USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1963-1967 > Part 9
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ARTICLE 31. To see if the Town will vote to extend its water mains and water supply system by laying approximately 700 feet of eight inch mains, together with all necessary appurtenances, fixtures and equipment, from the end of the present main on Beacon Street to the proposed new Town Garage; and for the purpose aforesaid, that it raise and appropriate, or appropriate from any available funds, including the Water Department Surplus Account, the sum of Twenty- Eight Hundred Twenty-Five ($2825.00) Dollars, or some other sum; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 32. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to install approximately twenty-five (25) street lights; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 33. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from available funds a certain sum to be deducted by the Assessors under the provisions of Section 23 of Chapter 59 of the General Laws, as most recently amended, from the amount required to be assessed by them; or act in relation thereto.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting up true and attested copies thereof at the Town Hall and at each Post Office in said Westford, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding the first meeting aforesaid.
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Given under our hands this eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord, 1964.
Horace F. Wyman
John J. Kavanagh
George S. Fletcher
Selectmen of Westford
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Annual Report
OF THE
School Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF WESTFORD
WEST
1729. ยบ
PORATED
23
SEPT
For the Year Ending December 31 1963
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ORGANIZATION - SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Maurice Huckins, Jr., M. D., Chairman
Mary R. Lambert
Raymond D. LaPan (filling out the term of J. Austin Healy)
Percy 0. Daley, Jr., Secretary
Harry V. Smith
Term expires 1965
Clifford J. Courchaine
Term expires 1966
Term expires 1966
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
WESTFORD ACADEMY
Lloyd G. Blanchard, Superintendent
Telephone 692-6561
Kenneth H. Robes, Administrative Assistant
Vera E. Bettencourt, General Secretary
Rita M. Tousignant, Financial Secretary
SCHOOL TELEPHONES
Westford Academy 692-6771
Cameron School
692-6542
Roudenbush School
692-6911
Sargent School
692-6553
Wm. E. Frost School 692-6230
Nabnassett School
692-6233
Guidance Department 692-8825
Music & Physical Education 692-4031
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Andre Sterlin, M. D. Oak Hill Road, Nabnasset, Mass.
Telephone
692-4022
SCHOOL NURSES
Ruth N. Hall, R.N., Westford, Mass.
Dorothy Healy, R.N., Westford, Mass.
Office Tel.
692-8431 -Academy
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John E. Leggat
Term expires 1964
Term expires 1964
Term expires 1964 Term expires 1965
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF WESTFORD, the School Committee respectfully submits its report for the year ending December 31, 1963.
Following the introductory information and the brief historical summary of the 1963 school news is a section on school finance, perhaps the most critical and controversial area of public education today. It is hoped that the citizens of Westford will accept this section of the annual report as an attempt on the part of the School Committee to pro- vide helpful information towards a greater appreciation for the financial problems confronting education in general and Westford schools in particular.
SCHOOL HOURS 1963-64
Academy Grades 9 - 12
8:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.
Roudenbush
Grade 7 8:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon
Roudenbush
Grade 8 12:00 Noon to 4:00 P.M.
Elementary
Grades 1 - 6 8:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
SCHOOL VISITS
You are welcome in your Schools to talk with the School Principal and staff whether or not you have children in the Schools. However, you are urged (1) to check in with the Principal before visiting a class and (2) to make an appointment if you wish to discuss your child's progress with the teacher. Otherwise, the class is interruped and valuable learning time is lost.
SCHOOL ADMISSION
A child is eligible for enrollment in Grade 1 if he reaches his sixth birthday prior to November 1 of the school enrollment year. Birth certificate and evidence of successful vaccination are necessary for registration of any child new in Westford. Those transferring from other schools should present transfer cards.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The School Committee meets in regular session the second Monday of each month at 7:30 P.M., in the Academy Cafeteria. On the fourth Monday of the month there is usually a Special School Committee Meet- ing. Meeting and agenda are published. Public is welcome.
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1963-64
Fall Term
September 4 - December 20
Winter Term January 2 - February 21
Spring Term March 2 - April 17
Summer Term April 27 - June 19
TOTAL - 185 Days
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Days Omitted:
Teachers' Convention Veterans' Day Thanksgiving Recess Good Friday
October 25 November 11
November 28 and 29 March 27
REMARKS :
It is the policy of the School Department to keep schools in session on all days during which it is safe for buses to be operated. The widely varying conditions in the several parts of Westford make it difficult to reach decisions equally fair to all.
1963 IN REVIEW
Problems associated with enrollment increases continued in 1963 to plague the School Committee. Early in the calendar year space was sought for the relocation of the offices of the Superintendent of Schools to release present offices for use by the Academy staff. The central office was to be converted to health space, the clinic to guidance and the guidance office for the vice principal. Academy principal and vice principal are sharing the same office, an awkward arrangement considering the varied confidential functions of these two administrators. Layouts were prepared and cost estimates obtained for the top floor of Roudenbush, the second floor of Town Hall, and finally a section of the Town Farm property. For one reason or another all were rejected and the two offices to the rear of the Academy are still serving as central office space. Hopefully additional space may yet be found.
Budgeted in 1963 was an assistant for the superintendent. But an evidenced lack of public understanding of the need for such a position coupled with the lack of space discouraged the filling of this position. The 1964 budget provides for the hiring of an assistant April 1 whether or not space is available.
It was with extreme reluctance that the School Committee voted to plan pupil transportation around a split session for grades 7 and 8 at the Roudenbush School. But no reasonable alternative could be offered. It is well the split session plan was adopted because the actual en- rollment increase of 218 pupils was 40 pupils more than anticipated. Classroom as well as transportation facilities were extended to maxi- mum, even with five rooms serving double duty and the normal bus trips increased by twelve daily.
To cope with the growing complexity of program scheduling, and the increase in paper work associated with increasing Academy enroll- ments, the School Committee approved the full participation of Westford Academy in the New England School Development Council Data Processing Program. Harold Ready of the Academy staff attended a summer institute in Newton to gain the technical knowledge necessary for Westford's successful participation. Computers available to NESDEC guided the perfection of a master schedule which assured each pupil his course elections, assigned pupils to classes, printed out class lists, and report cards, and is now compiling attendance data. Hopefully data
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processing services may be extended to our other schools as needed.
School Building Projects are moving forward satisfactorily. The six room addition to the New Nabnassett School will be occupied in January 1964. This addition provides three double rooms, (each pair divided by a folding soundproof partition) a library space, two storage areas and additional toilet facilities. Grounds will receive extensive attention in the spring in an attempt to control the sand nuisance surrounding this school and save on our floor maintenance costs. Robert Noy, principal of Nabnassett School, has worked closely with Extension Committee, Robert Hicks, chairman, Allan Ryan, secretary, and Robert Graves.
Before the severe cold weather of December descended upon the Town Farm site, the contractor succeeded in rough grading, stockpiling top soil, trenching and laying the foundations of the new intermediate school. Hopefully this school will be ready for occupancy by our grade 6-7-8 pupils in January 1965. Eugene Hayes, Academy vice principal, was elected principal of the intermediate school in September and has been working closely with the Building Committee, Dr. Benjamin Lambert, chairman, Richard Tuttle, secretary, Arthur Abbood, Philip Hall and Harold Harrington.
All elementary teachers took an in-service course in modern mathematics this past spring. The staff was divided into two groups to assure a class of manageable size, and a Harvard doctoral candidate met each group once a week for a semester. Rather than presenting one of the formal modern math programs, the instructor concentrated on modern math concepts and the improvement of the techniques of teaching elementary arithmetic. Principals report copious evidence of the value of this program.
Congratulations to Fay Lamson, Westford Academy's first National Merit Finalist. Considering that Fay's achievement placed her in the top half of one per cent of the top secondary school students across the country, there is reason for every Westford resident to feel proud. Fay is presently enrolled in Radcliffe.
To be congratulated also are the members of Westford's champion- ship wrestling and football teams, coached by Chesley Steele, and Westford's outstanding band, directed by Frank Page.
A follow-up of 1963 graduates reveals that twenty of a class of 69 are enrolled in a four year college. Nine others are enrolled in a two year college, one in nursing and nine in a one year college. Twelve are in clerical employment, two have gone in the service, nine are employed in miscellaneous occupations, two are married, one is en- rolled as a post graduate. The remaining four have not responded to follow-up questionnaires.
Progress has been at last realized in the Technical Vocational School effort of the past couple years. There will be an article in the 1964 annual warrant requesting creation of a committee to study for one year the advantages to Westford of a Regional Technical Vocational School to serve Chelmsford, Littleton, Groton and Westford.
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If all committees report favorably, then a committee may be elected to plan, construct and direct the operation of the school independent from school committees or officials of any of the four towns. The School Committee is convinced of the need; other communities have proven to pupils and to residents alike the advantages of such cooperative effort.
Building maintenance is carefully scheduled year by year to assure maximum use and mimimum trouble and expense from our older build- ings. This past year Roudenbush exterior was painted and roof tiles replaced, stage and side rooms in the gym were painted and all the old water closets replaced with flushometers. Stage lighting was replaced for use of the stage. Frost corridors and stairs were painted and Sargent classrooms. Water closets were replaced with flushometers in the Old Nabnassett School. And the Academy exterior and selected interior rooms were painted. Also exterior doors on the front of the building were shielded to check rot. Academy shades were replaced and replacement of shades in other schools is moving forward on schedule.
The Supreme Court ruling on prayer and Bible reading in public schools just before school closing in June required the full summer for clarification. Attorney General Brooke's interpretation and clarifica- tion allowed schools to reopen in September with minimum anxieties on the part of staff and administration. But it will be a while yet before there is complete acceptance of the law as interpreted.
The Conflict of Interest law was very personally felt when veteran School Committee member, J. Austin Healy, Jr., resigned July 29. Mr. Healy had served the pupils of Westford faithfully and capably since 1958. Raymond LaPan was elected by Selectmen and re- maining School Committee members, according to law, to fill Mr. Healy's unexpired term. Earlier in the year the School Committee welcomed new members, Clifford Courchaine and John Leggat, and organiz- ed with Dr. Maurice Huckins, and Percy Daley, secretary.
A series of discussion questions were submitted this past fall by Committeeman Daley for the consideration of the School Committee. To date the following areas have been probed with staff participation. It was hoped that residents might have attended, as the discussions were most revealing and constructive:
September 23 "How can we help our problem children?" October 14 "What are the problems in introducing Modern Science Courses in Westford?"
October 28 "How can we keep our good teachers in the system?"
November 25 "How can we keep our teachers up-to-date on developments in their field?"
Further discussions were deferred pending completion of the 1964 Budget. The first draft was presented by the administration in June, but serious Committee consideration did not commence until fall because of the pressure of other business. By that time the State Department of Education introduced a new school accounting code for adoption by all public school systems in the state. Much time and frustration was ex- pended in converting not only the proposed 1964 budget, but also, for
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comparison purposes the 1962 and 1963 budgets. Copies of the 1964 Budget, complete with explanation of the new code are available for study by interested citizens in the Fletcher Library. It is regretted that residents do not appear at School Committee Budget Sessions, as well as other sessions, to hear the facts and to present their views. Members of the School Committee would sincerely appreciate such interest and assistance.
WHERE ARE WE HEADED?
Rising school budgets are stimulating heated debate not only in Westford but in almost every community and city across the country. Are school committee members becoming less responsive to the financial limitations of their communities? The evidence seems to be to the contrary. Because of factors beyond their control, school committee members are becoming more concerned than ever before about costs. But how do you hold the line where school age boys and girls constitute the fastest growing segment of our population? The producing age group, the 21-65 year old bracket, is now the slowest growing segment, exceed- ed even by the 65 and above group. So the burden of providing for the young and the old appears to be increasing more rapidly than the potential of the providers, and this situation, we are advised by economists, will continue for at least a decade. Right here in Westford within the past ten years we have observed the school en- rollment ratio increase from 18% to its present level of more than 25% of the total town population. And this is only one of the pressures the school committee is feeling in its efforts to provide good schools within reasonable financial limitations.
The effect on the tax dollar of a rising cost of living index accompanied by rising salaries is generally appreciated. But people are less aware of the rapidly expanding scope and complexity of the pupils' program of studies. Human knowledge is increasing at a fright- ening rate. We have come to accept rather casually the atom's potential for service or destruction, the computer's astronomical output, the retreat of geographic frontiers to outer space. But we do not generally appreciate. the fact that these events and discoveries have occurred within the lifetime of today's high school senior. The techniques in teaching all areas of the program must improve with our expanding knowledge or we shall be merely piling fact on fact, facts which may or may not be pertinent to tomorrow's problems. And new techniques and aids are expensive. So there is good reason to wonder just where we are headed.
WHAT IS THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM?
The town's rejection of the Middle School in June 1962 created a pupil housing problem this school year which will continue and intens- ify in 1964. Grades 7 and 8 are on split session in the Old Westford Academy (now Roudenbush School) which less than ten years ago housed grades 9-12 on single session. (The top floor of Roudenbush is no longer used. ) The "new" Westford Academy which opened as a 500 pupil grade 7-12 building in 1955 is currently carrying a 10% overload, grade 9-12 pupils only. Every available elementary classroom is occupied in- cluding the old Nabnassett School which is now bearing up well under
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a 50% overload, grade 3 Nabnassett pupils only. As late as 1959 this two classroom school housed all the Nabnassett grade 1 and 2 pupils. The only relief for September 1964 is the six room Nabnassett addition opening in January 1964, an addition which will move our grade 6 pupils out of the multipurpose room this school year, and along with the original twelve rooms barely accommodate our grade 1-5 Nabnassett pupils in 1964-65. Yet the forecast indicates continued growth all levels. Appendix A reviews the enrollments of the past ten years and Appendix B estimates enrollments over the next ten years. The indica- tion is a doubling enrollment each decade.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CONTINUED SPLIT SESSION USE OF ROUDENBUSH?
The grade 7-8 split session plan was offered for 1963-64 as a one year solution only, in case of delay in the opening of the Middle School. Now the 800 pupil Middle School has been abandoned in favor of a 600 pupil school for the intermediate grades 6-7-8. This change of plan postpones the solution to our immediate space shortage for at least one half year. The incoming grade 7, September 1964, exceeds the capa- city of the Roudenbush School, as anticipated. Of course some may trans- fer to private school. Withdrawal of grade 8 pupils this year was rela- tively heavy, about 10%, but grade 7 transfers to private school were negligible. The more serious deficiency of the split session is the lack of pupil time for special after-class assistance. Afternoon teachers are doing their best to minimize this deficiency with late classes, but there is no instructional space where the morning staff can assist grade 7 pupils. Special homework is about the only remedial device. Transportation of course aggravates this problem.
Whether we can count on the return of our split session staff is a second serious consideration. The 1963-64 grade 8 staff is entirely new. Teachers assigned last spring chose to teach in single session towns . Perhaps the promise of single session by January 1965 may hold most of our split session staff.
DOES THE SIX ROOM NABNASSETT ADDITION SOLVE OUR ELEMENTARY PROBLEM?
The opening of the Nabnassett six room addition will see all 1055 grade 1-6 pupils in regular classrooms for the balance of the 1963-64 school year. By September 1964 we will again be short two classrooms. To house our 1125 pupils grades 1-6 should require 45 classrooms. We are planning on 44 class groups, but there are only 42 rooms available. Since grade 6 pupils will move into the new Intermediate School as soon as it is ready, it seems wise to plan temporary spaces for these and to place our grade 1-5 pupils in the regular classrooms. Hence grade 6 Nabnassett pupils will be assigned to the old Nabnassett School while Nabnassett pupils grade 1-5 will require all 18 new Nabnassett class- rooms .
The classroom shortage at Frost and at Cameron is not so easily resolved. Following the above reasoning, it seems logical to find temporary quarters for the grade 6 group each school and keep grades 1-5 on regular session in their respective schools. Whether a divided gymnasium in the Roudenbush School will serve as the two temporary
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classrooms, or whether other more suitable quarters might be found, is uncertain as of the moment. At this writing it appears that there will be room in Sargent School for Graniteville grade 6 pupils, but regard- less of the placement of Frost and Cameron grade 6 pupils, Roudenbush will be closed for the balance of the school year on the opening of the new Intermediate School.
HOW ABOUT ACADEMY SPACE?
During 1963-64 the Academy is carrying a 10% overload. According to the forecast, enrollment increases for grades 9-12 will be light over the next three or four years, but the overload will nevertheless become intolerable. Some device such as staggered sessions must again be employed starting in the fall of 1964. Every effort will be made to provide a full school day and a full school program for all grade 9-12 pupils. But unless additional space is provided by 1968, when grade 9-12 enrollments will soar to 650 pupils or more, a staggered schedule will have to give way to split sessions.
DOES THE 1964 BUDGET PROVIDE FOR THESE ADJUSTMENTS?
Provision has been made for the additional teachers, texts and supplies. Transportation costs cannot be figured accurately until a definite plan is adopted and pupil assignments made. No expensive building modifications are anticipated. Old Nab furniture will be ex- changed for larger units from the new Nabnassett School. Two rooms of furniture have been budgeted to accomodate the two room elementary growth. If Roudenbush gym is called upon to serve as a double grade 6 classroom, an inexpensive visual barrier will be erected. Hopefully heating and lighting will be adequate.
At Westford Academy a folding partition will be installed in the science lab so that this room can serve both lecture and lab classes simultaneously. Unbudgeted but still under consideration is the moving and soundproofing of the folding music room partition to provide more space in the music room and to permit physical education classes to take place on the stage simultaneously with music classes. Our crowded conditions permit no space to be spared because of noise conflict.
WHEN IS THE STAFF FOR THE NEW INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL TO BE HIRED?
The principal of the new intermediate school has already been appointed, and starting September 1964 will devote full time to planning and organizing the program. The staff will consist of grade 6-7-8 teachers who will be serving September 1964, plus three specialists, shop, homemaking and physical education, who will assist our present staff until needed in the new school. The part time services of a librarian will be procured in September to plan the purchases and to catalogue books as they are received, and an additional counselor has been budgeted to serve Roudenbush pupils and to assist in their program and placement. Other needs are deferred to the 1965 Budget.
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WHAT KIND OF A PROGRAM IS PLANNED FOR THE NEW INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL?
The educational specifications stipulate a "no study period" pro- gram for all pupils. Each pupil will be under teacher supervision in a classroom situation every period of the day. Emphasis will be placed on a transitional program for grade 6 and a fully departmentalized pro- gram for grades 7 and 8. Steps will be taken to assure close teacher coordination in the resolving of pupil problems and in extending each pupil to maximum effort.
WILL THE NEW SCHOOL HELP UNSNARL PUPIL BUS SERVICES?
If two grade 6 groups go into Rodenbush on full session along with five grade 7 and five grade 8 groups on split session, and if grades 9-12 go on a staggered program at the Academy, almost any move would help unsnarl pupil bus services. But new problems will be introduced. Will the hours of the new school enable the same fleet of buses to serve all three levels? What will be the walking zone for the new school? A strict 1 1/2 mile limit would walk children from beyond both Sargent and Cameron Schools.
WHAT MIGHT BE THE TOTAL SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONAL PLAN SEPTEMBER 1965?
In 1965 we will need 43 classrooms for grades 1-5. Roudenbush will again be needed, this time perhaps to house our Frost District grade 4 and 5 pupils, and to relieve overcrowding in the Cameron District. Special classes will have relocated in the Intermediate School, releasing all eight classrooms in Sargent for use by Granite- ville pupils grades 1-5.
Grades 9-12 will continue in the Academy, unless it proves in the pupils' interest to retain a portion of grade 9 in the new Inter- mediate School because of overcrowding in the Academy. Severe over- crowding invites staff morale problems which in turn affect the quality of the program. The Academy problems will intensify until additional space is provided. It seems hard to believe that, while the first Westford Academy served for 100 years and the second for 50 years, the third is now inadequate within 10 years. However, this is physical proof of the accelerating rate of change which is presently creating such complex problems.
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