USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1927-1931 > Part 13
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$ 24,600.00
$ 5,100.00
Contents
500.00
100.00
Sealers Supplies
1,200.00
Library
Building
20,000.00
7,500.00
Contents
13,000.00
Frost School
Building
7,000.00
7,000.00
Contents
none
Sargent School
Building
25,500.00
25,500.00
Contents
none
Cameron School
Building
11,000.00
8,450.00
Contents
none
Parkerville School
Building
1,500.00
Contents
none
Nabnasset School
Building
15,000.00
15,000.00
Contents
none
Academy
Building
29,000.00
4,500.00
Contents
500.00
Westford Fire House
Building
6,500.00
Contents
(not trucks)
300.00
300.00
Cottage
2,000.00
Graniteville Fire House
Building
2,200.00
2,200.00
Contents (not trucks)
300.00
300.00
Forge Village Fire House
Building
800.00
800.00
Contents (not trucks)
300.00
300.00
Westford Home
House
6,550.00
Contents
250.00
Barn
5,500.00
2,500.00
Tools
1,150.00
Cows
1,100.00
Horses
200.00
Total $173,950.00
$ 79,000.00
Liability Insurance is figured according to payrolls.
Fire trucks and road machinery covered by fire and liability in- surance.
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Finance Committee in their report of one year ago made the statement that it was their aim to recommend the appropriation of such sums as would bring about a tax rate of $30.00 per thousand. This was accomplished and last year the rate was at that figure.
This year we wanted to bring about the same result but have been unable to do so. Requests have been made which, if granted, would bring about a tax rate of many dollars higher.
The Committee have carefully considered every article of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting calling for an appropriation of money and have recommended such sums which, in their judgment, are fair and just to all departments of the town government.
The following tabulation gives in detail the amounts asked for, the amounts expended in 1928 and the amounts recommended to be appropriated for paying the bills of 1929. Explanations are also made covering some of the articles and requests.
Article 3. Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the Incorpora- tion of the Town. The town should certainly take notice of the an- niversary and plan for a fitting celebration of same. We have re- commended the appropriation of $2500 to defray the expenses incurred. Article 4 .- Insurance. We recommend the expiring policies be renewed and additional insurance placed on the various public build- ings for the term of three years and that the sum of $2800 be approp- riated to pay same.
Article 6. Item 2. Police Department. We recommend the sum of $2700 be appropriated, this being the same as for the year 1928 and being somewhat above the amount expended in that year.
Article 6. Item 3. Fire Department. We recommend the sum of $3000 be appropriated, a sum larger than this was asked for witlı the idea of painting all of the building used by the department. We recommend that the expenditures be made at as low a figure as possible from the appropriation of $3000 in order that a sufficient sum be made available for the painting of one building this year, preferably the fire house at the center.
Article 6. Item 7. Forest Fires. £ We recommend the approp- riation of $500 which we believe will be enough to take care of the ordinary expenses. In case of an emergency the reserve fund can be called upon.
Article 6. Item 12. Health Department. We recommend that the sum of $4000 be appropriated, this being about $400 more than was used in 1928. Should an emergency arise calling for more trans- fers can be made from the Reserve Fund.
Article 6. Item 14. Highway Department. We understand that there have been petitions filed for the improvement of several roads. An appropriation was made last year for the rebuilding of Main St. with State and County Aid. The sum was not sufficient to complete
84
only about half of the work. We recommend the appropriation of the sum of $4000, which, with like amounts from the State and County ought to complete the same. We recommend the postponement of the reconstruction of the Concord road to another year. We re- commend the appropriation of $18500 for the general repairs of the highways, also the sum of $5000 for the upkeep of the various state and County aid roads.
Article 6. Item 17. Schools. We recommend the appropriation of the sum of $65552, this is the same sum as last year in which un- usual expenses occurred, many of which will not be necessary this year and it is our belief that by careful consideration the school committee can accomplish the results aimed for without a larger appropriation.
Article 6. Item 28. Liability Insurance. We recommend that the sum of $700 be appropriated to take care of same.
Article 7. New Bridges. The Boston and Maine Railroad were obliged to build three new bridges owing to the double tracking of the Stony Book Branch. They called upon the Town of Westford to pay a portion of the cost. After meetings with the Railroads Officials and Board of Selectmen a meeting was held with the Finance Com- mittee and it was decided upon recommendation of the Town Counsel that it was best to make a settlement with the Railroad and the sum of $10,000 was agreed upon. The Finance Committee recommend that this sum be appropriated and the bill paid this year.
Article 8. Additional Street Lights. We recommend the in- stalling of the following new lights to complete circuits already begun: 4 on Millstone Hill Road, 1 on Robinson Road, 2 on Groton Road, 1 on Chamberlain Road. The installation of lights on the Old Lowell Road we would recommend postponing until a future time.
Amount Voted 1928
Amount Used 1928
Amount Asked 1929
Amount Recom- mended $ 2,500.00
Article 3.200th Anniversary of the Incorp. of Town Article 4. Insurance of Town property Article 6.
$
$ $ 2,500.00
2,800.00
2,800.00
Item 1. General Government
Selectmen
500.00
406.77
500.00
Accountant
900.00
878.48
900.00
Treasurer
750.00
714.45
750.00
Collector
1,250.00
1,424,37
1,450.00
Assessors
800.00
818.66
900.00
Town Counsel
300.00
318.15
400.00
Town Clerk
500.00
293.91
500.00
Registration & Election
1,400.00
971.78
600.00
6,400.00
5,789.57
6,000.00
6,000.00
Town Hall
1,700.00
1,699.87
1,950.00
1,700.00
Iten 2.
Police Department
2,700.00
2,494.53
3,000.00
2,700.00
Item 3. Fire Department
3,000.00
2,908.53
3,800.00
3,000.00
Iten 4.
Hydrants
2,920.00
2,840.00
2,920.00
2,920.00
Item 5.
Sealer of Weights and Measures
125.00
109.03
125.00
125.00
Item 6.
Fish and Game Warden
100.00
75.00
100.00
100.00
Item 7.
Forest Fires
1,000.00
447.66
1,000.00
500.00
Item 8. Fire Extinguishers
75.00
75.00
75.00
75.00
Item 9.
Town Forest
200.00
187.00
200.00
200.00
Item 10. Tree Warden
300.00
297.25
300.00
300.00
.
85
Item 11. Moth Department
2,700.00
2,698.32
2,700.00
2,700.00
Item 12. Health Department
4,800.00
3,583.68
4.800.00
4,000.00
Item 13. Cattle Inspector
150.00
150.00
150.00
150.00
Item 14. Highway Purposes
State & County Aid
Groton, Acton, Graniteville and Brookside Roads
5,000.00
4,997.75
5,000.00
5,000.00
Main St. Westford
3,333.00
2,592.58
4,000.00
4,000.00
Concord Road
6,000.00
Town Roads
18,500.00
18,490.13
18,500.00
18,500.00
Snow & Ice
1,500.00
1,491.75
1,500.00
1,500.00
Brush Cutting
500.00
489.35
500.00
500.00
Street Signs
100.00
82.54
200.00
200.00
Item 15. Board of Public Welfare
Westford Home
5,700.00
5,699.23
11,200.00
11,200.00
Outside Aid
5,500.00
4,997.46
Item 16.
Soldiers' Benefits
2,400.00
2,012.00
2,400.00
2,400.00
Item 17.
Schools
65,552.00
65,499.65
68,300.00
65,552.00
Item 18.
Vocational Tuition
4,000.00
3,530.24
4,000.00
4,000.00
Item
19. Vocational Transportation
1 500.00
1,494.89
1,500.00
Item 20.
Public Library
2,200.00
2,761.82
2,200.00
2,200.00
Dog Licenses
592.91
Dog Lic.
Item 21.
Care of Common
200.00
191.61
300.00
300.00
Item 22.
Lighting Clock
50.00
50.00
Item 23.
Band Concerts
400.00
400.00
400.00
400.00
Item 24. Memorial Day
300.00
300.41
475.00
475.00
Item 25. Publishing Town Reports
625.00
Transferred from Reserve
18.00
643.00
600.00
600.00
..
86
Item 26.
Cemeteries
1,200.00
1,090.64
1,200.00
1,000.00
Item 27. Street Lights
7,725.00
6,463.44
8,000.00
8,000.00
Item 28. Liability Insurance
600.00
700.00
700.00
Transferred from reserve
74.67
674.67
Item 20. General Loans
6,500.00
6,500.00
8,500.00
8,500.00
Item 30.
Interest on General Loans
4,100.00
3,245.62
5,169.00
5,169.00
Item 31.
Interest on Revenue Loans
1.700.00
1,689.84
1,750.00
1,750.00
Item 32. Outstanding Bills Dec. 31, 1928
Estimated 1,000.00
1,000.00
Item 33. Overdrawn Appropriations
8.97
8.97
Item 34.
Headquarters for American Legion
150.00
Item 35. Reserve Fund
2,000.00 Trans f 592.67
2,000.00
150.00 2,000.00
Article 7. Judgment of B. & M. Railroad
10,000.00
10,000.00
Article S. Additional Street Lights
144.00
144.00
Article 9. Farm Bureau
400.00
400.00
400.00
400.00
Article 12. Additional Hydrants
40.00
185,468.97
FIXED CHARGES
County Taxes State Taxes
6,870.79
9,135.87
15,989.54
201.458.51
87
..
Estimated Income
Corporation & Bank Tax
22,333.72
Income Tax
19,030.00
Poll Tax
2,010.00
All Other
9,135.87
52,508.59
Surplus
14,000.00
66,508.59
.
184,949.92
Valuation of Town 4,317,481.00
Taking into consideration the probable increase in valuation and the same income as last year, with the use of a sur- plus of $14,000 we estimate the tax rate will be about $31 per thousand instead of a much larger one should we have recommended the sums asked for.
It is the opinion of the members of this committee that the assessment of the property of the town is very unequal and if a revaluation were taken that the total valuation of the town would be much increased and thus a lower tax rate would be assured. We have repeatedly called this matter to the attention of the Board of Assessors but without any material result, we again ask them to make a revision this coming year.
HERBERT V. HILDRETH JULIAN A. CAMERON JOHN C. ABBOT, P. HENRY HARRINGTON. OSCAR R. SPALDING FRANK L. FURBUSH Finance Committee.
88
89
Warrant for Annual Town Meeting, Westford, Mass.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MIDDLESEX, SS.
To the Constable of the Town of Westford in said County:
GREETING:
You are hereby required, in the name of the Commonwealth afore- said, to notify and warn all the inhabitants of said Town qualified to vote in elections, and also in Town affairs, to meet in their several Polling Places, viz .:
Precinct 1. Town Hall, Westford Centre.
Precinct 2. Abbot's Hall, Graniteville.
Precinct 3. Abbot's Hall, Brookside.
Precinct 4. Abbot's Hall, Forge Village.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1929
being the second Monday in said month, at 6.30 o'clock in the morning, for the following purposes:
To bring in their votes for the following officers:
For Three Years
One Selectman,
One Member Board of Public Welfare,
One Assessor,
Two Members of the School Committee,
One Member Board of Cemetery Commissioners,
One Trustee of Public Library,
One Member Board of Health,
For One Year
Moderator,
Town Treasurer,
Member of School Committee (to fill vacancy),
Collector of Taxes,
Constable,
Tree Warden.
The polls will be open from 6.30 a. m. to 4 p. m., and to meet in the Town Hall at Westford Centre on the following
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1929
at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, then and there to act upon the following articles, viz .:
90
1st. To hear the reports of the Finance Committee and other Boards and Officers.
2nd. To hear the report of the Finance Committee relative to the salaries of Town Officers.
3rd. To hear the report of the Committee relative to celebrating the 200th anniversary of the incorporation of the Town and appro- priate money therefor.
4th. To hear the report of the Committee relative to insuring the public buildings against loss by fire and appropriate money therefor.
5th. To determine the compensation of the Tax Collector.
6th. To appropriate money to meet the cost and expenses of the following named departments, officers and purposes:
1. General Government.
2. Police Department.
3. Fire Department.
4. Hydrants.
5. Sealer of Weights and Measures.
6. Fish and Game Warden.
7. Forest Fires.
8. Fire Extinguishers.
9. Town Forest.
10. Tree Warden.
11. Moth Department.
12. Health Department.
13. Cattle Inspector.
14 Highway Purposes.
15. Board of Public Welfare.
16. Soldiers' Benefits.
17. School Department.
18. Vocational Tuition.
19. Transportation of Vocational Students.
20. Public Library.
21. Care of the Common.
22. Lighting Clock.
23 Band Concerts.
24. Commemoration of Memorial Day.
25 Publishing Town Report.
26. Cemetery Commissioners.
27 Electric Lights.
28. Liability Insurance.
29. General Loans.
30. Interest on General Loans.
91
31. Interest on Revenue Loans.
32. Outstanding Bills December 31, 1928.
33. Reserve Fund under Section 6 of Chapter 40 of the General Laws.
34. Headquarters of Westford Post, American Legion.
35. Overdrawn Appropriations.
7th. To appropriate money to pay the judgment of the Boston & Maine Railroad for alteration of bridges, over and under the highways.
8th. To see if the Town will vote to install additional street lights as follows:
4 Millstone Hill Road.
1 Robinson Road.
2 Groton Road.
1 Chamberlain Road.
16 Old Lowell Road.
9th. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $400 and elect a Director under the provisions of Section 40-45 of Chapter 128 of the General Laws.
10th. To see what action the Town will take relative to the claim of J. Ellsworth York.
11th. To see if the Town will vote to accept Sections 21-28 inclusive of Chapter 136 of the General Laws, as amended by an Act entitled "An Act to permit Certain Sports and Games on the Lord's Day" approved by the voters at the last state election.
12th. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to enter into a contract with the Westford Water Company for an additional hydrant on Maple Street.
13th. To see what action the Town will take upon the suit of the Town of Dedham and appropriate money therefor.
14th. To see if the Town, in accordance with the provisions of Sec- tion 28 of Chapter 130 of the General Laws, will authorize the the Selectmen to petition the Division of Fisheries and Game of the Department of Conservation to stock Keyes Pond with food fish.
15th. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow money in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year.
16th. To determine the manner of collecting taxes for the current year, also the rate of interest on taxes remaining unpaid at a time to be fixed by the vote of the Town, and when and how said taxes shall be paid into the treasury.
And you are hereby directed to serve this Warrant by posting up true and attested copies at the Town Hall and each Post Office in said Westford, seven days at least, before the time of holding said meeting.
92
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this Warrant with your doings there on, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding the first meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands, this twenty-fourth day of January in the year of our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Twenty-Nine.
BURTON D. GRIFFITH, WILLIAM R. TAYLOR, MARK A. PALMER,
Selectmen of Westford.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF WESTFORD, MASS.
É
WESTFOR
NN
O
D
1729. @
CORPORATED
3
SEPT. 2
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,1928
3
Organization, School Committee
-
Axel G. Lundberg
.Term
expires
1931
Albert G. Forty
Term
expires
1931
Arthur G. Hildreth, Chairman
Term
expires 1930
Martha G. Whiting
Term
expires
1930
Eva F. Wright, Secretary
Term
expires
1929
Edward Spinner
Term
expires
1929
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Harold D. Sylvester, Westford, Mass. Tel. Residence 144 Office 133 Westford Academy Office Hours 8.00 to 9.00 A. M.
COMMITTEE ON TEXT-BOOKS Eva F. Wright, Westford, Mass. Tel. 56.
SUPPLY AGENT Harold D. Sylvester
TRUANT OFFICERS
John Sullivan, Forge Village, Mass.
Willard H. Beebe, Graniteville, Mass. Charles Edwards, Nabnasset, Mass. J. A. Healey, Graniteville, Mass. Everett Miller, Westford, Mass.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN Cyril A. Blaney, M. D., Westford, Mass. Tel. 26.
SCHOOL NURSE C. Veronica Payne, R. N., Westford, Mass. Tel. Residence 112-13 Office 41-3 Town Hall
4
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Citizens of Westford:
We herewith respectfully submit our report together with the various executives of the school department.
The Elementary Schools of the Town, thanks to the building of previous years, are in excellent condition, and ample for accommo- dation of all. Costs here should be stationary from now on.
Secondary enrollment has materially increased this year, (ac- tually 35%); and it was fortunate that the Town voted to enlarge- the High School facilities. This was done by the purchase of West- ford Academy and adding to the building. Because of the increased enrollment we will have to have more money for High School pur- poses, approximately $1,800.00 more than last year.
We wish to thank the Trustees of Westford Academy for their contribution of $300.00 from the "Julian's Fund" which was used for the much needed gas burners in the Science department.
For the year 1929 we respectfully ask that $67,350.00 be ap propriated for the public schools of the town.
For the Vocational School tuition-$4,000.00.
For Vocational School transportation-$1,500.00.
Very truly yours,
A. G. HILDRETH,
Chairman of the West- ford School Committee.
5
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
-
To the School Committee and Citizens of Westford:
I herewith submit my second annual report as Superintendent of the Public Schools of Westford.
Courses of Study have been prepared and introduced into the Elementary Schools and the Academy. These have furnished guides for the teachers and helped to improve and to make the instruction more uniform throughout the town.
The Stanford Achievement Tests were given again this year in the Elementary Schools and the results indicate that there has been a decided improvement in the instruction, for the individual scores are higher than last year. Charts showing the gain may be seen at the office of the superintendent.
A study has been made of the daily programs of the Elementary Schools, and it was found that there was no uniformity. Some teachers were giving more time to the special subjects such as music and drawing than they were giving to reading or arithmetic. Letters were sent to some sixty towns and cities asking for their time allot- ments. After a careful study of these and of the needs of the West- ford Schools, a time allotment sheet was prepared and put into operation. This will make the teaching programs uniform and sim- ilar to those in use in the more progressive towns.
The Special class at the Cameron School has been discontinued and the pupils placed in the respective grades for which they are qualified.
The instruction in grades five, six, seven and eight at the Cam- eron School has been organized under the departmental plan and is working satisfactorily.
A careful survey has been made of the needs of the Academy. There were no Courses of Study. Each teacher was given a room. the books, and the pupils and allowed to work out his or her own outline of procedure. Last September each teacher was provided with Courses of Study in the subjects he or she was to teach. These Courses of Study meet the Entrance Requirements of any of the colleges.
The passing mark for any subject was 65%. This has now been raised to 70% in all subjects except Typewriting, which has been raised to 90%, and Bookkeeping, which has been raised to 85%. What employer would want a typist who had more than 10% of her work incorrect or an accounting department making more than 15% of errors? The raising of the passing mark in the Commercial Course has not discouraged pupils from taking these subjects. In 1927-1928 there were thirty pupils registered in this department while this year there are fifty-three. It will be necessary to purchase six ad- ditional typewriters for this department.
6
Graduates from the Academy have been required to study a year or more in a private Commercial School before obtaining a position. This will not be necessary with the raising of the standards of attain- ment.
We are offering three Courses: Academic for those who wish to enter college or other institutions of higher learning; Commercial for those who wish to enter the field of business; and a General Course for those desiring only a High School education. Students liave been leaving the Academy because they could not obtain the subjects required to fit them for their choice in future occupation. The school should fit the needs of the students rather than force all students through a limited, inadequate program.
Manual Training and Mechanical Drawing are being offered in grades seven and eight and the Acadeny under the direction of Mr. Clifford Phelps. Of the forty-seven boys registered at the Academy, thirty-five are enrolled in these classes.
Cooking and Sewing are being offered to the girls under the direction of Miss Elizabeth Egerton, a part-time teacher. Forty of the sixtytwo girls at the Academy are registered in the Domestic Science classes.
A School Orchestra has been organized under the direction of Miss Irene Fay.
Changes have been made in the requirements for graduation. Pupils who have attended the Academy for four years but have not passed all the required subjects have been allowed to participate in the Graduation Exercises, receiving only blank diplomas or certi- ficates. Seventy-six credits are required for graduation. Each pupil must satisfactorily pass the work of one year before taking up the work of the next year.
As each pupil enters High School we are endeavoring to ascer- tain what college or institution he or she wishes to prepare for and to assist in the selection of the proper Course with the studies necessary to enter that school after graduation from the Academy.
There are students in the present Senior Class who cannot enter the college of their choice upon graduation because they have not taken the required subjects. Many graduates from the Academy are required to spend a year at a preparatory school before they enter college. This would not be necessary if we had a sufficient number of teachers.
Attached to this report is a list of colleges in New England and their Entrance Requirements. It will be noted on this list that the colleges require one year of History. We have been requiring three years of History but this year we are offering only two years and requiring but one. All of the colleges require four years of High School English but they will give only three credits for four years of work in this study.
7
It is true that we are on the approved list for entrance to col- lege by Certification, but only sixteen of the thirty-three colleges on the attached list admit by Certification. The others require an examination and we should be able to train students for any of these colleges. If the students whom we send to college by Certification should fail for a year or two, we would lose our Certificate privilege no matter how good a school we maintained. This privilege de- pends upon the record our students make at college. The College Board approves a school for three years. Our present approval ex- pires in 1931 unless the approval is withdrawn because some student fails after he enters college.
We are endeavoring to give every boy and girl an equal chance. It is not for us to decide who can or who cannot succeed. Some of our most noted men have been considered dumb by their teachers. It is up to us to create a want or desire in the minds of the children and then help them to achieve.
The boy and girl is forced by law to attend the public school and everything possible should be done to see that his or her time is not wasted. Encouragement should be given to make the most of these important years of their lives.
In 1921-1922 there were sixty-two pupils registered at the Acad- emy and four teachers. This year we have one hundred and nine registered, which is an increase of 57% in eight years, but we have not increased the teaching force. The standard set and required for secondary schools is one teacher for every twenty pupils. We should have six full-time teachers. We have four full-time and two part-time teachers. It is false economy to run the school with less than six full-time teachers. We are loading the present teachers with more work than that to which they can do justice, and our students are finding out their lack of proper training when they enter college. If we give the proper foundation our students will not find college too difficult. One of the tragedies of modern life is the half-educated man or woman; it is the tragedy of the man or woman who wants to do something and can do nothing well.
This year we have increased the length of the school day at the Academy fifteen minutes in order that each subject may be taught five forty-five minute periods each week as required by the colleges.
Believing that Thrift was an important subject to be taught, we made our instruction practical by organizing a school banking system. In February, 1928, the schools opened accounts for the pupils at the Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank with the following results :
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