USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1963-1967 > Part 21
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6250
6875
7500
6 HOURS
3 HOURS
6 HOURS
3 HOURS
7
6500
6890
7280
6500
7150
7800
8
6750
7155
7560
6750
7425
8100
9
7000
7420
7840
7000
7700
8400
6 HOURS
3 HOURS
6 HOURS
3 HOURS
10
7250
7685
8120
7250
7975
8700
11
7500
7950
8400
7500
8250
9000
The tenure contract carries an automatic double increment.
Parent-Teacher conferences, especially at our three larger schools, seem to be gaining in popularity, where night appointments are offered. A direct communication between parent and teacher in the school room is far and away the most effective possible medium of public information. There were recorded 613 conferences at Westford Academy, about 300 in the middle school and 423 at the Nabnasset School this fall. In addition each of these schools has developed informational school bulletins, the Westford Academy JANUS, the Middle School PARENTS' MEMO, and the Nabnasset School JOURNAL.
Press coverage of School Committee Meetings has been good, but public attendance poor. Additional copies of the evening agenda are always available to visitors, and these agendas contain much background information on each item scheduled for Committee discussion and decision. We as School Committee members are committed to providing the best possible educational opportunities for your children within reasonable fiscal limitations. Your comments, your suggestions, your recommendations are always welcome. But especially we solicit your interest.
THE SCHOOL BUDGET: 90% PUPIL SERVICES
The school budget is a document of considerable public signifi- cance; yet even this part of the educational program has never received total public understanding and approval. "The figures are astronomical;" "You have to be a financial wizard;" "You have no choice anyway." All are offered as reasons why one should not involve himself with school budget. But if the school budget is reviewed as a detailed plan of the services to be provided school children for the coming year, then
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perhaps the budget might become more meaningful.
Consider the instructional item first, as this item is far and away the largest and most important one in the budget. And within item 2000 is the teaching subsection 2300, the focal point of the entire budget, and the real substance of the educational program.
Before analyzing classroom instructional services it is important to understand that the teacher contract is for the school year, September through June, whereas the budget is for the calendar year, January through December. (Hopefully some day the state legislature might amend the state fiscal year to agree with the federal July 1 fiscal year, and, incidentally, the normal school year.) So only about one third the salaries of new teachers (to start in September) are included in the budget. The budget figure for our 96 teachers is computed from 1965-66 contracts and 1966-67 contracts based on the actual payments falling in fiscal 1966. There are twenty-six biweekly pay periods in the fiscal year, seventeen from January through August (1965-66 contracts) and nine from September through December (1966-67 contracts). The 96 teachers receive an average salary of $6323 for the calendar year and these 96 teachers perform the front line duty, classroom teaching, for our 2059 pupils grades 1-12.
Consider elementary classroom instructional services. There are 39 class groups totaling 1039 pupils taught by 39 teachers at an average salary of $6323. Average class size is 26.6. Were average class size to be increased to 30 pupils, only 35 teachers would be re- quired and the saving to the town would be $25,292 or almost two dollars on the tax rate. Sounds fine, but - - - , with the irregular distribution of ages and residence, even a 26.6 pupil-teacher ratio results in two 34 pupil classes. Were the ratio to be increased, we would surely be saddled with some 40 pupil groups, 15 pupils more than the recommended 25.
On the other hand what would it cost to reduce our average class size to 25 pupils? Three additional teachers at a cost of $18,969 would be required. The School Committee elected to modify the ratio and pro- vide helping teachers in critical areas.
In order to do his job effectively a teacher should be relieved of all non-instructional duties, and should have the assistance of specialists in special areas. Art is a special area where assistance is desirable. Music is another such area, as is speech therapy. In
reading instruction our entire elementary staff is proficient. But remedial assistance is provided for children whose reading problems make it difficult for them to progress in a normal classroom grouping, and overall supervision is provided to assist our new teachers, to re- search the rapidly evolving field of new techniques in the teaching of reading, and to guide the development of our overall elementary reading program. The costs of these special services to the elementary school teacher, listed partially under item 2100 of the budget, and the balance under 2300, are detailed on the summary page 21. The total is $56,735.
These special services amount to about four dollars on the tax rate. How important are they? True, speech therapy is for the relatively few whose speech is so poor that emotional and personality complications will develop unless assistance is provided, but to these few, perhaps 100, the service is so critical that the School Committee has voted to make
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the elementary position full time in 1966-67. Similarly special class is for the very few whose slow progress in all areas necessitates an almost one to one instructional situation. Should we provide for their needs or abandon them to failure and early drop out, and in the process jeopardize the program of their classmates? Both the speech and the special class programs receive matching state aid which goes directly to the Town's general fund.
Art and music appreciation is a part of the general education program. We are not attempting to develop artists and musicians at the elementary level, but for those with special talents there is the opportunity and the encouragement, and for all others there is a life- time of enjoyment if appreciations can be instilled at an early age. Two teachers serve the elementary music program, as both vocal and instrumental instruction is provided. But instrumental instruction is being phased out of the elementary program, and by 1966-67 the services of the instrumentalist will serve predominantly the Middle School pupils. Both art and music will then be taught directly only on alternate weeks, and supervisors will intensify the in-service and supervisory program for teachers.
It is difficult to decide where to begin in evaluating the read- ing assistance program. The two specialists work with small groups of pupils with similar problems and try to correct these difficulties so that the pupils can return to regular reading class. For the regular classroom teacher to attend to these cases would monopolize her time at the expense of the other pupils. Those pupils who are successfully helped over reading barriers are in a position to enjoy a successful school experience. How many must be saved each year to justify this program?
The reading director devotes full time to the overall supervision of the reading program, researching new techniques and assisting new teachers in proper grouping of pupils and in instructional procedures. This past year the reading director introduced "programmed reading." Pupils whose previous record indicated failure sudenly caught on and are now making remarkable progress. How many pupils must the director place on the path to successful reading to justify her position?
Other item 2300 teaching services include differentials, sub- stitutes, special instruction for emotionally disturbed and home-bound, in-service teacher instruction, and clerical assistance. All services are system-wide and to attempt to break them down to elementary and secondary would be misleading. Differentials provide travel and super- visory reimbursement for our specialists and for our secondary school department heads, as well as for the coordinator of educational data processing. The substitute item provides temporary replacements for teachers who are ill, attending conferences, or absent for any other reason. Allowance for teaching of emotionally disturbed and the home- bound provides instruction for pupils who are unable to attend or to profit from regular class attendance. And the in-service program en- ables staff to analyze and strengthen the instructional program, such as was accomplished in the history-geography-civics project of the past year. Two part time clerks are provided our secondary school teachers to relieve them of some clerical chores so that they might
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devote more time to class preparation and planning. Administrative clerks at the elementary level provide the same service for elementary teachers. The total for these supplementary services under item 2300 is $23,406. The detailed breakdown is on the summary page 21.
The secondary school teaching staff numbers fifty-four regular classroom teachers. (To balance the teacher budget account there are listed 96 teachers plus 3 teaching principals. 39 elementary plus 2 reading, 1 music, 1 speech, and 2 special class, added to the 54 secondary equals the 99 staff listed under account 2300.) Average class size has little meaning at the secondary level because 1) the day is longer, 2) the program is departmentalized, and 3) the high school pro- gram is largely elective. But the secondary school 18.7 pupil-teacher ratio rates higher than the Willis recommendation of 16.7 secondary and 25 pupils per teacher at the elementary level. To further increase the pupil-teacher ratio would result in larger class groups at the Middle School and the Academy and the elimination of many Academy electives.
Supplementary instructional services at the secondary level not included in the 54 teachers cited, are performed by art and music specialists who not only direct and coordinate the total systemwide program but also provide the actual classroom teaching services at the high school. The special class is located at the North Middle School.
There are other services of special interest to the classroom teacher. Still within the 2000 instructional item are library, audio- visual, testing and guidance, psychological, and educational TV services. These services total $42,488, excluding supplies and other expenses, or about three dollars on the tax rate.
And finally, there is the direct school administrative expense $74,352 salaries for school principals and administrative clerks to pro- vide the administrative and supervisory services in each school. The supervisory principals' positions are eleven month positions, and the volume of responsibilities in a growing system usually demands in excess of the eleven months. The most important function of the supervising principal is to supervise the on-going instructional program in the classroom. Also the principal must keep himself available for any assist- ance the classroom teacher might need in order to avoid interruption of the class. Administrative detail and planning is an after school effort, mainly because there is little uninterrupted time during the school day. The increasing demands on the principal because of growth and change, the latter stimulated as much by the promise of federal aid as by the continuing quest for excellence, have convinced the School Committee that one person can no longer serve in the dual capacity of teacher and principal, even in a small school of less than ten rooms. The position of supervising principal for our three smaller schools was created, effective September 1966, to assure undivided classroom attention to teaching and adequate time for leadership services.
The practice of providing administrative assistance for super- vising principals has been questioned from time to time. But again, supervision is the paramount responsibility of the principal. A full time assistant at the high school has enabled the principal to spend considerable time in the classroom working closely with the teaching staff. Part time release of a North Middle School classroom teacher for
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administrative service in September 1966 will allow the Middle School principal greater time for supervision and leadership. The cost of this assistance is about $10,000 for the two secondary schools, equating the Middle School released classroom time to half a teaching salary.
The actual computation of the administrative salary item involves full year salaries of Academy principal and vice principal, North Middle School principal and Nabnasset School principal, as well as the part year salaries of three teaching principals January to September and the part year salary of one supervising principal September to January. Also in- cluded are the salaries of three full time clerks and four part time clerks. The administrative services budget also includes educational data processing services for our two secondary schools.
This then summarizes the direct instructional services to the pupil and the supplementary services to the classroom teacher. Other services, the 3000 section of the budget, include attendance, health, pupil transportation, food, and student body activities. The total of this section is $113,744 of which $2234 is for supplies and materials. Pupil transportation alone costs $81,495. $18,000 is devoted to pupil health, physical and emotional, and the balance for dietician's salary and extra staff pay for interscholastic team coaching and direction of pupil after school activities.
The sum of $95,000 provides clean classrooms, proper light and heat, to assure pupils the physical necessities for study and concentration.
And finally there are the services provided by the Cental Office staff, the administration, supervision and coordination of the total school system. The sum of $28,705 is budgeted to pay the salaries of superintendent, administrative assistant, secretary and bookkeeper, and the fees for the annual child census.
In summary, the pupil service portion of the budget is $1,036,897, or about 90% of the total anticipated expenditures. Any increase of de- creare in the budgeted amount should be considered in terms of the wis- dom of an extension or a reduction in these services. The following table summarizes the distribution of pupil service funds.
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SUMMARY PAGE
Elementary
Classroom Teachers (36)
227,628
Teaching Principals (3) Specialists
8,563
Art (1) 6,000
Music (2) 11,950
Speech (1) 8,150
Reading (3) 22,885
Sp. Class (1) 7,750
New Teachers (4)
6,920
Secondary
Classroom Teachers (54)
341,443
Specialists
16,430
Art (1) 6,500
Music
(1) 6,500
Sp Class (1) 3,430
New Teachers (2)
3,460
Other instructional Services in item 2300
23,406
Differentials
3,646
Substitutes
9,960
Emotionally Disturbed
5,000
Home Instruction
1,000
In-Service
2,000
Part time clerical
1,800
Total items 2100 & 2300 services
684,585
Other instructional Services (Account 2000)
42,488
Library Services (Librarian & Clerk)
9,703
Audio Visual Director
5,000
Guidance 32 counselors & P. T. clerical
27,270
Phychological services (reading director)
ETV service charge 25ยข/pupil
515
School Administration (Item 2200)
74,352
Supv. Principais (3) Ass't. (1)
39,786
Teaching Principals (3) Jan to Sept
16,873
Supv. Principal (1) Sept to Jan
2,848
Clerks 3 full time, 4 part time Educational Data Processing Services
2,815
Other Pupil Services (Account 3000)
111,510
Attendance Att. Officer & School Adj. C.
8,550
Health Nurses (2), Doctor, Lowell Menatal H1th
9,580
Pupil Transportation 10 buses
81,495
Food-Dietician
5,400
Student body Activities Coaching, etc.
6,485
Pupil Comfort
95,257
Building cleanliness
60,498
Heat
13,115
Utilities (power, water, tel.)
21,644
Central Office
28,705
Sup't. and Ass't.
20,525
Bookkeeper and Secretary
7,830
Census
350
Grand Total - Pupil Services
1,036,897
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299,846
361,333
12,030
Following is the report of the School Nurses from January 1, to December 31, 1965:
Children taken home from school because of illness 273
Children taken to the School Physicians or other doctors 20
Nurse-Teacher Conferences 770
Nurse-Pupil Conferences 912
Tested Vision of all children with Massachusetts Vision
Equipment . Children referred to Physician 137
Tested Hearing of all children with a Pure Tone Audiometer. Children referred to Physician 59
Assisted School Physicians with Physical Examinations in
Grades 1,4,7 and 11 and also students participating in Sports. Students playing Sports were also given a
Tuberculin Tine Test and a Urine Test as part of this examination.
Home Visits:
Acute Communicable
58
Tuberculosis;
Case
23
Suspect
13
Contact
1
Crippled Children
7
Children under 1 year
45
Children 1 year to school age 87
School age children 304
To Middlesex County Sanatorium for X-ray
4
Conferences and Meetings attended
44
The Dental Hygienists on the staff of the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health gave Fluoride Treatments to the children in grades 2, 5 and 8. Notices were sent home to parents of children needing dental care.
In April and May, Dr. W. G. Mackenzie Hume conducted two Pre-School Clinics for the children who were to enter grade 1 in September. This gave parents an opportunity to have the children examined, vaccinated and receive diphtheria & tetanus boosters before entering school. 142 child- ren attended.
Oral Polio Clinics, for grade 1 children, were held in Jan. and March.
Tuberculin Tine Tests were given to grade 1 children in March. In November, grade 1 and grade 9 children received this test.
Immunization Clinics are being planned for the Spring.
Well Child Conferences were conducted by Dr. Mary Donald for Pre- School Children. 21 Conferences were held during the year.
For statistics on these clinics and all other Nashoba sponsored activities, see the Report of the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health, appearing elsewhere in the Town Report.
The assistance of Mrs. Margaret Sudak, R. N. in the Vision & Hearing Testing Program has proved very valuable.
We would like to express our appreciation to you, your teaching staff and the school physicians for the cooperation and assistance we have re- ceived at all times.
Dorothy A. Healy, R. N. Ruth E. Hall, R. N. SCHOOL NURSES
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WESTFORD ACADEMY 1965 GRADUATES
Gerald G. Abrahamson *Christine Marie Allen
Loretta Jeanne Alling
Shirley Marie Anderson June Ardee Armstrong
Donald Ayers
Manuel Vincent Beauregard
Sheila Nancy Bechard Timothy L. Beebe
Cheryl Ann Beede
Pamela Ann Beede
Robert Alan Bell
Robert V. Berube
Jean I. Black
Elaine M. Blais
*Susan Gail Bobryk David E. Bolger
*Gaile Theresa Borland
Dennis G. Boyd
Thomas K. Bradley
Paula Brule Sylvia J. Brule
Rosemarie E. Buchanan
Paula Frances Burns
Robert L. Burns
Linda Alice Butterworth *Jean Frances Cassidy
Lorraine C. Chalifoux
Lawrence Checchi
Susan Marie Chorney Ann Marie Clark
Arthur R. Coffin III
Robert Byron Collupy III
Claudia M. Connell Richard Connolly Robert Connolly Barbara Astrid Cook Christine E. Cormier William F. Corr
David William Cosgrove Barry Allen Craig Stephanie Jean Crawford James Hunter Crocker II Edward Walter Dean
Cheryl Jean Decato Janice Lynn DiDonato Elaine Naomi Donahue John David Doucette
Donald Jack Drew
Donna Lee Duggan Robert W. Eliasen
Harold Andrew English
Bruce C. Epler *Susan A. Ferrell *Margaret Finnila Walter Widden Fletcher III
*Pamela Ruth Forty
Robert Merrill Gauthier Jonathan Gianoulis Stephen G. Gilbert
Norman J. Godfroy Thomas Groom
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Roger D. Hall Charlotte Frances Haran Rhoda Lee Harrison Clifford Heighes, Jr. Evelyn P. Hosmer James A. Hudson
Janice Elaine Hudson Kathleen Anne Jones Frank Karkota, Jr.
H. James Kazeniac Robert A. Kesselhuth Catherine V. King
Cynthia Ellen Kirk
Eva Marie Koros Stephen F. Lahan
*Betsy Lamson Patricia Ann Lantagne
Laura Ann Lavigne
Elizabeth Anne LeDuke
Russell LeDuke
JoAnne Leedberg
Margaret K. Leedberg
Robert LeGacy
Mary Margaret Lessard
Kathleen Barbara Malone
Grace M. Mancini
Eleanor Ann McCarthy Elizabeth Ann McDonald
James Francis McDonald
Leslie Jean McDonald
Conrad J. Menard *Carol Ann Miner
Cynthia Frances Moreno *Joyce E. Nesmith *National Honor Society Member
Douang Nophalay Marshall E. Nye Donna Lee O'Clair *Martha C. O'Neil Gerald J. Oliver Richard S. Palma Linda L. Paul
*Maxine Alice Preston Stephen L. Pyle Allan P. Rennie
Dianne Athena Roderson Clare Ann Romanowsky Dennis P. Ross
Barbara J. Ryan Henry John Scarfo
Marsha Gail Secovich
Gary M. Sheehan
George A. Sheppard
Joyce Ellen Small
Robert Edwin Smith
Robert Soubosky
Donna Lee St. Onge
Janet M. Sullivan
Rose Ann Therrien
Nancy Lee Thomas
Roger N. Tuttle, Jr.
John Tzikopoulos Audrey Anne Wheeler
Jill D. Wilder
Michael W. Williamson
Theresa Anne Wolfgang
Paul Harry Wright
*Linda Jane Wyman John W. Zelukiewicz
131
PROGRAM
PROCESSIONAL: "Pomp and Circumstance"
NATIONAL ANTHEM
INVOCATION
REVEREND ROBERT S. SLATER
SALUTATORY ADDRESS
MARTHA C. O'NEIL
HONOR ESSAY
MARGARET FINNILA
SENIOR CLASS ODE - Tune: "Softly, I Must Leave You" Words, CATHERINE V. KING
HONOR ESSAY
CAROL AN MINER
PRESENTATION OF CLASS GIFT
JOHN DAVID DOUCETTE President of the Class of 1965
ACCEPTANCE OF CLASS GIFT
STEPHEN FLOYD President of the Class of 1966
VALEDICTORY
BETSY LAMSON
PRESENTATION OF AWARDS (Given by the Trustees of Westford Academy)
For Excellence in English
Betsy Lamson
For Excellence in French
Betsy Lamson
For Excellence in Home Economics
Leslie McDonald
For Excellence in Industrial Arts Robert Bell
For Excellence in Latin
Betsy Lamson
For Excellence in Math & Science
Betsy Lamson - Robert Eliasen
For Excellence in Music
Paul Wright - Eleanor McCarthy
For Excellence in Secretarial Science
Margaret Finnilla
For Excellence in Social Studies
Betsy Lamson
THE MOST WORTHY REPRESENTATIVES OF WESTFORD ACADEMY
Class of 1965 - Jean Cassidy Class of 1966 - Thomas Hoermann Class of 1967 - Nancy Belida Class of 1968 - Joel Uher
THE JEFFREY H. PETERSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Presented by Gordon Seavey
Roger Tuttle
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Elgar
OTHER AWARDS
Bausch and Lomb Science Award Betty Crocker Award D.A.R. American History Award
D.A.R. Good Citizenship Award
Betsy Lamson Evelyn Hosmer Betsy Lamson Jean Cassidy
Presented by Daniel L. Desmond, Prinicpal
SCHOLARSHIPS
Fletcher Athletic Club Scholarship
Robert LeGacy
St. Catherine's Catholic Youth Organization
Scholarship - Norman J. Godfroy, President Paula Brule
Westford Academy Student Council Scholarship Cynthia MacDougall Scholarship Comm. Chmn. Jean Cassidy
Westford Academy Booster Club Athletic Scholarship John Cafelle, President
Roger Tuttle
Westford Grange Scholarship Miss Ruby Downie, Master, Westford Grange Paul Wright
Westford Academy National Honor Society Scholarship Thomas Hoermann, President
Gaile Borland
Westford Jaycee Citizenship Award Richard Verzone, Scholarship Comm. Chmn.
Robert LeGacy
Westford Teachers' Association Scholarship
Walter Powers, President
Gaile Borland
Walter Fletcher
Jean Cassidy
Betsy Lamson
Janice DiDonato
Paul Wright
Elaine Donahue
AWARDING OF DIPLOMAS
MAURICE HUCKINS, JR., M.D. Chairman, School Committee
WESTFORD ACADEMY ALMA MATER
Calkin
FRANK PAGE, Music Director
BENEDICTION
REVEREND RICHARD S. DE VEER
RECESSIONAL - "The Crowning Glory" Alfred Reed Westford Academy Band, FRANK PAGE, Director
CLASS MARSHAL
STEPHEN FLOYD
CLASS MOTTO "This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the begin- ning." WINSTON CHURCHILL
CLASS COLORS Maroon and White
CLASS FLOWER Red and White Carnations
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ACADEMY PROGRAM OF STUDY 1965 - 1966
GRADE IX
REQUIRED English ** Civics
OF
ALL *** Ancient History
ART
Art
Art
Bookkeeping Business Math II Typing IB
Art Music and Art *Bookkeeping II *Steno I Typing IB or IIB
ENGLISH
Accelerated Reading *French I
FOREIGN
LANGUAGES
*Latin I or II
INDUSTRIAL Industrial Arts :
Industrial Arts II
*Algebra II *Geometry Math II
MUSIC
Instrumental Vocal-Choral
Instrumental Vocal-Choral
PRACTICAL ARTS SCIENCE
Practical Arts I
Practical Arts II
*Biology *Chemistry and Lab
Practical Arts III Food Prep. & Mgm't. *Chemistry and Lab. *Physics and Lab
SOCIAL STUDIES
Required Courses
** Required for all non college prep stu- dents *** Required for all col- lege prep students.
Modern History World History NOTE: Students may elect any course offered in Grade IX subject to conflicts and prerequisites
** American Problems ** Econ. & Pol. Geog. ** If U. S. History cannot be scheduled. NOTE: Students may elect any course offered in Grades IX & X subject to conflicts & prerequiesites.
GRADE XII
English Phys Ed
Art Music and Att *Bookkeeping II Office Practice Business Law *Steno II and Trans.
*Type IIB *Type IC *World Literature
*Latin III or IV Industrial Arts IV Graphics *College Rev. Math Math IV *Trig. & Analyt.
Instrumental Vocal-Choral Music and Art Practical Arts IV Food Prep. & Mgm't. *Industrial Science *Physics and Lab Advanced Biology American Problems Econ. & Pol. Geog. NOTE: Students may elect any course offered in Grades IX, X, or XI sub- ject to conflicts and prerequisites.
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