USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1956-1962 > Part 29
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LONG RANGE GOALS
1. Public Information Any mystery surrounding the schools should be eliminated. Mystery breeds suspicion. We must establish clearcut policy and make this policy known. The school program and procedures should be made familiar to all. Needs must be presented clearly and frequently so that the Townspeople can move forward with the problem and participate in its solution.
2. Community Participation With a more intimate understanding of the program there should follow a greater lay interest in the im- provement of the schools. Individuals as well as civic organizations should share in school planning and policy making. In every commun- ity there are citizens with a wealth of individual knowledge and skill who can make valuable practical contributions to curricular develop-
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ment, to plant improvement, to personnel management, in short to all phases of the program.
3. School Participation The schools should in turn be more a part of the community, actively supporting community projects and partici- pating in the solution of community problems. Students should be guided towards an awareness of a citizen's responsibility and should be given responsibilities commensurate with their maturity. Teachers should make a real effort to become acquainted with the parents of their pupils, taking the initiative where necessary.
4. The School Plant More active use of school facilities by local organizations should be encouraged. The citizens of Westford have too large an investment in the schools to permit them to remain idle during off school hours. Evening recreation, entertainment and in- structional programs should somehow be encouraged, but not at the ex- pense of the educational budget. Such a policy would distort State Fiscal Reports and per pupil cost figures.
ACHIEVEMENTS
1. Almost every issue of the daily Sun and weekly Budget-Wise and Nashoba Free Press carries some information concerning the Westford Schools. A flyer was delivered to every Westford box holder in No- vember, before the Special Town Meeting, acquainting citizens with school capacities and anticipated enrollments. The recent Academy Parents' Night was a successful move towards better acquainting par- ents with the instructional program. P.T.A. 's and open house in all the schools are geared mainly to this purpose.
2. During the past year a revised elementary report card was devel- oped through the joint efforts of parents and teachers. A Building Committee has been appointed by the Selectmen to recommend a solution to Westford's school housing problem. A group of Westford's citizens, calling themselves the Boosters Club, has spontaneously organized to help meet the equipment needs of our athletic teams. The Academy Guidance Department has undertaken the tabulation of local resource personnel.
3. Academy students, having been made acquainted with candidates and issues, cast their votes in November in a school balloting booth. These students were not merely going through the motions - they were vitally interested in the issues and cast their ballots not without serious soul searching. Just prior to the voting, the Academy Honor Society brought to the citizens of Westford the highly informative T V Program "Meet the Press". Of course, the topic of the evening was political issues and personalities. In December the Academy Student Council organized the first Skate Sale. As this program ex- pands and becomes established, parents will realize a real saving in the purchase of skates and ski boots for those too rapidly growing feet. All Westford students participated in a Clothing Drive for the needy in October and a Christmas collection for poor families just before the Holidays.
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4. The Academy Gymnasium has been made available to the Recreation Department on Saturdays from 9:00 A. M. to 3:00 P. M. School facil- ities have been made available to private organizations on a flat cost basis. During the summer months the playgrounds received extensive use, but unfortunately abuse of equipment has made it necessary to store swings, etc., through the summer vacation.
SECTION II THE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF
Of all the elements contributing to a good school system, a corps of competent, qualified teachers, is the single, most important one. Other contributing factors are worthy of consideration: (1) A sound set of educational goals, a balanced program planned for all learners, a competent administrative staff, varied and modern instructional materials, good pupil morale, adequate financing, a representative, forward-looking School Committee and continuous, active citizen inter- est. These all contribute to the effectiveness of the teaching staff. The teacher is the core.
To better acquaint the community with our current teaching staff, here follow some pertinent statistics :
1. Experience over 12 years 9 -- 12 =
-- 15 teachers
= 4 -- 8
--
5
- 19
11 less than 4
-- 21
Over one third of our staff is not on tenure. Two thirds have less than nine years' experience. One fifth of our teachers hold Masters' Degrees.
2. The average teacher salary, including principals' differentials for elementary teaching principals and Academy differentials for coaching and other extra services is $4,340.00. The average for Mas- sachusetts is $4,720.00.
3. During 1958, one half the total staff took advanced courses of study totaling 191 semester hours. This represents 1,910 hours of lecture alone, not counting preparation time, or an average of 64 hours of classes for each of the 30 participating staff members.
(1) National Education Association "How Good Are Your Schools?"
LONG RANGE GOALS
1. Salaries Within the very near future a pay plan must evolve which will Iend some degree of stability to our salary schedule. Since salaries constitute 75% of the School Budget, tax payers should have some idea of future financial requirements; and for future ca- reer planning, teachers should have some idea of long range salary goals. As the State minimum teaching salary rises by law (and it has been increased $1,100.00 in the past three years) the pressure for a more selective plan of salary increases is certain to become more in- tense. The present policy of a fixed salary schedule based on experi-
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ence and graduate degrees must be critically reviewed. A salary plan should be developed which will, 1) provide a strong incentive for im- proved instruction, 2) meet legal requirements, 3) provide for the continuous improvement of the educational program both through the procurement of excellent new teachers and the retention of outstanding current staff members. The solution of this problem calls for joint action by the community and the schools.
2. Other Keys to the Improvement of Instruction
a. A closer working arrangement with our teacher training in- stitutions to permit us to become acquainted with outstanding candi- dates before the middle of their senior year, to bring these candi- dates to Westford and give them an opportunity to work with our staff so that as vacancies occur we shall be in a better position to recruit the best.
b. A stronger indoctrination program for new additions to our staff.
c. A greater opportunity for our teachers to attend conferences and bring the most successful techniques back to Westford.
d. A reasonable work load which will permit teachers and teach- ing principals to be more effective in carrying out their primary function, the instruction of children and their secondary function, the improvement of the program through participation in policy making and curriculum development.
3. Additional Services
a. The part time services of a School Psychologist to help us to better understand the emotional problems of some of our pupils and to complete State required forms for their proper placement in our school program.
b. The part time services of a Speech Therapist to guide those pupils who have serious speech problems.
c. Additional help in Art and Music to make the services of these Specialists available to a pupil once a week rather than once every other week.
d. A Physical Education Program for elementary children.
ACHIEVEMENTS
1. The present salary plan was adopted in 1955, a twelve step sched- ule reflecting experience and credits with a $2,600.00 minimum. This schedule has been advanced each year to fulfill State minimum salary requirements and to keep the schedule a competitive instrument for obtaining new teachers and retaining our experienced teachers. The proposed salary schedule, $3,800.00 to $5,400.00, is a median salary scale for the area, anticipating another $200.00 advance at least in the present $3,600.00 State minimum. The Masters' column is $300.00
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higher than the Bachelors' column. A teachers' committee devoted many hours to drafting a salary recommendation for action by the School Committee.
2. The Teachers' Association during the summer of 1958 prepared a folder for new teachers to help them become acquainted with the schools and the community.
3. Our staff members have attended Conferences in a wide variety of instructional areas, administrative, reading, science, special class, pupil behavior, etc. Some excellent reports have been duplicated for distribution to the entire staff and there is evidence in at least a few classrooms that convention attendance has effected a change.
4. The elementary teaching principals have been allowed substitutes on occasions to free them for those supervisory responsibilities which can not be attended after school. But the clerical load remains rath- er heavy. The addition of three elementary teachers this past year did relieve class overloading to a certain extent and a transfer of pupils this fall, only partially successful, helped to balance class size. But the addition of three teachers to the Academy staff barely kept pace with Academy growth.
5. For the first time Academy students have the part time services of a trained Librarian and a Visual Aids Specialist. The part time ser- vices of a School Psychologist have been budgeted for 1959.
6. Our teachers have been active during the past year in self im- provement and the improvement of the program. Our Art teacher has organized a workshop for elementary teachers. A day long Science Workshop was provided early in December for all elementary teachers. A Committee of three teachers prepared suggestions for revising the Teachers Code. Teachers participated with parents in the drafting of a new Elementary Report Card. Pupil Records, voted by the principals a major need, are under study by a Teachers'. Committee under the lead- ership of the Guidance Department. All this is evidence that our teachers do not feel that the Town of Westford owes them a living. They are actively engaged in improving their qualifications beyond present salary schedule requirements.
SECTION III THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
The Administrative Staff includes all non teaching personnel. In this category fall the Superintendent of Schools, the Academy Principal, secretaries, custodians, nurse, physician and cafeteria manager. All have as a primary purpose the performance of the many non instruction- al duties which aid our teachers to provide more effective classroom instruction. Duties include teacher supervision, the encouragement of curriculum improvement, fiscal and pupil accounting, procurement, research and planning, plant operation and maintenance, pupil health, menu planning, pupil transportation and many time consuming chores such as the preparation of State and Federal Reports. Administrators must at the same time be directors, co-wr.'ers and servants to the instructional staff.
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LONG RANGE GOALS
1. Salaries In considering a revised salary plan for our teachers, our secretaries and custodians should not be overlooked. These people perform many routine tasks and at the same time assume important re- sponsibilities.
2. Administrative Assistance Academy administration is growing more complex as the enrollment increases. If the principal is to be able to attend to his primary responsibilities of teacher supervision and curriculum improvement, he must find some relief from his myriad of miscellaneous duties which are presently holding him at his desk. The position of vice principal should soom be created.
3. Clerical Assistance Some plan of clerical assistance should be devised for the elementary teaching principals. The elementary prin- cipal is carrying a full time teaching load. Any time taken from her teaching reduces her effectiveness as a teacher. Our elementary schools are so small that to date this problem has defied solution.
4. Pupil Transportation Our bus routes have received but slight modification in the past three years. The growth of the Town dictates a thorough analysis and revision before September 1959. As most of the transportation contracts terminate in June 1959, this project should go forward at an early date. Community participation in the solution of this problem would be most welcome.
5. Pupil Space The administration must continue to analyze future space needs, working closely with the newly appointed Building Com- mittee.
6. Educational Leadership All personnel must continue to be en- couraged to analyze current procedures and to improve upon these pro- cedures. Efforts must be coordinated, leadership among the employees identified and encouraged, community participation invited and sup- ported and the Town's resources organized towards the continued im- provement of our schools.
ACHIEVEMENTS
1. A three step salary schedule for custodians was approved with the 1958 Budget.
2. Part time additional clerical services were approved for the Su- perintendent's Office
3. School district boundaries have been defined as an aid in the placement of new pupils, but still present class loading must to a large extent dictate where new pupils shall be enrolled.
4. A firm building rental policy has been established.
5. Our fiscal accounting plan has already been converted to what will be within another year or two the required procedure for all school accounting.
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6. Our pupil accounting procedure now assures accurate data for bal- ancing enrollments, planning bus schedules and forecasting growth.
7. Elementary principals have developed a standard supply list, the foundation of economy in school supplies.
SECTION IV THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
The primary aim of the public school program is the intellectual growth of the pupils. The schools should make contributions in other areas of growth, physical, emotional, social. Respect for the rights and privileges of others, honor, sportsmanship, the responsibilities of good citizenship, freedom, human dignity, all are by-products of a good educational system. But the home and the community should recognize the school's limitations in teaching for these understand- ings. The educational program cannot claim full credit for successes in these areas, nor should the community blame the schools for evi- dence of failures in these areas.
LONG RANGE GOALS
1. Curriculum The educational program cannot afford to remain stat- ic, but must respond to a changing world. Too often a barrier to change is parental insistence that the program conform to their con- cepts of the curriculum, forgetting that the program with which they are familiar was in vogue some thirty or more years ago. Too often our schools adopt changes too rapidly, without acquainting the par- ents with the reasons for these changes. Closer cooperation between the school and the community should permit an orderly development of the curriculum, retaining the best of the old and incorporating tried and proven new ideas.
2. Recognition of Special Needs and Unusual Talents The retarded and the gifted must be recognized early and special programs planned for each.
3. Library and Visual Aids Greater use must be made of modern teaching aids. Every teacher should be familiar with the contribu- tions which reference books, records and films can make to better pupil understanding.
4. Testing as an Instructional Tool Test results are too often not thoroughly understood or properly used by the teacher in overcoming pupil weaknesses. There is a need for a more thorough analysis of test results and a program so flexible that it can readily be modi- fied to meet proven pupil needs.
5. Academy College Course Competition for admission to college is becoming so keen that in fairness to our students every opportunity must be provided to enable them to compete on a fair basis. Recently one Dean of Admissions, addressing a group of alumni, forcefully brought home the full meaning of this crisis with the simple remark, "Today few of you could qualify for admission." Our Academy princi- pal and guidance personnel must make every effort to become person- ally acquainted with College Admissions Officers to better understand
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the changing college entrance requirements and to better fit our stu- dents to meet these requirements.
6. Academy Commercial Course The Commercial Program should reflect area needs. A thorough follow-up of graduates will help define the strengths and weaknesses of our present program.
7. Academy General Course With space at a premium, the values of a general shop course must become subject to critical analysis. Shall we continue to provide a program embracing all areas of interest, or shall we limit our General Course to the Academic, leaving practical instruction in the trades to the specialists? Should our shop be re- served for junior high school pupils as part of their exploratory program?
8. Driver Education With a growing backlog of pupils qualified for Road Instruction, and increasing pressure on the Academy teachers to provide more and better preparation in all areas, the place of driver education in the Academy program should be subject to further study. The Registrar of Motor Vehicles, recognizing the increasing pressures on educational programs, licensed certain select driving schools to issue driver education certificates at a direct cost to parents. Over a two year period insurance reductions will generally return the Parents' investment.
ACHIEVEMENT
1. Biology has been offered collegebound students at grade nine level so that these students can complete the normal high school science program in grade eleven and embark on a college level science program in their senior year.
2. Under consideration is a plan to enable select college preparatory students to complete the algebra 1 course in grade eight, freeing the senior year for advanced mathematics or an additional year in a for- eign language.
3. An expanded English program will include provision for additional emphasis in speech and composition. Speeded reading techniques for all students are being developed.
4. The extra curricular program has expanded to include band, news- paper and dramatics. Science, Art, Radio and Photography Clubs are firmly entrenched and Choral Music is gaining in popularity. The Student Council has been given broader responsibilities and its mem- bers are assuming these responsibilities in a mature manner.
5. A system wide testing program has been adopted to measure the ef- fectiveness of the instructional program and to detect special needs and talents at an early date. Results indicate that our elementary pupils are achieving at grade level in reading and arithmetic and our Academy students are distinguishing themselves. As this topic is too lengthy to be incorporated in this Report, test results will consti- tute a separate Report.
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6. The Guidance Department is engaged in a ten year follow-up study of Academy graduates, has initiated a course in the study of vocations, and is attempting to extend services to the elementary teachers.
7. A Science Course has been added to the Roudenbush curriculum.
8. The Librarian and the Audio-Visual Director are working closely with teachers towards the improvement of the instructional program. The Reference Library will be expanded and films are being catalogued to facilitate teacher planning.
9. The Tuberculin Test was made available to all pupils this past year.
10. The Academy program is scheduled for evaluation during this next year. This evaluation is necessary for Westford Academy to gain ad- mission to the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. It includes a self evaluation by the Academy Staff, followed by a formal evaluation by a corps of educators. Membership in this Association will help us place our graduates.
SECTION V THE SCHOOL PLANT
School buildings and grounds should be clean and safe, provide ade- quate space for pupils enrolled, provide essential facilities, and have maximum utilization by schools and community
LONG RANGE GOALS
1. Proper Maintenance The schools are the largest single invest- ment of the community. To protect this investment, adequate mainten- ance funds must be allocated.
2. Operation Proper operation requires the services of competent custodians. Adequate provision must be made in the budget for obtain- ing and holding qualified personel.
3. Space Planning A continuing study of available space and future space requirements must be pursued with due consideration to a con- stantly evolving curriculum. A plan should extend ten years in the future, detailed enough to guide construction on a systematic program, yet flexible enough to permit change as dictated by irregularities in the growth of the community.
ACHIEVEMENTS
1. Our schools have all been placed on a regular painting schedule allowing interior and exterior painting on a five year cycle. Ade- quate sums are set aside in each budget for preventative building maintenance.
2. Custodians are extending their sphere of duties beyond the usual housekeeping chores to include many maintenance projects. During the past year they painted the lower floor interior of Sargent School, the Academy Cafeteria and touched up some classrooms which were be-
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coming shabby but not yet scheduled for painting. Clapboards, rotted by a faulty drain in the Frost School were removed, underboards re- paired and new clapboards installed. Roudenbush halls and lockers are scheduled for painting this next year.
3. The Academy custodial staff has taken over the care of the exten- sive playing fields, mowing almost 20 acres once a week during the summer.
4. Six tons of junk, a potential hazard, were removed from the West- ford Schools during the past year and the income turned in to the Town's General Fund.
5. Antiquated furniture is being replaced at the rate of three class- rooms a year.
6. Cameron and Sargent have been relighted. Frost is scheduled for 1959.
7. The Academy attic was insulated this past year and all the doors weatherstripped.
8. The Sargent roof has been repaired and the reshingling of Cameron is scheduled.
9. Our school buildings have been inspected and approved annually by the Department of Public Safety.
10. A Building Committee has been appointed by the Selectmen to rec- ommend a plan for extending the school plant to accomodate our grow- ing school enrollments. Your School Committee will continue to study our growing population needs in close cooperation with the Building Committee.
SECTION VI THE BUDGET
The Budget guides and limits the program in all areas, instruction, plant operation and maintenance, capital improvement. A well planned and well balanced Budget assures the continued improvement of our schools.
The 1959 School Budget is $453,984.00, an increase of $62,300.00 over the 1958 Budget, or about 16%. School enrollments are again up 8%, based upon what appears, according to the 1958 Census, a conservative estimate. Last year's 8% estimate would have been more accurate at 10%.
Salaries constitute 75% of the Budget and salary increases, including placement on schedule, normal increments and the salary revision, ac- count for $27,000.00 of the total Budget increase. Enrollment in- creases of the past two years have necessitated staff increases at a cost of $27,500.00 to the 1959 Budget. Two thirds of the salaries of the six staff members added in September 1958, plus one third of the salaries of those proposed for 1959, are included in this figure.
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Also included is the salary for an additional custodian and part time clerical and psychological services. The balance of the increase is due mainly to additional supplies and transportation services, neces- sitated by increasing enrollments.
Serving the children of Westford shall continue to be the primary func. tion of your School Committee. We as members of this Committee are grateful for the dedication of all school employees and the interest and support of Westford's citizens.
Arthur A. Abbood Richard S. Emmet, Jr., Secretary
R. Andrew Fletcher, Jr.
Robert J. Spimmer Norman E. Day, Chairman J. Austin Healy, Jr.
The following is the Statistical Material which is a part of the School Committee Report:
WESTFORD ACADEMY 1958 GRADUATES
Francis William Alling, Jr
Terry Francis Milot Elizabeth Ruth Moore
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