USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1932-1936 > Part 21
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Emergency Fund
500.00
494.60
500.00
Total of Schools
66,494.00
64,673.43
66,000.00
66.000.00
Vocational Tuition
3,000.00
2,384.75
3,000.00
2,500.00
Public Library
2,329.28
2,329.28
1,800.00
1,800.00
Care of Common
175.00
173.45
175.00
175.00
Memorial Day
250.00
250.00
250.00
250.00
Town Reports
Extension Service Expense
Voted 1934 579.00 25.00
Used 1934 578.80 25.00 7,193.79
Asked 1935 700.00 10.00
Recom- mended 1935 700.00 10.00 5,500.00 800.00
E. R. A. Expenses and Material
7,500.00
6,000.00
Cemeteries
800.00
. 800.00
1,000.00
County T. B. Sanatorium
1,011.59
1,011.59
867.47
1,010.00
General Loans
8,500.00
8,500.00
8,500.00
8,500.00
Interest on General Loans
3,050.00
2,676.62
2,805.00
2,805.00
Interest on Revenue Loans
1,700.00
1,285.00
2,000.00
1,500.00
Overdrawn Appropriations
792.07
792.07
622.25
622.25
Bills outstanding Dec. 31, 1934
3,997.21
3,604.48
2,000.00
2,000.00
Reserve Fund
2,000.00
1,962.65
2,000.00
3,000.00
State Taxes
6,298.07
6,298.07
6,298.07
County Taxes
6,167.99
6,167.99
6,167.99
Total Amount Approved
196,048.31
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS
Corporation Tax
$ 14,800.00
Income Tax
15,200.00
Poll Tax
Excise Tax
2,136.00 4,886.00
All Other
10,300.00
Total
Amount to be raised by taxation Valuation of Town for 1934-$3,921.584.00
$ 47,322.00
$148,726.31
96
In the death of Mr. Herbert V. Hildreth the Town of Westford has met with a real loss.
For a quarter of a century he served as a member of its Finance Board; for many years as its secretary, and at the time of his death he had been its chairman for fifteen years. As a member of this board hiis public spirit was conspicuous. Positive in his opinions he was yet sympathetic toward those with whom he did not agree. He was wise in council, fertile in suggestions, uncompromisingly honest; and though frank in his criticism he was unfailing in his cooperation where the well being and good name of the town were concerned. His interest and his service made him invaluable in town matters.
Mr. Herbert V. Hildreth was a citizen who was deeply concerned about the welfare of Westford. He not only took a keen interest in its affairs but an active part in the carrying out of projects for the public good. Possessed with a talent for public service he made no use of his official position nor of the confidence of his fellow towns- men to further his private interests. In these ways he set his neigh- bors an example of the best type of citizenship; alert to the town's needs, ungrudging in service, neither seeking nor expecting glory or influence.
We, his fellow members on the Board of Finance, desire to put on record this minute of appreciation of a faithful public servant and a genial comrade.
Under Article 2, relative to salaries. This committee recommends that the elective town officers receive the same salaries as in 1934.
Under Article 3, Item 17, we recommend the appropriation of $66,000 for schools, this to include the reshingling of the Sargent School.
Under Article 8. We recommend that an investigation be made as to the advisability of running the Town Infirmary in order to reduce the cost to the Town.
As the time of setting the tax rate has been changed it is not possible this year to use any surplus to reduce the tax rate. If the recommendation of the budget is followed and the same return come from the State and County, the tax rate will be not over $38.00.
Respectfully submitted,
JULIAN A. CAMERON, OSCAR R. SPALDING, FRANK L. FURBUSH P. HENRY HARRINGTON, WILLIAM E. WRIGHT, ROBERT PRESCOTT,
Finance Committee
97
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS
The Board of Fire Engineers submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1934
The companies have responded to 26 fires other than forest fires during the year; 4 building, 14 chimney, 2 dump, 3 truck, 1 old lumber, 1 railroad old ties, 1 oil stove and 1 false alarm.
The following is a list of the buildings where damage occurred. Aug. 31-Barn at Parker Farm.
Sept. 9-House of Napolean Lanctott.
Nov. 3-House of Joseph Regnier.
Dec. 27-House and barn of Alice Lambert.
The Fire Engineers recommend that the sum of $3,200 be raised to meet the expenses of the department for the coming year.
BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
98
Warrant for Annual Town Meeting, Westford, Mass.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
To the Constable of the Town of Westford in said County:
GREETING: You are hereby required, in the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid, to notify and warn all the iinhabitants of said Town, qual- ified to vote in elections and also in Town affairs, to meet at 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, 1935
being the second Monday in said month, at 12.00 o'clock noon for the following purposes:
To bring in their votes for the following officers:
For Three Years
One Selectman.
One Member of 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. Collector of Taxes. Constable.
Tree Warden.
And vote on the following questions:
"Shall the operation of section one hundred and five B of chapter one hundred and thirty-one of the General Laws, requiring for the taking of fur-bearing animals the use of traps that kill at once or take such animals alive unharmed, be suspended within this town?"
The polls will be open from 12 o'clock noon to 8 P. M., and to meet in the Town Hall at Westford Centre on the following
99
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1935
at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, then and there to act upon the follow- ing articles, viz .:
1st. To hear the reports of the Finance Committee, other Commit- tees, Boards and Officers.
3rd. To appropriate money to meet the cost and expenses of the following departments, officers and purposes:
2nd. To determine the salary and compensation of elected Officers and such Officers and Officials as provided by law.
1. General Government.
2. Town Hall.
3. Police Department.
4. Fire Department.
5. Hydrants.
6. Sealer of Weights and Measures.
7. Fish and Game Warden.
8. Forest Fires.
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. Public Library.
20. Care of Common.
21 Commemoration of Memorial Day.
22 Publishing of Town Reports.
23. Liability Insurance.
24. Cemetery Commissioners.
25. General Loans.
26. Interest on General Loans.
27. Interest on Revenue Loans.
28. Electric Lights.
29. Fire Insurance.
30. Reserve Fund.
31. Overdrafts of 1934.
32. Bills Outstanding December 31, 1934.
4th. To see if the Town will appropriate $10.00 and elect a Director under the provisions of Section 40-45 of Chapter 128 of the General Laws.
100
5th. To see if the Town will vote for the allowance of damages to John Psaris occasioned by the relocation of the Tyngsboro Road, and appropriate money therefor.
6th. To see if the Town will vote 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, 1935, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
7th. To see if the town will appropriate a sum sufficient to pay the County of Middlesex as required by law on account of assess- ments levied on the town for its share of the principal of the Middlesex County Tuberculosis Hospital Funding Loan, Act of 1932 bonds maturing in 1935, issued in compliance with Chap- ter 10, Acts of 1932, also for any other indebtedness incurred and outstanding under said Chapter 10, also for the town's share of the cost and interest on said bonds due in 1935, also for the care, maintenance, and repair of said hospital for 1934, and including interest on temporary notes issued therefore in accordance with sections of Chapter 111 of the General Laws applicable thereto and for all other expenses in connection therewith, determine how the money shall be raised, or in any way act thereon.
8th. To see what action the Town will take relative to letting, or otherwise providing for the use and occupancy of the Town Infirmary, and for boarding, or otherwise making provision for the care of those falling in need of assistance.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting up true and attested copies thereof at the Town Hall and each Post Office in said Westford, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding the first meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this first day of February, in the year of our Lord Nineteen Hundred and Thirty-Five.
WILLIAM R. TAYLOR, ARTHUR M. WHITLEY, W. OTIS DAY,
Selectmen of Westford.
Annual Report
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
Town of Westford, Mass.
OF
WESTF
WN
R
D
1729. €
ORPORATED
T. 23
SEP
For the Year Ending December 31, 1934
2
ORGANIZATION-SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Albert G. Forty Term expires 1937
Mrs. Dorothy Chandler
Term expires 1937
Mr. Eric Anderson .Term expires 1936
Mr. George Gibbons, Secretary
Term expires 1936
Olive P. Heathcote Term expires 1935
Edward Buckingham, Chairman
Term expires 1935
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Robert W. Barclay, Westford, Mass.
Tel. Residence 155 Office 133 Westford Academy Office hours-By appointment
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN Dwight W. Cowles, M. D., Graniteville, Mass. Tel. 70
SCHOOL NURSE C. Veronica Meagher, R. N., Westford Mass. Tel. Residence 185 Office 41-3 Town Hall
3
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
January 1, 1935
To the Citizens of Westford:
My report as Chairman of the School Committee for the year 1934 is herewith submitted.
The membership of the board was changed from that of 1933 in one instance only; namely, by the addition of Mrs. Dorothy Chandler to succeed Mr. Axel Lundberg. Upon reorganization, Mr. Edward Buckingham was selected as chairman and Mr. George Gibbons as secretary. The building committee chosen during 1933 and consisting of Mr. Buckingham, Mr. Gibbons, and Mr. Forty was reappointed to serve for another year.
We have this year continued our maintenance policy of doing a thorough job upon work undertaken, believing it to be cheaper in the long run. Our present repair bills are largely the result of trouble with heating fixtures and plumbing that were either improperly in- stalled or that were rusted or worn out. Attention to repairs when they are needed would seem to be more economical and businesslike than allowing them to accumulate.
Our old bus contracts expired this year. The Committee, together with the Superintendent, carefully went over every bus route and decided that if certain changes were made, better transportation might be afforded the pupils at a smaller expense to the Town. Our new contracts will save $1,400.00 to $1,500.00 annually, providing we do not have to put on another trip to take care of our increased enroll- ment.
We wish to call your attention to the crowded conditions in the Frost School and in the Academy, especially the latter. Interested citizens should make a tour of this building in order to see the situation for themselves. There are four real classrooms, an audi- torium, and a laboratory. The rest of the rooms are make-shift arrangements in the old gymnasium on the third floor. They are crowded, poorly lighted, and improperly ventilated. We expect our teachers and pupils laboring in such rooms to do their best work. Are we fair to them? We must admit that we are not, alid yet we shall soon be forced to provide further make-shift arrangements by dividing our laboratory into three classrooms in order to accommodate the estimated increase in enrollment in September,
4
In view of the present high prices of books, fuel, and other sup- plies, the need of a new teacher in the Academy, and the urgent repairs that we must make, we feel that the Town should raise $66,000.00 to maintain our public schools. This amount will allow us to replace some of our textbooks and to make some of our urgent building alterations and repairs.
Our tuition bill from the Vocational School will probably be between $2,500.00 and $3,000.00. We therefore request the sum of $3,000.00 for vocational tuition for the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD C. BUCKINGHAM,
Chairman.
5
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
January 1, 1935
To the School Committee:
I herewith submit my third annual report as Superintendent of Schools for the fiscal year 1934. This report is accompanied by those of the Principal of the Academy, the School Doctor, and the School Nurse.
At the Annual Town Meeting our budget was allotted to us under separate headings instead of as a lump sum. This has caused the Town extra expense, as we have been unable to transfer from one item to another in order to take advantage of lower prices and to make needed repairs. As a result our supplies are low, our children are without proper books, many urgent building repairs are now wait- ing to be made, and we are turning back $1,795.26. This might seem like a big saving effected by the segregation of the budget by headings. However, let us look and see where this money is coming from. About $727.00 was saved on our new bus contracts and $479.25 on teachers' salaries when new teachers were hired. There is also about $302.00 extra on lights which includes the $150.00 voted in addition to what our budget called for. Against these sums let us charge the amounts that we had planned to use. We had hoped to return the $506.82 voted as an unpaid coal bill last February, put a new roof on the Sargent School at an estimated cost of $900.00, do weatherstripping at the Frost School and the Academy, and purchase more books and supplies. Judging from these facts it is self-evident that nothing has been saved by restricting the budget expenditures by headings. When we pay the bills for these postponed purchases and repairs, we shall easily realize the additional expense placed upon the taxpayers. One instance of this has already occurred in the purchase of coal. Since insufficient funds made impossible the practice of filling our bins during the summer, purchases of smaller lots as needed to keep the fires running until January first necessitated the payment of higher fall prices.
Anticipating an overflow of pupils in the Frost and Academy buildings when school opened on September 4, we re-routed our bus- ses in order to send some of the pupils from the north district to the Sargent School. With this arrangement we were able to transfer the seventh grade in the Academy back to the Frost School, and still provide seating room for everyone by the addition of several extra seats.
6
Although our total registration is slightly under that of last year, you will note that the enrollment at the Academy has increased by about thirty pupils. The decrease in the enrollment of the ele- mentary grades is principally due to the number attending the French school in Lowell.
The crowding of classes in the Academy grows worse annually. At present we are on the verge of losing our grade A rating, which will prevent our graduates from going on to college without entrance examinations. This certificate rating can be retained only by the addition of another teacher to the faculty, and by providing additional classrooms to meet the probable increase in numbers. We estimate that our enrollment will be over 200 pupils in September, 1935. Tem- porary relief was afforded this year by transferring the seventh grade to the Frost School, and by taking away the superintendent's part-time secretary so that she might devote all her school time to teaching. The secretarial work is now being carried on by the two commercial teachers after school hours.
The old transportation contracts expired this year, and new con- tracts were entered into for a period of three years with the following bus operators: Fisher Buckshorn, George Burke, George Goucher, John Gray, Albert Hildreth, and Everett Miller. By re-routing our busses we were able to take care of the overflow of students in the Frost School, eliminate one bus trip, and save the town a considerable amount of money.
The following is a list of some of the terms of the bus contracts:
1. Each bus shall cover a route fixed by the School Committee, who reserve the right to change the same.
2. Each bus shall conform to the regulations of the State Depart- ment, including the carrying of the $50,000 insurance policy.
3. Each bus shall be equipped with a suitable defrosting device on the windshield.
4. Each bus shall be equipped with shatterproof glass throughout.
5. Each bus shall be equipped with an approved liquid fire ex- tinguisher.
6. Each bus shall be equipped with an exhaust pipe that shall extend to the end of the bus. (This article is optional pro- viding the bus floor is tight enough to exclude the exhaust gasses from the motor.)
7. All bus drivers must be approved by the School Committee and are subject to removal by the committee for misconduct, unfitness, or other cause.
8. There shall be a telephone in the home of the driver.
9. Bus owners shall not be paid for holidays as in the past, ex- cept on "no school" days that have not been declared in ad- vance.
7
A separate elementary graduation was held for each eighth grade in its own village, so as to afford an opportunity for the parents to attend without securing transportation to the Academy as has been the custom in the past. The total attendance was over three times as great as it has been at the consolidated exercises in the Academy building. Nearly every seat was taken in the Academy assembly hall. The Abbott Hall in Forge Village was about two thirds filled. The new assembly hall in Graniteville was filled to capacity, and many were turned away after all available standing room had been filled. If last June's attendance is to provide an answer to our experi- ment, there is no doubt that we should continue our separate elemen- tary graduations.
In spite of the fact that our present teacher salary schedule is very low in comparison with those of other towns, we were able to give only a few raises. A special effort was made to equalize the salaries of those with approximately the same training and experience, and a raise was granted to each of the new teachers. In hiring new teachers it is our policy to obtain successful and experienced ones at a low salary to start, so that we may be able to offer a small increase annually for several years before the maximum is reached. By this method we hope to be able to retain our teachers for a longer period.
The following changes were made in our faculty at the opening of schools in September:
Mrs. Lottie Blodgett was transferred from Grade V to Grade IV in the Sargent School to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Miss Elizabeth Nesmith.
Miss Ruth Lord was transferred from the Cameron to the Sargent School.
Miss Josephine Mardas was appointed to fill the vacancy in the Cameron School caused by the transfer of Miss Lord.
Mr. Lloyd Turner was appointed to succeed Mr. Merrill Jenkins in the Academy.
Miss Dorothy Vincent was appointed to succeed Miss Florence Misner in the Academy.
There has been no change in the personnel of our janitors. They are trying their best to keep down the cost of building maintenance, but they are still hampered in their efforts by the lack of proper tools. If these tools were provided, it would be possible for them to take care of many minor repairs that are now turned over to other work- men, at additional cost.
8
Every effort is being made by the teachers to economize in the use of supplies. Very few aids to teaching, aside from paper and writing materials, have been purchased. Each teacher has made much of her supplementary material on our new duplicating machines, at a great saving to the Town. Our surplus supply of paper that was bought at very low prices is nearly gone, and we shall have to buy more at the prevailing code prices, which are over 100% higher in many cases. This advance in cost of new material will greatly increase our expenditures next year.
With the assistance of the local nurse, our new school physician, Dr. Cowles, has examined all of our school children and discovered several unreported cases of abnormal heart and lung conditions as well as other physical defects. This work has taken many hours of the doctor's time. Special re-examinations of all athletes on the Academy athletic squads were also given. In addition to these regular examinations, other attempts to improve the general health of the pupils have been made. Several State and County clinics have been held with very encouraging results. Milk has been provided in the schools for all those who desired it. In cases of undernourished children it has been furnished free to those who could not afford to pay. Needy and poorly dressed children have been well taken of by the Welfare Department, the Red Cross, and other local organiza- tions.
We were very fortunate in obtaining Federal Aid to help in carrying on our two kindergartens. With a small tuition charge for pupils from families who are able to pay, in addition to our allotment from the government, we hope to obtain more equipment to help Miss Wright in her work. The total enrollment of about thirty makes clearly evident the fact that this project is meeting with high approval. If transportation and equipment were available, our enrollment would more than double itself.
Owing to the lack of uniformity in the arithmetic work in the elementary schools, a special endeavor has been made to reorganize the course of study. As a basis for this program we have adopted for all classes the Strayer-Upton arithmetic books, one of the new series in this field. Since these were already in use in some of the buildings, it seemed best from the standpoint of economy, to complete the set rather than to discard them for a different variety. Each teacher was furnished with an outline of the work to be completed in each grade in order to prevent unnecessary overlapping or omitting of subject matter. It is hoped that this outline will help and guide the teacher in planning her work and in stressing our aim for 100% mastery rather than for speed.
9
Through the generosity of the Abbot Worsted Company and the C. G. Sargent Sons, Incorporated, our pupils were able to hold their Christmas parties as usual. The Abbot Worsted Company donated $235.00 and the C. G. Sargent Sons, Incorporated, donated $25.00 This money made it possible to distribute useful gifts, toys, and Christmas candy among the children, many of whom might otherwise have had to go without, as their parents have been out of work for some time.
Our two projects of graveling and grading the school lawns and the Sargent playground, which were started last year, have been finished. With their completion our school grounds have been greatly improved. Another worthwhile project of building a retaining wall between the Academy and the tennis courts is nearly completed. This granite wall was made possible by the generous donation of the stone by the Fletcher Granite Company. At present we have several other projects that would save the Town money. However, these cannot be submitted for federal approval until funds are available to cover the costs of materials.
The following major building repairs were made during the year:
ACADEMY. The heating system in the assembly hall was completely revamped and replaced, following the freeze-up of last winter. Several sections in the boiler were replaced at the same time.
New grates were installed in the boiler. These are a new type designed by Mr. Stuart of the Graniteville Foundry at the suggestion of our chairman, Mr. Buckingham. They can be made locally on short notice at a cost considerably less than half of what we have been paying for the old type.
FROST SCHOOL. A complete renovation of all the seats and desks was made. All those that were beyond reasonable repair were replaced by better ones from the attic. All desk tops that had been cut and mutilated for many years were resurfaced. Every desk and seat was shellacked and varnished by the janitors.
SARGENT. The rear section of one of the boilers broke and had to be replaced. While we were making this repair, we also in- stalled several new grates, and overhauled and rehung the furnace doors so that they could be kept closed when it was being operated.
While investigating the break in the boiler, we found what we felt might have been a contributing cause. The coils in the ventila- ting shafts in the attic had been installed in such a way that they were standing full of water most of the time. We were unable to replace these coils because of lack of funds in our budget. We hope to make the necessary repairs as soon as funds are available.
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