
None
$ 17,914.00
Total Maintenance of Plant $ 23,124.08
AUXILIARY AGENCIES:
$
3,800.00
Library
$ 3,686.32
650.00
Health Expense
671.66
450.00
Comemncement
433.04
$
4,900.00
Total Auxiliary Agencies
$ 4,791.02
CAPITAL OUTLAY:
None
None
$ 129,889.52
Total General Maintenance
$ 129,524.74
$ 975,176.30
Total Salaries
$ 969,303.24
2,228.61
Transferred to National Defense Fund Law #864
$ 972,947.69 $1,139,342.21
Grand Total
$1,098,827.98
31,505.00
Transportation
30,985.04
5,000.00
Vocational Tuition
3,637.57
11,000.00
Athletic Account
11,000.00
4,020.00
Adult Education
3,083.40
100
READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE - 1960 Receipts not from Tax Levy - Showing Net Cost to Town January 4, 1960
Estimate 1960
Appropriation Credits $1,275,893.94
GENERAL ACCOUNT
1959
Total Expenditures (less transportation (less Vocational Tuition)
Receipts :
State Reimbursement
$ 147,521.71
4,000.00
Tuition State Wards
4,460.11
5,000.00
Mentally Retarded
5,931.03
4,500.00
162,022.00
1,000.00
Sundry
1,661.12
164,073.97
$1,113,871.94
Net Cost to Town
$ 934,754.01
VOCATIONAL TUITION
$
5,000.00
Total Expenditures
$ 3,637.57
Receipts:
State Reimbursement
2,075.00
$
3,200.00
Net Cost to Town
$ 1,562.57
TRANSPORTATION
$
34,230.00
Total Expenditures
$ 30,985.04
Receipts:
1,250.00
State Reimbursement
1,365.12
$ 32,980.00
Net Cost to Town
$ 29,619.92
$1,098,827.98
$ 147,522.00
Reim. on Salary of Youth Counselor
4,500.00
1,800.00
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee and Citizens of Reading:
I herewith submit the report of the Superintendent of Schools for the year ending December 31, 1959, it being the sixty-seventh in a series of such annual reports.
Enrollment
The enrollment of the public schools as of October 1, 1959, was 3860, an increase of 161, or 5% over the total enrollment in 1958. There were 540 pupils enrolled in the St. Agnes Parochial School in grades one through eight. The pupils of the public schools were distributed to the various buildings as follows:
School
Grades
Enrollment
Lowell
1- 4
103
Prospect
1- 4
107
Pearl Street
1- 6
477
Highland
1- 6
404
Joshua Eaton
1- 6
537
Birch Meadow
1- 6
463
Junior High
7- 8
689
Senior High
9-12
1062
Special Education
18
Two hundred and nine persons serve in various capacities in the total operation of the school department including 151 classroom teach- ers (51 men and 100 women) ; 18 administrators, supervisors or directors; 13 secretaries; 23 custodians; 2 nurses and 2 physicians.
During the year it was necessary for the administrative staff to recruit a total of twenty teachers to replace 15 teachers who resigned, plus 5 new teachers to take care of the increased enrollment. The turn- over in our teaching staff was the result of several reasons summarized as follows:
Turnover 10.1%; resignations, 15.
To accept positions in other school systems
7
Marriage
3
Leave of absence
1
For further professional study
1
Left teaching
3
The turnover in our teaching staff was not a serious problem during the past year. However, it is still difficult to find qualified and well trained teachers for certain specialized subject areas at the secondary school level, including science, mathematics and industrial arts. We have been fortunate in maintaining a reasonably good balance of men and women on our staff, there being 51 men and 100 women class- room teachers. Except for the seven men who teach at the elementary level, all of our men teachers are on the staffs of our junior and senior high schools.
During the past year many of our teachers have been engaged in various programs of research, experimentation, professional study, and special projects relating to the improvement of instruction in the class-
102
room. Four teachers were awarded special scholarship grants for ad- vanced study in science and mathematics during the summer school sessions of 1959.
Instruction
Considerable effort and work on the part of our staff continues to be devoted to the task of upgrading the quality of our instructional program at all levels in our school system. Reference is made in some detail in the separate reports of the administrative staff to the following items:
1. The complete utilization of the expanded program in educa- tional television in all elementary schools. Through the facilities of Station WGBH, serving most of the schools in communities in the metro- politan area, educational television is no longer an experiment. Rapid- ly increasing use of television will be made in the near future to provide the classroom teacher with a teaching aid that has unlimited possibilities.
2. Expansion of the program in physical education, intra-mural and interscholastic athletics. Reading Memorial High School is a member of the Middlesex League and competes with the other seven schools of the League in varsity, junior varsity and freshman teams in the following sports: Football, basketball, baseball, cross country, track, hockey, tennis and golf. The school department has a large capital investment in terms of playrooms, gymnasiums and playing fields. Our budget for the support of athletics for the year 1960 at the senior high school calls for an estimated expenditure of $20,324 with estimated receipts of $5,100. This amount of money does not in- clude salaries for the coaching staff.
3. As recommended by Dr. Conant in his report, "The American High School Today", our testing and counseling program has been strengthened. Applications were filed and special financial grants were received from the Federal Government under the terms of the National Defense Education Act, in the amount of $1,193. This ap- propriation has been used to purchase tests, publications, materials and equipment for our guidance counselors at the senior high school.
4. Applications were filed and grants totaling $2,783 were re- ceived under the provisions of Public Law 863 to provide special equip- ment and materials for the improvement of instruction in science, mathematics and foreign languages. All funds received from the Federal Government under the terms of the National Defense Education Act must be matched dollar for dollar by the local school department.
5. The second year of our summer school operation provided an opportunity for more pupils to participate in classes for remedial in- struction, as well as enrichment and special courses in personal type- writing, science, mathematics and driver education. In the near future it seems evident that there will be a wider use of school plants and facilities for summer school sessions, and recreational and evening school courses.
103
6. The staff at the senior high school has continued the study of their organization, operation and program of studies in preparation for the evaluation study to be made by a team of educators in the spring of 1960.
7. A committee of teachers and principals of the elementary schools reviewed and revised the course of study in mathematics preliminary to the selection of a new basal textbook in arithmetic for grades one through six.
8. The junior high school reorganized its daily time schedule to accommodate pupils in grades 7 and 8 on an overlapping session basıs. This was necessary to meet the overcrowded conditions as the result of the continued increase in enrollment.
9. Our school libraries at all levels have purchased many ad- ditional volumes of all kinds with money provided by school depart- ment appropriations, federal funds and donations by the Parent- Teacher Associations. More and more the school library becomes a vital part of the instructional program and is utilized to the fullest extent by the pupils.
School Plant
Under the leadership of Mr. Macdonald our school custodians con- tinue to do outstanding work in the maintenance of our school build- ings and grounds. In addition to a lengthy list of general repairs and items of maintenance, the following major projects were completed:
1. Senior High School - Graded and seeded ground at entrance of athletic field; hottopped entrances to athletic field and area sur- rounding music room; graded and improved area for new driveway to the rear of the school; constructed a new barrel-washing stand in the corridor of rear entrance to the cafeteria.
2. Junior High School - Installation of a fire detector system, thus completing the work of equipping all schools with automatic fire detectors for purposes of safety and protection of property. Ex- tensive work was done during the summer on improving the school's grounds including lower play field, track, athletic stands, removal of old field house, and repairs to driveways and grounds. Painting in- cluded the cafeteria, center stairwell, office, library and two classrooms. A complete survey has been made of necessary repairs, alterations and new equipment to renovate and improve the Parker Junior High School. This program includes the installation of new lighting, and electrical wiring and equipment; new heating equipment; roof repairs, painting and numerous items of general maintenance.
3. In the elementary schools the major items included the follow- ing: Improvement of all playfields and grounds; started a program for refinishing and upkeep of classroom furniture; installed new in- cinterator at Joshua Eaton School; built benches on sides of playrooms at Highland and Pearl Street Schools for seating purposes. At the Prospect Street School new sinks and cabinets were installed in cor- ridors of both first and second floors, and a hot water tank was pur- chased to provide hot water for the school. The playground on the
104
south side of the building was hottopped, and the exterior of the build- ing was painted. Five new flushometers were installed in toilets at the Pearl Street School.
During the past few years substantial gains have been made in the general maintenance of our school grounds and buildings. The Town has a large investment in school property. Every effort should be made to conserve and protect this investment with a sensible pro- gram for upkeep and repairs of our school buildings.
As we face the uncertain future of the decade ahead, it may be of some comfort to look back over the bomb-haunted, anxious, pros- perous and busy decade just past, and recall some of the accomplish- ments made during the last ten years through the hard work and co- operative effort of many people involved in providing a program of education for this growing suburban community. In fact, most of our problems were the result of this one factor of steady, sustained growth in our school population - 2558 in 1949; 4310 in October 1959.
In September 1949 the new Joshua Eaton School opened with six- teen of the eighteen classrooms in use. This was the first of three schools constructed in this ten-year period plus a new junior high school authorized and now under construction. In addition, the Prospect Street School was reclaimed, renovated and put into operation. Also in this period St. Agnes Church constructed two modern schools to house their present enrollment of 540 pupils in grades one through eight. As the result of severe damage by fire it was necessary to completely repair and refurnish the Highland School. While the face-lifting process was in progress, children of this school were housed in the Pearl Street School on a double session basis. As it became apparent that it would be necessary to use the Lowell Street School for an indefinite period of time, it seemed sensible to renovate and repair this four-classroom schoolhouse and provide facilities comparable to those available in our other elementary schools. This work was completed during the sum- mer of 1958.
In these years of inflation, our salary budget rose from the amount of $381,843 to the sum of $975,176; our total school department budget from $444,740 to $1,171.543. In 1949 our school transportation cost amounted to $13,251; ten years later, $31,505.
During this era five special, appointed committees of citizens of our Town have made significant contributions in assisting the School Committee with many of its problems. The Birch Meadow Study Committee developed a long range program for the draining and development of the whole Birch Meadow area for play fields for school and recreational purposes. The School Facilities Committee prepared a valuable report projecting future school enrollments and recom- mending a building program to meet the present and future needs of the growing school population. Following the recommendation of this report in 1954 a building committee was appointed to construct and equip the Birch Meadow Elementary School which was occupied in September 1957. Realizing the need for the acquisition of suitable land to provide future school sites, a committee was appointed to
105
make the necessary surveys and recommendations relating to the problem. As a result of this study, the Town Meetings on separate occasions have given votes of confidence in the recommended pro- posals of the site committee and purchased three parcels of land for future school and recreational purposes. Finally, in 1956, the Town Meeting approved the request of the School Committee for the ap- pointment of a special committee to build and equip a new junior high school now in the process of fulfilment. The citizens of the com- munity who have given so freely of their time and energy in service on the various committees deserve the highest praise and commenda- tions for their achievements.
In the past ten years significant gains can be recorded in the development of our total educational program by citing such accom- plishments as:
1. The Adult Education Evening School classes in practical arts.
2. The summer school program now accommodating both elemen- tary and secondary school pupils.
3. The organization of two classrooms for pupils needing special education.
4. The employment of a director of guidance and subsequent organization of guidance and testing services for pupils at all grade levels.
5. The acceptance of the provisions of a new state law authorizing the employment of a Youth Adjustment Counselor.
6. With the facilities of a new senior high school, expanded courses were provided in the subject areas of art. music, practical arts, physical education and athletics. A director of athletics was appointed to manage the whole operation of a wide variety of seasonal sports. Courses of study in English, science, mathematics have been revised. Advanced placement courses in social studies and foreign language have been organized, and a course in driver education introduced.
7. In the elementary schools the Rinehart System of Penmanship was established. A remedial reading program was organized under the direction of Miss Barbara Hill; new courses in science were introduced, and the television became an assistant to the classroom teacher. The instrumental music program has expanded, and a director of art was employed to supervise this phase of the curriculum. Through the co- operation of the Mechanics Savings Bank a systematic program of thrift and banking was provided.
Finally, for the past three years, surveys have been made to de- termine our eligibility for federal funds under the provisions of Public Law 874. To date the school department has received $56,922 from the Federal Government for this three-year period. These funds have been expended under the direction of the School Committee to reduce the operating costs of the schools.
The formulation of the policies that govern the operation and control of the local school system is the responsibility of those people who serve as members of the School Committee. These citizens of the Town who have given so much of their time and energy during
106
a decade that has seen such change and growth in our schools, should take considerable pride and satisfaction in the results that are the fruit of their labors, namely, schools that continue to maintain high standards of education and thus receive the generous support of the parents and citizens of the community. These are the names of the people who have been members of the School Committee during the past ten years:
Alexander P. Glover, Gladys F. Milton, Gould B. Ruggles, John L. Griffin, Robert E. Turner, Newell H. Morton, Philip R. White, William E. Burpee, Paul R. Bergholtz, Barbara E. Winkler, Henry M. Paynter.
ROBERT F. PERRY,
Superintendent of Schools
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE READING MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
I. Enrollment September 1959 - 1067
Last year at this time our total enrollment was 1031. Our antici- pated enrollments for next year, 1960-1961, will be approximately 1149. It is interesting to note that ten years ago, in 1950-51, the total enroll- ment in the high school was 569, a little less than 50% of the number of pupils anticipated in 1960-61.
The school year of 1960-61 will be a challenge which, I am sure, our able and enthusiastic faculty and staff will take in their stride. Plans have already been made to accommodate this peak load of students. In September 1959 there were 277 pupils in grade 9; in September 1960 we shall have 359 pupils as incoming Freshmen. For- tunately we shall be able to use our present facilities in such a way that we can provide for these additional pupils in an adequate man- ner without impairing in any way the educational effectiveness of our instructional program.
The construction of the new Coolidge Junior High School will pre- vent any serious overcrowding of the facilities of our Senior High School. In the school year 1961-62, when the 9th grade is removed from the Senior High School, our pupil enrollment in grades 10 through 12 will be approximately 857. Thanks to the intelligent, long-range planning of the citizens of Reading, the physical facilities of the Senior High School should be most adequate to care for the anticipated enrollment of pupils for some years to come.
II. Staff Changes
When school opened in September 1959, our annual turn-over of teachers was less than in the two previous years. I am happy to report that all of the teaching vacancies on our staff were filled with promising, well-trained teachers. Five of the seven new teachers have had considerable teaching experience in other schools. Our exper- ienced staff of Assistant Principals, Department Heads, and Counselors remains intact and has been able to supply constructive leadership to staff meetings, to curriculum reorganization, and to strengthening the program of instruction.
107
Since September 1957 our pupil enrollment has increased from 1006 to 1067. However, in these two years we have added only one addi- tional teacher to the total number of teachers on the High School staff. Reading High School's instructional program is still characterized by the moderate size of its individual classes as compared with similar schools in other areas. In Social Studies, Foreign Language, and Mathematics, our average class is now between 27 and 28. In English, Science, and Business Education the average class size is between 23 and 25.
During the summer of 1959 the following teachers received Na- tional Science Foundation Grants for further intensive study in science or mathematics: Mr. David Garland, Mr. Frank Logan, Mr. James Murphy, and Miss Hazel Percy. In addition, Miss Elinor Ravesi, a new teacher of Chemistry at our school this year, received a similar grant which enabled her to spend an academic year in Advanced Graduate Study at the University of Pennsylvania during 1958-1959.
III. Educational Highlights 1959-1960
In a brief report of this type it is difficult to select nine or ten educational highlights of the past year to indicate some of the many dynamic changes and educational advances which have been brought about by the cooperative efforts of pupils and teachers. The items mentioned are probably no more important or significant than those omitted for lack of time and space. They are merely illustrative, not inclusive.
With the able assistance of Mr. Albert Woodward a new summer school program at the high school level was launched in Reading in 1959. During the six weeks' session courses, both of a remedial nature and for enrichment, were offered in English, Remedial Reading, Arith- metic, Algebra, Plane Geometry, Personal Typing, and Driver Education. The school was successfully selp-supporting; all expenses were de- frayed by tuition fees collected with the assistance of the P.T.A. Council. The staff consisted of five regular teachers from the Reading School System with Mr. James Aldrich serving as Director. Classes were held at the high school from June 29 through August 9 in the morning from 8:15 until 12 noon.
The thirty-nine girls and eighty boys who voluntarily attended this summer school found it to be worthwhile. There were no attendance or disciplinary problems. A genuine and refreshing desire to learn was most evident. Our first summer school at the high school level was an unqualified success and will, I feel sure, become a permanent part of the Reading Public School System in the future.
In June of this year our Guidance Department and Administrative Staff completed the difficult task of revising completely the school's permanent record card. Our aim was to develop a card of our own which, when photographed by a photocopying machine could be used as a transcript for college admission and for prospective employers of students.
In the past the making of transcripts has consumed an ever- increasing amount of the time of our office staff. In 1958-1959 our
108
office made 315 transcripts for seniors applying for college and 175 other transcripts for graduates and undergraduates. This increased demand for transcripts will grow because more and more of our students are going on to schools of higher education. It is not uncommon for present seniors to make application to three or more colleges. In 1949 52% of the graduates of our school went directly to work. In 1959 only 40% went directly to work; 60% went on to some form of further education beyond high school. In September 1959 the school acquired a most satisfactory photocopying machine, purchased in part by money generously donated by the Class of 1959, with the balance supplied by the School Committee. Our new method of making transcripts is already beginning to pay rich dividends in speeding up this process and saving valuable clerical time in the office. We are now one of the few schools in this area which can make a transcript, by photo- copying directly the pupil's permanent record.
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